When is the best time to dive The Passage?

The typical diving season is January to December; October to May. Conditions vary year to year, so confirm locally before booking.

Indonesia · Central Raja Ampat

The Passage

Q: Is The Passage good for snorkelling?

Yes - snorkelling is viable here. Yes - widely offered as a snorkel and kayak site alongside diving, especially the calmer mangrove edges and lunch-stop lagoon

Best time to dive

January to December; October to May

What you might see

BarracudaPossible
Eagle rayPossible
Flamboyant cuttlefishLikely
Grey reef sharkLikely
MandarinfishLikely
Manta rayLikely
Moray eelLikely
NudibranchLikely
Pygmy seahorsePossible
Sea turtleLikely
SeahorsePossible

Sightings are seasonal probabilities, not promises - even in peak season nature does its own thing.

Certification & difficulty

Advanced Open Water - advanced conditions (currents/depth); dive within your training.

Snorkelling

Snorkel-friendly - Yes - widely offered as a snorkel and kayak site alongside diving, especially the calmer mangrove edges and lunch-stop lagoon

Safety notes

Strong, unpredictable tidal currents; low light/reduced visibility in the shaded channel; sharp limestone outcrops and mangrove roots; boat traffic at channel entrances

Permits & fees

Raja Ampat Marine Park entry permit (kartu masuk/PIN) required: IDR 700,000 for foreign visitors, IDR 425,000 for Indonesian citizens, valid 12 months from purchase; children under 12 exempt

Permits and operators change - confirm before booking.

Location

Nearest hub: Waigeo-Gam channel

This profile is desk research, compiled from public sources - not a first-hand dive report. Coordinates are approximate.