Diving in Banda Sea
Quick Facts
- • Entry types: Mostly shore entries
- • Expect: Varies by conditions visibility
- • Highlights: Discover Banda Sea's dive spots
Explore the underwater wonders of Banda Sea, sea. This region features 13 documented dive spots, each offering unique underwater experiences. Whether you're seeking calm snorkeling bays, challenging freediving depths, or exciting scuba adventures, Banda Sea has something for every underwater explorer. Browse detailed spot information, check current conditions from recent dive logs, and connect with the local diving community to make the most of your visit.
Regional Context
🏛️ Marine Hierarchy
🌍 Associated Countries
Countries in Banda Sea (2)
Popular Spots in Banda Sea (13)
House Reef Selayar Dive Resort
House Reef Selayar Dive Resort offers a shore entry from the jetty, leading to a limestone wall adorned with gorgonian seafans, hard and soft corals, and sponges. The site is home to a variety of marine life, including groupers, snappers, wrasse, anemone fish, tuna, and turtles. Lobsters can also be spotted among the corals. Mild currents may be present, making it suitable for divers with some experience.
Ibel D’Orange
Ibel D’Orange is located approximately 5 minutes by boat from Tinabo Besar in the Taka Bonerate National Park, Selayar. The dive site features a pinnacle with an entry depth of 18 meters and a maximum depth of 32 meters. Divers can explore a variety of marine life, including white tip and black tip sharks, bumphead parrotfish, tuna, nudibranchs, schooling pelagic fish, marble rays, and sting rays. The site is characterized by both soft and hard corals, providing a diverse underwater environment.
Kolo-Kolo
Kolo-Kolo is located approximately 30 minutes from Pattumbukan harbour, east of Selayar Island. This dive site features limestone rock formations along a wall, with a mild current providing a slow drift dive experience. Divers can observe a variety of marine life, including Napoleon wrasse, tuna, turtles, and various species of groupers and snappers. The site is also home to gorgonian sea fans, soft corals, and smaller creatures such as pygmy seahorses, nudibranchs, and moray eels. Lobsters and rays can also be spotted in this diverse underwater ecosystem.
Little Wall
Little Wall is a shore entry dive site characterized by a mini wall composed of limestone. The site is located at coordinates -6.457100, 120.502200 and is approximately 35 minutes by boat from Pattumbukan. Divers can expect mild currents, occasionally flowing in one direction, and average visibility around 25 meters. The marine life includes a variety of reef fish, such as groupers, snappers, and wrasses, along with larger species like tuna and napoleon wrasse. Additionally, divers may encounter turtles, lobsters, nudibranchs, lionfish, and scorpionfish.
Magic Wall, Selayar
Magic Wall in Selayar is accessed via shore entry and features a steep limestone wall with overhangs. The dive site is characterized by a diverse reef ecosystem, including hard and soft corals, gorgonian sea fans, and various sponges. Divers can expect mild currents while exploring the area. Marine life commonly observed here includes turtles, barracuda, dogtooth tuna, mackerel, marble rays, moray eels, pygmy seahorses, nudibranchs, giant trevally, and Napoleon wrasse.
Netz
Netz is a shore dive site characterized by a limestone wall adorned with gorgonian sea fans. The underwater landscape features both hard and soft corals, along with overhangs that provide shelter for various marine species. Divers can expect mild currents while exploring this area. Notable marine life includes Napoleon wrasse, rainbow runners, fusiliers, pygmy seahorses, lobsters, tuna, turtles, groupers, and snappers.
Outside
Outside is a dive site located at coordinates -6.443200, 120.511900, accessible via shore entry. The underwater topography features a combination of steep slopes and walls, with a limestone rock bottom. Strong currents are typical due to the site's position on the cape, and divers may need to perform a negative entry depending on the current conditions. Marine life includes white tip and black tip reef sharks, eagle rays, napoleon wrasse, dogtooth tuna, yellowfin tuna, as well as schools of jacks and fusiliers. Turtles and lobsters can also be spotted in this area.
pantai pinang
Pantai Pinang is a shore dive site located approximately 20 minutes from Pattumbukan Harbour. The dive features a limestone wall adorned with gorgonian sea fans and soft corals. Divers can expect mild currents along the wall, with depths ranging from 30 to 40 meters, and an average depth of around 20 meters. Marine life commonly observed here includes Napoleon wrasse, fusiliers, rainbow runners, dogtooth tuna, turtles, stingrays, moray eels, giant trevallies, sweetlips, groupers, and lobsters.
Shark Point, Selayar
Shark Point, located near Pattumbukan Harbour in East Selayar, is accessible by boat and features a sand slope that transitions into a reef. The dive site reaches depths between 30 to 40 meters, where divers can encounter various shark species, including white tip and black tip reef sharks. The area is rich in marine life, with sightings of Napoleon wrasse, dogtooth tuna, yellowfin tuna, turtles, eagle rays, barracuda, and schooling jacks. The current can vary from mild to strong, and divers may need to adapt their diving profile for drift diving or swimming against the current.
Starship
Starship is located approximately 20 minutes from Wakatobi Resort and is named after the research vessel that explored this area during its global journey. This dive site features a wall with numerous holes and small overhangs, providing ample opportunities for exploration. Divers can expect to encounter a variety of marine life, including nudibranchs from the Chromodoris family and various species of coral fish. Additionally, sightings of Zanzibar shrimp on crinoids and anemones hosting clownfish and partner shrimp are common.
Starship
Starship is located approximately 20 minutes from Wakatobi Resort and is named after the research vessel that explored this area. The dive site features a wall with numerous holes and small overhangs, providing opportunities for exploration. Divers can expect to see a variety of marine life, including nudibranchs from the Chromodoris family and various species of coral fish. Additionally, Zanzibar shrimp are often found on crinoids, while anemones host clownfish and partner shrimp.
Trailblazer
Trailblazer is located east of Teluk Maya, featuring a sandy bay entry. Divers can expect to encounter large barrel sponges upon entry, then proceed to the right shoulder towards a ridge populated with corals and various fish species. The reef top is situated at a depth of 3 to 5 meters. The site contains numerous cracks and holes, providing habitat for fan corals, hard corals, anemones, and clownfish, along with midnight snappers and a variety of smaller marine life. If currents become too strong, divers have the option to conclude their dive in the nearby Teluk Maya.
Wakatobi House Reef
Wakatobi House Reef offers a shore entry point, allowing divers to explore a diverse underwater ecosystem. The reef is characterized by a steep face that hosts a variety of corals and sponges, creating a compact habitat rich in marine life. Notable species include pygmy seahorses, numerous turtles, and schools of fish. Divers are encouraged to experience both daytime and nighttime dives to fully appreciate the biodiversity present in this area.