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Irian Jaya, Western Papua New Guinea, Indonesia
 The world's richest reefs (!) are located in Papua Barat/West Papua, formerly known as Irian Jaya. This area is part of Indonesia, and shares the main island of Papua with neighboring Papua New Guinea. Consisting of a group of more than 600 islands, this is a majestic realm more varied and colorful than you can ever imagine. The Marine Conservancy called it the most biologically diverse coral reefs in the world after their 2003 expedition. "This reef should be protected at all cost because it represents a baseline to which all other reefs in the world may be compared" according to world renowned fish biologist Dr. Gerald Allen.
As there is still relatively hard to find information in travel guides and dive portals on this area, Dive Global compiled as much information as possible for you to be able to visit this stunning and pristine part of the world.
Irian Jaya harbors some of the most remote and untamed territory left on earth. Equally remote in their natural habitat are the indigenous people here, many  of whom still pursue an aboriginal existence in the vast rainforests like they have for many generations. As a result, much of the jungle, and the extensive fringing reef system, are still to be found in a relatively pure and unspoiled condition
Still relatively few divers visit the Western side of the Papua island and the ones that do mostly tour the Raja Ampat Islands by liveaboard. It is in this area that renowned marine author Dr. G. Allen recorded a record of 283 fish species in one single dive! Since then the area is know among divers as the destination that holds the world record for the most fish species ever recorded in a single dive.
The list of marine life that can be found in this area is endless, with a recent fish count of over 3000 species. Critters include Rhinopias, pygmy seahorses, ghostpipe fish, seahorses, inimicus and much more. Whales, manta rays, sharks, giant groupers and larger pelagic species are found in the dive sites with higher currents. Potentially over 300 scleractinian (reef building) coral species from 100 genera reside within the Raja Empat area. Dolphins, Hawksbill turtles, Green turtles and the Great Leatherback turtles are common. Leatherback and Hawksbill turtles nest in the Raja Empat region. Occasionally whales & Kararus are spotted, possibly during their regular migration through the area. The night diving is also spectacular with the most amazing critters making their appearances.
While the options are still (luckily) somewhat limited, divers interested in experiencing Raja Ampat and Irian Jaya do have a handful of workable alternatives between land based diving from Sorong, on the most western tip of the main island, and liveaboards that depart from Bali, Sulawesi or Sorong.
Papua Diving/Irian Diving by Max Ammers
First there was Papua Diving/Irian Diving, a pioneering operation in Irian Jaya that established the rustic but capable Kri Eco Resort dive resort. Working in the area for more than 12 years, Dutch-born Max was one of the first to discover how good the diving in this area is and over the years he started developing a series of shore-based dive camps on beaches beside some of the area's most prolific dive sites. This has grown into the Kri Eco Resort.
Of the few dive operators to attempt regular operation in the area, Papua Diving was the first and is the most knowledgeable. Max ventured into this area years ago to discover a stunning reef system, teeming with marine life. His many years of exploration and experiences with the indigenous Papua people have given him a wealth of information of the area. He has now grown his venture into a top-flight international operation, with some beautiful resort locations and employing only local people to help him with his operations. After many battles with authorities, the local bureaucracy has finally allowed him to operate on a regular basis, although not without the occasional difficulty thrown his way. But he has persevered and now has a steady stream of mostly European clients anxious to sample the stunning underwater world. He also has extensive knowledge about the World War II shipwrecks of which there are many, as well as fighter planes at various depths, some of which still held the skeletons of the pilots when Max found them years back.
 Sorido Bay Resort
In late 2004, Max Ammers opened his second, more luxurious Sorido Bay Resort on Kri Island. This dive/eco resort allows you to experience more Western style comforts in a Papuan setting. Located on a beautiful deep lagoon and white sand beach on Kri Island, the dive resort is only a stone's throw away from one of the most spectacular dive sites in Raja Ampat, Cape Kri. And if that is not enough, there are the Manokwari wreck dives. These are WW II wrecks which were only discovered relatively recently. Since diving in this region is still in it's infancy, the wrecks have not been plundered as in Truk Lagoon, PNG, the Solomons, Vanuatu and other well-known wreck diving areas. By special arrangement, Papua Diving can schedule to dive wrecks in the Manokwari area (on the east side of the bird's head). There are many wild birds flying around the resort grounds, including parrots and cockatoos. Some
of these exotic birds were kept as free-flying pets at the resort. Meanwhile, in
the shallow water baby sharks can be seen chasing after prey.
Liveaboards.
There are a number of liveaboard to choose from. We've outlined the better known ones below but have noticed new ones springing up as the area becomes more known:
M/Y Pindito
Other early scuba diving explorers of Irian Jaya are the Swiss brothers Edi and Robert Frommenwiler. With their handcrafted, Pinissi-style motor sailor, the M/Y Pindito, they offer three or more dives per day in the Raja Ampat area. Thus far they have been catering to a predominantly European clientele as well. While previously based in Ambon, and then for a time in Komodo, Pindito makes Sorong its base of operations as well.
M/V Kararu
A relative new addition to these waters is Kararu Dive's new luxury liveaboard M/Y Voyages; a Bali-based live-aboard operation that makes a series of Irian cruises each spring during the best weather season.
The Voyager is a fully equipped luxury floating hotel and scuba diving platform. This fully equipped liveaboard offers individually air-conditioned cabins and staterooms, spacious saloons, e-mail access, a reading library and sundecks. You won't be lacking for luxury and amenities on this vessel!
The Voyager is a fully equipped luxury floating hotel and scuba diving platform. This fully equipped liveaboard offers individually air-conditioned cabins and staterooms, spacious saloons, e-mail access, a reading library and sundecks.
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