Indonesia
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Where to dive in Indonesia
Gili Islands
Bali Sea
TEMPERATURE26°C - 30°CVISIBILITY10 - 30 m
Komodo
Flores Sea
TEMPERATURE22°C - 30°CVISIBILITY5 - 30 m
Lembeh Strait
Molucca Sea
TEMPERATURE25°C - 30°CVISIBILITY5 - 15 m
Nusa Penida
Indian Ocean
TEMPERATURE18°C - 29°CVISIBILITY15 - 39 m
Raja Ampat
Pacific Ocean
TEMPERATURE26°C - 30°CVISIBILITY10 - 40 m
Top species 24
- Unlikely
- Likely
- Very likely
Diurnal Frequent sightingsBumphead Parrotfish
Bolbometopon muricatum
The bumphead parrotfish is the largest species of parrotfish, known for the characteristic hump on its head. They are predominantly herbivores, grazing on coral reefs by scraping off algae and live coral, and are often seen in large schools.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsDenise's pygmy seahorse
Hippocampus denise
Denise's pygmy seahorse is a diminutive species, rarely exceeding 2.4 cm in length, renowned for its exceptional camouflage within gorgonian corals. Its body coloration, typically yellow or orange with subtle patterns, and textured skin allow it to perfectly mimic its host seafan's polyps and stems. These seahorses are specialized predators, feeding on tiny crustaceans and zooplankton, and are often found alone or in pairs clinging to their coral hosts.
BEST SEASON
Variable Frequent sightingsEschmeyer's Scorpionfish
Rhinopias eschmeyeri
Eschmeyer's Scorpionfish (Rhinopias eschmeyeri) is a venomous marine ray-finned fish known for its exceptional camouflage. It possesses a deep, laterally compressed body, high-set eyes, and typically uniform coloration ranging from lilac, yellow, orange, or brick red. This ambush predator primarily moves by 'walking' or 'hopping' along the seabed using its pectoral and pelvic fins, waiting for unsuspecting prey.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsFlamboyant Cuttlefish
Metasepia pfefferi
This small cephalopod is known as the Flamboyant Cuttlefish due to its striking and rapid color changes. It primarily "walks" along the seafloor using its arms and fins rather than swimming, owing to a small internal cuttlebone. Metasepia pfefferi is also one of the few known venomous cephalopods, displaying its vibrant colors as a warning to predators.
BEST SEASON
Nocturnal Frequent sightingsFreycinet's Epaulette Shark
Hemiscyllium freycineti
Freycinet's Epaulette Shark is a small, slender species known for its ability to 'walk' using its pectoral fins. It is primarily found in coral reef environments and is distinguished by its distinctive spot pattern. This shark is nocturnal and mostly feeds on small fish and invertebrates.
BEST SEASON
Variable Frequent sightingsGiant Oceanic Manta Ray
Mobula birostris
The Giant Oceanic Manta Ray is the world's largest ray, with a disc width that can reach up to 9 meters. It is a circumglobal species found in tropical to temperate pelagic waters, often near coastlines, reefs, and in the open ocean, diving to depths of 1,000 meters. These filter feeders primarily consume zooplankton, including mesopelagic sources, and can also eat small fish. While generally solitary, they aggregate at feeding grounds and cleaning stations. The species is currently listed as Endangered due to overfishing and low reproductive rates.
BEST SEASON
Variable Frequent sightingsGiant Trevally
Caranx ignobilis
The giant trevally (Caranx ignobilis) is a large, powerful predatory fish found throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific region. Known for its steep head profile and robust body, it can reach up to 170 cm in length and 80 kg in weight. This apex predator feeds primarily on fish, but also consumes crustaceans and cephalopods, often hunting in solitary or small groups, though juveniles form schools.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsGreen Sea Turtle
Chelonia mydas
The green sea turtle is a large marine reptile distinguished by its heart-shaped carapace and a single pair of prefrontal scales.
BEST SEASON
Variable Frequent sightingsGrey Reef Shark
Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos
The Grey Reef Shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) is a medium to large-sized requiem shark, common in Indo-Pacific coral reefs and adjacent waters. Characterized by its grey body and a distinctive broad black band on the trailing edge of its caudal fin, it is a fast and agile predator. These sharks are known for their social daytime aggregations, which disperse at night for individual hunting.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsHawksbill Sea Turtle
Eretmochelys imbricata
The Hawksbill Sea Turtle is a medium-sized marine turtle recognizable by its distinctive hawk-like beak and overlapping scutes, which create a serrated edge on its carapace. Primarily found in tropical coral reefs, it plays a crucial role in these ecosystems by feeding mainly on sponges, which are toxic to most other animals. This species is critically endangered due to historical exploitation for its beautiful shell and ongoing threats like habitat loss and bycatch.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsHumphead Wrasse
Cheilinus undulatus
The Humphead Wrasse is one of the largest reef fish, identifiable by a prominent hump on its forehead and thick fleshy lips. It is a protogynous hermaphrodite, meaning individuals are born female and some transition to males later in life. This carnivorous species plays a crucial role in coral reef ecosystems by preying on hard-shelled invertebrates and toxic animals like the crown-of-thorns starfish.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsMimic Octopus
Thaumoctopus mimicus
The Mimic Octopus (Thaumoctopus mimicus) is an extraordinary cephalopod renowned for its ability to impersonate a variety of other marine animals, including lionfish, sea snakes, and flatfish, to deter predators and ambush prey. It inhabits shallow, muddy, or sandy seafloors, particularly in river mouths and estuaries across the Indo-Pacific. This highly intelligent octopus can reach up to 60 cm in length and exhibits a base coloration of brown with white stripes, which it rapidly alters using chromatophores.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsOcean Sunfish
Mola mola
The Ocean Sunfish is one of the heaviest known bony fish, notable for its round, flat body. It often basks on its side at the surface of the ocean and is a diurnal predator feeding primarily on jellyfish.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsOcellated Eagle Ray
Aetobatus ocellatus
The Ocellated Eagle Ray, also known as the Whitespotted Eagle Ray, is a large ray characterized by a dark greenish-grey to black dorsal surface covered with numerous white spots, and a white underside. It possesses a flattened, diamond-shaped body, a prominent snout, and a long, whip-like tail armed with venomous spines. This species primarily feeds on hard-shelled invertebrates, such as mollusks and crustaceans, which it crushes with its specialized dental plates.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsPeacock Mantis Shrimp
Odontodactylus scyllarus
The Peacock Mantis Shrimp is a striking marine crustacean known for its vibrant colors and one of the fastest attacks in the animal kingdom. It uses its club-shaped raptorial appendages to deliver incredibly powerful blows, smashing the shells of mollusks and crustaceans.
BEST SEASON
Frequent sightingsPygmy Seahorse
Hippocampus bargibanti
The Pygmy Seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti), is one of the smallest seahorse species, rarely exceeding 2.8 cm in length. It is a master of camouflage, perfectly mimicking the color and texture of the Muricella gorgonian corals it exclusively inhabits, making it incredibly difficult to spot. These seahorses feed on tiny planktonic organisms using their elongated snout.
BEST SEASON
Variable Frequent sightingsReef Manta Ray
Mobula alfredi
The Reef Manta Ray (Mobula alfredi) is a large filter-feeding ray found in tropical and subtropical waters, primarily around coral reefs and coastal areas. Known for its pelagic lifestyle, it feeds on zooplankton and exhibits complex social behaviors, often forming aggregations at feeding or cleaning stations. This species is listed as Vulnerable due to threats from overfishing and its slow reproductive rate.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsSaddleback Clownfish
Amphiprion polymnus
The Saddleback Clownfish (Amphiprion polymnus) is a distinctive anemonefish characterized by its dark body with a broad white head bar and a prominent saddle-shaped white patch on its back. It forms a symbiotic relationship with sea anemones, utilizing their stinging tentacles for protection. This species is a protandrous hermaphrodite, meaning individuals develop as males first and the dominant male can change to female if the breeding female dies. They are known to be territorial, especially around their host anemone.
BEST SEASON
Nocturnal Frequent sightingsTasselled Wobbegong
Eucrossorhinus dasypogon
The Tasselled Wobbegong is a carpet shark with a unique appearance, characterized by its intricate patterns and 'tassels' around its head. It inhabits shallow coral reefs, where it blends with the seabed to ambush prey.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsWarty Frogfish
Antennarius maculatus
The Warty Frogfish (Antennarius maculatus) is a small, camouflaged ambush predator found in Indo-Pacific coral and rocky reefs. Its skin is covered in wart-like protuberances, allowing it to blend seamlessly with its environment of sponges, corals, and algae. It uses a modified dorsal spine, called an illicium, with a fleshy lure to attract small fish and crustaceans, which it engulfs with remarkable speed.
BEST SEASON
Nocturnal Frequent sightingsWeedy Scorpionfish
Rhinopias frondosa
The Weedy Scorpionfish (Rhinopias frondosa) is a marine ray-finned fish known for its exceptional camouflage, with a highly compressed body covered in weed-like tentacles and skin flaps that vary in color. It is an ambush predator, primarily nocturnal, feeding on fish and small invertebrates. This species rarely swims, preferring to crawl along the seabed using its fins, often swaying to mimic algae or debris.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsWhale Shark
Rhincodon typus
The whale shark is the largest fish in the world and a gentle filter feeder.
BEST SEASON
Nocturnal Frequent sightingsWhitetip Reef Shark
Triaenodon obesus
The Whitetip Reef Shark is a slender, medium-sized shark easily identified by the distinctive white tips on its dorsal and upper caudal fins. Primarily nocturnal, it spends its days resting in caves and under ledges on coral reefs and hunts at night for bony fishes, crustaceans, and cephalopods. These sharks are generally social, often found in groups during the day, but can hunt individually or cooperatively.
BEST SEASON
Crepuscular Frequent sightingsWunderpus Octopus
Wunderpus photogenicus
The Wunderpus octopus (Wunderpus photogenicus) is a small, striking cephalopod known for its distinct white and rusty-brown coloration with unique patterns across its body. It possesses long, slender arms and eyes set on elongated stalks, often mimicking venomous sea snakes or lionfish to deter predators. This species primarily inhabits shallow, soft-sediment environments in the Indo-Malayan Archipelago, emerging at dusk and dawn to hunt small fish and crustaceans.
BEST SEASON
More marine life 113
Alligator PipefishSyngnathoides biaculeatus
Barred MorayEchidna polyzona
Barred Thicklip WrasseHemigymnus fasciatus
Bigeye TrevallyCaranx sexfasciatus
Black DurgonMelichthys niger
Blacktip Reef SharkCarcharhinus melanopterus
Blue-Ringed OctopusHapalochlaena spp.
Blue-barred ParrotfishScarus ghobban
Bluecheek ButterflyfishChaetodon semilarvatus
Bluering AngelfishPomacanthus annularis
Bluespotted CornetfishFistularia commersonii
Bluespotted Ribbontail RayTaeniura lymma
Bluestreak Cleaner WrasseLabroides dimidiatus
Blunt-head ParrotfishChlorurus microrhinos
Broadclub CuttlefishSepia latimanus
Broomtail WrasseCheilinus lunulatus
Brownbanded Bamboo SharkChiloscyllium punctatum
Bullethead ParrotfishChlorurus sordidus
Chambered NautilusNautilus pompilius
Clark's AnemonefishAmphiprion clarkii
Clown TriggerfishBalistoides conspicillum
Coconut OctopusAmphioctopus marginatus
Commerson's FrogfishAntennarius commerson
Coral HindCephalopholis miniata
Cowtail StingrayPastinachus sephen
Delicate Ghost PipefishSolenostomus leptosoma
Disco ClamCtenoides ales
Dogtooth TunaGymnosarda unicolor
Dragon Moray EelEnchelycore pardalis
Dusky BatfishPlatax pinnatus
Ember ParrotfishScarus rubroviolaceus
Emperor AngelfishPomacanthus imperator
Fimbriated MorayGymnothorax fimbriatus
Garden EelHeterocongrinae
Giant MorayGymnothorax javanicus
Giant clamTridacna gigas
Glider FlyingfishCheilopogon atrisignis
Golden SpadefishPlatax boersii
Great BarracudaSphyraena barracuda
Greyface MorayGymnothorax thyrsoideus
Guineafowl PufferArothron meleagris
Halimeda Ghost PipefishSolenostomus halimeda
Harlequin ShrimpHymenocera picta
Honeycomb MorayGymnothorax favagineus
Jenkins' WhiprayPateobatis jenkinsii
Jointed RazorfishAeoliscus strigatus
Kellogg's ScorpionfishScorpaenodes kelloggi
Lacy ScorpionfishRhinopias aphanes
Latticed ButterflyfishChaetodon rafflesii
Leaf ScorpionfishTaenianotus triacanthus
LionfishPterois spp.
Live SharksuckerEcheneis naucrates
Longhorn CowfishLactoria cornuta
Longtail Butterfly RayGymnura poecilura
Lyretail AnthiasPseudanthias squamipinnis
MandarinfishSynchiropus splendidus
Maroon ClownfishPremnas biaculeatus
Messmate pipefishCorythoichthys haematopterus
Moorish IdolZanclus cornutus
Ocellaris ClownfishAmphiprion ocellaris
Orange-lined TriggerfishBalistapus undulatus
Orbicular BatfishPlatax orbicularis
Oriental SweetlipsPlectorhinchus vittatus
Ornate Eagle RayAetomylaeus vespertilio
Ornate Ghost PipefishSolenostomus paradoxus
Painted FrogfishAntennarius pictus
Painted Spiny LobsterPanulirus versicolor
Palette SurgeonfishParacanthurus hepatus
Pennant CoralfishHeniochus acuminatus
Pharaoh CuttlefishSepia pharaonis
Picasso TriggerfishRhinecanthus aculeatus
Pickhandle BarracudaSphyraena jello
Pinktail TriggerfishMelichthys vidua
Prickly LeatherjacketChaetodermis penicilligerus
Purple Queen AnthiasPseudanthias tuka
Rainbow RunnerElagatis bipinnulata
Redtooth TriggerfishOdonus niger
Regal AngelfishPygoplites diacanthus
Reticulate WhiprayHimantura uarnak
Ribbon EelRhinomuraena quaesita
Robust Ghost PipefishSolenostomus cyanopterus
Round Ribbontail RayTaeniurops meyeni
Scrawled FilefishAluterus scriptus
Shortfin Devil RayMobula kuhlii
Silver SweeperPempheris schwenkii
Snowflake MorayEchidna nebulosa
Spanish DancerHexabranchus sanguineus
Spinetail Devil RayMobula mobular
Spot-fin PorcupinefishDiodon hystrix
Spotted SeahorseHippocampus kuda
Starry Flying GurnardDactyloptena peterseni
Stellate PufferArothron stellatus
StonefishSynanceia verrucosa
Tawny Nurse SharkNebrius ferrugineus
Teira BatfishPlatax teira
Tentacled FlatheadPapilloculiceps longiceps
Thorny SeahorseHippocampus histrix
Threadfin ButterflyfishChaetodon auriga
Tiger Tail SeahorseHippocampus comes
Titan TriggerfishBalistoides viridescens
Tomato ClownfishAmphiprion frenatus
Valentin's Sharpnose PufferCanthigaster valentini
White-Spotted OctopusCallistoctopus macropus
White-spotted PufferfishArothron hispidus
Yellow BoxfishOstracion cubicus
Yellow Longnose ButterflyfishForcipiger flavissimus
Yellow-lipped Sea KraitLaticauda colubrina
Yellowfin TunaThunnus albacares
Yellowmargin TriggerfishPseudobalistes flavimarginatus
Yellowspot TrevallyCarangoides fulvoguttatus
Yellowspotted TriggerfishPseudobalistes fuscus
Zebra Mantis ShrimpLysiosquillina maculata
Zebra SharkStegostoma tigrinum
Explore Indonesia on the map
Frequently asked questions about Indonesia
What are the best dive destinations in Indonesia?
Indonesia has 5 dive destinations, including Gili Islands, Komodo, Lembeh Strait, Nusa Penida, and Raja Ampat.
When is the best time to dive in Indonesia?
It depends on where you dive in Indonesia: Gili Islands from May to October, Komodo from April to May and from September to November, Lembeh Strait from March to May and from September to November, Nusa Penida from April to November, and Raja Ampat from October to April.
What marine life can you see diving in Indonesia?
Divers can encounter 137 species in Indonesia. Highlights include Bumphead Parrotfish, Denise's pygmy seahorse, Eschmeyer's Scorpionfish, Flamboyant Cuttlefish, Freycinet's Epaulette Shark, and Giant Oceanic Manta Ray.
When can you see the Denise's pygmy seahorse in Indonesia?
The Denise's pygmy seahorse is most often seen in Indonesia from April to October.
When can you see the Eschmeyer's Scorpionfish in Indonesia?
The Eschmeyer's Scorpionfish is most often seen in Indonesia from March to October.
When can you see the Giant Oceanic Manta Ray in Indonesia?
The Giant Oceanic Manta Ray is most often seen in Indonesia from February to September and from November to December.
What is the water temperature in Indonesia?
Water temperature across Indonesia ranges from 18°C at Nusa Penida to 30°C at Gili Islands.
What wetsuit do I need to dive in Indonesia?
The water across Indonesia ranges from 18°C to 30°C, so pack anything from a rash guard or a 1–3 mm shorty to a 7 mm wetsuit depending on the site and the season.
What is the visibility like when diving in Indonesia?
Visibility in Indonesia ranges from 5 m to 40 m. The clearest water is found at Raja Ampat.
What can you see on a night dive in Indonesia?
After dark, Indonesia reveals nocturnal species such as Freycinet's Epaulette Shark, Tasselled Wobbegong, Weedy Scorpionfish, Whitetip Reef Shark, Bluespotted Ribbontail Ray, and Brownbanded Bamboo Shark.
Every answer is built from the conditions and sightings data we keep for Indonesia. Spotted something that looks off?
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