Raja Ampat archipelago is the biggest marine life and underwater species in the world is located off the northwest tip of Bird's Head Peninsula on the island of New Guinea. Raja Ampat archipelago encompasses nearly ten million acres of land and sea off the northwestern tip of Indonesia’s West Papua Province.
Raja Ampat consists of the four large islands of Waigeo, Batanta,
Salawati, and Misool, plus hundreds of smaller islands. Located in the
Coral Triangle, the heart of the world’s coral reef biodiversity, the
seas around Raja Ampat possibly hold the richest variety of species in
the world. Raja Ampat offers you another cutting edge experiences
except the under water habitat, the above water view, beautiful sunset.
Healthy with unusual reef structure dive spot with the most diverse
marine is the best way to express the beauty of Raja Ampat. Raja Ampat
is have inhibited the growth of tourism. This area's staggering
abundance of marine life is due in part to its incredibly low human
population density. The islands are primarily karst limestone, which
are dry, inhospitable, and overwhelmingly vertical. The few resident
Papuans are mainly a subsistence society, exploiting a variety of
resources to meet their basic needs. Fishing is only one of these
resources, and they continue to employ traditional, low-impact fishing
techniques, using a hook and line from dug-out canoes.
Diving in Raja Ampat is characterized by outstanding scenery, both
above and below the waterline. Much of the diving is on coral reefs
beneath small mushroom shaped rock islands, topped with green
vegetation and rising from the blue ocean. Beneath the water’s surface,
the reefs are covered with lush soft corals, sea fans and sponges in
every possible color, which are swarmed by thousands of small orange
and purple anthias (a kind of fish). Large fields of pristine hard
corals cover the top of the reef and large table corals compete with
the soft corals and sea fans for space on the reef walls. Most of the
reefs are surrounded by clouds of baitfish and fusiliers (also a kind
of fish) so thick they can block the sum. Large fish such as groupers,
tuna and mackerel, attracted by the schooling baitfish, are present on
many of the reefs, as are all of the normal smaller reef dwellers.
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At Kabui Passage, between Waigeo and Gam Islands, a narrow passage,
only the distance of a short Peyton Manning touchdown pass, separates
the two islands. There is often a swift flow of water in the channel
and the key to the dive is staying close to the edge of the channel,
where there are many large rocks and small bays in which shelter from
the current can be found.
The variety of marine life can be staggering. Some areas boast enormous
schools of fish and regular sightings of sharks, such as wobbegongs. In
Mansuar, it's highly likely you'll encounter large groups of manta rays
and turtles. From the boat and often close to shore you may get the
chance to don your snorkelling gear for some unforgettable interaction
with resident pods of dolphins or even some passing whales.
Here you'll witness other unique species such us pigmy seahorse,
webbegong, manta ray and endemic fish called eviota raja (king eviota).
One of the best spot is Chicken Reef; you'll surrounded by thousand of
fish, bamboo shark and snappers. There just too many species to be
named in Raja Ampat, just come and experience all the glories of Raja
Ampat.
One of the most breathtaking diving experiences is the encounter with
school of barracuda (an expert assistance will be needed in certain
diving spot), reef shark, and tortoise shell. In certain dive spot like
Salawati, Batanta and Waigeo you could find Dugong or mermaid.
The area’s massive coral colonies show that its reefs are resistant to
threats like coral bleaching and disease —threats that now jeopardize
the survival of corals around the world. In addition, Raja Ampat’s
strong ocean currents sweep coral larvae across the Indian and Pacific
Oceans to replenish other reef ecosystems. Raja Ampat’s coral
diversity, resilience to threats, and ability to replenish reefs make
it a global priority for marine protection.
Sea conditions around Raja Ampat have remained relatively stable for
millions of years, this, combined with a great diversity of habitats,
has enabled a huge biodiversity to develop. Located at the crossroads
of two major continents (Asia and Australia) with a complex set of
islands around the whole of the Birds Head Seascape, conditions have
been ideal for speciation to occur. Ie the evolution of new species.
Hence the comment – “Raja Ampat is one giant species factory”.
Raja Ampat are Isolated populations, low human population, and a system
of reef ownership with local management have kept the reefs around Raja
Ampat in excellent condition. Huge corals demonstrate that Raja Ampat
also has resilient reefs that are resistant to threats like diseases
and bleaching. These are issues that now threaten coral reefs around
the world. Powerful ocean currents carry larvae from the huge diversity
of marine life in Raja Ampat to reefs in other parts of Indonesia and
across to reefs in other counties. It is the heart of the “supply
chain” of species. This helps to replenish reefs that have been damaged
by disease, bleaching, overfishing and other detrimental activities -
if and when appropriate conditions are restored.
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