Wai Resort

Raja Ampat, Indonesia

The team at Wai Resort are the kind of people you want to dive with. They’re based on a private island, which for us, really sets the tone. It’s got that quiet, away-from-it-all feeling that can be surprisingly hard to find, even in Raja Ampat. We love that they focus on small groups, usually four divers to a guide, sometimes even fewer, meaning you get to really take your time on a reef. We’ve always found their local guides have an uncanny knack for spotting the tiny stuff – the pygmy seahorses, the ornate ghost pipefish – sometimes even before you’ve settled into your trim. Their boats are speedy, making those longer runs to places like Melissa’s Garden or even The Passage feel less like a commute and more like an exciting dash across the turquoise. Wai Resort is a great choice if you’re looking for proper relaxation after a day of incredible diving, with solid PADI instruction if you’re still working on your certifications. We’d suggest opting for a bungalow closer to the water; hearing the gentle lapping of the waves at night is a definite bonus.