General Health & Safety

There is a very high risk of sunburn in Raja Ampat, but it is als extremely easy to avoid.

Cover up by wearing a hat, tshirt, loose long sleeved shirts, and stay in the shade. Use sun-safe swimwear like rashvests which will also keep you safe from small jellyfish or stinging plankton in the water.

Using suncream is advisable but should not be considered the main form of sun protection. Any suncream should be used with caution – as the active ingredient in most suncreams causes damage to coral reefs, even in small amounts.

Any suncream you use in Raja Ampat must be reef safe and biodegradable. You will not be able to purchase suncream like this in, or around, Raja Ampat. Purchase it before you arrive, and if possible, purchase products with recycled or bio-plastic packaging.

Most visitors to Raja Ampat are not accustomed to the heat and high humidity.  Combined with activities such as diving, snorkeling, swimming or trekking, anyone not paying attention to their water consumption is susceptible to dehydration, which can lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke, irritability, poor concentration, constipation, fogginess, low blood pressure, headaches or loss appetite.  This is not a good way to experience a holiday.

Deydration is extremely easy to avoid by staying appropriately hydrated.  Drink water before you’re thirsty.  If you want some variation,  drink coconut water or juice (no straw!). If you are drinking alcohol, coffee or carbonated drinks, these are not fluids that will help you to redehydrate, in this instance, use a 1:1 ratio with water.

Aim for 2L of drinking water per day, more if you’ve been particularly active.

Other ways to avoid heatstroke include avoiding strenuous activities in the heat of the day, adding a slight pinch of salt to your food or pack hydration salts in your bag. And lastly, keep an eye on the colour of your urine, the darker yellow it is the more dehydrated you are.

Untreated heatstroke can quickly damage your brain, heart, kidneys and muscles. The damage worsens the longer treatment is delayed, increasing your risk of serious complications or even death.  Symptoms include: malaise, fatigue, dizziness, headache and feeling faint.

To avoid heatstroke stay hydrated and avoid overheating.  To alleviate symptoms, rehydrate and stay cool (ie: fans, shade, breeze, cool shower, icepacks or a cold softdrink can on pulse points, splashing/spraying water upon your face).

If these symptoms do not resolve using the methods above it is a sign that the heatstroke is more serious and urgent medical attention is needed, usually with rehydration using intravenous fluids.

This level of medical attention is not available on the islands; so the simplest solution is to employ the methods above, and prevent heatstroke from occuring.

More commonly known as a tummy bug, stomach flu, intestinal flu, food poisoning, and traveller’s diarrhoea, gastroenteritis is the irritation of the digestive tract caused by a viral, bacterial, or (more rarely) parasitic infection. Symptoms include diarrhoea, vomiting, and abdominal pain or cramping which can last anywhere from 1-3 days.  

Gastroenteris is highly infectious largely because the microbes that can cause gastroenteritis are easily spread via contaminated food or water, and through person-to-person contact.

In Raja Ampat, to avoid gastroenteritis, only drink boiled or otherwise purified drinking water. Do not drink from taps or wells, and do not create excess plastic bottles but rather use refillable water and the larger water gallons. Always ensure basic hygiene such as handwashing with soap to limit contamination.

In the instance you are infected, treatment mainly involves symptom relief and fluid replacement – with the latter being most important.  If symptoms do not pass within a few days, seek medical attention in Waisai or Sorong.

Ear Infections: ear infections are quite common, particular during when scubadiving or recreating in nutrient rich tropical waters. Although relatively harmless, ear infections are painful and can restrict your water based activities.

Prevention is better then cure, so it is recommended after each dive (or water based activity) you rinse your ears with drinking water, or eardrops specialised for this purpose.

Treatment is simple via anti-inflammatory / antibiotic drops, however, you cannot buy these once on the Raja Ampat islands (Waisai or Sorong only) and are best to bring with you from your home location.