Explore Pulau Weh

The volcanic island of Pulau Weh in Sumatra marks the farthest northern point of Indonesia and is also home to some of Indonesia’s best diving. From diving to depths of 60 meters/197 feet to discover abandoned wrecks to searching pristine coral reefs for the vast number of species of moray eel, Pulau Weh has something for everyone. The currents in Pulau Weh can be challenging, making diving that much more rewarding when you spot manta rays, eagle rays, and reef sharks swimming alongside you. Despite the small size of the island, it has plenty of dive centers, resorts, and liveaboards visiting to help in your discovery of Pulau Weh’s incredible underwater world.

Dive Activity

Diving in Pulau Weh

If you are a certified technical diver, you can descend 55 meters/180 feet to the Sophie Rickmer's cargo wreck and explore its coral-encrusted body. Less experienced divers can search a shallower tugboat wreck at Sabang Harbor. Gapang House Reef offers an opportunity to dive among pristine coral reefs, while Batee Tokong showcases a 40-meter/131-foot wall with unparalleled levels of marine life. A trip to Arus Balee will find you drift diving alongside reef sharks in strong currents, while trying to contain your smile so water doesn’t enter your mask. You can even dive hot bubbling volcanic springs in Sabang Harbor if you can get past the smell of the sulfur! Divers wanting to participate in advanced dive courses will find that the strong currents and diverse topography of Pulau Weh couldn’t be further away from the usual classroom.

Dive Sites

The best Months to dive in Pulau Weh

Conditions for scuba diving in Pulau Weh are good all year round, but, for maximum visibility plan your trip in the dry season from April through to October. During the wet season, where days of rain interrupt idyllic sunny days, the water can be choppier and it's important to plan with this in mind. Despite choppier waters, as the water cools in the rainy season there is the opportunity to spot marine megafauna that are less common to the area. During this season of cooler waters, sunfish have occasionally been spotted.

Top Wildlife Sigtings in Pulau Weh

The diversity of marine life while scuba diving in Pulau Weh is exceptional. A highlight is the enormous variety of moray eel that can be found, from giant morays, fimbriated morays, snowflake morays, and blackcheek morays - they are everywhere. Larger reef inhabitants such as reef sharks, manta, eagle rays, tuna, jacks, trevallies, barracuda and Napoleon wrasse are often spotted in Weh’s currents, walls, and drop-offs. Inspect the diverse reef topography for countless species of colourful nudibranch, shrimps, and crabs but remember to keep your eyes on the blue in case you are lucky enough to spot a school of dolphins playing in the deep.

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

503 Sightings
J
65
F
33
M
34
A
35
M
65
J
35
J
53
A
71
S
35
O
30
N
16
D
31

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

124 Sightings
J
19
F
4
M
9
A
8
M
7
J
12
J
6
A
21
S
12
O
13
N
5
D
8

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

77 Sightings
J
5
F
8
M
12
A
6
M
3
J
4
J
7
A
17
S
4
O
4
N
6
D
1
Green Turtle

Green Turtle

76 Sightings
J
11
F
0
M
8
A
6
M
5
J
5
J
13
A
13
S
8
O
2
N
2
D
3

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

Total number of species approx.: 25

Eagle Ray

Eagle Ray

35 Sightings
J
10
F
1
M
9
A
5
M
4
J
0
J
0
A
1
S
2
O
2
N
0
D
1

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

16 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
2
A
0
M
0
J
2
J
2
A
8
S
1
O
0
N
0
D
0
Reef Manta Ray

Reef Manta Ray

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

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

392 Sightings
J
47
F
26
M
30
A
24
M
49
J
28
J
30
A
67
S
21
O
30
N
19
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

286 Sightings
J
41
F
19
M
24
A
8
M
32
J
21
J
39
A
48
S
16
O
21
N
12
D
5

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

252 Sightings
J
34
F
20
M
21
A
20
M
17
J
12
J
32
A
44
S
12
O
23
N
15
D
2

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

238 Sightings
J
27
F
21
M
19
A
9
M
38
J
11
J
22
A
46
S
11
O
23
N
9
D
2

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

225 Sightings
J
19
F
16
M
21
A
9
M
32
J
9
J
19
A
50
S
12
O
23
N
9
D
6

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

224 Sightings
J
17
F
15
M
15
A
12
M
25
J
17
J
25
A
38
S
5
O
25
N
10
D
20

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

214 Sightings
J
27
F
14
M
14
A
14
M
17
J
18
J
14
A
36
S
15
O
20
N
14
D
11

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

190 Sightings
J
23
F
12
M
19
A
9
M
17
J
6
J
22
A
37
S
15
O
23
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.: 85

Surgeonfish

Surgeonfish

170 Sightings
J
21
F
7
M
17
A
4
M
14
J
14
J
18
A
26
S
18
O
20
N
10
D
1

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

141 Sightings
J
8
F
19
M
12
A
8
M
15
J
7
J
11
A
22
S
9
O
21
N
9
D
0

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

134 Sightings
J
16
F
13
M
5
A
6
M
13
J
6
J
7
A
29
S
12
O
19
N
7
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

Jackfish

Jackfish

112 Sightings
J
14
F
6
M
18
A
3
M
23
J
5
J
15
A
12
S
3
O
3
N
8
D
2

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

106 Sightings
J
12
F
10
M
15
A
11
M
7
J
4
J
21
A
14
S
9
O
1
N
0
D
2

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

106 Sightings
J
10
F
14
M
8
A
16
M
12
J
3
J
3
A
18
S
4
O
17
N
0
D
1

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

100 Sightings
J
14
F
2
M
8
A
2
M
14
J
5
J
5
A
19
S
13
O
17
N
1
D
0

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

98 Sightings
J
12
F
8
M
8
A
8
M
2
J
7
J
8
A
16
S
11
O
18
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.: 30

Stonefish

Stonefish

82 Sightings
J
16
F
7
M
5
A
5
M
3
J
6
J
12
A
4
S
9
O
1
N
4
D
10
Panther Moray Eel (Dragon Eel)

Panther Moray Eel (Dragon Eel)

82 Sightings
J
11
F
4
M
2
A
7
M
11
J
3
J
10
A
18
S
10
O
1
N
5
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

Tuna

Tuna

77 Sightings
J
8
F
2
M
9
A
9
M
6
J
1
J
18
A
12
S
2
O
6
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.: 90

Goatfish

Goatfish

76 Sightings
J
5
F
3
M
5
A
0
M
10
J
0
J
8
A
16
S
4
O
19
N
6
D
0
Blacktip Reef Shark

Blacktip Reef Shark

61 Sightings
J
9
F
6
M
4
A
4
M
7
J
11
J
3
A
7
S
4
O
6
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.: 60

Soldierfish

Soldierfish

60 Sightings
J
9
F
7
M
3
A
1
M
4
J
2
J
1
A
5
S
5
O
20
N
3
D
0

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

54 Sightings
J
9
F
9
M
2
A
5
M
2
J
0
J
0
A
5
S
6
O
16
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.: 250

Grouper/Basslets

Grouper/Basslets

52 Sightings
J
3
F
0
M
6
A
0
M
13
J
0
J
1
A
7
S
1
O
16
N
5
D
0
Ribbon Moray Eel (Ghost Eel)

Ribbon Moray Eel (Ghost Eel)

49 Sightings
J
6
F
0
M
4
A
0
M
4
J
4
J
3
A
12
S
4
O
2
N
6
D
4

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

46 Sightings
J
4
F
8
M
2
A
0
M
9
J
0
J
5
A
12
S
4
O
2
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.: 60

Squirrelfish

Squirrelfish

41 Sightings
J
6
F
3
M
4
A
0
M
4
J
0
J
2
A
2
S
1
O
18
N
1
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

38 Sightings
J
8
F
0
M
1
A
2
M
2
J
0
J
3
A
14
S
2
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.: 30

Sand Eel

Sand Eel

37 Sightings
J
6
F
2
M
2
A
0
M
3
J
2
J
0
A
4
S
7
O
2
N
8
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

36 Sightings
J
12
F
2
M
6
A
2
M
0
J
0
J
4
A
4
S
4
O
2
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.: 7000

Crab

Crab

36 Sightings
J
12
F
11
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
3
S
4
O
6
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.: 20

Porcupinefish

Porcupinefish

32 Sightings
J
5
F
3
M
3
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
4
A
6
S
1
O
10
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.: 80

Emperor

Emperor

29 Sightings
J
3
F
1
M
1
A
4
M
2
J
0
J
1
A
0
S
1
O
16
N
0
D
0
Garibaldi Damselfish

Garibaldi Damselfish

20 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
1
A
0
S
1
O
18
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.: 50

Frogfish

Frogfish

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

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

15 Sightings
J
7
F
0
M
1
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
2
O
5
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.: 3

Cornetfish

Cornetfish

15 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
5
M
0
J
2
J
1
A
5
S
1
O
0
N
0
D
1

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

Total number of species approx.: 55

Lobster

Lobster

13 Sightings
J
5
F
1
M
1
A
0
M
0
J
2
J
0
A
3
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
1
Whitetip Reef Shark

Whitetip Reef Shark

13 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
1
A
6
M
0
J
0
J
4
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0