Raja Ampat · Month comparison
February vs May
May ranks #1 overall vs February at #10. Pre-peak sweet spot — dry season has arrived, visibility at 25–30m, and the crowds haven't caught up with the conditions yet.
February
#10 of 12 months
Strong option
Still wet but the manta season peaks — Manta Ridge can see 15+ mantas in a single dive during February feeding aggregations.
- ↑Manta ray aggregations peak at Manta Ridge — 15+ individuals on a single dive possible
- ↑Whale shark sightings possible in the northern passages near Waigeo
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 | February | 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 | 170mm | 95mm |
| Daily sunshine | 5.5hrs | 7hrs |
February trade-offs
- ↓Heavy rain limits above-water kayaking and island-hopping days
- ↓Sorong connecting flights often delayed by weather — build in buffer days
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 →