Cenderawasih Diving: West Papua, New Guinea Island - Cenderawasih Bay
Cenderawasih Bay offers a unique kind of Indonesian diving, a bit off the main liveaboard circuit. You’ll find some genuinely healthy reefs here, though for us, the big draw is the chance to spend time with whale sharks. They’re a regular feature, often curious and comfortable with divers. Beyond the pelagics, there's a good showing of macro life and some interesting wreck diving, making it a solid choice for those who enjoy a mix of underwater experiences, from beginners to more advanced divers. It’s not the most accessible spot, but that’s part of its charm.
- Location
- Cenderawasih Bay, Indonesia, Southeast Asia
- Coordinates
- -2.900000, 134.800000
Marine Protected Area: Teluk Cendrawasih
Best Time to Dive in Cenderawasih Bay
The warmest water temperatures in Cenderawasih Bay occur in November, averaging 30.7°C. The coolest conditions are in July at 29.8°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 30.5°C
- February: 30.2°C
- March: 30.0°C
- April: 30.2°C
- May: 30.2°C
- June: 29.9°C
- July: 29.8°C
- August: 30.0°C
- September: 30.0°C
- October: 30.4°C
- November: 30.7°C
- December: 30.6°C
Nearby Dive Sites in Cenderawasih Bay
- 3 Rocks - 5-20m (pinnacle)
- Ahe Dive Resort
- Andie Reef (reef)
- Aquarium (reef)
- Bagus
- Cenderawasih Bay (reef)
- Conservation House Reef (reef)
- Cristmas Rock
- Disney Land - 5-20m (reef)
- Dramai
- Fresh Waters
- GT Rock
- JAU-12 - 2m (wreck)
- Java Rif (reef)
- Karang Num (reef)
Marine Life in Cenderawasih Bay
Home to 84 recorded species including 38 reef fish, 36 hard corals, 7 sea snails & nudibranchs, 1 clams & mussels, 1 sharks & rays, 1 octopus & squid.
Notable Species
- Boring Clam (Tridacna crocea) - Clams & Mussels
- Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) - Sharks & Rays
- Staghorn coral (Acropora tenella) - Hard Corals
- cowry (Monetaria moneta) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
- Staghorn coral (Acropora batunai) - Hard Corals
- Montipora coral (Montipora angulata) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora elegans) - Hard Corals
- Crazy Fish (Butis butis) - Reef Fish
- Lesser star coral (Cyphastrea microphthalma) - Hard Corals
- Bar Eyed Goby (Glossogobius giuris) - Reef Fish
- Grammistes Blenny (Meiacanthus grammistes) - Reef Fish
- Staghorn coral (Acropora paniculata) - Hard Corals
- Golden Flathead Goby (Glossogobius aureus) - Reef Fish
- Black Spinecheek Gudgeon (Eleotris melanosoma) - Reef Fish
- Encrusting pore coral (Montipora aequituberculata) - Hard Corals
- Hairy Scorpionfish (Scorpaenodes hirsutus) - Reef Fish
- Interrupta Glassy Perchlet (Ambassis interrupta) - Reef Fish
- Humpbacked conch (Gibberulus gibberulus) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
- Marbled Cone (Conus marmoreus) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
- Staghorn coral (Acropora solitaryensis) - Hard Corals
Recommended Packing List for Cenderawasih Diving: West Papua, New Guinea Island
Based on average water temperature of 30.2°C, currents 6 cm/s.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 30°C water needs minimal exposure protection
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories