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Explore Bangka Island

Bangka Island, nestled within the northern Sulawesi coastline, offers a remarkable diving experience at the heart of the Coral Triangle. This region is celebrated for its astonishing marine biodiversity and vibrant coral reefs, providing a unique underwater spectacle for divers of all levels. The island's diverse dive environments range from dramatic walls and pinnacles to caves and swim-throughs, promising thrilling encounters with the rich marine life that inhabits these waters. Whether you're drifting along strong currents or exploring muck dive sites for rare creatures like dugongs, Bangka ensures an unforgettable adventure. A variety of marine life, including pilot whales, eagle rays, and sea turtles, add to the allure of diving here. The well-preserved reefs and clear waters make Bangka particularly suited for both experienced divers and beginners seeking to hone their skills in calm, shallow settings. To fully immerse in the island's underwater wonders, liveaboard trips offer the best access, allowing divers to explore the surrounding archipelago, including nearby islands like Talisei and Gangga. Few dive centers are available on Bangka itself, but certifications can be pursued through dive resorts or liveaboards, making it a versatile destination for diving enthusiasts.

Dive Activity

Diving in Banka Island

Close to Bangka Island, there are more than 30 breath-taking diving sites with incredibly varied topographies. Drift dive in strong currents over a row of underwater boulder pinnacles or night dive on a sloping coral reef with minimal to no current. Scuba diving around Bangka Island will reveal spectacular underwater caves, bizarre rock towers, steep rock faces or sandy places ideal for macro lovers - Bangka has it all.

Dive Sites

The best Months to dive in Bangka Island

You can dive around Bangka Island all year round but the conditions do vary. March through to June is the dry season, therefore, visibility is at its peak during these months. From November to December the rainy season ensues and July through to October the winds pick up, with both periods having lower visibility.

Top Wildlife Sightings in Bangka Island

Written upon many divers wishlists is the beloved dugong and Bangka Island diving may just be able to tick that one of your list. Search for frogfish, ghost pipefish, pygmy seahorse and nudibranch while waiting for a gentle dugong to swim into view. Study the thriving coral bommies and sloping reefs to find rare shrimp and octopus after riding the currents with white and blacktip reef sharks at Bangka’s more advanced dive sites. Giant sea turtles, Napoleon wrasse, and bumphead parrotfish are a common find in the warm waters of Bangka

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 200

Moray Eel

Moray Eel

415 Sightings
J
5
F
17
M
44
A
40
M
20
J
32
J
52
A
40
S
63
O
34
N
55
D
13

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 300

Octopus

Octopus

182 Sightings
J
5
F
10
M
11
A
12
M
26
J
17
J
17
A
20
S
16
O
10
N
33
D
5
Green Turtle

Green Turtle

147 Sightings
J
7
F
6
M
7
A
13
M
9
J
9
J
17
A
6
S
16
O
12
N
40
D
5

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 600

Wrasse

Wrasse

135 Sightings
J
3
F
5
M
7
A
8
M
12
J
8
J
16
A
3
S
16
O
12
N
45
D
0
Hawksbill Turtle

Hawksbill Turtle

59 Sightings
J
1
F
3
M
0
A
3
M
0
J
2
J
8
A
2
S
5
O
3
N
32
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 27

Barracuda

Barracuda

58 Sightings
J
2
F
4
M
3
A
8
M
7
J
3
J
8
A
4
S
6
O
4
N
3
D
6

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3000

Nudibranch

Nudibranch

725 Sightings
J
11
F
21
M
36
A
42
M
66
J
76
J
95
A
71
S
106
O
62
N
118
D
21

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 28

Clownfish

Clownfish

650 Sightings
J
4
F
13
M
67
A
58
M
37
J
59
J
100
A
42
S
85
O
49
N
124
D
12

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Butterfly Fish

Butterfly Fish

418 Sightings
J
3
F
5
M
33
A
45
M
21
J
36
J
55
A
25
S
63
O
31
N
97
D
4

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 12

Lionfish

Lionfish

394 Sightings
J
5
F
10
M
53
A
32
M
16
J
29
J
69
A
35
S
44
O
20
N
72
D
9

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 250

Scorpionfish

Scorpionfish

371 Sightings
J
5
F
17
M
36
A
26
M
23
J
16
J
58
A
24
S
50
O
25
N
84
D
7

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Angelfish

Angelfish

368 Sightings
J
2
F
6
M
32
A
28
M
20
J
24
J
52
A
27
S
51
O
27
N
94
D
5

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3400

Shrimp

Shrimp

352 Sightings
J
4
F
31
M
19
A
28
M
26
J
50
J
46
A
32
S
36
O
23
N
46
D
11

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 7000

Crab

Crab

325 Sightings
J
7
F
29
M
24
A
18
M
24
J
32
J
34
A
24
S
27
O
43
N
59
D
4

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Pufferfish

Pufferfish

287 Sightings
J
6
F
8
M
22
A
30
M
23
J
28
J
44
A
24
S
46
O
19
N
32
D
5

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 100

Parrotfish

Parrotfish

265 Sightings
J
2
F
6
M
22
A
33
M
18
J
22
J
31
A
15
S
24
O
26
N
61
D
5

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 7

Pygmy Seahorse

Pygmy Seahorse

259 Sightings
J
5
F
16
M
24
A
12
M
20
J
27
J
37
A
22
S
35
O
22
N
38
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

Triggerfish

Triggerfish

259 Sightings
J
1
F
3
M
18
A
27
M
19
J
31
J
49
A
21
S
30
O
14
N
43
D
3

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 8

Bannerfish

Bannerfish

249 Sightings
J
2
F
5
M
22
A
28
M
22
J
20
J
24
A
22
S
29
O
22
N
48
D
5

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 25

Boxfish

Boxfish

240 Sightings
J
3
F
4
M
17
A
15
M
13
J
30
J
34
A
19
S
48
O
16
N
36
D
5

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3

Trumpetfish

Trumpetfish

233 Sightings
J
7
F
3
M
16
A
28
M
16
J
19
J
27
A
10
S
33
O
18
N
47
D
9

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 120

Cuttlefish

Cuttlefish

221 Sightings
J
9
F
15
M
9
A
7
M
15
J
25
J
27
A
23
S
19
O
27
N
36
D
9

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 85

Surgeonfish

Surgeonfish

217 Sightings
J
0
F
5
M
15
A
24
M
18
J
33
J
25
A
17
S
10
O
6
N
63
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 80

Stingrays

Stingrays

204 Sightings
J
2
F
7
M
17
A
23
M
10
J
13
J
39
A
24
S
28
O
13
N
24
D
4

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

Soldierfish

Soldierfish

203 Sightings
J
1
F
3
M
13
A
27
M
16
J
15
J
36
A
13
S
24
O
5
N
48
D
2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 150

Sweetlips and Grunts

Sweetlips and Grunts

189 Sightings
J
4
F
5
M
9
A
25
M
18
J
15
J
26
A
5
S
14
O
12
N
49
D
7

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 50

Frogfish

Frogfish

180 Sightings
J
6
F
15
M
12
A
4
M
17
J
16
J
39
A
15
S
19
O
13
N
21
D
3

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 350

Damselfish

Damselfish

176 Sightings
J
1
F
2
M
7
A
17
M
7
J
24
J
24
A
14
S
22
O
10
N
44
D
4

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Pipefish

Pipefish

142 Sightings
J
2
F
8
M
20
A
9
M
10
J
16
J
26
A
10
S
16
O
6
N
17
D
2
Ribbon Moray Eel (Ghost Eel)

Ribbon Moray Eel (Ghost Eel)

115 Sightings
J
0
F
5
M
10
A
11
M
12
J
17
J
11
A
8
S
19
O
8
N
9
D
5

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 250

Grouper/Basslets

Grouper/Basslets

95 Sightings
J
2
F
5
M
11
A
17
M
3
J
10
J
6
A
4
S
13
O
8
N
15
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 30

Stonefish

Stonefish

95 Sightings
J
0
F
1
M
5
A
3
M
1
J
4
J
12
A
9
S
11
O
3
N
46
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Goatfish

Goatfish

93 Sightings
J
0
F
2
M
19
A
5
M
3
J
7
J
18
A
4
S
9
O
12
N
14
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 20

Porcupinefish

Porcupinefish

91 Sightings
J
0
F
4
M
7
A
12
M
3
J
4
J
14
A
6
S
11
O
5
N
24
D
1
Common Seahorse

Common Seahorse

86 Sightings
J
1
F
1
M
11
A
4
M
12
J
15
J
14
A
12
S
6
O
8
N
1
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 110

Snapper

Snapper

77 Sightings
J
1
F
4
M
1
A
7
M
5
J
7
J
20
A
3
S
9
O
5
N
12
D
3

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3

Cornetfish

Cornetfish

65 Sightings
J
0
F
2
M
15
A
6
M
5
J
3
J
14
A
6
S
7
O
3
N
4
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

Jackfish

Jackfish

61 Sightings
J
0
F
2
M
6
A
13
M
3
J
8
J
6
A
1
S
6
O
6
N
9
D
1
Whitetip Reef Shark

Whitetip Reef Shark

52 Sightings
J
3
F
6
M
0
A
5
M
2
J
3
J
6
A
8
S
8
O
3
N
5
D
3
Spiny Seahorse

Spiny Seahorse

52 Sightings
J
1
F
3
M
4
A
1
M
4
J
4
J
8
A
8
S
9
O
1
N
9
D
0
Leaf Scorpionfish

Leaf Scorpionfish

48 Sightings
J
0
F
1
M
8
A
1
M
11
J
1
J
5
A
3
S
2
O
2
N
12
D
2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

Squirrelfish

Squirrelfish

47 Sightings
J
1
F
2
M
0
A
3
M
2
J
11
J
7
A
4
S
8
O
2
N
6
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 30

Sand Eel

Sand Eel

40 Sightings
J
0
F
1
M
4
A
0
M
1
J
3
J
16
A
2
S
7
O
0
N
6
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

Spiny Lobster

Spiny Lobster

34 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
2
A
0
M
0
J
1
J
8
A
2
S
3
O
3
N
13
D
2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3500

Soft Corals

Soft Corals

28 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
1
J
17
J
4
A
6
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 1500

Hard Corals

Hard Corals

22 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
1
J
13
J
2
A
6
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 15

Garfish

Garfish

19 Sightings
J
1
F
2
M
0
A
1
M
1
J
0
J
5
A
1
S
3
O
1
N
4
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 7

Seamoths

Seamoths

19 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
1
M
1
J
7
J
0
A
2
S
1
O
0
N
7
D
0