A Raja Ampat 7 day dive tour is the sweet spot for most certified divers: 5-6 diving days and 15-18 guided dives. You can stay on land and dive across the Dampier Strait with a Wayag or Fam add-on, or take a 7-night dive liveaboard from Sorong. Komodo Luxury builds either version with licensed partner dive teams.
A week gives you enough time to dive the Dampier Strait properly without using up two weeks of leave. The real decision is where you sleep. You can stay ashore near Waisai and take a dive boat out each day, or live aboard a dive boat that moves to new sites overnight. Every figure below is indicative as of 2026 and may change, so confirm at booking.
First, a point of honesty. Komodo Luxury is a boat and tour operator, not a PADI dive centre. On these trips, licensed partner dive centres or the boat’s certified dive team plan and lead every dive. Komodo Luxury matches you to the right team, sorts the logistics and makes the booking.
What does a 7-day Raja Ampat dive tour include?
Both formats include transfers from Sorong, guided dives in the Dampier Strait, and regional permits that the operator processes for you. You fly into Sorong’s Domine Eduard Osok airport (SOQ). From Sorong harbour, Waisai is a ferry or fast-boat ride away.
A typical land-based week looks like this:
- Day 1: land at SOQ, cross to Waisai, check in, then check gear and paperwork.
- Day 2: checkout dives on calmer reefs near Waisai, so the guides can see your buoyancy and air use.
- Days 3-5: Dampier Strait sites such as Cape Kri and Manta Sandy. Blue Magic comes once the team is happy with your drift diving.
- Day 6: a fifth dive day, or a Wayag or Fam boat trip instead, for limestone viewpoints and snorkelling.
- Day 7: slow morning, return to Sorong, and fly out after a safe gap since your last dive.
Five diving days at three dives a day comes to about 15 dives. A 7-night liveaboard adds a sixth full diving day and usually 18 dives or more.
Land-based or liveaboard: which 7-day format fits you?
| Factor | Land-based, 7 days | Dive liveaboard, 7 nights |
|---|---|---|
| Diving days | 5 | 6 |
| Guided dives | About 15 (3 per day) | 18+; the dive count on any boat is confirmed by the operator |
| Core sites | Cape Kri, Blue Magic, Manta Sandy, reefs near Waisai | Dampier Strait plus a trip north, or south to Misool, depending on boat and season |
| Wayag / Fam | Day-boat add-on, depends on weather | Often on the route, depends on the boat |
| Comfort | Room ashore, boat rides to sites each day | Cabin aboard, dive deck steps away, no daily transfers |
| Who leads dives | Licensed partner dive centre | The boat’s licensed dive team |
| Price basis (2026) | Per diver: dive package plus accommodation, quoted on request | Quote on request for the specific vessel, dates, duration, guest count and inclusions |
| Best for | Mixed groups, non-divers, Open Water divers | Advanced divers who want remote sites |
Choose land-based if your group includes non-divers or Open Water divers, or if you want a bed that stays still. Choose the liveaboard if everyone holds Advanced Open Water, has dived in currents, and wants remote sites without long day-boat crossings.
Which weeks should you book?
According to 2026 seasonal guides, the main season runs from October to April. The Dampier Strait is calm then (Beaufort 1-3), with 25-30 m visibility and water at 28-30 °C.
| Window | Conditions | Crowds and price | When to book |
|---|---|---|---|
| December-February | Best visibility in the central region (30-40 m); peak manta season | Busiest, most expensive weeks | 4-6 months ahead, earlier for liveaboards |
| October-November | Main season, calm seas, 25-30 m | Good value | 4-6 months ahead |
| March-April | Main season, 25-30 m, 28-30 °C | Good value | 4-6 months ahead |
| May and September | 20-25 m, 27-29 °C, strong currents bring big fish | Shoulder-season prices | 2-4 months ahead |
| June-August | North: 15-20 m, rougher seas, 26-28 °C; Misool more sheltered | Many liveaboards move elsewhere or run fewer trips | Land-based only, keep plans flexible |
From July to September, wind and swell also make Misool crossings and Wayag or Fam day trips less reliable.
Mantas come with their own rules. Manta Sandy is a managed cleaning station where you can dive all year. Sightings are most reliable from October to April, especially December to March, and Blue Magic and Manta Ridge also get mantas. Divers may not touch or chase them, groups must stay back from the station, and patrols enforce the rules.
What certification level do you need?
Operators treat Cape Kri, Blue Magic and the Misool pinnacles as sites for Advanced Open Water divers with drift experience. More liveaboards now set minimums such as AOW plus about 50 logged dives. Open Water divers are usually kept to 18-20 m, at calmer sites near Waisai and on resort reefs. For them, the land-based week is the realistic choice. Bring your certification card and logbook, because the dive team will ask for both.
What does the week cost in 2026?
Trip price. Komodo Luxury quotes luxury dive liveaboards in Raja Ampat on request for the specific vessel, dates, duration, guest count and inclusions. Land-based weeks are priced per diver and quoted on request.
Permits, charged for every guest, diver or not:
- Marine park conservation card: The Raja Ampat marine park fee for foreign tourists is IDR 1,000,000 per person per year, with children under 12 exempt, under Southwest Papua Governor Regulation No. 32 of 2024, as listed by the Raja Ampat MPA Management Authority (checked 2026-09-16).
- Regency entry ticket (Perbup 34/2025): charged per visit and valid for one trip only; confirm the amount at booking.
- Indonesian citizens: The Raja Ampat marine park fee for Indonesian tourists is IDR 500,000 per person per year, or IDR 250,000 for Papua-area ID holders from outside Southwest Papua and IDR 150,000 for Southwest Papua ID holders, under Southwest Papua Governor Regulation No. 32 of 2024, as listed by the Raja Ampat MPA Management Authority (checked 2026-09-16).
Liveaboards usually charge these fees on top of the base price.
How does booking work?
- Message the concierge with your dates, group size, certification levels and number of logged dives.
- Choose the format. The team tells you whether land-based or liveaboard suits your group and season.
- Get a written plan. It names the partner dive centre or boat, the number of dives, what is included, and anything charged separately, such as permits.
- Confirm on the quoted terms. For October to April, aim for 4-6 months ahead.
- Fly to Sorong. The operator processes your permits, and the dive team runs briefings and checkout dives.
> Land or liveaboard? Ask before you commit. Send your dates, certification and logged dives to the Komodo Luxury reservations team. They will tell you plainly which 7-day format fits, and they will also say so when your week is a poor time to go. WhatsApp +62 811-3823-875 or email sales@komodoluxury.com. Licensed partner dive teams lead all dives, and all 2026 figures are confirmed at booking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 7 days enough for a Raja Ampat dive trip?
For the Dampier Strait, yes. A week gives you 5-6 diving days and about 15-18 guided dives. That is enough for Cape Kri, Blue Magic and Manta Sandy, plus a Wayag or Fam trip. It is not enough to do both the north and Misool well, so divers who want both usually plan 10 nights or more.
How many dives do you get on a Raja Ampat 7 day dive tour?
A land-based week usually gives five diving days at three dives a day, which is about 15 dives. A 7-night dive liveaboard adds a sixth diving day and usually 18 dives or more, with the final dive count confirmed by the operator. Weather, currents and the safe gap you need before flying home can lower the final count.
Can Open Water divers join a 7-day dive tour in Raja Ampat?
Yes, with limits. Open Water divers are usually kept to 18-20 m, at calmer sites near Waisai and on resort reefs. Cape Kri and Blue Magic are treated as drift sites for Advanced Open Water divers. A land-based week suits Open Water divers best, because many liveaboards ask for AOW plus about 50 logged dives.
Can I combine a Raja Ampat 7 day dive tour with Komodo?
Yes. Flights from Labuan Bajo to Sorong take about 3.5 hours. A common plan is 5 days in Komodo, then 7-10 days in Raja Ampat. Komodo Luxury is based in Labuan Bajo and can plan both parts of the trip, leaving a safe gap between your last dive and each flight.