Updated May 13, 2022
This is the thirty-second in a series that introduces and describes the various dive services and sites for worldwide liveaboard dive safaris. This one focuses on Cenderawasih Bay, Indonesia liveaboards.
In addition to this one on liveaboards, the best worldwide dive resort locations and services are reviewed in their own series. To check them out, or other liveaboards, click on Liveaboards / Resorts on the menu at the top and choose a title from the list.
Have you ever been diving in Cenderawasih Bay before? If so, I’d love to know about your experience. What dive shop or liveaboard did you use? Which dive spots are the best and what are the conditions there regarding the visibility, current, water temperature, sealife attractions, etc.? Please post your response in the comments section at the bottom and we’ll all learn something we can use.
Cenderawasih Bay Diving
Cenderawasih Bay, which means Bird of Paradise Bay in Indonesian, located to the northwest of the Indonesian province of Papua and east of West Papua Province, is more than 300 kilometers (187.5 miles) wide and 700 kilometers (437.5 miles) long with several rivers emptying into it. The western portion of the bay is a protected marine reserve that is part of Teluk Cenderawasih National Park.
For a scuba diver, the highlights are whale sharks, manta rays, great bio-diversity, and macro life. Dr. Gerald Allen, the prominent ichthyologist, refers to Cenderawasih Bay as “the Galapagos of Indonesia’s reefs.” This remote area has very healthy reefs, World War II wrecks, and moderate to strong current making it suitable for intermediate to advanced divers.
The most spectacular attraction is the whale sharks that live there year-round. Adults, newborns, and juveniles congregate in masses around fishing platforms at depths of a few meters, feeding on fish fry, and don’t appear to be bothered by snorkelers and divers swimming among them. This makes for some great photo opportunities with several sharks and humans in the same frame.
During World War II the Japanese anchored in the bay near Manokwari, while the allies were located at Biak Island to the east. There were many altercations resulting in numerous planes, ships, and boats now resting on the seabed. Some are yet to be discovered and several are not often dived.
Cenderawasih Bay is also renowned for muck diving with a great variety of macro life and for four species of turtle (green, hawksbill, Pacific Ridley, and leatherback) that can be observed.
Popular Cenderawasih Bay Dive Sites
Kwatisore Bay – This is a famous whale shark area on the southern coastline of Cenderawasih Bay near the town of Nabire. As described above, whale sharks can be found in numbers there that allow swimmers and divers to mingle with them.
Shinwa Maru – Resting on the seabed near Manakwari at depths from 16-34 meters (53-112 feet), this 120-meter (394 foot) vessel is a Japanese transport ship. Two blast holes on the starboard side sent her to her fate. Her name translates as “friendly spirit” which didn’t help her much that day. Today she is richly covered with sponges and corals with schools of jacks, moray eels, and great macro life including nudibranchs. The scattered cargo of dishes, beer and sake bottles, batteries, chopsticks, and two old-style diving helmets still remains in place.
Sungei Omiand is one of many muck diving sites around the bay. It has black volcanic sand with rocks and coral clusters which are home to a great diversity of macro creatures such as pygmy seahorses, sea kraits, snake eels, tiger prawns, cuttlefish, frogfish, nudibranchs, and blue-ringed octopus. Many of the best places to discover such creatures are in areas of marine rubbish close to settlements. Of course, the rubbish is off-putting but does have the benefit of providing great habitat for such animals.
Seasons and Conditions
- Liveaboard diving in Cenderawasih Bay only takes place from July to September. There are no local dive shops in the area. From July to September the winds and rain can make the surface conditions a little rough outside the bay, so several of the Raja Ampat liveaboards opt to cruise to Cenderawasih because it is better protected from the elements and has some fantastic diving.
- Whale sharks are in the bay year-round. There is no special season for them.
- There are two wet seasons, November/December and July/August, but the region has rain throughout the year.
- Water temperatures run to 27°C (81°F) from May to October and 30°C (86°F) from November to April. I can’t imagine you will want any thicker than a 3mm wetsuit.
Diving Summary
- Depth: 5-40+m (16-130+ft)
- Visibility: 10-30m (33-100ft)
- Currents: moderate to strong
- Surface conditions: usually calm
- Number of dive sites: >50
Cenderawasih Bay Liveaboard Dive Boats
There are four excellent yachts cruising in Cenderawasih Bay. The Dewi Nusantara has a slightly higher level of service and facilities and is a bit more expensive. Unfortunately, three out of the four only do 2-3 cruises to the bay annually. Only the KLM Sea Safari has a substantial number at ten. So, without local dive operators and so few liveaboards, I can suggest that it is a rare opportunity to go to and enjoy such a remote and special place.
- 7-day cruises to Raja Ampat and Cenderawasih Bay
- 10 trips to Cenderawasih Bay from July-September
- Cenderawasih Bay itinerary includes – Purup Island, Lonley Rock, The Corner, Small Lagoon, Tanjung Ayami, Tanjung Busura, Ayami Corner, Tanjung Kecil, Silver Linning, Tanjung Batu, Whale Shark Point, Ripon Island, Zero Airplane, Pulo Kecil, The Corner, Rippon Reef, Wairundi Reef
- Laundry service, daily housekeeping, air-conditioned saloon, aircon cabins, ensuite bathrooms, warm water showers, library, audio & video entertainment
- Leisure deck, sun deck
- Photography station, separate rinse for u/w camera
- Non-diver (snorkeler) friendly
- Indonesian and international dishes, including Chinese, Japanese, and BBQs, and vegetarian options
- The crew speaks English and Indonesian
- Non-diver (snorkeler) friendly
- Nitrox available, tech diving, rebreather support, sidemount diving
- Dive deck
- 3 x Life rafts
- 3 x Yamaha tenders – 1 x 85 HP and 2 x 40 HP
Check it out on Liveaboard.com
- 8-11 day cruises to Raja Ampat and Cenderawasih Bay
- 5 trips to Cenderawasih Bay in June, July, and August
- Cenderawasih Bay itinerary includes – Manokwari: Wrecks, Butsiuri Reef, Maruni and Tanjung Mupi; Yembekiri Island, Roon Island and Mangguar: Weka’s Point, Tanjung Mangguar, Ben Mon Wall, Napenyaur Village; Kwatisore: Kwatisore Beach and Kwatisore Home Reef; Pulau Roon: Groovy Passage, Pulau Auri, Tanjung Ayami, Pulau Roon (North Point); Yembekiri: Tanjung Cidi; Yali Ali: Tanjung Kalung; Pulau Purup; Warkopi Oni: Sungai Omi
- Laundry service, daily housekeeping, air-conditioned saloon, aircon cabins, ensuite bathrooms, warm water showers, library, audio & video entertainment
- Sun deck
- Photography station, separate rinse for u/w camera
- Asian and international meals
- The crew speaks English and Indonesian
- Non-diver (snorkeler) friendly
- Nitrox available, sidemount diving
- Shaded dive deck
- 2 life rafts (for 15 passengers each)
- 2 x 40 HP Yamaha motorized dinghies
- 10-12 day cruises to Raja Ampat, Cenderawasih Bay
- 3 trips to Cenderawasih Bay in July and August
- Cenderawasih Bay itinerary includes – North of the Birds Head, Amsterdam, Cenderawasih Bay, Whale Shark Bagans (Fishing platforms)
- Extra-large cabins, ensuite bathrooms, hot water showers, 45m² air-conditioned saloon with TV, DVD, iPod docking station and sound system, Computer with CD burner – Photo and video editing, movie and book library, games and magazines – fish ID and diving books
- Dedicated air-conditioned restaurant, outdoor dining area
- Shaded outside area – 100m² sun decks with sun loungers and hammocks
- Onboard boutique
- Separate rinse tank for cameras, camera table
- Massage (after-dive and full body)
- International cuisine, Chinese and Japanese cuisine, local specialties, BBQs, and vegetarian
- The crew speaks English and Indonesian
- Sea kayaks
- Non-diver (snorkeler) friendly
- 100m² dive deck
- Nitrox available
- 2 Yamaha 200 HP dinghies
- 50 person capacity life raft
- 9-12 day cruises to Raja Ampat, Banda Islands & Ambon, Cenderawasih Bay
- 2 trips to Cenderawasih Bay in September
- Cenderawasih Bay itinerary includes – Numfor, Num, Rumberpon, Mios Waor, Roon, Tanjung Ayami, Tanjung Manguwar, Kwatisore, and Ahe
- Laundry service, daily housekeeping, aircon cabins, en-suite bathrooms, air-conditioned indoor saloon & dining area, audio & video entertainment, library
- Shaded open-air social area, sun deck, leisure deck
- Charging stations
- Photography Station
- Chinese, Italian, BBQ, and international main dishes, outdoor dining
- Warm Water Showers
- Onboard kayaks
- Non-Diver (Snorkeler) Friendly
- Nitrox available
- Shaded diving deck
- Life rafts (20 pax)
- 85 HP and 40HP Yamaha dive dinghies
Cenderawasih Bay Liveaboard Dive Boat Comparison Table
| KLM Sea Safari 8 | MV Pearl of Papua | Dewi Nusantara | Calico Jack | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |
|
| Length | 34 m | 28 m | 57 m | 30 m |
| Guests | 24 | 15 | 18 | 10 |
| Crew | 18 | 13 | 22 | 11 |
| Equipment | $35/day | $45/day | $300/trip | $38/day |
| Nitrox | $20/day | $5/fill (only one per day) | $10/fill | €15/day |
| Snorkeler Friendly | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Kayaks | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Single Supplement | +75% | +$175 | +65% | +80% |
| Non-diver Rate | $30/day off | 10% off | None | 10% off |
| Price/Day | $298 | $322 | $571 | $310 |
| KLM Sea Safari 8 | MV Pearl of Papua | Dewi Nusantara | Calico Jack |
Cenderawasih Bay Photos
With the macro life, beautiful, diverse coral reef, megafauna, and lots of fish, there are many excellent photo opportunities. For information and reviews of diving cameras, click here:
Scuba Diving Trip Insurance
A cushion for emergencies provides peace of mind when on vacation. I recommend this diving insurance as they have worldwide coverage and provide scuba divers quality insurance and medical assistance service.
Feedback and Comments
I hope you found this post on Cenderawasih Bay liveaboard scuba diving interesting and useful. If you have any questions or ideas, please feel free to share them in the comments section. I’d love to know of any experience you have diving there. If there is no comments section directly below, click here: >>comments<<
I absolutely love sharks, tiger sharks, hammerheads, great whites.and whale sharks. I was the girl who couldn’t wait for shark week. It seems like you get pretty close to them judging by the picture. Are the dives year round? I would love to get as close as I could. It is still hard to imagine myself doing a dive and seeing turtles and sharks galore. Awesome info on Indonesia I now know what to expect if I ever go to do a dive.
Hi Kira,
Thanks a lot for your interest and questions.
It is possible to get quite close to the wildlife including sharks and turtles, not just at this location, but in most that I review.
The diving in Cenderawasih Bay on liveaboards is from July to September. It is a short season there, but a great many of the places in Indonesia and around the world are available year round.
Where would you like to go? What countries would you like to see? Are you a certified diver with experience?
If I can be of help setting you up with a liveaboard or resort or a diving course, if you need it, please let me know. I would love to see you swimming with sharks.
Best regards,
Joe
Joe,
Great post.
Scuba diving has been on the bucket list for quite some time now for my wife and I. I feel like snorkeling may be the best option for us. The reef here seems absolutely stunning. The videos tell the tale. Great post.
Would you suggest snorkeling first before scuba? Can you scuba without a license if you are with someone, or is a course needed?
Thanks Joe,
Nic
Hi Nic,
Thanks a lot for your interest.
You could go on this particular safari as a snorkeler and swim with the whale sharks and have a great time.
My suggestion, though, would be to become a certified diver. It will give you the skills and license to continue diving throughout your life. Except for brief discovery dives under close supervision by an instructor, you really need a certification to dive. No one will rent you equipment or allow you to just tag along. The liability is too great.
You just need to have the ability to swim 200 yards without stopping as a sort of prerequisite for a license. The basic open water diver class takes about 4 days and includes some study, 5 shallow water classes to learn the skills and 4 open water dives to practice the skills and have a supervised introduction to the undersea world. You can take a class like this in many places including a great many of the resorts and liveaboards that I review here on my site. I suggest you browse the different locations and see if there are any that attract you. If you would like some help to find a good spot for you to do it, please let me know. After earning the open water certificate, you would be eligible to do the liveaboard diving on many of the boats I review.
Good luck making your decision. I hope you decide to learn to dive and open up that whole underwater world for exploration.
Best regards,
Joe
Thank you for this article. It is really informative, I have always wanted to watch scuba divers swimming with sharks and whales without any fear, considering the fact that these animals are very dangerous. Any mistakes and that is the end.
How can someone become a diver? Is it really hard? I would love to do a dive safari this year. That place is really interesting. Thanks for your post. Once again, it is wonderful.
Hi Oleyede,
Thanks for your comments and interest.
Diving can be pretty exciting, especially with whale sharks. Actually, though, whale sharks are harmless. They have no teeth and are filter feeders. The ones in Cenderawasih Bay don’t show much fear of man and are not startled by people swimming with them.
That’s great you would like to learn to dive. The basic open water diver class takes about 4 days and includes some study, 5 shallow water classes to learn the skills and 4 open water dives to practice the skills and have a supervised introduction to the undersea world. You can take a class like this in many places including a great many of the resorts and liveaboards that I review here on my site. I suggest you browse the different locations and see if there are any that attract you. If you would like some help to find a good spot for you to do it, please let me know. After earning the open water certificate, you would be eligible to do the liveaboard diving in in many locations.
Thanks, again. Please get in touch with any questions. I hope you can get a chance to do the dive course and get started in this exciting activity.
Best regards,
Joe
I am going to Indonesia in few weeks time and seems like I have stumbled across your post just in time! I am still a noob in Scuba diving but this seems like a real fun activity that I can consider doing there. I am especially thrilled at the idea of meeting the shark up close, or even a photo with it!
Thanks for recommending this wonderful place!
Hi Grace,
Thanks for you interest in diving and your kind comments.
Where are you going in Indonesia? There are many great places to learn to dive including some of the liveaboard safaris. Maybe I can give you some advice.
The basic open water diver class takes about 4 days and includes some study, 5 shallow water classes to learn the skills and 4 open water dives to practice the skills and have a supervised introduction to the undersea world. I suggest you browse the different locations on my site and see if there are any that attract you. If you would like some help to find a good spot for you to do it, please let me know. After earning the open water certificate, you would be eligible to do most of the liveaboards that I review.
Good luck to you. I hope you learn to dive and open the door to a great lifelong hobby.
Best regards,
Joe
Wow. What an article! Kudos to you Joe. Till now I have not seen any travel site giving so many details in their articles. Thanks for making such an effort to produce it. I was planning a trip around April or May. Do you think it will be too hot then? Kindly let me know your views. Also I have decided on the DEWI NUSANTARA. Please let me know your views. Do they sail around April-May?
Hi GeeEss,
Thanks a lot for your kind comments.
Actually there are no trips to Cenderawasih Bay in April or May. The season there runs from July to September. The Dewi Nusantara is cruising Raja Ampat in April and May. That is truly a great area to dive. Why don’t you go to the liveaboard menu at the top and go to Best Rajah Ampat Liveaboard Reviews and check it out.
It is never too hot to dive. The temperature is reasonably mild in April and May. That is late Spring there.
If you have any questions or want further advice, please get in touch. When you take your trip, please let me know the result and how much you enjoyed it. I envy you if you can make it to Rajah Ampat or another great Indonesian site.
Good luck.
Joe