Divo Ario – Jr. Marine Biologist
This quarter marked an important phase in my growth as a marine biologist. After months of training and field experience in Nusa Penida, I finally stepped into a full professional role here in Raja Ampat. The transition from trainee to marine biologist has been both exciting and challenging, but it has given me a deeper sense of confidence and understanding of what this work truly means.
While the mesmerizing beauty of Raja Ampat’s reefs never fails to amaze, this quarter was equally defined by hard work beneath the surface. From July through September, our science team carried out an extensive range of monitoring and restoration activities aimed at deepening our understanding of this extraordinary ecosystem. In total, we conducted 38 Roving Fish Surveys, 16 Benthic Surveys, 15 BRUV (Baited Remote Underwater Video) Deployments, 4 Coral Watch assessments, 7 Coral Gardening dives, 9 Dive Against Debris clean-ups, and 5 Coral Restoration sessions.
Each of these efforts plays a critical role in the long-term conservation strategy of Raja Ampat. Roving and benthic surveys help us assess fish biomass, coral diversity, and habitat health—key indicators of the resilience of local reefs. BRUVs, on the other hand, provide an unobtrusive method to observe marine life without diver interference, revealing the true natural behavior of species, especially top predators like sharks.
Watch surveys continue to be an essential tool for tracking bleaching susceptibility and coral health over time. Meanwhile, our coral gardening and restoration dives bring tangible, hands-on progress to our conservation mission. The coral fragments we plant today will hopefully grow into thriving colonies that contribute to reef recovery and biodiversity in the years to come.
The highlight of this quarter was our new coral restoration project at Mioskon Island, one of our regular monitoring sites within the Dampier Strait. Mioskon, often called “Bat Island” due to its large population of fruit bats, is a site rich in marine life and coral diversity—but parts of its reef have suffered damage over time. To help rehabilitate these areas, our team deployed several artificial structures designed to support coral growth and provide shelter for marine organisms. In total, we successfully placed six concrete structures, two reef star (spider) modules, and one table frame. These structures will serve as nurseries for coral nubbins and as microhabitats for reef fish and invertebrates. Our next steps will be to closely monitor and maintain these installations, documenting coral attachment, survival rates, and fish recruitment.
Seeing these structures settle into place on the seafloor felt deeply rewarding—it was a physical representation of our commitment to restoring Raja Ampat’s reefs. Over the coming months, we’ll be tracking their progress and refining our methods. If the results continue to show positive outcomes, this initiative could become a long-term restoration model for other sites within the archipelago. It’s a hopeful start toward ensuring that Mioskon—and the many reefs like it—remain as vibrant and resilient as the day we first descended into its waters.
Mia Johnston – Senior Instructor
Another quarter has come and gone here in our jungle home. While this time of year is usually considered low season across the region, it turned out to be one of our busiest yet. For the first time, we welcomed 16 interns, up from our usual 12, which brought plenty of energy, activity, and a few logistical challenges along the way.
We suddenly found ourselves needing more of everything: more chairs, bunkbeds, hangers, baskets, and a little more patience too. With so many people around, workshops were packed, questions were flowing, the boats were full, and meal times were buzzing with conversations in multiple languages. It could get a little hectic, but the enthusiasm and curiosity everyone brought made it worthwhile. Each person added something different to the jungle family, and although it kept us on our toes, it was a reminder of how much passion this project attracts. I’m confident that next year we’ll be even more prepared to handle the same energy.
This quarter we celebrated 22 new graduates and ran 47 ecology workshops. We also hosted some after-dinner science talks in our beloved bar, giving interns a chance to share their knowledge and passions. Topics ranged from humpback whales to PhD research projects, and it’s always nice to see everyone come together over shared curiosity.
One of the biggest highlights of the quarter was setting up our new coral restoration site at Mioskon. It was a proper team effort, everyone helped out, from prepping materials to deploying frames underwater. We’re hopeful that the conditions there, with less sedimentation and steadier water flow, will make it a great spot for coral growth.
Interestingly, the usual windy season never really arrived this year. July and August stayed calm, and we only had to cancel one boat day. The smooth conditions gave us plenty of diving days and a lot of happy divers.
As for where our interns head off to, quite a few have now moved on to complete their Instructor Development Course (IDC), with some stepping into jobs in the diving industry (one even joined Scuba Republic!) and others moving into conservation work. It’s always rewarding to see the next steps our graduates take after leaving the jungle, it makes me one very proud instructor.
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On a personal note, this will be my last quarterly report from Raja Ampat, as my time here comes to an end. When I first arrived last year as a Divemaster intern, I never expected I’d end up spending a full year here, diving every day, learning so much, and being surrounded by such a special community. It’s been an incredible experience.
Next up, I’ll be heading to Nusa Penida to manage the project there. I’m looking forward to a new adventure (and yes, a few more food options and maybe my own toilet), but I’ll definitely miss Raja’s quirks – the noisy dinners, the frogs singing by my head at night, the endless parade of strange insects, and of course, the jungle dogs who have completely stolen my heart.
Thanks to everyone – interns, staff, and locals alike – for making this place what it is. It’s been a privilege to be part of this project, and I’ll carry a little bit of Raja with me wherever I go.
Kevin Raymond – Senior Instructor
A little over a year ago, I arrived in Raja Ampat as a wide-eyed intern, mesmerized by the jungle and eager to live and dive in one of the most beautiful places on Earth. I write this now from the other side – a month into the new role – feeling that familiar giddy energy. It’s strange and special to walk the same grounds, dive the same reefs, and feel a flood of memories from my internship each day, along with thoughts of the people who made my time here so special (I hope you’re reading this!)
Equally rewarding is seeing how much the project has grown since then. And wow, has it ever had a glow-up. Flushable toilets. New staff cabins. Hot water. New resort dogs. A brand-new bar (!!!). We also have more boats in the rotation, amazing vibes with our Scuba Republic hosts, and the kitchen has been spoiling us with new dishes like crispy fried chicken, stuffed tofu, and DIY soup that warms the soul after a long day underwater.
Of course, it wouldn’t be Raja without its characters. The pesky damselfish still harass us on the house reef, but over at Mioskon we have a new “frien-emy”: a resident parrotfish – lovingly (and fearfully) known as Marvin – who terrorizes divers by nipping at their fins. On land, we’ve had some surprising new wildlife sightings — cats, but also a growing population of ducks that have decided they’re jungle birds now. And speaking of small creatures, I started a little side project: a “Bug of the Day” Instagram series. Let’s just say the content is endless.
Underwater, the magic continues. The reefs are every bit as spectacular as I remembered, especially the pinnacles that explode with life and color and rip with current when the moon is right. Some recent highlights include a blue-ringed octopus (Hapalochlaena lunulata) and short-horned pygmy devil rays (Mobula kuhlii) cruising the house reef, a mystery ray with ornate patterns we’re still trying to ID at Batu Lima, and a majestic wedgefish (Rhynchobatus spp.) spotted on a night dive. Those moments remind us why we do what we do — they rekindle that awe and curiosity that pulled us into diving in the first place.
We’ve welcomed interns from all over the world this quarter — Switzerland, England, the USA, Poland, Denmark, Italy, Spain, Germany, and more. Each arrival brings new energy, new accents at the dinner table, and new inside jokes echoing across camp. Watching them grow from a nerve-filled refresher, to confidently leading dives, to becoming true dive professionals is the best part of the job – I cry every time. There’s nothing like seeing an intern nail their first lead, surface grinning, and know they’ve found their rhythm underwater.
Our days off have been filled with the usual adventures — diving at Arborek, hiking at Piaynemo, and floating down the Blue River surrounded by that unreal turquoise glow. As high season rolls in, the water’s getting a little murkier and the boats a little busier, but we’re taking it as a good omen: oceanic manta rays (Mobula birostris) can’t be far behind.
Every evening here ends the same way — everyone gathered on the jetty, watching the sky melt into impossible shades of gold and violet. We raise our Bintangs, laugh about the latest jungle antics, and soak in the shared sense that this place — wild, imperfect, and endlessly beautiful — really is something special.
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