By Salah Teman · 5 August 2026
Cape Kri is the site that made Raja Ampat famous among biologists rather than photographers. Diving the ridge off Kri island in the Dampier Strait, Dr Gerald Allen recorded the highest number of fish species ever counted on a single dive. That figure is the reason Raja Ampat is routinely described as the most biodiverse reef system on earth.
Why the numbers are so high
The Dampier Strait funnels water between larger landmasses, and Cape Kri sits on a ridge directly in that flow. Nutrient-rich current arriving constantly supports an unusual range of habitats within a single dive profile, from shallow coral garden to deeper sloping wall.
What you see
Dense schools of trevally, batfish and barracuda, reef sharks patrolling the slope, sweetlips and snapper stacked along the ridge, and turtles on the shallower coral. The impression most divers describe is not one particular animal but the sheer volume of fish in every direction.
Experience level
Current is significant and variable. Advanced experience, or a guided dive with good buoyancy, is recommended.
Conditions
Raja Ampat sits at 27–30°C, warm and pleasant year-round — a 3mm long wetsuit suits most divers, and shorties work for those who do not feel the cold. The Raja Ampat season runs November to April. Open Water divers are limited to a maximum depth of 18m by law and insurance.
Diving it with Teman
The KLM Teman carries 12 guests in 5 ensuite cabins with a crew of 10. Raja Ampat itineraries run November to April.
More Raja Ampat dive sites
See all itineraries and dates on our Raja Ampat liveaboard page.
Salah writes for Teman Liveaboard, the owner-operator of the KLM Teman. The Teman is a 36-metre Indonesian phinisi, handbuilt in Sulawesi and launched in 2017, carrying 12 guests in 5 ensuite cabins with a permanent crew of 10 and a Cruise Director. The team behind her has more than 20 years sailing the Indonesian archipelago. The boat works Komodo National Park from June to September out of Labuan Bajo, Raja Ampat from November to April out of Sorong, and runs Banda Sea and Ring of Fire crossings between the two seasons. The dive site guides on this blog are written from the operator's own logs and itineraries, with conditions, seasons and equipment guidance checked against the dive team who work these sites every week. Where a detail depends on the day — depth on a given tide, or where a current will take you — we say so rather than guess, because that is a briefing the Cruise Director gives on the boat, not something a web page can promise.
Ready to Start Planning?
Have More Questions?
Our team is ready to help you craft the perfect, safe, and unforgettable trip. Contact us today!
About the author
Salah Teman — Salah writes for Teman Liveaboard, the owner-operator of the KLM Teman. The Teman is a 36-metre Indonesian phinisi, handbuilt in Sulawesi and launched in 2017, carrying 12 guests in 5 ensuite cabins with a permanent crew of 10 and a Cruise Director. The team behind her has more than 20 years sailing the Indonesian archipelago. The boat works Komodo National Park from June to September out of Labuan Bajo, Raja Ampat from November to April out of Sorong, and runs Banda Sea and Ring of Fire crossings between the two seasons. The dive site guides on this blog are written from the operator's own logs and itineraries, with conditions, seasons and equipment guidance checked against the dive team who work these sites every week. Where a detail depends on the day — depth on a given tide, or where a current will take you — we say so rather than guess, because that is a briefing the Cruise Director gives on the boat, not something a web page can promise.
