Raja Ampat · Month comparison
September vs May
May ranks #1 overall vs September at #4. Pre-peak sweet spot — dry season has arrived, visibility at 25–30m, and the crowds haven't caught up with the conditions yet.
September
#4 of 12 months
Strong option
Post-European-summer crowd dip while conditions remain peak — this is arguably the best value month of the dry season.
- ↑Crowds drop after August European holidays — liveaboards have space
- ↑Dive conditions still at peak: calm, 25–30m visibility, mantas active
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 | September | May |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 9 | 9 |
| Value score | 4 | 7 |
| Crowd score | 4 | 7 |
| Events score | 3 | 3 |
| Atmosphere | 9 | 9 |
| Avg high temp | 30°C | 31°C |
| Monthly rain | 80mm | 95mm |
| Daily sunshine | 7.5hrs | 7hrs |
September trade-offs
- ↓Prices remain high through September — only easing late in month
- ↓Some operators begin reducing schedules after peak season
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 →