In the age of exaggeration, it is rather hard to explain the transcendent beauty of Raja Ampat islands in our current parlance without sacrificing the intended effect. But let’s just pretend for a minute we are back in times where superlatives were reserved for something truly special, rare and extraordinary. Now read this –

Raja Ampat is a remote archipelago in far eastern Indonesia, blessed with unimaginable bounties both above and below water. Home to the planet’s most biodiverse marine ecosystem with 1400 species of fish and 75% of world’s all known coral species, Raja Ampat’s sublime marine beauty is amazing to put it in the simplest of terms. Above the surface, turquoise waters and dreamy limestone cliffs offer unreal vistas that could’ve been picked straight from a National Geographic documentary. In the rainforests, birds of paradise thrive and after dark, the stars and the seas shine.

In one word, Raja Ampat is marvelous!

Let’s get back to the islands then. Here’s a primer to get you started; a comprehensive travel guide to Raja Ampat, Asia’s most spectacular and Indonesia’s remote island paradise.

I stood at the edge of the pier tightly clutching the lifejacket wrapped around my body, debating whether I should jump into the sea or not. My boatman who doubled up as a guide was already in the water, waiting for me to jump in. Now I cannot swim and the waters looked frighteningly deep. But would it have been wise to miss an opportunity to snorkel in one of the world’s most pristine and thriving marine ecosystems? Absolutely not! So I pulled up my imaginary socks and jumped in. My guide dragged me around the pier while I squeaked like a little child, despite the snorkel in my mouth. What a wonderful world it was, unraveling beneath me!

I was in Raja Ampat Islands. Located on the northwestern tip of West Papua in Indonesia, Raja Ampat is the collective name give to four island groups in the far eastern end of Indonesia. This region supports a wide variety of thriving marine life and mind-boggling biodiversity. No wonder it is a highly sought-after destination by diving and marine enthusiasts around the world. And I got a wonderful opportunity to explore this paradise last November. While I have lots of stories to tell as well as videos to show about my time in the islands, allow me first to share with you my unbridled excitement at having snorkeled in one of the finest places on earth. It may look like I went diving, but that's only a testament to the unique marine ecosystem of Raja Ampat.

With two GoPros in hand, I was quite well-equipped (for an absolute newbie) to capture some of the underwater scenes. What I didn’t anticipate was the stunning settings we’d snorkel in. Not only were the sites well endowed with pristine coral reefs teeming with a variety of fishes, they were also extremely picturesque with deep waters and ideal lighting conditions. By a wonderful stroke of luck, my fellow travellers were adept swimmers, freedivers and great models. I had a marvellous time capturing these underwater scenes. I was practically giddy with excitement after looking at the footage and photos from our snorkeling sessions. If a newbie who’s never shot underwater, never snorkeled before and can’t swim, can capture photos like these by simply floating on the surface, you can imagine the effortless and unparalleled beauty of Raja Ampat!