Dive site - Halmahera
Halmahera's "Dive site" feels less like a specific spot and more like a secret handshake. It’s a place we keep going back to, not for the grand pelagic show, but for the intricate details. We love dropping onto the slopes here, letting our eyes adjust to the soft coral hues, then slowly, painstakingly, searching for the micro-marvels. Our last visit saw us spending a good thirty minutes with a pair of pygmy seahorses, so well camouflaged on a gorgonian fan they practically dared us to find them. Keep an eye out too for the prickly spotted drupe snails, their shells are incredible up close, and the often-overlooked banded blennies darting in and out of crevices. We’d suggest going slow, really slow. This isn't a site for zipping along; it rewards patience and a good macro lens. You might even spot a snakehead cowry or a small giant clam tucked into the reef. It’s perfect for the photographer, the naturalist, or anyone who finds joy in the smaller, more delicate side of the ocean.
- Location
- Halmahera, Indonesia, Southeast Asia
- Coordinates
- 0.759568, 127.367450
Marine Protected Area: KKP3K Pulau Filonga, Tidore Timur
Best Time to Dive in Halmahera
The warmest water temperatures in Halmahera occur in November, averaging 30.1°C. The coolest conditions are in August at 28.5°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 29.0°C
- February: 28.8°C
- March: 29.1°C
- April: 29.5°C
- May: 29.9°C
- June: 29.6°C
- July: 29.0°C
- August: 28.5°C
- September: 28.6°C
- October: 29.4°C
- November: 30.1°C
- December: 29.8°C
Nearby Dive Sites in Halmahera
- Dive site
- Dive Site - 5-20m (reef)
- Dive Site
- Dive Site
- Giovannis Point (reef)
- Gonton Packet (reef)
- Hol Sulamadaha (reef)
- Igo Nyoga (cave)
- Kusu East Two Coconut (reef)
- Kusu South (wreck)
- Mimmas Point (reef)
- Mujiu (reef)
- Nabucco Outer Reef 1 (reef)
- Nabucco Spice Island (reef)
- NAD Lembeh
Nearest Dive Centres to Dive site
Marine Life in Halmahera
Home to 141 recorded species including 69 reef fish, 48 hard corals, 7 seagrass & algae, 4 clams & mussels, 3 crabs & lobsters, 2 sea cucumbers.
Notable Species
- Black sea cucumber (Holothuria atra) - Sea Cucumbers
- chocolate chip sea star (Protoreaster nodosus) - Starfish
- Blue-lined Surgeonfish (Acanthurus lineatus) - Reef Fish
- Staghorn coral (Acropora valida) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora secale) - Hard Corals
- Bullet Mackerel (Auxis thazard) - Reef Fish
- Staghorn coral (Acropora nasuta) - Hard Corals
- Allison's Tuna (Thunnus albacares) - Reef Fish
- Staghorn coral (Acropora donei) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora hyacinthus) - Hard Corals
- Branch coral (Acropora florida) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora cerealis) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora solitaryensis) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora microclados) - Hard Corals
- Indian mackerel (Rastrelliger kanagurta) - Reef Fish
- Blenny (Istiblennius dussumieri) - Reef Fish
- Staghorn coral (Acropora humilis) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora spicifera) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora austera) - Hard Corals
- thalassia (Thalassia hemprichii) - Seagrass & Algae
Recommended Packing List for Dive site
Based on average water temperature of 29.3°C, currents 7 cm/s.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 29°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