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Hotels, dive operators, gear, and how to get here are on the Raja Ampat location page.
Overview
A 1.6 km tidal channel separating Gam and Waigeo islands, narrow enough at points to throw a rope across. Limestone karst walls draped in orange soft corals plunge into water stained brown by mangrove tannins; archerfish hunt insects above the surface while wobbegongs sleep in cracks below. Tidal flow rips through on incoming and outgoing tide, so divers ride drifts past swimthroughs, undercut walls, and pygmy seahorses (Hippocampus denise and bargibanti) on sea fans. Light drops after midday as low sun and steep walls darken the channel.
Briefing note
Dive on slack or with the current rather than against it; rips can exceed 4 knots through the narrowest sections. Marine Park entry tag (about IDR 1,000,000 / USD 65 for foreign divers, valid one year) must be purchased in Sorong or Waisai before diving.
What you'll see
8 species curated- year-roundTasselled wobbegongPeak: Jan · Feb · Mar · Apr · May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct · Nov · Dec
- year-roundDenise's pygmy seahorsePeak: Jan · Feb · Mar · Apr · May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct · Nov · Dec
- year-roundBargibant's pygmy seahorsePeak: Jan · Feb · Mar · Apr · May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct · Nov · Dec
- year-roundBanded archerfishPeak: Jan · Feb · Mar · Apr · May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct · Nov · Dec
- year-roundBumphead parrotfishPeak: Jan · Feb · Mar · Apr · May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct · Nov · Dec
- year-roundGiant trevallyPeak: Jan · Feb · Mar · Apr · May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct · Nov · Dec
- year-roundHawksbill turtlePeak: Jan · Feb · Mar · Apr · May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct · Nov · Dec
- year-roundBroadclub cuttlefishPeak: Jan · Feb · Mar · Apr · May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct · Nov · Dec
Conditions
| Month | Water | Visibility | Current |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 28–30 °C | 8–15 m | strong |
| Feb | 28–30 °C | 8–15 m | strong |
| Mar | 28–30 °C | 10–18 m | strong |
| Apr | 28–30 °C | 10–18 m | strong |
| May | 28–30 °C | 8–15 m | strong |
| Jun | 27–29 °C | 5–12 m | strong |
| Jul | 27–29 °C | 5–12 m | strong |
| Aug | 27–29 °C | 5–12 m | strong |
| Sep | 27–29 °C | 8–15 m | strong |
| Oct | 28–30 °C | 10–18 m | strong |
| Nov | 28–30 °C | 10–18 m | strong |
| Dec | 28–30 °C | 8–15 m | strong |
Season calendar
Peak season highlighted · current month outlined
Next step
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