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Cenderawasih Bay whale sharks

DivingNo permitNo mooring buoys

Marine life · Also good for snorkeling

Raja Ampat & Papua, IDCenderawasih Bay whale sharks
Best time
Year–round
Water temp.
25–29 °C
Dive depth
3–20 m
Coordinates2°18′00″ S, 134°36′00″ E

Whale sharks that have become permanent residents around bagan, floating fishing platforms, where they suck baitfish from the nets. Instead of one fleeting pass you get hours with 5-10 animals, at depth, in daylight, endlessly circling. The only place you can scuba with whale sharks in a stable, repeatable way. Papuan fishermen consider the sharks lucky and feed them deliberately, a relationship that predates tourism. Indonesia protected whale sharks nationally in 2013. Cenderawasih is Indonesia's largest marine national park and one of its least visited. Anchorage: Remote bay anchorages; liveaboard expedition territory. Hazards: No site-specific hazards noted, brief normally.

Weather

°C°F

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