Triton Bay
-3.93560173, 134.12110838
Triton Bay is located about 90 boat minutes south of Kaimana in West Papua, Indonesia. The area is sparsely populated which reduces pressure on marine life and contributes to the excellent condition of its reefs.
It was only in 2006 when a group of scientists ventured south beyond Raja Ampat to survey the then unknown waters of the Kaimana Regency. What they saw surely must have blown them away. Like further north, the area around Triton Bay is a hot spot of marine biodiversity. It is said that two of the surveyed dive sites broke the previous record of most fish species recorded from a single site.
In 2008, a 6000 km2 marine protected area was declared by the Kaimana regency in order to protect is reefs from illegal and destructive practices. Bravo!
Incredible soft and hard coral reefs, endemic fish species, huge schools of fish and countless critters - this place has it all. It takes your breath away. You just don’t want the dives to end. And then there are Whale sharks to be seen one to two boat hours north. Please read my separate Post under Dive Destinations/Kaimana Whale Sharks.
There is only one small, beautiful dive resort (see photo on the right) in a lush green landscape with a South Pacific vibe. Hornbills are flying above your head, easily recognizable by the peculiar sound their wings make. Just the perfect place to get away from it all.
The Diving
Most dives sites are located in the Iris Strait, a beautiful area between the islands of Aiduma and West Papua. The diving season runs from October through May. Visibility varies greatly, depending on the tide situation and the time of year. Dives aren’t particularly challenging, nor deep. Boat rides to the dives site vary from 5 to 35 minutes.
Twice a year, usually March and October, Liveaboard dive ships will pass through the area on their way from and to Raja Ampat.
