Francisco

Francisco is a wall dive site in Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia, named after a diver who explored the area.

Overview

Francisco is a vertical wall dive located in the Dampier Strait area of Raja Ampat, named in tribute to a diver who frequented the site. The wall plunges from a shallow reef top into deep water, draped with dense growths of sea fans, black coral trees, and both hard and soft corals competing for space on the vertical face. Raja Ampat’s characteristically clear water makes the transition from sunlit shallows to the darker depths below the wall especially dramatic. Currents running along the wall bring nutrients that support rich invertebrate life and attract mid-water species. Water temperatures average 27-29°C and visibility typically reaches 20-30 meters.

Site Information

• Location: Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia
• Entry Type: Boat dive
• Site Type: Wall dive
• Difficulty Level: Intermediate
• Maximum Depth: 30 meters
• Typical Visibility: 15-30 meters
• Current: Moderate to strong, directional
• Best Time: October to April

Marine Life

The wall face hosts large sea fans and gorgonian fans colonized by pygmy seahorses — a patient search of the fan bases rewards careful observers. Reef sharks patrol the wall edge while trevally and barracuda school in the blue water off the wall. Sweetlips and grouper hold station in overhangs. Nudibranchs and flatworms decorate the encrusting sponges. Turtles are common visitors, and Napoleon wrasse occasionally cruise past at mid-wall depths.

Dive Profile

Descend to the wall top at around 5-8 meters and begin a gradual descent along the face, pausing at overhangs and crevices. The wall’s richest life is found between 10-25 meters; stay mindful of depth as the wall drops well below 30 meters. Finish the dive with time on the shallow reef top during your safety stop. Strong directional current can make this a drift wall dive — your guide will position the boat accordingly.

Entry and Exit

Access is by dive boat. Entry via giant stride or back roll in current-free water near the wall top. Drift with the current along the wall face, surfacing at a pre-agreed location downurrent. Deploy SMB at 5 meters for boat pickup.

Tips and Recommendations

• Monitor depth constantly — vertical walls make it easy to sink deeper than intended
• Check large gorgonian fans carefully for pygmy seahorses
• Dive during slack current for the most leisurely exploration, or embrace the drift
• Bring a dive light to illuminate overhangs and crevices
• Start shallower and work deeper as the dive progresses

Safety Considerations

Strong currents can develop quickly along the wall — be ready to ascend if conditions exceed your experience level. Maintain buoyancy discipline to avoid touching the wall. Always carry an SMB and deploy it before surfacing. Dive with an experienced local guide who knows the current patterns at this site.

Photography

The wall’s vertical architecture lends itself to wide-angle compositions emphasizing depth and scale. Position a dive buddy or divemaster against the wall for scale reference. Macro opportunities abound in the overhangs — look for pygmy seahorses, nudibranchs, and flatworms on encrusting growth. Silhouette shots of sea fans against the blue water above work particularly well at this site.

Sources: Papua Diving - Raja Ampat Dive Sites, Bluewater Dive Travel - Raja Ampat Diving, La Galigo Liveaboard - Top 10 Raja Ampat Dive Sites, Girls That Scuba - Scuba Diving Raja Ampat, PADI - Diving in Raja Ampat. Last updated 2026-04-04.