Agusta Eco Resort Diving Center

Agusta Eco Resort Diving Center is situated on the private island of Pulau Agusta in the Raja Ampat archipelago. This location places you directly within one of the most biodiverse marine environments on the planet, offering immediate access to the region's famous reefs and passages.

The centre operates daily, typically organising two to four dives per day. Whether you are looking to explore the shallow reef flats or head out on longer excursions to more remote sites, the operation is designed around the rhythms of the local tides and marine life.

The dive centre is managed with a focus on organized group departures. Each morning begins with a detailed briefing covering the specific dive sites, local conditions, and safety protocols. Divers are assigned to boats and guides to ensure structured and safe underwater exploration.

Instruction is available for all levels, from those taking their first breaths underwater to professional-level training. The centre supports a wide range of certifications, including PADI and SSI standards, helping you progress from entry-level courses through to Divemaster.

The training programme is comprehensive, catering to beginners and professionals alike. You can start with Discover Scuba Diving or work through the Open Water Diver and Advanced Open Water Diver courses. For those looking to specialise, the centre offers Deep Diver, Nitrox, and underwater photography/video courses.

Advanced training and professional development are also supported, including Rescue Diver and Divemaster programmes. If you have been away from the water for a while, the centre provides refresh skills sessions to ensure you are comfortable before heading out to the more challenging sites.

For those travelling light, the centre provides full equipment hire, including regulators, BCDs, and wetsuits, as well as snorkelling kit. Nitrox is available for use, and the centre can provide 15-litre cylinders for an additional supplement to those requiring more gas.

Safety is a priority on the boats, which are equipped with oxygen and first aid kits. On the shore, the resort provides a relaxing environment with freshwater, tea, coffee, and biscuits available during surface intervals.

The marine life here is defined by immense scale and diversity. You will encounter large pelagic species including various sharks (Selachimorpha), such as whitetip reef sharks (Triaenodon obesus), blacktip reef sharks (Carcharhinus melanopterus), and grey sharks. Large schools of fish, including fusiliers (Caesio), snappers (Lutjanus), and jacks (Carangidae), often create massive, moving walls of silver.

During the season from November to March, the presence of manta rays (Mobula alfredi) is much more frequent, particularly at cleaning stations. You may also spot Napoleon wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus), various species of tuna (Thunnus), and large barracudas (Sphyraena barracuda) patrolling the blue.

The reef architecture itself is a masterpiece of hard coral (Scleractinia) and soft corals (Alcyonacea), including large sea fans (Gorgoniidae) and lettuce coral. These structures provide a home for countless colourful reef fish, such as anthias (Anthias), parrotfish (Calotomus), and various damselfish (Pomacentridae).

For macro enthusiasts, the biodiversity is equally impressive. You can find pygmy seahorses (Hippocampus bargibanti), nudibranchs (Chromodoris willani), and various species of ghost pipefish (Solenostomidae). The seabed and reef crevices also host wobbegong sharks, leaf scorpionfish, and various crustaceans including lobsters and blue-spotted rays.

Conditions in Raja Ampat can vary significantly depending on the tides. Some sites are subject to intense currents, which can bring in large amounts of nutrients and high biomass, but they require experienced divers. Other sites can be selected for more sheltered, low-current dives.

The best time to visit for maximum marine life encounters, particularly with manta rays, is between November and June, when plankton levels are higher.