Raja Ampat · Month comparison

November vs May

May ranks #1 overall vs November at #12. 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 November — snorkelling coastal waters manta season begins

November

#12 of 12 months

Strong option

Wet season in force — many operators close for maintenance, but manta season is beginning again and underwater visibility holds.

  • ↑Manta season begins again at Manta Sandy — early bookings for December peak
  • ↑Some operators offer 20–30% discounts on last remaining wet-season liveaboards
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
FactorNovemberMay
Weather score
5
9
Value score
6
7
Crowd score
6
7
Events score
3
3
Atmosphere
7
9
Avg high temp30°C31°C
Monthly rain165mm95mm
Daily sunshine5.5hrs7hrs

November trade-offs

  • ↓Many smaller liveaboard operators closed for November maintenance period
  • ↓165mm rain — above-water activities severely limited

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 →November in detail →May in detail →
Scores compare months within Raja Ampat. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →