Raja Ampat · Month comparison
August vs May
May ranks #1 overall vs August at #8. Pre-peak sweet spot — dry season has arrived, visibility at 25–30m, and the crowds haven't caught up with the conditions yet.
August
#8 of 12 months
Strong option
Absolute peak of the liveaboard season — every reputable operator running, best conditions of the year, highest prices of the year.
- ↑Consistently calm Banda Sea and Raja Ampat passages — all dive routes open
- ↑Pygmy seahorse sightings in Misool gorgonian fans most reliable in dry season
May
#1 of 12 months
Best match
Pre-peak sweet spot — dry season has arrived, visibility at 25–30m, and the crowds haven't caught up with the conditions yet.
- ↑25–30m visibility in dive sites including the famous Cape Kri fish count spot
- ↑Liveaboard prices still 15–20% below July–August peak
| Factor | August | May |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 9 | 9 |
| Value score | 3 | 7 |
| Crowd score | 3 | 7 |
| Events score | 4 | 3 |
| Atmosphere | 8 | 9 |
| Avg high temp | 30°C | 31°C |
| Monthly rain | 55mm | 95mm |
| Daily sunshine | 8hrs | 7hrs |
August trade-offs
- ↓All quality liveaboards fully booked — walk-in booking impossible
- ↓Sorong airport busy — plan arrival buffer day in case of Garuda or Wings delays
May trade-offs
- ↓Some liveaboard routes still avoiding southern passages until June
- ↓Fewer dive operators running than July–August — less schedule flexibility
Scores compare months within Raja Ampat. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →