Raja Ampat · Month comparison

July vs May

May ranks #1 overall vs July at #7. Pre-peak sweet spot — dry season has arrived, visibility at 25–30m, and the crowds haven't caught up with the conditions yet.

Raja Ampat July — turquoise islands aerial peak season

July

#7 of 12 months

Strong option

European summer drives peak demand despite being the wet season on the calendar — prices hit their highest while conditions remain excellent.

  • ↑Peak diving conditions: calmest seas, best visibility of the year at 25–30m
  • ↑Full complement of liveaboard operators running all itineraries
Raja Ampat May — Pyanemo viewpoint aerial 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
FactorJulyMay
Weather score
9
9
Value score
3
7
Crowd score
3
7
Events score
4
3
Atmosphere
8
9
Avg high temp30°C31°C
Monthly rain50mm95mm
Daily sunshine8hrs7hrs

July trade-offs

  • ↓Peak liveaboard pricing — 10-day trip can exceed $4,000 USD per person
  • ↓Popular homestays on Arborek and Sawinggrai fully booked months ahead

May trade-offs

  • ↓Some liveaboard routes still avoiding southern passages until June
  • ↓Fewer dive operators running than July–August — less schedule flexibility
See all 12 months for Raja Ampat →July in detail →May in detail →
Scores compare months within Raja Ampat. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →