Exploring Raja Ampat: North-West Papua, Indonesia (Ultimate Indonesia: Extraordinary Adventures)

Raja Ampat is an extraordinary archipelago of jungle-clad limestone islands, hidden lagoons and pristine coral reefs. Scattered across the heart of the Coral Triangle on the north-western tip of Papua within Indonesia's Bird's Head Seascape, it is home to the greatest concentration of marine biodiversity on Earth and ranks among the world's finest destinations for diving, cruising and adventure. Created for divers, liveaboard guests, yacht cruisers and adventurous travellers alike, this richly illustrated guide combines practical guidance with exceptional photography to help readers experience one of Indonesia's most remarkable destinations with confidence. Whether you are planning your first dive holiday, exploring aboard a liveaboard, cruising by private yacht, or simply seeking a deeper understanding of this extraordinary region, it provides the knowledge and inspiration to make the most of every visit. Combining over 550 pages of detailed location descriptions with clear dive site illustrations, satellite imagery, anchorage information, and hundreds of spectacular topside and underwater photographs, Exploring Raja Ampat is the unrivalled resource for discovering this extraordinary archipelago. From exhilarating drift dives and colourful coral gardens to crystal-clear mangroves, towering limestone karsts, secluded beaches and remote island anchorages, Raja Ampat rewards exploration at every turn. Its immense size, remarkable variety of habitats and countless opportunities for discovery ensure that no two journeys are ever quite the same. The result of years of exploration and meticulous research, Exploring Raja Ampat brings together an unrivalled depth of local knowledge in a single volume, making it the most authoritative guide available for this remarkable region. Exploring Raja Ampat forms part of the Ultimate Indonesia: Extraordinary Adventures series, alongside Exploring Komodoand the upcoming Exploring Flores to Alor. Praise for Exploring Raja Ampat "InExploring Raja Ampat,Garry Bevan takes on the enormous task of capturing the complexity of Raja Ampat (Four Kings), the Indonesian region of islands and ocean northwest of the huge island of New Guinea. Exploring Raja Ampat is the culmination of over two decades of research and exploration by a highly knowledgeable expert, backed up by some of the original pioneers of Raja Ampat exploration. The acknowledgements section is a Who's Who of Indonesian diving giants. The result is the most up-to-date and, by some stretch, the most comprehensive guide to the best dive sites, snorkelling areas, secluded bays, deserted beaches, and stunning scenery in the region. Detailed charts, satellite images, and gorgeous photos taken by some of the best photographers in the business accompany the practical sections, dive site plans and descriptions, logistical information, and details of preferred mooring locations. There's really nothing quite like this book. The author has built on the template created for his previous book, Exploring Komodo,and expanded and developed the design, moving the state of the art forward. This is not only an outstanding guide for professionals organising and running Raja Ampat trips, but it also serves as a fabulous record of an extraordinary place, an essential planning tool for travelling divers, and a magnificent souvenir." Simon Pridmore