Magic Mountain

Magic Mountain is one of those dive sites that goes by many names, also called Shadow Reef or Karang Bayangan.

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Overview

Magic Mountain is one of those dive sites that goes by many names, also called Shadow Reef or Karang Bayangan. It’s located in the south of Raja Ampat, in the Misool region, Southeast of Warakaraket island.

Time and time again this site leaves divers with 500+ dives under their belts surfacing to say that is the best dive I have ever done”.

The Visibility

The Marine Life

The species we can see on this site are extensive and impressive. We see Barracuda, Fusiliers, Surgeonfish, Mantas, Napoleon Wrasse, Jacks, Trevally, White Tip Reef Sharks, Grey Reef Sharks, Raja Ampat walking sharks, anthias, yellow snapper, batfish, triggerfish, turtles, large groupers and wobbegong sharks.

The Diving

Dropping in from the dive boat, the first sight is an impressive hard coral garden on the shallowest flat top of the ridge. Many times we have dropped into this site to see a Giant Black Pacific Manta Ray within minutes of being in the water.

As the dive progresses, we drop a level and start making our way down to 25m along the ridge edge. Here you can find a microcosm of the weird and wonderful macro critters clinging to the ridge walls. Swimming towards the deep end of the ridge, we start to head to the area where the current picks up a little. With the current comes the schools of Pelagic’s and other large fish. The Barracuda and abundant Napoleon Wrasse are a highlight here amongst many other fish species.

Hitting the end of the ridge the final flat-topped step is around 20m, this is where you start to raise your profile progressively up the steps and experience the diversity of critters to be found while ascending back to the 6m coral garden.

If you want the perfect combination of the small guys and big guys, then this is the dive for you. This site can get quite busy in peak season, so liveaboard captains and the nearby Misool Eco-resort coordinate dive group drop-in times via radio, to ensure you are swimming in schools of fish and not schools of divers.

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Dive site Location

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28 dive sites found
Arborek Jetty

Arborek Jetty

Arborek Jetty's location is perfect for those wishing to explore both the macro wonders of the area and the occasional larger pelagic visitors.

Jetty Dive
Blue Magic

Blue Magic

Blue Magic, One of the most famous and top rated dive sites in Raja Ampat, is located between the islands of Kri and Waigeo in the eastern Dampier Strait.

Pelagic Biodiversity
Cape Kri

Cape Kri

Cape Kri is well-suited for intermediate to advanced divers due to its currents, which can be challenging at times.

Marine Diversity
Chicken Reef

Chicken Reef

The reef's name comes from a story when the site was first being explored by Raja Ampat dive pioneer, Max Amer.

Marine Diversity
Citrus Ridge

Citrus Ridge

Citrus Ridge is located in the southern part of the Raja Ampat archipelago, off the coast of Gam Island.

Drift Dive
Friwen

Friwen

Friwen gets it's name from the two islands where it is located, Pulau Friwin and Pulau Friwinbonda.

Macro Diversity
Manta Ridge

Manta Ridge

Manta Ridge is one of Raja Ampat's most sought-after dive sites, famed for its incredible manta ray encounters.

Manta Rays
Manta Sandy

Manta Sandy

Located in the heart of Raja Ampat, Manta Sandy is a renowned dive site famous for its incredible manta ray encounters.

Manta Rays
Melissa's Garden

Melissa's Garden

The site can be found by looking for 3 very small islands sticking out from the ocean by Palau Keruwo, in the southeast of the Penemu chain, just west of the Dampier Strait.

Coral Garden
Mioskon

Mioskon

Another of the "don't miss" dive sites in Raja Ampat is Mioskon. The dive site gets it's name from the island Mioskon, located at the east end of the Dampier Strait in central Raja Ampat.

Lazy Dive
My Reef

My Reef

This site is known for its resident population of endemic Raja Ampat Tasselled Wobbegong Sharks that hide under the ledges and in crevasses in the coral and rocks.

Wobbegong Sharks Black Tips White Tips
Batu Lima

Batu Lima

Batu Lima, tucked away on the eastern side of Gam island in the northeastern parts of the Dampier Strait, is a diver's paradise noted for its enchanted night dives.

Macro Diversity
Eagle Rock

Eagle Rock

Eagle Rock, located off the southern coast of Kawe Island in Raja Ampat, offers divers an exhilarating dive experience among some of the richest marine biodiversity in the world.

Manta Rays Cleaning Station
Saonek Kecil

Saonek Kecil

This dive site is conveniently located just 5 minutes from Waisai, the capitol of Raja Ampat and the starting destination for all liveaboards. It's a small island, just 2 kilometres to the south of the main town.

Macro Diversity Pelagic Species
Tank Rock

Tank Rock

Tank Rock is a captivating dive site in Misool, Raja Ampat, eastern most of the small island chains extending from Fiabacet Island.

Dramatic Underwater Landscape
Andiamo

Andiamo

The site gets it's name from the liveaboard that Burt Jones went with during the early Raja Ampat exploration days.

Safety Stop
Boo West

Boo West

Boo West dive site does not get the recognition and fame of it's eastern cousin site and Boo Windows, but we think this is unfair as this is an amazing dive site.

Underwater Canyon
Boo Windows

Boo Windows

Boo Windows, a magnificent dive site in the middle of Raja Ampat, is famous for its remarkable underwater topography and incredible marine biodiversity.

Window Arch
Fiabacet

Fiabacet

Fiabacet epitomizes the Raja Ampat dive experience and is one of the premier dive sites in the Misool region.

Macro Diversity Pelagic Species
Four Kings

Four Kings

Four Kings is one of the most celebrated dive sites in Raja Ampat, offering a stunning underwater landscape that attracts divers from around the globe.

Panorama of Colors
Kaleidoscope

Kaleidoscope

Kaleidoscope Dive Site is nestled at the western tip of Pele Island in the southeast Misool region of Raja Ampat.

Macro Diversity Pelagic Species
Magic Mountain

Magic Mountain

Magic Mountain is one of those dive sites that goes by many names, also called Shadow Reef or Karang Bayangan.

Underwater Seamount
Neptunes Fan Sea

Neptunes Fan Sea

Neptunes Sea Fan dive site (Sometimes also called Neptunes Fantasea dive site) located in the narrow passage between Walib and Wayilbatan Islands, in the Missol region of Raja Ampat.

Marine Diversity
Nudi Rock

Nudi Rock

Nudi Rock got its name from the rock feature above the water that looks like a Nudibranch. This one-of-a-kind feature adds a fun touch to a dive that is already very beautiful.

Macro Diversity Pelagic Species
Anchovy

Anchovy

This site is often mistakenly called Anchovy or Anchovies, but the site was actually named Antichovie.

Massive Anchovies
Keruo Channel

Keruo Channel

Keruo Channel dive site (also sometimes called Fam Wall) is located on the east side of Keruo Island, Raja Ampat.

Drift Dive
Piaynemo Jetty

Piaynemo Jetty

Piaynemo Jetty is located on the eastern side of Penemu island, just before the entrance to the lagoon for trekking.

Night Dive Critters
Batu Rufus

Batu Rufus

Batu Rufus means Rufus Rock, the name coming from the large limestone formation that extends out to the fringing coral reef that forms the dive site.

Great Walls

Magic Mountain: Topography

A beautiful submerged ridge that starts at just 6m from the surface. The site resembles an underwater plateau mountain that progressively steps down half a dozen times. We recommend being an intermediate to experienced diver for this site however as currents can pick up.

Max depth:

40 meters+

Typical Current:

Strong

Topography:

Underwater Seamount

Itineraries that visit Magic Mountain