Far to the wild eastern edge of the Indonesian archipelago, Raja Ampat boasts a biodiversity that’s unrivaled in any other ocean on the planet. The region of more than a thousand islands ranging in size from small to tiny lies in the geographic heart of the Coral Triangle, home to a greater diversity of marine species than anywhere, from corals to mollusks, fish, invertebrates and beyond. So it’s no surprise that divers flock here from around the world to experience the natural wonders that power Raja to the top of our annual readers poll with such regularity.

Luxurious Liveaboards

With thousands of islands offering as many dive sites — scattered throughout a large geographic area with very little development — the best way to experience the region is by liveaboard. The diversity of vessels includes modern, steel-hulled motor yachts as well as traditional, wooden-hulled sailing ships, all of which run the gamut of services and budgets. Because the diving draws tourists from around the world, each boat can become a microcosm of the global scuba culture, with rowdy Russians sharing decks with shy Japanese, loquacious Australians, dive-happy Europeans, and Americans from every corner of the country.

Incredible Biodiversity

Raja is _the _place to complete your critter bucket list. According to environmental experts from such agencies as the Nature Conservancy to the World Wildlife Fund, the region is home to more than 2,000 species of fish and almost 600 different corals — 75 percent of the total known coral species in all of the planet’s oceans. This means you’ll have a better chance to see mind-expanding marine life in Raja — our readers’ No. 1 choice for best marine environment in the Indo-Pacific — than anywhere else on the planet. (Consider that for a moment as you try not to reach for your checkbook.)

Soft Corals

If hard corals are the sturdy foundation of the reef, soft corals are the icing on that cake — and Raja is rife with them. In a rainbow of shades, these delicate organisms color the reef fantasies of most divers, especially underwater photographers. Notable soft-coral sites throughout the area include Three Sisters, Citrus Ridge, Gorgonian Passage, Black Rocks, Cape Kri and Arborek Jetty.

Amazing Nightlife

A night dive here is an imperative. As wild as the critter action can be during daylight hours, after dark the scene gets only stranger and more compelling. At sites scattered throughout the region, hunting cephalopods from the technicolor bobtail squid to the deadly and beautiful blue-ringed octopus — as well as highly camouflaged crocodilefish, carrier crabs adorned with anemones and the recently discovered “walking shark” — are just a few of the bizarre encounters on offer. White V octopuses, schooling catfish, enormous hunting lionfish, jellies, crabs, shrimp, frogfish and stonefish round out the parade.

Manta Sandy

World famous for good reason, this well-documented cleaning station off Mansuar Island in the Dampier Strait draws large numbers of the graceful rays with impressive regularity. The site features a wide, sandy plain tucked between two coral bommies at around 60 feet, where divers can watch as the massive fish perform acrobatic maneuvers in hopes of ridding themselves of annoying parasites. For underwater photographers and videographers — who no doubt helped launch Raja to the No. 1 spot in our Top 100 for underwater photography in the Indo-Pacific region — it’s a prime opportunity to capture career-best images and footage.

Blue-Water Mangroves

An oceanographic anomaly, the mangrove systems around Misool are noteworthy for the clarity of the surrounding water — most mangroves thrive in murky, silt-ridden conditions. Inside the sunlit maze of roots, juvenile fish species find safe nurseries alongside more-exciting creatures such as saltwater crocodiles. This shallow-water adventure is one to savor, as the sight of an achingly colorful soft coral growing amid a thicket of mangrove roots is rare in any ocean. It’s a particular draw for visiting photographers, who come from all over the world to capture images of this unique environment.

Muck Marvels

Photographers begin to salivate when the term “muck” comes up in any dive- related conversation, and Raja Ampat is home to some of the world’s best sites. On the gently sloping sand flats at Waigeo, Ambon and Batanta strange and wonderful creatures eek out an often-hidden existence in an underwater wasteland. Creatures to hunt for include mandarinfish, psychedelic frogfish, ghost pipefish, flamboyant cuttlefish, nudibranchs, and blue- ribbon eels, as well as mimic, coconut, and wonderpus octopuses. The local guides who work the region are skilled at showing guests amazing sights they would never discover on their own, and often eagerly solicit requests.

The Misool Eco Resort on the island of Batbitim, located in the massive 17,000-square-mile Raja Ampat shark and Manta Sanctuary, offers eight over-water cottages and nine multi-bedroom villas, all within easy reach of a thriving house reef. There’s also an on-site dive center, an open-air restaurant and a full-service spa.

Western palates can be seriously challenged by the cuisine of this region, but experiencing delicacies such as fried sea worms and ulat sagu, a peppery dish of satay-style bug larvae, will create lasting memories and great stories. (Don’t worry if you’re not quite _that _adventurous; the region’s many liveaboards are also renowned for gourmet Western-style cuisine.)

NEED TO KNOW:

The diving in Raja Ampat is great year-round. Water temps vary only a few degrees, from the low 80s to the high 70s. The most reliable season for fair weather occurs from October through December.

Travel Tip

Reaching Raja from the United States is an exercise in endurance and patience. Complicated, multileg flight itineraries typically terminate in Sorong, in West Papua, where most liveaboards depart.

Dive Conditions

Visibility can consistently reach beyond 100 feet, but it also can be diminished by weather and tides at certain spots. Currents can be varied in the region and change quickly and unexpectedly, so pay attention to dive briefings.

More Top 100 Spotlights:

Palau | Maui | Grand Cayman | Belize | Bahamas