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Liveaboard Diving in Dampier Strait
What To Expect On A Dampier Strait Liveaboard
Dampier Strait liveaboards visit this stretch of water that sits between two of the larger of the Raja Ampat islands, Waigeo and Batanta. The strait is named after the British navigator William Dampier who charted much of the region around the Raja Ampat islands and Papua during the 17th century.
The region was subject to a fair amount of military activity during the Second World War. The allied planes even bombed one of the small islets in the strait. From the air the phenomenal currents were mistaken for a submarine wake and a completely uninhabited island was heavily bombed.
The underwater topography and the fact that it is between two larger islands means that the currents are very strong. The currents bring plankton rich waters up from the deep which attracts a huge number of fish and bigger pelagics to the strait. A good selection of liveaboards visit Dampier Strait as part of a Raja Ampat dive itinerary.
Dampier Strait Underwater
The position that the Dampier Strait is in means that the currents are plankton rich and full of fish life. The reefs are excellent because like the rest of the Raja Ampat islands the Dampier Strait is inside of the coral triangle. The dive sites are normally caked with corals full of critters and beautiful reef fish.
Dampier also enjoys particularly good conditions for divers to see some bigger animals. Mantas are frequently seen here on liveaboard dive cruises, sometimes in large numbers. It is not unusual to see groups of them swimming in the current, mouths wide open feeding on plankton. They also come down close to the reefs which makes this a top photography and videography opportunity.
Mantas aren’t the only bigger fish on offer here with white and black tipped reef sharks to be found sleeping on the reefs. During the day is a good time to look out for them hiding under rocks with their conspicuous tails sticking out. Wobbegong sharks can also be seen camouflaging themselves on the bottom, resting during the day. They are a fascinating shark and their strange bearded chins make a great macro shot.
Dive Sites of Dampier Strait
There are a number of excellent dive sites visited by liveaboards in the Dampier Strait, but for fish life none come close to Sardine Reef. Oddly there aren’t any sardines but there is no shortage of fish here to make up for it. This is the kind of place where you will be surrounded by amazing shoals of trevallies for the whole dive. Don’t let that distract you from the Wobbegong sharks that are lurking on the bottom though. Nearby, Cape Kri is also crowded with fish shoals and you can also see barracuda hanging about.
Many divers join liveaboards to Raja Ampat to see the mantas and Manta Sandy in the Dampier Strait is the place to catch them. The currents mean there is plenty of food for them here and it isn’t unusual for them to swim near to the sandy bottom. Photographers should have their cameras ready for a close-up.
Top Tips for Divers
- The conditions in the Dampier Strait mean that this is not really a good dive area for new divers.
- Heavy current on the dive sites can be very strong so a few extra lanyards would be a good idea.
- The entire region is quite isolated and there are not so many facilities, so make sure you bring ample spares with you.
Getting to the Dampier Strait
Reaching the Dampier Strait area requires some time and a few different modes of transport. The airport in Sorong in West Papua is the closest to the Raja Ampat islands. There are no international flights to this airport but you can get there from Jakarta and Singapore. There are some ferries from Sorong to the islands but most divers opt for a diving cruise.
Indonesian liveaboards typically start in Sorong and take from a week to two weeks to visit the best dive sites in the region. There are different kinds of diving liveaboards available to suit various styles and budgets. The conventional motor vessels customised as dive boats offer comfortable accommodation and a smooth diving experience. For a more unique experience many divers enjoy the traditional Indonesian sailing boats. These beautiful vessels are a peaceful and traditional way to enjoy the islands.
Dampier Strait Diving Reviews
- 9.3 Superb
- 76 Verified Reviews
I soon put away the wet suit and dived in bathing suit and body suit. the sea is warm and visibility is good to excellent, but there are a lot of nutrients in the water, which to me indicates a lot of fish.
Diving Dampier Strait in February on the Sea Safari VI
Everywhere we went, there was great diving. This time of year (April 2018) we only saw one large manta ray, compared to the 3-5 giant mantas we saw in March 2012.
Diving Dampier Strait in April on the Sea Safari 8
The diving locations were beautiful and less crowded since it is off-season.
Diving Dampier Strait in July on the Epica
Schools of jacks, fusiliers and bumpheads. Turtles. Pygmy seahorses. Dwarf crabs. Great corals.
Diving Dampier Strait in November on the Ambai
The Dampier Strait, though more touched by people’s presence, was really great diving. The night dives there, in particular, were superior. I’ve done 400 dives, and I’ve seen things I never saw before there.
Diving Dampier Strait in December on the Samambaia
Excellent, but the visibility could have been better
Diving Dampier Strait in December on the Ambai
Amazing, so much diversity and always something to see
Diving Dampier Strait in March on the Epica
Great, quite varied - a lot of different types and kinds o dives.
Diving Dampier Strait in August on the Coralia
Strong currents and low viz.
Diving Dampier Strait in November on the Seaisee
Great visibility and lots of variety of corals and fish.
Diving Dampier Strait in December on the Seahorse
Great! You must be experienced in heavy current. We were there on a new moon and the currents are stronger at a full and new moon.
Diving Dampier Strait in January on the Mutiara Laut
Sad compared to previous dive trips.
Diving Dampier Strait in February on the Ilike
Enjoyed some dives more than others but all were extremely varied and filled with fish and life.
Diving Dampier Strait in February on the Jaya
Sharks, mantas, shoals of jet fish and sweet lips - awesome!
Diving Dampier Strait in December on the Ambai
wonderful underwater world, healthy reef and marine life (Mantas :) )
Diving Dampier Strait in December on the La Galigo
Marvelous and more chalenging because of quite strong currents
Diving Dampier Strait in October on the Pearl of Papua
Certainly the best diving of the trip.
Diving Dampier Strait in January on the Pearl of Papua
Great. Strong currents, sometimes low visibility.
Diving Dampier Strait in March on the Manta Mae
The sites we visited were full of life and Vis was terrific
Diving Dampier Strait in August on the Coralia
Dampier has a few of the best spots in Raja
Diving Dampier Strait in August on the Ambai
Easier than other sites considering weaker currents
Diving Dampier Strait in September on the Epica
Fantastic - heaps of fish, coloured corals, variety of dives - fantastic!
Diving Dampier Strait in October on the Coralia
Very nice and good dving, a lot of Macro and bigger activity going on. We were unlucky with the visbility, but it was still amazing.
Diving Dampier Strait in November on the Epica
Cool, but the current was way too strong
Diving Dampier Strait in November on the Teman
Some of the best in the world. Unbeatable in terms of biodiversity.
Diving Dampier Strait in November on the Epica
It was the best diving we have had
Diving Dampier Strait in November on the Mari
Dampier also had excellent dive sites such with a lot of marine life and beautiful corals
Diving Dampier Strait in December on the Seahorse
Beautiful. There is so much diversity in marine life and habitats, you'll never want to end the dive
Diving Dampier Strait in December on the Coralia
Great diving, healthy corals and big variety of fish
Diving Dampier Strait in January on the Epica
Had some mixed currents and occasion downwards due to reef shape etc, but great vis and fantastic corals
Diving Dampier Strait in January on the Ambai
Strong, quirky currents but clear water and lots of mantas.
Diving Dampier Strait in January on the White Manta
Amazing, but the current was challenging
Diving Dampier Strait in January on the Epica
Excellent, but more crowded than Misool.
Diving Dampier Strait in January on the Seahorse
Excellent. Lots of schools of big fishes ( trevalleys, thunas, barracudas, batefishes, sweetlips, bump head Parrot fishes and gorgeaous corals in blue magic, sardine reer, Cape Kri... No manta but we saw them one week later: 15 of them were in manta ridge...
Diving Dampier Strait in January on the La Galigo
As described above, lots of stunning dive locations, each fantastic and all completely different- gardens, walls, pinacle tops with strong current and giant schools of everything, jettys clouded with fish stationing underneath, every single one worth recommending.
Diving Dampier Strait in February on the Mikumba 2
I love Dampier Strait. (visual range is not good as other site, but best point in Raja ampat.)
Diving Dampier Strait in March on the Pearl of Papua
Visibility was not SO good
Diving Dampier Strait in March on the Jaya
diving within schools of fish and corals
Diving Dampier Strait in June on the Coralia
Great, loads of fish, too many (Wobbegong) Sharks to count and the absolute highlight the Manta's at Manta Ridge.
Diving Dampier Strait in November on the Epica
With the guides experience, strong currents negotiated with ease
Diving Dampier Strait in November on the Epica
Epic - lots of current, amazing coral and biodiversity. Huge schools of fish too
Diving Dampier Strait in December on the Jaya
Surprisingly diverse, don’t know what to look at first!
Diving Dampier Strait in December on the Mikumba 2
A great learning experience with the various currents at play, but I always felt well informed and prepared by the dive crew. The mantas were definitely the highlight, but the general vibrancy of raja ampats underwater world is exellent
Diving Dampier Strait in December on the Epica
Very good dive sites. One of the best I ever dived. Ambandant numbers of fishes . School of fishes and larger onces. In general Raya Ampat becomes very busy with a lot of resorts and liveonboards now. So dive sites get busy with many divers
Diving Dampier Strait in December on the Putri Papua
The dive sites were awesome, however we had some problems with the visibility. But of course that is just bad luck.
Diving Dampier Strait in February on the Epica
The strait is nothing special. I think the dive should also not be done late in the day because it was all shaded and without sunlight in the strait it feels a little mellow. This was definitely not one of my highlights.
Diving Dampier Strait in March on the Putri Papua
It is very challenging diving for me . My total dives are less 100 dives before this cruse. However now it’s OK for me.
Diving Dampier Strait in March on the Seaisee
It was Good but low visibility
Diving Dampier Strait in March on the Jaya
Beautiful, huge coral gardens, lots of sharks, huge schools of fish and many different nudibranches.
Diving Dampier Strait in November on the Queenesia II
Exceptional. One can find sites with 100% hard coral cover and a high diversity of corals and fish. Muck diving also amazing.
Diving Dampier Strait in December on the Aurora
Huge schools of fishes, sharks, woobegongs, ...
Diving Dampier Strait in January on the Ilike
Interesting places and each dive went by so fast as there is so many to see and look. All the dives were great.
Diving Dampier Strait in February on the Jaya