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Liveaboard Diving in Misool
What To Expect On A Misool Liveaboard
Misool liveaboards offer divers a chance to dive in the amazingly diverse area of Raja Ampat. Misool is one of the four larger islands in the Raja Ampat archipelago and the most southerly. Numerous liveaboard boats operate in the Misool area. The island comprises the main section of land, where the main town of Waigama sits on the northern edge. The town is very small, with only a single-track road and some houses and shops; it is, however, the location of the jetty where most people arrive by boat to the island. To the North and South of Misool, there is also a collection of smaller islets where the island’s only holiday resort is.
Guests aboard liveaboard boats in Misool will notice two distinct groups: the Papuan, who live in the island's center, and the Maluku people, who live on the coast. There is a strong tradition of fishing locally in Misool and a thriving Sago processing industry. Sago, extracted from the stems of tropical palm trees, is a staple food in this and other regions of Papua. Besides tourism, Sago is the biggest industry on the island, making this an interesting liveaboard itinerary.
Misool Underwater
Liveaboard boats in Misool, usually an Indonesian Phinisi (a traditional sailing vessel), will take divers to many fantastic reefs rich in sea life. The excellent visibility can be up to 30 meters or more in some areas, making for an amazing dive tour. The position of Misool and the Raja Ampat islands inside the coral triangle also means that the reefs here are caked with a huge variety of soft and hard coral species.
The color and diversity of corals and reef life are particularly pronounced at Misool. Macro lovers will find pygmy sea horses, ghost pipefish, and nudibranchs all over the coral-covered slopes. Night diving in Misool is understandably spectacular; the reefs are bustling with activity, and fascinating critters can be seen everywhere.
In addition to reef life, there are plenty of sharks to be seen as well. White and black-tipped reef sharks can often be seen patrolling over the corals or with their tails sticking out from under rocks and caves. There is also a chance in Misool to see the world’s only walking shark, the epaulet shark. The epaulet shark is only found in this region and Australia. It uses its paddle-shaped fins to ‘walk’ from the rock pools where it hunts back into the ocean, and it is the only shark that can do this. Scuba diving in Misool offers something for everyone.
Dives Sites of Misool
The diving at Misool is all about the reefs and coral; the jewel in the island’s crown is the Boo dive site. Various dive cruises are available that visit this site on a Raja Ampat itinerary. Everywhere you look, there is something new on offer; there are soft and hard corals in a rainbow of color, gorgonians, sea whips, and even a few caves and swim-throughs. Reef fish are numerous, as well as crustaceans, which can be seen feeding around the reef.
Diving Fiabacet from a liveaboard offers something special, with reef walls lined with sea fans and a host of nudibranchs. This is the perfect place for some amazing macro shots when the light is right. The islet of Farondi also offers a unique experience, especially for those who enjoy coral-encrusted caves and swim-throughs, and let’s face it, who doesn’t enjoy those? The currents in these dive sites are usually quite mild compared to other parts of the archipelago; however, they are still more suited to experienced divers than beginners.
Top Tips for Divers
- Misool, like most islands, is quite isolated, so be sure to bring spares of anything you can’t live or dive without.
- The water is quite warm, around 30 degrees, but consider covering your skin when diving near sharp corals and fire urchins.
Getting to Misool
Misool is one of the main islands liveaboards visit, but it is quite far south of the others, including Sorong, where the ferries depart from. The boat service here is irregular compared to the other islands, and chartering a boat is very expensive. The best option for those visiting to dive is a diving liveaboard booked in advance. This removes much of the hassle, and there is no more relaxed way to see the islands.
Indonesian liveaboards come in various shapes and sizes in this area, with the conventional motor vessels seen elsewhere offering comfort and top facilities for diving. The most popular type of liveaboards here, though, are the traditional Indonesian sailing boats. These beautiful sailboats offer a peaceful and traditional experience with everything you need for a smooth diving experience.
Misool Diving Reviews
- 9.2 Superb
- 85 Verified Reviews
Good visability despite a bit of weather. Great life. Beautiful scenery.
Diving Misool in March on the Samambaia
Amazing! Healthy reefs, sharks, like being in an amphitheater of fish.
Diving Misool in February on the Calico Jack
the top soft coral and hard coral location with a fantastic amount of fish
Diving Misool in May on the Coralia
Strong currents, great corals
Diving Misool in October on the Carpe Diem
Very memorable dives. Several encounters with mantas. Hunting mobula rays. Clouds of young fish ("puri"). Wobegon sharks.
Diving Misool in November on the Ambai
Lovely, healthy reefs with abundant marine life. The Manta Ray dives were exciting.
Diving Misool in March on the Ondina
Bad visibility and uncalm seas, so cruise director decided to go north earlier than what they would normally do.
Diving Misool in December on the Seahorse
Amazing - we had every dive site to ourselves.
Diving Misool in January on the Lady Denok
Beautiful hard and soft corals, schools of smaller fish
Diving Misool in January on the Akomo Isseki
Best soft coral gardens I have ever seen.
Diving Misool in December on the Jelajahi Laut
Lived-up to expectations - more healthy wall and slope dives. Prolific corals - both hard and soft, sea fans and marine life. On 2 or more dives, descended into a schools of thousands of glass fish in the midst of a feeding frenzy by larger batfish, jacks, barracuda and snappers.
Diving Misool in December on the Kira Kira
Amazing, the best fan corals I have seen and rich underwater life.
Diving Misool in December on the Calico Jack
Misool, being in the south, had wonderful coral but was also the main place outside of the Dampier Straight to see bigger fish. Mantas, turtles etc. Also some really interesting rock formations underwater.
Diving Misool in December on the Ambai
Incredible with Manta Station in Blue Magic Mountain
Diving Misool in January on the Ambai
Great wall diving with plenty of colour. Turtles, lobsters, spotted rays, mantas.
Diving Misool in October on the Mutiara Laut
Fantastic, especially Magic Mountain
Diving Misool in December on the Kira Kira
The best diving I have experienced.
Diving Misool in December on the Calico Jack
Even though vis was not really good at times, still the most beautiful coral gardens with an abundance of life we ever encountered.
Diving Misool in December on the Calico Jack
Unforgettable. Wild and colorful coral reef and creature.
Diving Misool in January on the Tambora
Fantastic - heaps of fish, coloured corals, variety of dives - fantastic!
Diving Misool in October on the Coralia
Simply stunning - I have never dived sites like these in terms of fish numbers or coral health, colour and variety
Diving Misool in November on the Kira Kira
More fish than I have ever seen in my life
Diving Misool in November on the Mari
Misool area is particularly awesome, with incredible dive sites such as shadow reef, four kings and warna warni
Diving Misool in December on the Seahorse
Mantas were incredable and the glass fish at 4 Kings were just mesmerising
Diving Misool in December on the Seahorse
Great! Highlight was seeing the mobula rays hunting in the morning...
Diving Misool in December on the Ambai
Magical! Diving with mating octopus and with mantas just above, was a once in lifetime experience
Diving Misool in December on the Teman
Good reefs, and few boats - how diving should be
Diving Misool in January on the Ambai
We were in Misool around the full moon in January and there was lots of organic stuff in the water reducing visability
Diving Misool in January on the White Manta
Here was the meeting with the Mantas.
Diving Misool in January on the Mari
World class. Stunning reefs full of fish and underwater creatures
Diving Misool in January on the Seahorse
The colours of the corals are incredible. Great variety of marine life
Diving Misool in October on the La Galigo
remote location the diving was superb.
Diving Misool in October on the Jelajahi Laut
Poorer visibility and slightly disappointed in not see larger Pelagic species in this area.
Diving Misool in October on the Jelajahi Laut
Nice corals and visibility
Diving Misool in November on the Blue Manta
The diving in Misool was good, but limited by the visibility
Diving Misool in December on the Jaya
Didnt like the wall diving but saw nice things. Current was strong
Diving Misool in December on the Samambaia
We were met with rainy weather and lower visibility, so whilst the corals were beautiful, I didn’t enjoy Misool as much as Raja Ampat.
Diving Misool in December on the Solitude Adventurer
Actually I had expected more fishes at Misol. For me not extraordinary better than dampier street. But in general that was ok, as it was my plan to dive around Misool.
Diving Misool in December on the Putri Papua
Incredible. Fantastic reef and macro diving.
Diving Misool in January on the Solitude Adventurer
Absolute festival of life and colours, some strong currents. But fun
Diving Misool in February on the White Manta
Misool diving is more interesting because there are more small highlight but I think it also comes down to being the first dives and one gets used to everything. There were not many turtles but instead sharks and cuttlefish. I would prefer diving here longer if not for the requirement to schedule dive times with the resorts in the area that try to keep only 1 team diving a spot per hour or something. Seems excessive management but it can be avoided.
Diving Misool in March on the Putri Papua
Too many wall dives which were dark and uninpressive
Diving Misool in October on the Mari
This was our favorite part of the trip. It's where we saw all the mantas that we saw during the trip. And there were lots of fish, often in huge schools. Especially the huge school of barracuda was really impressive.
Diving Misool in November on the Queenesia II
Beautiful reefs with a personal highlight of getting to watch a Manta in a cleaning station circle around for 20 minutes
Diving Misool in December on the Akomo Isseki
Also beautiful - tons of creatures but slightly less good visibility
Diving Misool in December on the Seahorse
The coral is very healthy and colorful
Diving Misool in December on the Kira Kira
Colorful, full of fishes and macro
Diving Misool in January on the Amaya Explorer
Great coral gardens and manta dive.
Diving Misool in January on the Ilike
Millions of glass fish,one cave dive was amazing
Diving Misool in February on the Putri Papua