Diving in Indonesia: Dive Sites in Indonesia (2023)

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The wreck of the cargo ship USAT Liberty is a fantastic shore dive which makes it an easy and accessible dive site for all levels of diver. The walk to the dive site, along a volcanic pebble beach, can be quite challenging, so wear dive booties to protect your feet. Once you reach the water’s edge, the pebbles quickly transition to black sand. Here you can get in the water and swim out to the wreck. Its shallowest point is the stern, sitting at 32 feet (10 m). As you continue along its side you will reach the other end of the wreck, sitting at 65 feet (20 m).

What will you see:

Like many of the dive world’s most famous wrecks, the USAT Liberty has turned into a teeming artificial reef. The structure lies isolated on the sand, creating an inviting home for lots of marine species. While diving, look for a variety of soft sponges, soft corals, and gorgonian fans, all housing unique, small creatures. Check out the many reef fish, frogfish hiding among the sponges, nudibranchs well camouflaged in the reef, and Christmas tree worms rising from the wreck’s walls. Make sure to keep your eye out into the deep blue, as that’s where you may spot bigger creatures such as stingrays, batfish and pelagic fish swimming around.

The Amed is a small quiet fisherman village located on the black sand coast located on the East of Bali. The area is still mostly unpopulated by tourists, so you can get the authentic Balinese experience. You will be transferred to the dive site in a traditional jukung boat. This is one of the traditional fishermen boat used in the Philippines and Indonesia. The boat is a small wooden sailboat which has the appearance of a canoe with two outriggers and a triangular sail. The transfer to the dive site is a short 5-minute ride on these traditional, and surprisingly fast little boats.

What will you see:

This part of the world has world class muck diving and on any given dive at Ghost Bay or House Reef, you may be treated with seeing a mimic octopus, ghost pipefish, schools of reef fish, clown fish hiding in the anemone, and well camouflaged frogfish. The drift dives along Amed Wall or the Pyramids allow you to see turtles, reef sharks, blue-spotted sting rays, schooling pelagic, and barracuda. If you prefer seeing the giants of the sea, then the sharks, barracudas, and seasonal Mola Molas (Sunfish) show up at Bunutan and Gili Selang.

Ghost Bay is a highly rated dive site with plenty of marine life, usually good visibility, and minimal current. It’s a fantastic place for muck diving and to test out your underwater photography skills. This dive site is an artificial reef created with bottles, wheels, and other manmade objects. If you take your time to peak into some of the crevices you will be greeted with many small critters who built their homes.

What will you see:

This muck diving site is the home to many lionfish, mimic octopus, pipefish, razor fish, and stone fish. Most of these creatures are experts at camouflage which makes them quite difficult to spot in the silty bottom. Local divemasters will probably be your best bet on finding the most marine life on this dive, as they know where to look and they have trained their eyes to find these bottom dwelling creatures.

If you want to get away from the big crowds which hang around the South tip of Bali, then make sure to include the West End of the island on your travel itinerary. There you will find the protected island of Mejangan which provides some fantastic diving opportunities. There is a 40,000 Rp fee to access the park, which has been under conservation protection since 1917. Due to these efforts, the coral and ecosystems are thriving with visitors enjoying the stunning colours in the shallow water. Make sure to contact the dive centres located in the village of Pemuteran to organise your trip, equipment, and guides. Since the dive sites are quite shallow, it is also a popular destination for non-divers so a great place to take the whole family. If you are an advanced diver, you can head over to the famous Menjangan wall dive which features visibility reaching 50m!

What you will see:

The wall dive drops down to 26-60m and features the highest concentration of Gorgonian sea fans in Bali. These stunning sea fans are the home to pygmy sea horses, so make sure to keep an eye out for those tiny little creatures. There are also many schools of fish, turtles, and the occasional manta ray passing by.

The deepest dive on Menanjan is the Anker Wreck and reaches a depth of 40m. The conditions tend to be extremely calm therefore the dive site is a beloved destination for Advanced Divers. The dive shops consider this deep dive relatively easy, and ideal for experienced diver. Any Wreck dive is magical, however this one feature some extensive sponge, hard and soft corals. No one knows where the small wooden boat comes from and it has now gained its name from the anchor that lies at 6m below the surface. The wreck has broken apart into several pieces and can be explored over an area of 50m. The dive typically starts at the deepest point at the anchor chain, down to the sandy slope at around 30m.

What you will see:

Then divers can explore the copper sheeting, bottles, artefacts, and bits and pieces which comprised the boats cargo. It is in a national park and no picking up of artefacts is allowed. In terms of sea life you will be seeing gorgonians, nudibranchs, frogfish, fusiliers, batfish, and bannerfish. There are also many attractions besides the wreck, including the wall at 5-10m which is the perfect spot to complete your safety stop. There you will find many overhands, cracks, and caves teaming with fish.

The lava flow from Mount Agung which erupted in 1963 which originally pushed the liberty wreck into the sea created a spectacular 70m deep wall descent. The wall begins at a depth of 3m which allows the dive site to be accessible by all levels of diving. Beginner divers can stay near the shallow sections of the wall, while more experienced divers can utilise the great depth to increase their technical knowledge. The dive site is often frequented by students learning trimix deep diving, technical diving, and other certifications and qualifications which require depths below 4m.

What will you see:

The dive site is famous for being covered in massive gorgonian fans, colourful sponges, and unique black coral which predominantly gets its color from the lava flow. There are white tip reef sharks which swim along the wall, many reef fish which hide in the coral, and cute little pigmy sea horses which hang onto the gorgonian fans with their tails. To spot a seahorse, you will need to get in very close, as they are no bigger than your thumbnail!

Nusa Penida became a marine protected area in 2010, and now boast over 20,057 hectares in protected area of which, 1,142 hectares is covered in coral and is the home of 296 species of coral, 576 species of fish. All of this is a mere 25km from Bali and can be accessed by day boats or organised into a weekend dive trip with you staying directly on the island. The main diving season is from April to November. During that time, the temperature of the water is around26-30°C degrees, but eventually drops down to 22°C starting in October. The Ceningan wall is one of the advanced and beloved dive sites which drops down to 80m in depth.

What you will see:

The steep wall is covered in extraordinary corals, with gorgonian fans, staghorn coral, plate coral, and some soft corals working together to create a colourful reef. The deep blue and heavy currents attract many barracudas, massive tunas, and occasionally marble rays!

Have you always wanted to dive with the biggest bony fish in the world? Because at SD Point you can do just that. The Ocean sunfish, commonly known as a Mola mola, can weigh up to 1000kg! Their diet consists mainly of the sea jellyfish which they must keep eating to allow for their enormous growth, they also exert minimal energy by flapping their two fins awkwardly placed on the size of their body. Female sunfish also hold the Guinness world book of record of producing the most eggs in comparison to any other vertebrate, with an astonishing 300,000,000 at a time. Before they reach adult hood and their massive size, they have many natural predators which is why they depend on extraordinary numbers of eggs. Sea lions, killer whales, sharks, and any fish bigger than them will hunt them when given the opportunity. The best time to see the Mola mola is in the early morning, when they gather below the surface in large numbers.

What you will see:

Along with the sunfish, the shallow waters also are the home to table corals, bamboo sharks, wobbegongs, turtles, stonefish, frogfish, nudibranchs and sting rays. The Mola mola however use this site as their cleaning station which means up to 50 sunfishes’ have been spotted there at once.

Seraya holds the secrets of some of the best much diving in Bali, it is an easy shore dive accessible throughout the year. Muck diving refers to diving on a silty seabed of black volcanic sand which is a teeming ecosystem of macro life. This is because the nutrient rich sand is the ideal environment for many species while they are young and vulnerable. Consider most muck diving sites as nurseries for the ocean. For this reason, the area is extremely popular for macro photographers as the myriad of species and shallow waters make it an ideal spot to take photos.

What you will see:

These ocean nurseries often have plenty of pipefish, nudibranchs, and seahorse well camouflaged with the seabed. Spotting these creatures can be difficult, which is why it is advisable to follow a local guide with their knowledge and key eyesight for spotting these critters. The night diving at this dive site is exquisite, as many of the creatures become far more active at night-time. You may also see plenty of cuttlefish, squid, and crabs scuttling on the seabed. To experience the full beauty of the night dive, try turning off your light for a moment and letting your eyes adjust to the darkness. You might see some bioluminescent plankton!

This gorgeous manmade dive site was constructed by one of the three BRF/AUS Aid funded projects in conjunction with the local dive centres. The temple garden is at a depth of 30m and proceeds to the dive site Temple Wall. The garden has statues of Buddha, Ganesha, Turtles, and various other sea creatures. There are little bommies scattered through out with one becoming the resting place of a buddha head. It’s location in the bay means the visibility is not always the best and tends to be limited around 10m. The depth of the dive site means it is predominantly designed for Advanced Divers, however Open Water certified divers with a lot of experience can be permitted to dive with a dive guide.]

What you will see:

The bommies and buddha heads have become the home to many cleaner shrimps, which will happily get their hands on you if you approach them slowly and gently. The garden also welcomes many schooling fish and most of the buddha statues have overgrown with picturesque hard and soft corals.

Just like Mantahage island this is a beautiful dive site for game fish such as barracuda. It is only about an hour boat ride from the north of Bunaken. There is the Batu Kapal pinnacle off Nain Island, which is in the area which descend quite deep and are only suitable for advanced scuba divers. Since the currents can be quite strong, the dive guides on the day will determine the best place to dive around Nain Island, with several small dive sites known well only to them.

What you will see:

This deep dive site has been known for the occasional passing hammerheads which are the highlight for any diver. There is also a place known as barracuda point located nearby where massive schools of barracuda are frequently sighted. Otherwise, this current filled pinnacle dive site provides divers the opportunity to see eagle rays, black tip reef sharks, schooling jackfish, all swimming in the warm and pristine waters of the coral triangle.

Often written as one of the world’s top 10 dive destinations, the Bunaken National Park offers diving for all levels of scuba divers. Marine Biologist, photographers, and recreational divers all travel here for an opportunity to experience the vast and impressive marine biodiversity. The passes required to enter the marine park also ensure that money is being channelled into conservation and village development programs. Which keeps this area of the world protected and benefitting the local economy. There are many separate dive sites in the national park, however which ever one you will dive, will provide unique and fascinating underwater exploration.

What you will see:

The Bunaken National Park is said to have 70% of all fish species that are currently known in the Indo-Western Pacific. You can see giant tridacna clams, leaf fish, cuttlefish, and a range of invertebrates hiding amongst the colourful sponges and bubble coral. The coral biodiversity is extremely impressive, and to get the best view of the colours, make sure to bring your own dive torch!

The North East tip of Sulawesi has one of the world’s best muck diving sites in the world. It is an endless expanse of unique marine critters which you can meet and take photos of. Many National Geographic documentaries have been filmed in this area, showcasing many unusual creatures that inhabit these waters.

What will you see:

Keep your eyes peeled and you will see mimic octopus, flamboyant cuttlefish, harlequin shrimps, skeleton shrimps, nudibranchs, several species of sea horses, scorpion fish and devil fish.

This dive site offers warm water diving at 28 degrees Celsius with an abundance of fish life to see. The lack of current means that new divers can also enjoy this dive, even during choppy surface conditions. It can easily be reached as a day trip, however due to the surface intervals between the dives, it is recommended to take sea sickness medication to minimise the risk of getting sick.

What you will see:

If you are lucky, you will be able to see large schools of fish such as barracudas and other predatory fish swirling around this dive site. Typically, there are many game fish who come here to hunt such as tuna and trevally. These guys look quite ferocious; however, most divers look forward to catching a glimpse of the sharks which are residents in this area.

Bangka is one of the islands which lie off the northern tip of Sulawesi, it is quite an exposed dive site which gets strong current frequently changing directions. This heavy current means many nutrients are brought here, creating the ideal environment for both macro and megafauna. Due to the strength of the water’s movement, it’s important to have some diving experience and to stay close to your buddy group.

What you will see:

Along with a brightly colorful thriving coral reef, the strong currents attract big pelagic fish. If you keep your eye on the blue, you will be able to spot white tip reef sharks, mobula rays, and potentially eagle rays cruising in the fast moving water.

Yet another world class site, this magnificent island offers divers with spectacular views of soft coral pinnacles, sloping reefs, and even a drowned village. The pinnacles which rise from great depths mean some big animals are attracted to this area, and you can take your time swimming with massive schools of fish or spend your dive checking out the awe-inspiring coral. Have a chat with the local dive resorts to ensure you get the best diving experience and stay safe.

What you will see:

The soft corals covering the pinnacle are the home to many invertebrates, keep your eyes open for ornate crabs, harlequin shrimps, and well camouflaged scorpion fish. There are many species of sea horses hiding amongst the coral. If you wish to see the adorable pygmy sea horse, then check closely on the Gorgonian Fans stretched out into the current. They are extremely well disguised and are virtually indistinguishable from the purple and pink sea fans.

The remote Wakatobi archipelago is considered a diving paradise by scuba divers of all levels. Its isolation from the world has allowed many of the reefs to remain pristine and have all the biodiversity expected from the centralized point in the coral triangle. The coral garden is located at the end of a current swept sand ledge at 11 meters in a big bowl measuring 40 meters across. While there will be current on your descent, once you reach the inside of the bowl, you will be protected by the walls and submerged into an area of tranquillity.

What you will see:

Spectacular coral is primarily what you will see in the coral garden, along with all the marine life which comes to visit this incredible place. You will see cleaner wrasse cleaning long face emperors and sling jaw wrasse. Garden eels peeking out from the sand and goatfish shuffling their way through the sandy bottom. If you want to see any megafauna. Keep your eyes upwards, as the sharks, rays, and turtles enjoy the currents.

Yet another world class site, this magnificent island offers divers with spectacular views of soft coral pinnacles, sloping reefs, and even a drowned village. The pinnacles which rise from great depths mean some big animals are attracted to this area, and you can take your time swimming with massive schools of fish or spend your dive checking out the awe-inspiring coral. Have a chat with the local dive resorts to ensure you get the best diving experience and stay safe.

What you will see:

The soft corals covering the pinnacle are the home to many invertebrates, keep your eyes open for ornate crabs, harlequin shrimps, and well camouflaged scorpion fish. There are many species of sea horses hiding amongst the coral. If you wish to see the adorable pygmy sea horse, then check closely on the Gorgonian Fans stretched out into the current. They are extremely well disguised and are virtually indistinguishable from the purple and pink sea fans.

Potentially the best house reef in the world, if you stay at the Wakatobi Dive Resort, it is located a mere 20m from your bed and provides some fantastic, easy dives suitable for any time of the day. The enormous benefit of this reef is that you do not need a boat to check out the critters that are living on the reef. It is also a fantastic place to do a night dive, iso grab your torch to see the marine life which typically does not come out during the daytime.

What you will see:

The sandy bottom is filled with snake eels, flounders, blue spotted rays, and shrimp gobies. Once you reach the drop off, massive schools of trevallies rise from the depth along with what seems like hundreds of pygmy sea horses hiding amongst the gorgonian fans. Enjoy spotting lionfish, shrimps, crabs, and nudibranchs all along the spectacularly colored reef wall.

This beautiful pinnacle dive site is another beloved destination for many divers. You can reach it by going on a liveaboard whereas a diver you can truly get the best experience of all the dive sites in the Wakatobi region. Day boats are also possible departing from Sulawesi from the Wakatobi Dive Resort. This dive site, in particular, is a fantastic one to visit as structures that rise from the deep tend to have a magnetic effect on megafauna and pelagic creatures living in the surrounding areas. To get the best experience, you should start your dive at your deepest point and slowly ascend while turning around the pinnacle, giving you a view of every section and crevasse along the way,

What you will see:

Massive schools of fusiliers and red tooth triggerfish swirl around as you descend into this extraordinary dive life. This is a beautiful pinnacle site where banded sea snakes encircle this underwater structure. The pinnacle also has many soft corals, anemones, along with two smaller bommies where photographers can practice their underwater macro shots. Keep your eyes peeled for leaf fish which can be green, yellow, black and even white.

Yet another world class site, this magnificent island offers divers with spectacular views of soft coral pinnacles, sloping reefs, and even a drowned village. The pinnacles which rise from great depths mean some big animals are attracted to this area, and you can take your time swimming with massive schools of fish or spend your dive checking out the awe-inspiring coral. Have a chat with the local dive resorts to ensure you get the best diving experience and stay safe.

What you will see:

The soft corals covering the pinnacle are the home to many invertebrates, keep your eyes open for ornate crabs, harlequin shrimps, and well camouflaged scorpion fish. There are many species of sea horses hiding amongst the coral. If you wish to see the adorable pygmy sea horse, then check closely on the Gorgonian Fans stretched out into the current. They are extremely well disguised and are virtually indistinguishable from the purple and pink sea fans.

Located in the South of the Boo area is the frequently visited Shadow Reef. This is a submerged pinnacle which attracts a hoard of fish. Pinnacles are sub water mountains that rise from the ocean floor to just below the surface creating an ideal destination for deep, dwelling animals to come near the surface to hunt, sun, and interact. This pinnacle is also a cleaning station for the spectacularly graceful manta rays.

What you will see:

Both the massive oceanic manta rays and smaller manta rays use this site as a cleaning station, meaning they will slowly circle the site while allowing cleaner wrasse to remove parasites from their skin. Simply choose a spot to stay and watch the swirling beautiful creatures. Nursing white tip reef sharks, napoleon wrasse, and schools of pelagic also congregate near the pinnacle. If you want to spot bigger megafauna keep your eyes in the deep blue to see the bigger creatures.

This is one of the most well-known dive sites in Raja Ampat, and that is due to the awe-inspiring view of the four underwater pinnacles the dive site is named after. Three of these pinnacles are connected by a ridge, with the shallowest one only 7m below the surface, and the other three descending deeper down. This unique topography attracts a myriad of marine life and provides a fantastic dive site for beginner and advanced divers.

What you will see:

The four pinnacles rising from the depth of 30m have become a colorful playground for just about every creature from schooling predatory fish such as barracuda and trevally, to coral grazing turtles with plenty of reef fish hiding in the creeks and crevices. This is also a great place to spot for invertebrates, as they are masters of camouflage.

This site is located between Mioskon and Cape Kri in the deep blue. It is an underwater pinnacle site that rises from the seafloor at a depth of 30m to 7m below the surface. The pinnacle is covered in spectacular corals ranging from gorgonian sea fans, colorful sponges, soft, and hard corals. The fact that this pinnacle is one of the only underwater structures for quite some distance in the deep blue, means it attracts many bigger species to stop by.

What you will see:

Since this is a manta ray cleaning station, you can simply choose a spot on the dive site to stay and let the majestic gliding rays circle just centimeters away from your face. Make sure to not touch them, as contact with humans can wipe off their protective film which helps defend them against bacteria and infections. The pinnacle also attracts massive schools of barracuda, plenty of octopus which is camouflaged among the sponge coral, and white tip, black tip, and even grey reef sharks!

This dive site gained its name by the explosion of color that covers the reef in all the shades of citrus fruits. This means you will see soft and hard corals along with sponges ranging from electric yellows, oranges, to deep reds. There are corals in varying shades of spectacular purple, greens, and just about every other color of the rainbow dispersed on this beautiful dive site. It is a good idea to bring your torch to allow you to experience a range of colors.

What you will see:

This is the ideal aquarium dive for keen underwater macro photographers. You will see thousands of glassfish, butterfly fish, surgeon fish, parrot fish, and plenty of other reef fish. There are also batfish gliding above the reef among the schools of barracuda. If you take your time, you will also be able to spot some truly unique invertebrate hidden with the coral. Frogfish are fantastic at camouflage and are a challenge to find as they seamlessly blend into the bizarre shapes and colors of corals.

This coral reef garden is the home to many gorgeous species of sea life and is one of the unmissable spots during your trip to Raja Ampat. The dive site is on the west end of Batanda Islands in the group of islets named the Jet Fam Islands.

What you will see:

The bizarre looking wobbegong is one of the main attractions of this reef. These crustacean consuming sharks tend to sleep on the ocean floor in caves, and under ledges hidden away from prying eyes. They are virtually indistinguishable from the seabed, so keep your eyes peeled for their interesting whiskered face and splotchy brown pattern. The reef also attracts manta rays from May to October, along with great barracudas and many clownfish in the sprawling mass of anemones.

This dive site holds the world record for the greatest number of species recorded on a single dive. 374 in just one dive in 2012! This is because it is situated at the tip of the Island of Kri which is where several currents converge bringing along nutrients and subsequently a diverse variety of fauna and flora. The currents can be strong, therefore advanced certification and knowledge of using reef hooks is advisable.

What you will see:

This incredible dive destination attracts many species of shark including grey reef sharks, black tip reef sharks, white tip reef sharks, and even snoozing wobbegongs hidden away in caves. Massive schools of fish swim in the currents with divers being able to identify trevally, great barracuda, fusiliers, and mackerel. The coral coverage on this part of the island is also exquisite. Keep your coral identification book handy to spot the unique soft corals, colorful sponges, and hard corals which hide away little crabs, shrimps, and other invertebrates. One of the best ways to enjoy the spectacular sight, is to find a secure spot to lodge your reef hook and stay in the same place and let the majestic sea life swirl around you.

This spectacular dive site is the home of millions of teaming fish that you cannot miss the opportunity to dive amongst. The site is quite shallow; therefore, it is a great spot to practise your free diving or enjoy a snorkel.

What you will see:

Thousands to millions of schooling fish surrounding you from every direction. The density of the fish school is so vast, that often you will not be able to see the water as the ball of fish will envelop you. The reef and coastline are beautiful as well, but you will most certainly be transfixed by the dance of the schooling fish.

The current at this dive site is typically light, which makes it a good dive site for beginners. Occasionally it does pick up and become strong so make sure to double check with your dive company and go with a guide. The dive site is a pinnacle that rises from 25m of depth to just below the surface in the Dampier Straight.

What you will see:

This dive site is most famous for being the home of many yellow snapper schooling and swirling around the coral column. If you head towards the bottom of the pinnacle, you will be able to see wobbegong sharks hiding in the cracks and caves. Grab yourself a torch to better spot these masters of camouflage, while they pose no threat to humans as they eat crustaceans, avoid aggravating them. The gorgonian fans are also the home to sea horses and tiny little ornate crabs. Schools of fusiliers and trevallies will swim around you while you are looking at the coral structures. Peek into the crevices to spot crabs, shrimp, moray eels, and coral groupers.

This dive site is an enormous oval underwater hill which is almost 200m long reaching 5m below the surface and descending towards the seabed at 25m. The massive size of this underwater structure means it splits the oncoming current and funnels it along both the northern and southern sides of the pinnacle.

What you will see:

The top part of the structure is covered in dense coral coverage with many fish hiding among the coral branches for safety. You will see banner fish, butterfly fish, sweetlips, and snappers. In terms of predatory fish, there are triggerfish, barracuda, Spanish mackerel, and giant trevallies. Take some time to peek into cracks to see if you can spot a tasselled wobbegong, octopus, or scorpion fish. If you keep your eyes out towards the deep blue, you will have a better chance of seeing reef sharks cruising by.

This dive site is ideal for beginners along with any experts looking to start their dive trip on a beautiful multi-level diving site. There is a canopy of rich and vibrant coral stretching from 5-24m of depth. You can choose what depth to stay at to experience the beautiful underwater world.

• Docile, tranquil turtles are year-round residence on this dive site
• Gullies with a rich variety of marine life at depth
• Can be a great drift dive thanks to steady currents.

What you will see:

This coral filled dive site is the home to many reef fish which frolic in the shallow waters. If you want to practice your photography skills, then you will enjoy the shallow and colorful views at around 5m. Green and hawksbill turtles are also year-round residents who munch on the coral and let divers approach close enough for a great photograph.

For anyone who wishes to see a Manta Ray, this is a dive site they should add to their bucket list. The currents at this dive site tend to be mild, meaning divers of any level can enjoy seeing the spectacular creatures gliding overhead. Often, manta rays will swim in trains, with certain divers being lucky enough to see up to 20 individuals on a dive! Ensure to not touch these regal creatures as contact with human skin can transfer bacteria and lower their immune system.

• Manta Rays congregate at this dive site
• The wall descent attracts reef sharks and sting rays.
• Great dive for beginners.

What you will see:

Apart from the majestic manta, this dive site gives you the opportunity to enjoy seeing masses of staghorn coral with small fishes hiding within. There are also many sting rays passing in the blue water, cuttlefish swimming around, and octopus hiding in cracks and crevices.

This deep dive site includes many sea mounds rising from the 30m sandy bottom attracting a variety of sea creatures and growing beautiful coral. The frequent coral means that massive sea fans have grown at a depth of 20m, where you can see many small invertebrates hiding.

• Advanced Certification Required
• Deep dive with beautiful sea mounds
• Megafauna such as leopard sharks and rays pass through

What you will see:

There are plenty of hard and soft corals surrounded by reef fish. The depth of this dive site means that divers can see leopard sharks and giant rays cruising in the blue around the sea mound. Keep an eye out on the sandy bottom, as rays can camouflage extremely well. There are also garden eels poking their heads out of the sand, butterfly fish amongst the coral, and sea turtles making the occasional appearance.

This is one of the most popular sites at Gili T because of the amount of megafauna that aggregates here. The unique topography of the area attracts the animals in large numbers. The dive site has a flat sandy bottom which transitions into deeper canyons that run parallel to the shore.

• Greatest variety of marine species to be seen on a single dive
• Almost guaranteed shark sightings
• Canyons providing excellent hiding spots for marine invertebrates.
• The full moon brings a massive congregation of bump head parrot fish

What you will see:

Make sure to bring your camera on this dive to capture the reef sharks hiding in the canyons with fish fluttering all around them. This is also a great spot to see cuttlefish, stingrays, and green turtles hanging around in the shallow parts of this dive. Schooling trevally and other pelagic fish can be seen swirling in the blue.

The Glenn Nusa is a wreck that was originally a tugboat in Lombok. Then it was retired and bought by Trawangan dive centers to be purposefully sunk as a new dive site. It is situated between Halik and Shark Point on a sloping bottom. The hull is at a depth of 22m, with the other side of the ship descending to further down to 29m. Its depth means it is an advanced dive, and ideal to be completed as part of the Advanced Open Water Course or Wreck Specialty.

• Ship that was purposefully sunk as a dive site
• Deep dive with the wreck lying at 29m
• Safe penetration possible

What you will see:

Since it was purposefully sunk, safe penetration into the wreck is able. You will be able to swim through the captain’s cabin, check out the anchor on the outside, see the massive cargo space, and ship toilets. The ship is slowly transforming from a massive hunk of metal into an artificial reef, with every passing month attracting more sea creatures.

All that remains of the Meno Bounty wreck is a 30m long platform that has become the home to many fish species. It used to be a jetty for the bounty cruise ship until around 15 years ago when a stormy night broke it in half and sunk it beneath the waves. It is located at a relatively shallow 8m descending to 16m. The length of time and persuasive currents means the wreck is virtually hard to distinguish from the surrounding reef. The wreck is slowly breaking apart due to the currents, and divers are therefore not allowed to swim underneath the wreck.

• Old Jetty which is now a great wreck dive
• Shallow at 16m at the deepest point
• Rich iron material stimulates coral growth

What you will see:

Due to the iron structure of the bounty jetty, this dive site is particularly stunning in terms of the soft and hard coral coverage. The coral is the home to many leaf scorpion fish, little crabs, frog fish, sea moths, and little rays. There is also a collection of other man-made items that have been placed in this area including car tires, mooring lines, and bicycles. Be careful not to touch any of these items, as they can easily cut you underwater.

This deep dive site is also known as the secret reef and features a stunning long sea mound that stretches the length of Meno Island. It’s a stunning deep dive that requires divers to be a minimum of advanced certification. The sea mound is the home to a variety of sea life and provides a fantastic spot to practice deep diving and spotting micro marine life.

• Deep sea mound along the East of Meno
• Astonishing coral coverage
• Macro photography

What you will see:

The amazing coral coverage hides plenty of small glass shrimps, porcelain crabs, leaf fish, scorpion fish, and other well camouflaged marine creatures. It also has plenty of schooling reef fish twirling in beautiful patterns above the diverse coral garden. You will be able to spot pufferfish, yellow trumpet fish, and plenty of species of butterflyfish.

A great deep dive site that allows divers to see unique coral species that are hard to find on other shallower dive sites. The bottom of this dive site is at 30m where bommies and sea mounds rise above the sandy bottom. The sea mounds are diverse in size and shape and attract a variety of wildlife to hide in the rocky safety.

• Deep dive great for advanced divers
• Unique coral species
• Mounds attracting marine life from long distances

What you will see:

For this dive site, it is advisable to bring a torch as you will get the best view of the marine creatures hiding under the various overhangs and outcrops on the sea mounds. Take your time to spot cuttlefish, invertebrates, scorpion fish, leaf fish, lionfish, and shy eels. This is the type of dive site where the slower you dive the more marine life you see.

This stunning reef wall is one of the largest in the nearby area. Divers will see a vertical drop from 5-30m on the East side of Gili air. Once divers descend, they begin their dive at the sandy bottom at 30m and pass impressive bommies along the wall. The currents can sometimes be strong here, so make sure you are comfortable with changing conditions. However, the range of depths means even beginner divers can visit this dive site.

• Deep wall dive
• Congregations of Bump Head Parrot Fish
• Caution of the vertical drop

What you will see:

Wall dives allow divers to choose which depth to remain at and guarantee spectacular views at any point. The sea mounds have gorgeous coral with many macro creatures such as cleaner shrimp, porcelain crabs, scorpionfish, and leaf fish all hiding in the brightly colored gardens. The wall attracts many reef fish including bump head parrot fish, butterfly fish, angel fish, and a range of brightly colored wrasse.

The Gili islands were used during the second world war by the Japanese forces as outposts and prisoner camps. Now the ocean around the islands still holds mementos of this turbulent time. There are two Japanese Patrol ships just off the south coast of Gili Air. This dive site is reserved for experienced divers as the Japanese wreck lies at a depth of 45m. Dive shops require a minimum of advanced certification, nitrox, and enough logged dives to feel comfortable descending to 45m of depth and doing a decompression dive. The dive centers will provide divemaster’s or dive instructors as guides to ensure you have a safe and unforgettable dive.

• Deep and advanced wreck dive
• Historic Japanese patrol ships
• Decompression Dive

What you will see:

The location of the wreck was discovered relatively recently, making it a spectacular artificial reef taken over by the ocean. For 60 years the ship remained undisturbed, and now in total has over 75 years of coral growth on it. It is covered in beautiful corals with massive groupers peering out of the wreck, batfish swimming overhead, and the densely overgrown sides of the ship holding a stunning variety of rare nudibranchs.

This tiny rock island situated in the strait between Tatawa and Komodo islands is one of the most famous dive sites in the Komodo National park, and therefore potentially the world. Divers will jump in on the side protected from the current and descent along the rocky slope covered in brightly coloured corals.

• High current dive where divers require good buoyancy and dive control
• Rated as one of the best dive spots in the world
• A Rocky island which attracts a myriad of marine life

What you will see:

Along your descent, you will be diving between clouds of small fish twirling above the soft and hard corals growing on the steep slope. The dive site is particularly famous for the enormous amount of marine life you will be able to see on every dive. Keep an eye out for white tip reef sharks, green turtles, giant trevally, various sweetlips, napoleon wrasse, and rays cruising around.

If there is any dive site in the world that should be named Manta Point, it is this long gentle drift dive where up to 100 manta rays have been spotted at a time. Since it is a cleaning station, these gentle giants congregate in this area to get their parasites cleaned off. During certain times of the year, you will also be able to witness manta ray mating or even manta rays feeding on zoo plankton.

• Megafauna cleaning station meaning mantas visit here year round
• The greatest numbers of mantas are seen between December and February
• Gentle, easy drift dive for divers of all levels

What you will see:

As you descend, you will be met with a coral rubble substrate with live coral scattered on the sea floor. Amongst the coral, you will also have the chance to spot bamboo sharks, marble rays, eagle rays, unicorn fish, butterfly fish, octopus, bumphead parrot fish, and the majestic manta rays.

This small island has a beautiful fringing reef which is the home to many spectacular reef fish, and the frequent reef mantas that swim back and forth along the reef. The dive site provides protected areas which are suitable for beginners, however around the full moon, the tides cause strong currents. There is a large shallow section of the reef which snorkellers can explore.

• Can have potentially strong currents, make sure to stay close to the reef and your dive guide.
• Cleaning station for manta rays which cruise along the reef
• Brightly colored and healthy coral all along this dive site

What you will see:

While scuba diving on this reef, you will be able to see white tip reef sharks, resting bamboo sharks under ledges, fantastically moving cuttlefish, and many hawksbill and green turtles. There is one famous three-legged hawksbill turtle in the area, so keep an eye out for it!

This dive site is situated in a protected bay, meaning the currents are close to non-existent and divers of all levels can enjoy this dive. The nature of this dive site means it’s a nursery for many species, and you can enjoy your dive surrounded by baby bumphead parrot fish, napoleon wrasse, and even reef sharks.

• Great sand diving where you can see amazing macro life
• Dugongs visit this site so keep your eyes peeled for these marine mammals
• Protected dive site ideal for beginners or snorkellers

What you will see:

This dive site is an ideal destination for macro photographers as you will be able to see many frogfish, flamboyant cuttlefish, nudibranchs, pipefish, along with all the usual suspects in coral reefs. There are many sweet lips, starry pufferfish, boxfish, sea stars, octopus, and butterfly fish.

The exposure of this site means Batu Tiga is one of the most current affected dive sites in Komodo. These strong currents attract big fish and allow you to dive with schools thousands strong. Your dive guide will typically have you enter on the north-western side of the three rocks which rise above the center. The rocky reef then stretches out underwater towards Komodo islands with fantastic rocky boulders for many fish to hide around.

• Strong currents only recommended for experienced divers
• Coral growth is stunted by the strong prevailing currents
• Many schools of big game fish such as giant trevally and barracuda.

What you will see:

This current filled dive site with its many rocky outcrops and boulders is a beloved destination of massive groupers, schools of barracuda, giant trevally, and many other pelagic fish. If you keep your eyes into the deep blue, you will be able to see passing rays or even sharks silhouetted in the deep water.

This dive site is an underwater structure rising from the sea floor to just a few meters below the surface. It typically has strong currents during which time only experienced divers should attempt the dive to avoid any problems. The location of the dive site means that this dive site constantly has excellent visibility.

• Frequent strong currents mean this dive is reserved for experienced divers
• The current splits around the sea mound attracting many large species of fish
• Dive features many fish along with beautiful coral growths on the sea mound

What you will see:

Once you descend onto the sea mound, you will be surrounded by fusiliers, batfish, and many other reef fish. At a depth of 25-35m, you will encounter schooling barracuda, jacks, mackerel along with large grey reef sharks. After the deepest part of your dive, you will return closer to the surface where you will see abundant coral growths where you can practice your spotting abilities with the well camouflaged frogfish, vibrant tiny nudibranchs, and scuttling crab species.

This is another dive site that typically always has clear water for divers to enjoy. The sea mound which constitutes this dive site reaches the surface and has a spectacular range of hard and soft coral covering all sides of the structure. It is typically prone to have strong currents; therefore, it is better for experienced divers.

• Fantastic visibility and a high current dive site
• Beautiful hard and soft coral coverage on this sea mound
• Massive schools of fish will surround you throughout your dive

What you will see:

The underwater structure of this dive site means that it attracts enormous schools of fish including sweet lips, tunas, mackerels, barracuda, and fusiliers can be spotted. The shallower part of the dive at 14m is a typical spot to see reef sharks and the occasional gliding eagle rays.

The distance from the main islands in Komodo means this dive site is typically only accessible with liveaboards. Pilaarsteen is a pinnacle dive site which is on the east of a small Island just east of Padar Besat. You will be welcomed underwater with a spectacular wall, unique topography featuring caves and swim throughs able to encapsulate divers of any experience.

• Many caves and swim throughs available for curious divers
• Large chance of encountering sharks and turtles
• Is relatively protected from strong currents

What you will see:

The unique topography has become the home to many unique creatures, and you can train your eyes to spot the scorpion fish, frogfish, and other masters of camouflage amongst the rocky coral. There is also a large variety of soft, hard, and leather corals covering the rocky walls. Sharks, turtles, schools of fusiliers, rays, and pelagic fish can all be spotted.

Another dive site typically only accessible by liveaboard. Payung offers dive sites on both the southern and western side of the island both with fantastic rock formations. The best time to dive this dive spot is on slack tide to minimize any currents.

• Interesting rock formations almost resembling a wreck dive
• Greata dive spot when other dive sites have poor visibility
• Large range of depths able to accommodate every dive level

What you will see:

Take your torch and peak into the cracks and crevices to spot crayfish, crabs, other invertebrates, or sleeping sharks. All around the island schools of surgeons, yellow snappers, fusiliers, and another reef fish swim. On the southern tip you will be able to see a rock shaped like a cannon, and proceed to enjoy your dive exploring crevices, rocks, soft corals and gorgonian fans.

This dive site has gained its name through the spectacular array of species of corals and invertebrates that cover the wall. It is a great dive site to do as a night dive to see the nocturnal creatures come out, but equally as impressive for snorkeling enthusiastic.

• Exquisite range of corals, sponges, and invertebrates
• Well suited to be done as a night dive
• The current is typically mild and can be suited for any dive level

What you will see:

This dive site is perfectly suited for slow diving so you can truly appreciate the colorful crustaceans such as cleaner shrimp, reef crabs, decorator crabs, slipper lobster, and spiny lobster. There are impressive looking poisonous sea urchins, Spanish dancers, nudibranchs, sea apples, sea stars, and creatures that are difficult to identify. Along with the unique zoo, you will also see all the typical animals including cat sharks, cardinal fish, parrot fish, and many other reef fish.

The wilderness meets the pristine sea – Credit: KKG Photo

A pod of sperm whales – Credit: Shane Gross

The colorful underwater realms of Raja Ampat – Credit: Andrea Izzotti

The deadly blue-ringed octopus – Credit: timsimages

The USAT Liberty wreck – Credit: Dudarev Mikhail

A big rare frog fish in Lembeh Strait – Credit: Image Focus