Tomajiko, Hiri Island - Halmahera
Verde Island Drop Off. What a rush. We love this site for its sheer intensity, a genuine wall of coral and fish that just doesn’t quit. It’s not a gentle drift, often, the current here can be a serious push, so don’t show up tired. But that current is exactly why the place explodes with life. Drop down to five metres and then just let the wall fall away beneath you, into the deep blue. The corals here are dense, layered on top of each other, making every crack and crevice a home. Look for the bright flashes of Diana's Hogfish darting amongst the fans, or the curious gaze of a Saddled Rockcod tucked into an overhang. We've often seen schools of Blue-lined Tang moving like a unified silver cloud along the wall. Keep an eye out for the smaller stuff too, the tiny Striped Catfish weaving over the coral heads. It’s a site for experienced divers who appreciate a lively drift and want to be absolutely surrounded by the vibrant chaos of a healthy reef.
- Location
- Halmahera, Indonesia, Southeast Asia
- Coordinates
- 0.896200, 127.303000
- Type
- reef
Marine Protected Area: KKP3K Pulau Babua, Jailolo
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 Tomajiko, Hiri Island
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 Tomajiko, Hiri Island
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