Raja Ampat · Month comparison
May vs June
May ranks #1 overall vs June at #2. Pre-peak sweet spot — dry season has arrived, visibility at 25–30m, and the crowds haven't caught up with the conditions yet.
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
June
#2 of 12 months
Best match
Best dive conditions building to full peak — calm seas across all coasts, visibility 25–30m, manta and shark encounters reliable.
- ↑Full dry season: all dive sites accessible including remote south Misool wall dives
- ↑Least rain of the year — above-water island-hopping perfect all day
| Factor | May | June |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 9 | 9 |
| Value score | 7 | 6 |
| Crowd score | 7 | 6 |
| Events score | 3 | 3 |
| Atmosphere | 9 | 9 |
| Avg high temp | 31°C | 30°C |
| Monthly rain | 95mm | 65mm |
| Daily sunshine | 7hrs | 7.5hrs |
May trade-offs
- ↓Some liveaboard routes still avoiding southern passages until June
- ↓Fewer dive operators running than July–August — less schedule flexibility
June trade-offs
- ↓Liveaboards now filling up — booking last-minute in June difficult
- ↓Piaynemo viewpoint hike can get crowded as tour boats cluster at the same time
Scores compare months within Raja Ampat. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →