Level: Resort nearby
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Last updated on January 25, 2024
Raja Ampat Biodiversity Resort’s house reef displays the extraordinary underwater life of the region. The reef flat and reef wall host a vibrant marine life where hundreds of bright-colored fish swirl above the corals. Lucky snorkelers might also come across a sea turtle, a manta ray, or a crocodile fish.
Only guests of the Raja Ampat Biodiversity Resort and the neighbouring homestays (Monkairi Homestay and Yenanas Paradise Homestay) can access this spot.
The spot is located on Gam island, in the heart of Raja Ampat archipelago. After catching a flight to Sorong, you have to take the ferry to Waisai (leaves at 9 a.m and 2. p.m., check before traveling). From there you will be picked up by a boat sent by the accommodation where you made a reservation.
You can enter the water almost anywhere you wish from the beach. If you want to explore the northern side of the reef (where a small rock emerges – see map), walk to the northern end of the beach and enter the water there.
The whole house reef can be snorkeled. From the pier to the southern tip of the beach (on your right while facing the sea), the reef flat is around 50m wide, which makes the reef wall easily accessible.
North of the pier, the reef flat widens progressively and reaches the rock (called “batu lima”, see map) which emerges from the bay, around 300m away from shore.
Raja Ampat coral reefs are well known for their richness and diversity and this spot is no exception. The reef flat and the reef wall are covered by a wide variety of hard corals and soft corals, sea fans, sponges and sea lilies.
Hundreds of damsels and sea goldies swirl around over the reef, where you can see clown triggerfish, regal angelfish, butterflyfish, and surgeonfish. Sometimes, a green turtle calmly crosses the reef.
Be on the watch of schools of barracuda often sheltering below the reef edge, and, during the season, of manta rays visiting the bay.
If you spend a few days here, try night (or dusk) snorkeling. It is the perfect occasion for observing species that live hidden during the day, such as the walking sharks, which have learned to “walk” on the seabed with the help of their fins.
Raja Ampat Biodiversity Resort, Monkairi Homestay and Yenanas Paradise Homestay are located on the beach, facing the reef.
These snorkeling spots are accessible to beginners and kids. You will enter the water gradually from a beach, or in a less than 3ft. deep area. The sea is generally calm, shallow, with almost no waves or currents. These spots are usually located in marked and/or monitored swimming areas. It is not necessary to swim long distances to discover the sea life. This level only apply when the spot experiences optimal sea and/or weather conditions. It is not applicable if the sea and/or weather conditions deteriorate, in particular in the presence of rough sea, rain, strong wind, unusual current, large tides, waves and/or swell. You can find more details about the definition of our snorkeling levels on our snorkeling safety page.
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Snorkeling spots are part of a wild environment and their aspect can be significantly altered by weather, seasons, sea conditions, human impact and climate events (storms, hurricanes, seawater-warming episodes…). The consequences can be an alteration of the seabed (coral bleaching, coral destruction, and invasive seagrass), a poor underwater visibility, or a decrease of the sea life present in the area. Snorkeling Report makes every effort to ensure that all the information displayed on this website is accurate and up-to-date, but no guarantee is given that the underwater visibility and seabed aspect will be exactly as described on this page the day you will snorkel the spot. If you recently snorkeled this area and noticed some changes compared to the information contained on this page, please contact us.
The data contained in this website is for general information purposes only, and is not legal advice. It is intended to provide snorkelers with the information that will enable them to engage in safe and enjoyable snorkeling, and it is not meant as a substitute for swim level, physical condition, experience, or local knowledge. Remember that all marine activities, including snorkeling, are potentially dangerous, and that you enter the water at your own risk. You must take an individual weather, sea conditions and hazards assessment before entering the water. If snorkeling conditions are degraded, postpone your snorkeling or select an alternate site. Know and obey local laws and regulations, including regulated areas, protected species, wildlife interaction and dive flag laws.
