The Cathedral - Raja Ampat
The Cathedral isn't your typical Raja Ampat wide-angle reef. It's an atmospheric cave dive, more about the play of light and shadow than big schools of fish. Inside, the space opens up, and we'll often spot Hayashi's cardinalfish tucked into crevices or a shy chocolate chip sea star clinging to the walls. Look closer and you might even find a Denise's pygmy seahorse on a gorgonian fan. It’s a good spot for divers who appreciate the quieter, more intimate side of Raja Ampat, preferring exploration over a flurry of activity.
- Location
- Raja Ampat, Indonesia, Southeast Asia
- Coordinates
- -0.420095, 130.568310
- Type
- cave
Marine Protected Area: SUAKA ALAM PERAIRAN KEPULAUAN RAJA AMPAT DAN LAUT SEKITARNYA
Best Time to Dive in Raja Ampat
The warmest water temperatures in Raja Ampat occur in November, averaging 30.3°C. The coolest conditions are in July at 29.3°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 29.7°C
- February: 29.4°C
- March: 29.6°C
- April: 29.9°C
- May: 29.9°C
- June: 29.7°C
- July: 29.3°C
- August: 29.4°C
- September: 29.6°C
- October: 30.0°C
- November: 30.3°C
- December: 30.1°C
Nearby Dive Sites in Raja Ampat
- Aerborek Jetty (reef)
- Aerborek Jetty Dive Site (reef)
- Agusta Reef (wreck)
- Agusta Reef (reef)
- Algae Patch 1 (reef)
- Algae Patch 1 (cenote)
- Alyui Bay (reef)
- Andrea's Point
- Anita's Garden (reef)
- Arborek Dive Shop
- Arborek shark point
- Arefi Reef (reef)
- Arefi Reef (reef)
- Arno’s Underwater Reef (reef)
- Bag Island
Nearest Dive Centres to The Cathedral
- Ambon Dive Explore
- Andau Dive Resort - ["PADI"]
- Coralia Liveaboards - ["PADI"]
- Delvin
- Dive Bluemotion
- Dive into Raja Ampat - ["PADI"]
Marine Life in Raja Ampat
Home to 250 recorded species including 176 reef fish, 43 hard corals, 8 seagrass & algae, 5 sea cucumbers, 4 clams & mussels, 4 other.
Notable Species
- Boring Clam (Tridacna crocea) - Clams & Mussels
- Blue-lined Surgeonfish (Acanthurus lineatus) - Reef Fish
- Fluted clam (Tridacna squamosa) - Clams & Mussels
- chocolate chip sea star (Protoreaster nodosus) - Starfish
- Pinkfish (Holothuria edulis) - Sea Cucumbers
- Staghorn coral (Acropora solitaryensis) - Hard Corals
- Stripy (Katsuwonus pelamis) - Reef Fish
- Indian mackerel (Rastrelliger kanagurta) - Reef Fish
- Bristle-toothed Surgeonfish (Ctenochaetus striatus) - Reef Fish
- Kawakawa (Euthynnus affinis) - Reef Fish
- thalassia (Thalassia hemprichii) - Seagrass & Algae
- Small giant clam (Tridacna maxima) - Clams & Mussels
- Bullet Mackerel (Auxis thazard) - Reef Fish
- Common Mushroom Coral (Fungia fungites) - Hard Corals
- Species code: Ea (Enhalus acoroides) - Seagrass & Algae
- Table coral (Acropora clathrata) - Hard Corals
- Branch coral (Acropora florida) - Hard Corals
- cymodocea (Cymodocea rotundata) - Seagrass & Algae
- Narrow-barred Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus commerson) - Reef Fish
- Tail-spot Combtooth-Blenny (Ecsenius stigmatura) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for The Cathedral
Based on average water temperature of 29.7°C, currents 20 cm/s.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 30°C water needs minimal exposure protection
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories