Raja Ampat is the dream destination for divers across the world. It's easy to get overwhelmed by the underwater beauty of this biodiversity hotspot, but I had to include some photos of the landscapes and people that we encountered on our twelve-day voyage with the Seven Seas in January.

We explored islands, empty beaches, caves with ancient artwork, and bustling villages which revolve around a life on the water.

Favorites included the chance to swim through a subterranean labyrinth with a freshwater river mixing with the salt of the sea. We saw an ancient cave dwelling, the wall embellished with artwork from the earliest inhabitants. I spent part of a morning diving under the pier in a small fishing village while the local kids swam through swirling walls of tropical fish.

Check out the gallery below to see the photo highlights, or see the all the photo galleries from our Raja Ampat liveaboard dive trip - from scuba diving, to aerial photos, to freediving, to the incredible wildlife and local people living in this amazing place. You can also see galleries from other Seven Seas liveaboard dive trips - my absolute favorite way to explore the awesome natural beauty and unique cultures of Indonesia.