Eagle Nest - Raja Ampat

Jan Thiel baai feels different from a lot of Curaçao's shore dives. You're right off a busy beach, which means easy entry but also more activity topside. Below the surface, it’s a surprisingly good spot for a relaxed dive, especially if you've got family waiting. The star here is definitely the wreck, a small tugboat we think, sitting upright on the sandy bottom at about 10-12m. It’s got an open wheelhouse you can poke your head into, and we always find a good few Orangespotted Filefish darting around its superstructure. What we really love about Jan Thiel is the sandy bottom around the wreck. It's not just barren; spend some time looking closely and you’ll spot movement. We’ve had excellent luck finding gobies, particularly the Bridled and Smallmouth, peering out from their little burrows. Keep an eye out for Green Razorfish burying themselves in the sand with a flick of a tail if you get too close. There’s also an artificial platform nearby that acts as another little habitat, attracting everything from Slippery Dicks to juvenile Doctorfish. This site suits divers looking for an easy, no-fuss wreck dive, with a focus on smaller, sand-dwelling critters that often get overlooked on the big reef dives.

Location
Raja Ampat, Indonesia, Southeast Asia
Coordinates
-2.252600, 130.624600
Type
wreck

Marine Protected Area: Teluk Lelintah

Best Time to Dive in Raja Ampat

The warmest water temperatures in Raja Ampat occur in November, averaging 30.3°C. The coolest conditions are in July at 29.3°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 29.7°C
  • February: 29.4°C
  • March: 29.6°C
  • April: 29.9°C
  • May: 29.9°C
  • June: 29.7°C
  • July: 29.3°C
  • August: 29.4°C
  • September: 29.6°C
  • October: 30.0°C
  • November: 30.3°C
  • December: 30.1°C

Nearby Dive Sites in Raja Ampat

Nearest Dive Centres to Eagle Nest

Marine Life in Raja Ampat

Home to 250 recorded species including 176 reef fish, 43 hard corals, 8 seagrass & algae, 5 sea cucumbers, 4 clams & mussels, 4 other.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for Eagle Nest

Based on average water temperature of 29.7°C, currents 20 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