The fish jetty
Schools below the boards.
A small, tidy village on a white-sand island in the heart of Raja Ampat, home to a few dozen Papuan families and now a model of community tourism, with simple homestays over the water run by residents and sandy lanes decorated with flowers. Its best-known feature is the wooden jetty, beneath which dense schools of colourful fish and coral gather, so jumping off the jetty puts you snorkelling at one of the richest spots in the sea. Nearby is Manta Sandy, where giant manta rays come to be cleaned in certain seasons. The village women make crafts from pandan leaves. Every foreign visitor pays a Raja Ampat environmental fee of around one million rupiah, valid for a year (check the current rate), bought in Waisai or Sorong; the speedboat is chartered or booked as a tour. Buying crafts and paying a small village fee supports the residents. Stay a night in a homestay to experience village life and snorkel at sunset, respect local customs and dress modestly within the village.
Schools below the boards.
At a nearby site.
Papuan homestays.
Arborek Island, Dampier Strait, about an hour by boat from Waisai
Very simple: wooden rooms, often shared bathrooms and local meals, but clean and on the sea. For comfort, choose a dive resort.