Raja Ampat, an archipelago consisting of more than 1,500 islands in Indonesia, is considered one of the most biodiverse places in the world. I jumped at the chance to find out for myself and dive Raja aboard the Arenui. It is truly an amazing and unique experience. Most dive sites feel as if you are in the middle of a fish rush hour, with too many species to count.

Raja Ampat is home to nearly 75 percent of the world’s coral species, and in some bays you can find more coral species than in the entire Caribbean. This is a destination worth adding to your list and a place you could visit again and again without ever growing tired of the scenery.

Traveling by liveaboard is the most common way for divers to experience this region and offers you the best of both worlds. With four dives a day being typical, operators like the Arenui still make time to squeeze in land-based excursions like floating through Timolol cave and hiking to the Penemu viewpoint for breathtaking views.

From the shallows to the plunging walls, the fish life and coral diversity are like nothing I have ever witnessed before. I tried my best to highlight a few of my favorite moments in this video, like diving with manta rays and spotting a blue-ringed octopus! But there’s definitely nothing like experiencing this colorful, underwater world for yourself.

Learn more about diving aboard the Arenui.