Fresh Waters - Cenderawasih Bay
Fresh Waters in Cenderawasih Bay offers a distinctive dive, characterized by the surprising thermocline where freshwater runoff meets the ocean. You'll feel the temperature shift dramatically and see the visible shimmer as the two layers mix, often providing unusual lighting and visibility effects. It’s a site for divers looking for something a bit different, less about abundant coral and more about a unique aquatic phenomenon.
- Location
- Cenderawasih Bay, Indonesia, Southeast Asia
- Coordinates
- -3.930291, 134.173400
Marine Protected Area: KK Kaimana
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)
- Cenderawasih Diving: West Papua, New Guinea Island
- Conservation House Reef (reef)
- Cristmas Rock
- Disney Land - 5-20m (reef)
- Dramai
- 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 Fresh Waters
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