Mansuar Island sits on the west from a much smaller Kri Island. If you thought its sister island was fascinating, wait till you reach Mansuar. During low tides, you can actually walk from Kri to Mansuar Island. Your first stop on Mansuar island will likely be at Yenbuba village overlooking Kri. It promises another iconic Raja Ampat snorkeling spot directly off its jetty. And while there is no lack of terrific snorkeling from any beach around Mansuar island, we like to note Yenbuba for an extra dose of its vibrant marine wonderland.
Additionally, if you continue beyond Yenbuba jetty, there is a vast coral garden that stretches for hundreds of meters in any direction. And if that is not enough, Mansuar island beaches consist of incredible white sand. Vegetation grows close to the water, providing swimmers with plenty of shade during their rest stops. Locals can also take you to Mansuar’s secret lake for a trek, located close to the iconic Sauwandarek village.
Sauwandarek village
Sauwandarek village on Mansuar island snuggles into a cove with remarkable snorkeling from its jetty. The reef runs the entire length of the beach, hosting a mind-blowing array of marine life. Resident turtles, reef sharks, sweet lips, giant groupers, triggerfish, and schools of bright fusiliers easily make this one of the most scenic spots in Raja Ampat.
Sauwandarek village’s jetty is perhaps the most popular of all the piers on Mansuar island. Believe it or not, this human-made jetty has proven beneficial to the environment. Some have described snorkeling through Sauwandarek’s dock as a “swim through a psychedelic forest of pink and purple soft coral.” Snorkel through the vertical wood pilings of the jetty to encounter schools of bright fish.
