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Indonesia
Cenderawasih Bay
A number of colorful endemic species and some normally deep-dwelling marine species are found here in shallow water, and in terms of diving there are also interesting wrecks and sunken fighter jets from WWII.
Destination Highlight
Located on the east coast of Indonesia’s West Papua region, Cendrawasih Bay is the next frontier in remote Indonesian diving. Where Raja Ampat to the west of West Papua is still deemed by many as an isolated destination, Cenderawasih Bay is one step further off the beaten track. Diving here is limited to five months each year, and the dive sites remain unspoiled and reasonably unexplored.
Visitors to Cenderawasih Bay will discover clear, calm waters and a wide variety of diving, from encounters with whale sharks and marine mammals to excellent macro, and some notable Japanese WWII wrecks. On the outlying atolls expect dramatic walls with prolific sponge life and schooling fish, while abundant and healthy reefs are found throughout the area’s 18 large and small islands. Teluk Cenderawasih National Park covers an area of over 5,600 square miles and includes a huge range of subsurface habitats, from mangrove and reef system through to deeper marine waters.
The region’s confused geological history has resulted in several very colorful endemic species evolving in relative isolation from the rest of Indonesia. New animals are still being discovered, and many other rare species such as the pygmy seahorse, frogfish, ghost pipefish, and mimic octopus are found in the area. Over 150 species of coral have been recorded in the bay, including numerous soft corals, and blue and black hard corals. These, in turn, provide a home for over 200 species of fish such as the brightly colored parrotfish, schooling damselfish, rabbitfish, butterflyfish, and anemonefish to name a few. It is not uncommon to spot one of several species of shark, including whale sharks, whitetip and blacktip reef sharks, the endemic epaulet shark, and even the occasional scalloped hammerhead. And to top it off, marine mammals such as dolphins, pilot whales, and the endangered dugong may make an occasional appearance.
Visitors to Cenderawasih Bay will discover clear, calm waters and a wide variety of diving, from encounters with whale sharks and marine mammals to excellent macro, and some notable Japanese WWII wrecks. On the outlying atolls expect dramatic walls with prolific sponge life and schooling fish, while abundant and healthy reefs are found throughout the area’s 18 large and small islands. Teluk Cenderawasih National Park covers an area of over 5,600 square miles and includes a huge range of subsurface habitats, from mangrove and reef system through to deeper marine waters.
The region’s confused geological history has resulted in several very colorful endemic species evolving in relative isolation from the rest of Indonesia. New animals are still being discovered, and many other rare species such as the pygmy seahorse, frogfish, ghost pipefish, and mimic octopus are found in the area. Over 150 species of coral have been recorded in the bay, including numerous soft corals, and blue and black hard corals. These, in turn, provide a home for over 200 species of fish such as the brightly colored parrotfish, schooling damselfish, rabbitfish, butterflyfish, and anemonefish to name a few. It is not uncommon to spot one of several species of shark, including whale sharks, whitetip and blacktip reef sharks, the endemic epaulet shark, and even the occasional scalloped hammerhead. And to top it off, marine mammals such as dolphins, pilot whales, and the endangered dugong may make an occasional appearance.
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