Misool Resort offers some of the best diving (and snorkeling) we’ve ever experienced. This is one of the richest coral reefs in the world, with more than 1,300 species of reef fish and 70 percent of the world’s known coral species.

It’s also one of the few places in the world where biodiversity is improving, rather than declining, thanks to the 300,000-acre patrolled Misool Marine Reserve, nestled within the Raja Ampat Shark and Manta Sanctuary. Surveys have shown a 250- to 600-percent increase in fish biomass, and 25 times more sharks inside the Misool Marine Reserve than out.

What does that look like to divers and snorkelers? Thick schools of diverse species of fish. Manta rays swooping over vibrant and varied coral reefs. It's a tale with such royal and opulent visions that it’s no wonder the name Raja Ampat translates to the “Four Kings.”

Located in the northwest corner of Indonesia’s West Papua province, the Raja Ampat archipelago sits in the Coral Triangle. It is popular with liveaboards, but Misool Resort, an honest-to-goodness eco-resort in the deep south of Raja Ampat, is the jewel in these four kings’ crowns.

Related Reading: A Diver's Guide to Bormes-les-Mimosas, France

Misool Resort: Making a Difference

The elegantly rustic Misool Resort is located on Batbitim, one in a maze of islands. Spires of karst covered in green vegetation rise from surrounding lagoons that fade from crystal to the deep blue of drop-offs.

Eight stilted water cottages and the restaurant circle the North Lagoon, a protected snorkeler’s paradise. Over the hill are seven more beachfront villas, reached by a short, steep walk or by water taxi.

The resort’s origin is a remarkable tale best heard in full during one of the evening presentations. In brief, Misool is the vision of two broke dive instructors, Marit and Andrew Miners, who stumbled across paradisical Batbitim Island (and a recently abandoned shark finning camp) during a surface interval. It spurred them to action. They contacted the local villages who were battling with outside fishermen plundering their traditional fishing territories. A partnership was formed and Misool was born, the eco-resort that would fund conservation work in the area.

Since its inception, Misool has trained and funded a local 18-person Ranger Patrol to maintain constant vigilance on the marine reserve. They’ve also set up career and recycling programs, all while developing one of the best dive and snorkeling lodges on the planet.

If you ever doubt a handful of passionate and determined people can make a difference in this world, Misool is the place to find your faith. And we say that with a sweeping gesture—Misool is a team effort: the founders, the village partners, the staff.

This small resort (max. 40 guests) offers a variety of activities, from kayaking to cooking classes to excursions to neighbouring islands. (And, of course, snorkeling and diving.)

Dive Into Underwater Riches

Divers are divided into small groups and have the option of joining several daily guided boat dives. A special touch: dive groups rotate around different sites (there are more than 60 within a one-hour radius) so that no site receives too much pressure or crowding.

As for the diving, every descent was exceptional and different. This ecosystem of fringing reefs, mangroves, and seamounts has been referred to as a species factory, and the amount and diversity of marine life here is staggering.

Most dives are gentle drifts (depths around 76 feet) along walls with branching corals and gorgonians, where you’re likely to spot moray eels, electric clams and pygmy seahorses. Turn out to the blue, and you’ll see schools of bumphead parrotfish and barracuda. Wobbegong sharks rest on bright beds of coral in ambers and pinks, and manta rays glide over pinnacles. Safety stops are over beds of plate and staghorn coral clouded by fish schooling in the thousands. (It can be difficult to spot your dive buddy.)

Don’t pass up the opportunity to do a night dive on the house reef. Mandarin fish wow divers with their sunset courtship rituals and endemic epaulette Raja Ampat “walking” sharks (discovered in 2006) use modified pectoral fins to walk over the shallow reef.

Related Reading: What Underwater Photogaphers Should Know About Raja Ampat

Something Special for Snorkelers

Here’s another special touch: snorkelers are treated like divers, with twice-daily guided trips that take them to different places in the reserve. Misool is the only place we’ve been that does that and, given the number of snorkelers staying at the resort with us, word is deservedly getting around.

Need to Know Diving Misool Resort, Indonesia

When to Go: This Southern Hemisphere destination is tropical year-round. Misool Resort is closed July through mid-September (rougher weather).

Dive Conditions: Visibility is usually at least 65 feet. Water temperatures are around 79 degrees Fahrenheit in winter and 82 degrees Fahrenheit in summer. Depths range from 50 to 100 feet. Suitable for divers of all levels.

Operators: The Misool Dive Centre is the resort shop. Dive and snorkel trips run like clockwork from this spacious center, which features wet and dry areas, work stations for camera gear, and a veranda for warming up between trips. Groups are small and the guides are skilled. Diving is non-deco, due to the remote location, and free nitrox is available. Book all diving, snorkeling, courses, private guides and hire equipment well in advance; wetsuits are not available for hire.

Travel Tips: Transit through Jakarta and fly Garuda Indonesia to Sorong Airport. Misool’s team will meet guests at the airport, and transfer to the resort is via private speedboat, taking around four hours. Review Misool’s FAQ page and follow up with the team if you have questions. Pack casual, quick-drying clothes in light colors (fewer mosquitos), with warm layers.

Make a Difference: Misool Resort exists to fund the Misool Foundation, which tasks itself with safeguarding this biodiverse area and empowering local communities. The resort donates a portion of profits to the foundation—your visit does make a difference. Projects include the Ranger Patrol; education programs; community recycling (the foundation purchases rubbish from communities and ships it to be recycled); and creating sustainable jobs for local people. Many staff started as dishwashers and worked their way to dive guides. Guests can help by paying for dive courses; speak to Misool if interested. You can also donate directly.

Recent highlights include:

• Studies show that shark numbers in the Misool Marine Reserve have increased by 190% since 2012.⁠

• 350 high school students joined Misool’s marine conservation programs.⁠

• Coral gardeners restored 14983 square feet (1392m2) of reef in 2023.⁠

• Misool received 11 leopard shark eggs into its ReShark nursery.⁠

BIO

To create their unique National Geographic book, A Diver’s Guide to the World: Remarkable Dive Travel Destinations Above and Beneath the Surface , dive travel experts Carrie Miller and Chris Taylor traveled to 50 inspirational locations around the world, spending more than 250 hours underwater. Carrie is also the author of 100 Dives of a Lifetime: The World's Ultimate Underwater Destinations.

@beneaththesurfacemedia; @carriemiller_writer