Tanjung Bakau 3 - Halmahera
Watamula, only a boat ride away, feels like a secret garden. We love it for the sheer density of coral, a proper jungle of it starting just five metres down. It’s not just big, it’s alive. You’ll drift over massive starlet corals and blush-pink flower corals, then find yourself hovering above sandy patches dotted with huge soft corals, swaying like dancers. This place is a real treat for macro lovers and wide-angle photographers alike. Keep an eye out for the yellowline gobies darting around, and we’ve often spotted honeycomb cowfish here – they’re always a favourite. The visibility usually hovers around 23 metres, so everything feels crisp and clear. We'd suggest going in the morning; the light really pops on the corals then. Strong currents can occasionally sweep through, so it’s best for divers comfortable with a bit of movement.
- Location
- Halmahera, Indonesia, Southeast Asia
- Coordinates
- -0.466600, 127.690900
- Type
- reef
Marine Protected Area: KKP3K Pulau Sali, Gane Barat Utara
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
- 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)
Nearest Dive Centres to Tanjung Bakau 3
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 Tanjung Bakau 3
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