If you’re considering a Raja Ampat Snorkeling Tour, your mind is in the right place. There’s no place quite like Raja Ampat in the world. It’s the epicenter for marine life biodiversity; as such, you’ll find that over the course of your snorkel tour you will have snorkeled over and alongside more species of reef and fish than anywhere else in the world! All of this underwater awesomeness is only complemented by the surreal topside beauty that Raja Ampat has also become famous for! Before you book your Raja Ampat snorkel tour, though, there are a few things you’ll want to take into consideration; for example, it’s a good idea to understand just how massive Raja Ampat is—approximately 46,000 square kilometers or 29,000 square miles—with the north and south offering very different snorkeling experiences. You’ll also want to decide how you’d like to snorkel in Raja Ampat, by which I mean: would you rather do so from a snorkel liveaboard or from a snorkel resort, which again will impact your final decision. If this all seems a bit more decision-making than you expected, not to worry, we’re going to break down all these different aspects so you can be sure you’ve made the correct decision for your next Raja Ampat snorkeling tour. The North of Raja Ampat - Dampier Strait and Fam Islands Where snorkeling is concerned, the north tends to offer a bit more diversity when it comes to types of snorkeling sites. You of course the have the iconic limestone islands characteristic of Raja Ampat with their classic mushroom shape, but you also have stunning mangroves that seem to grow right out of the reefs in clear blue water, a few places where mantas come to feed and clean, and several different villages whose large wooden piers or
If you’re considering a Raja Ampat Snorkeling Tour, your mind is in the right place. There’s no place quite like Raja Ampat in the world. It’s the epicenter for marine life biodiversity; as such, you’ll find that over the course of your snorkel tour you will have snorkeled over and alongside more species of reef
The Coralia Liveaboard is well known for many things: its spacious cabins, romantic wooden finish, stellar crew, and convenient and uber-comfortable design. At least, that's something we talk about a lot whenever we talk about Coralia. One thing we haven't really highlighted too much, at least in any great detail, is its food! The chefs on the Coralia have cultivated an extensive menu that beautifully combines a variety of Western flavors along with Indonesian favorites. With enough notice, they can accommodate just about any dietary preferences or requirements while still delivering the rich flavors you crave. Here's one of our guests' favorites from past tours aboard the Coralia. Ayam Bakar Taliwang ('Taliwang Style' - Spicy Grilled Chicken) A flavor-packed Indonesian favorite from the Coralia galley, tender chicken simmered in a fragrant spice blend, then finished over the grill for a smoky, caramelized char. Ingredients 200 g garlic, roughly chopped 300 g shallots, roughly chopped 1 inch fresh turmeric, or 1 tbsp turmeric powder 2 inches fresh ginger, or 2 tbsp ginger powder 2 inches fresh galangal, optional 3 stalks lemongrass 3 bay leaves 3 kaffir lime leaves 200 ml coconut cream 1 chicken, chopped into pieces Neutral oil for sautéing ~100 ml Water Method Sauté the garlic, shallots, turmeric, ginger, and galangal in a little neutral oil until golden and fragrant. Transfer to a blender, add 100 ml water, and blend until smooth. Return the spice paste to the stove. Add the lemongrass, bay leaves, and kaffir lime leaves. Add the chicken and enough water to just barely cover it. Bring to a boil. Once boiling, stir in the coconut cream and simmer for 1 minute, then remove from the heat. Remove the chicken and finish it on a hot grill pan, or even better, over a barbecue, until cooked
The Coralia Liveaboard is well known for many things: its spacious cabins, romantic wooden finish, stellar crew, and convenient and uber-comfortable design. At least, that’s something we talk about a lot whenever we talk about Coralia. One thing we haven’t really highlighted too much, at least in any great detail, is its food! The chefs
We caught up with our resident Marine Biologist, Lydia Vavoulas, for a chat about her recent tour through the Banda Sea aboard the Mermaid II Liveaboard, and then we dove deep into corals, where she gave us an in-depth look at the coral reef ecology. She then gave us insight into our new Snorkel for Good Campaign, with some exciting new conservation initiatives that Snorkel Venture is helping to sponsor. We wrap it up with her thoughts on her brand-new Olympus TG-7 camera!
We caught up with our resident Marine Biologist, Lydia Vavoulas, for a chat about her recent tour through the Banda Sea aboard the Mermaid II Liveaboard, and then we dove deep into corals, where she gave us an in-depth look at the coral reef ecology. She then gave us insight into our new Snorkel for
One of the best things about snorkeling is the endless sense of discovery. Just when you think you've seen it all, you come across a fish that's been there all along, you just never noticed it until today. Then, suddenly, you start spotting it on every snorkel. Fish identification is never ending! And if you ever feel like the more you snorkel, the less you know, don't be discouraged. Fish are the most diverse group of vertebrates on the planet, so there's always a new name to learn. To help sharpen your fish ID skills, I'm going to introduce you to the four most common families of Indonesian reef fish, explain how to identify them, and sprinkle in a few fun fish facts along the way, because who doesn't love those? Damselfish On my most recent tour, I had the pleasure of introducing a guest to the damselfish family. Once you start noticing them, it's mind-boggling just how many different species there are. In fact, one could argue that without damselfish, the reef would lose a lot of its sparkle. Damselfish are often called the "confetti fish" because they burst out from coral heads like fish-fetti! If approached, they seem to move as one, ducking back into the coral for shelter in a perfectly synchronized flash. These coordinated movements are like underwater fireworks and will leave you mesmerized. If you've ever snorkeled over a tropical reef, I can almost guarantee you've seen a damselfish. They are one of the most common reef fish and can be identified by their oval-shaped, laterally flattened bodies, forked tails, and are almost always found in groups. Most damselfish are between 2 and 15 cm long, although some species can grow up to 30 cm. Color isn't the best way to identify them, as they
One of the best things about snorkeling is the endless sense of discovery. Just when you think you’ve seen it all, you come across a fish that’s been there all along, you just never noticed it until today. Then, suddenly, you start spotting it on every snorkel. Fish identification is never ending! And if you
In May of 2026, we ran our very first snorkeling tour to the Solomon Islands, and as you’ll soon see, I have a lot to say about it, because it absolutely rocked! In the snorkel guide below, you’ll hopefully get a feel for the many different aspects of the tour, from the liveaboard, the travel logistics, the above-water experiences, and of course, the reefs and marine life. In my opinion, and I believe it’s the same for most of the guests who joined this snorkeling tour, it doesn’t really matter where you’ve snorkeled prior to the Solomons; you’re going to love it. Where are the Solomon Islands The Solomon Islands are located off the east coast of Papua New Guinea and northeast of Australia. The 1,000 islands that make up the Solomons are all located on the easternmost corner of the Coral Triangle, an area well known for having the most marine biodiversity on the planet. How to Get to the Solomon Islands The easiest way to get to the Solomon Islands is via Brisbane, Australia, or Fiji. On this particular tour, we started in Fiji and flew to the capital city of the Solomon Islands, Honiara. We’ve since decided that it’s easier to fly through Australia. Once in Honiara, we catch an organized transport van which will take us to our hotel in town and on the coast. Honiara is not a very beautiful place; it’s a major port town and a bit similar to Sorong in Indonesia. We have a nice and comfortable hotel to stay in, though it’s called the Heritage Park Hotel, which is a 4-star hotel right on the water and a nice little refuge from the heat and chaos outside. The following afternoon, we board the Bilikiki. The Bilikiki Liveaboard Up until just a
In May of 2026, we ran our very first snorkeling tour to the Solomon Islands, and as you’ll soon see, I have a lot to say about it, because it absolutely rocked! In the snorkel guide below, you’ll hopefully get a feel for the many different aspects of the tour, from the liveaboard, the travel
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The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
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