Raja Ampat · Month comparison
December vs May
May ranks #1 overall vs December at #11. Pre-peak sweet spot — dry season has arrived, visibility at 25–30m, and the crowds haven't caught up with the conditions yet.
December
#11 of 12 months
Strong option
Christmas–New Year divers arrive for the manta peak — excellent diving despite heavy rain, but book liveaboards 3 months ahead for the holiday week.
- ↑Manta rays at Manta Sandy and Manta Ridge at their most concentrated Dec–Feb
- ↑Christmas and New Year liveaboard trips fill with serious divers — good group atmosphere
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 | December | May |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 6 | 9 |
| Value score | 5 | 7 |
| Crowd score | 5 | 7 |
| Events score | 5 | 3 |
| Atmosphere | 8 | 9 |
| Avg high temp | 30°C | 31°C |
| Monthly rain | 190mm | 95mm |
| Daily sunshine | 5hrs | 7hrs |
December trade-offs
- ↓190mm rain — island-hopping and Wayag lagoon access weather-dependent
- ↓Christmas and New Year week: peak liveaboard pricing returns for 2 weeks
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 →