House Reef
Category : Donggala Sub Category : Sulawesi
Donggala
Under the Dutch colonial government, Donggala was the most important town and port in Central Sulawesi. When the main harbor was ruined, ship had to use the harbor in palu, 34 kilometers to the south on the other side of the bay. Since then, Palu has become the regional capital and Donggla has become a quiet town that people pass through on the way to Tanjung Karang.
Donggla has had a reputation as a great dive destination since the 90s. It is easily accessible from palu, only about an hour away by car. A fantastic resort is located in Tanjung Karang, which has faithfully served divers ever since its construction.
The dive sites in Donggala surround Tanjung Karang (Coral Cape) and most are only minutes away from the aforementioned resort. Tanjung Karang is a faforite sport for is easily accessible house reefs. If you’re looking for something more adventurous, there are several sites that can be explored by speedboat from the duve center near rhe resort.
There are more than 20 dive sites around Donggala. Other than the thriving coral rrefs, there is also a shipwreck lying 40 meters at one of the sites, said to be from a 1957 Permesta rebellion uprising. The area is of course inhabited by fascinating marine life, including various nudibranchs, scorpionfish, leaf fish, pengasus sea moths, anthias ereathing the tips of the acropora, and also white tip shark from time to time.
Getting There
Best Season : March – October
Airport :
Fly to palu
Airport : Mutiara
Airport
Route :
Makassar – Palu
Balikpapan – Palu
Jakarta – Palu
By Land :
Approximately a one hour drive from Palu to Donggala
Dive Site name : House reef (1)
Area : Donggala
Average depth : 15m
Maximum depth : 27m
Visibility : 10m
Min temperature : 27c
Max temperature : 30c
Bottom contour : Slope
Bottom composition : Coral reef, Rock, Sand
Current : Long shore
Marine life : Trevallies, Snapper, Fussilier, Sweetlips, Butterfly, Cardinal, Angel, Grouper, Damselfish, Anthias, Batfish, Wrasse, Parrot, Surgeon, Trigger, Box, Puffer, Gobies, Flounder, Moray eels, Eels, Frogfish, Leaf fish, Scorpion, Flathead, Blennies, Dragonet, Octopus, Shrimp, Crab Nudibranchn Flatworm, Shell, Snake, Turtle, Ray, Shark
Coral reef : Average
Type of reef : Fringing
Type of diving : Shore
Highlights : Schooling snappers/goatfish/fusilier, Ghost pipefish, Harlequin shrimp, Frogfish, Pygmy seahorse
Caution :-
Recommended for : All divers
Dive Site Classification : 0-2
Dive Site name : Irmi’s Block (2)
Area : Donggala
Average depth : 20m
Maximum depth : 30m
Visibility : 10m
Min temperature : 27c
Max temperature : 30c
Bottom contour : Slope
Bottom composition : Coral reef, Rock, Sand
Current : Long shore
Marine life : Trevallies, Snapper, Fussilier, Sweetlips, Butterfly, Cardinal, Angel, Grouper, Damselfish, Anthias, Batfish, Wrasse, Parrot, Surgeon, Trigger, Box, Puffer, Gobies, Flounder, Moray eels, Eels, Frogfish, Leaf fish, Scorpion, Flathead, Blennies, Dragonet, Octopus, Shrimp, Crab Nudibranchn Flatworm, Shell, Snake, Turtle, Ray, Shark
Coral reef : Average
Type of reef : Submerged
Type of diving : Shore
Highlights : Pygmy seahorse
Caution : Deep Dive
Recommended for : Experienced divers
Dive Site Classification : 2-3
Dive Site name : Alex Point (3)
Area : Donggala
Average depth : 15m
Maximum depth : 32m
Visibility : 15m
Min temperature : 27c
Max temperature : 30c
Bottom contour : Slope
Bottom composition : Coral reef, Rock, Sand
Current : Long shore
Marine life : Trevallies, Snapper, Fussilier, Sweetlips, Butterfly, Cardinal, Angel, Grouper, Damselfish, Anthias, Batfish, Wrasse, Parrot, Surgeon, Trigger, Box, Puffer, Gobies, Flounder, Moray eels, Eels, Frogfish, Leaf fish, Scorpion, Flathead, Blennies, Dragonet, Octopus, Shrimp, Crab Nudibranchn Flatworm, Shell, Snake, Turtle, Ray, Shark
Coral reef : Average
Type of reef : Fringing
Type of diving : Shore
Highlights : Pygmy seahorse, Ghost pipefish
Caution : –
Recommended for : All divers
Dive Site Classification : 0-2
Dive Site name : Gili Raja Wreck (5)
Area : Donggala
Average depth : 35m
Maximum depth : 50m
Visibility : 15m
Min temperature : 27c
Max temperature : 30c
Bottom contour : Flat
Bottom composition : Sand
Current : Long shore
Marine life : Trevalies, Snapper, Sweetlips, Angel, Grouper, Batfish, Parrot, Surgeon, Trigger, Puffer, Moray eels, Scorpion, Octopus, Shrimp, Nudibranch, Shell, Snake, Ray
Coral reef : Good
Type of reef : Fringing
Type of diving : Boat, Shore, Deep, Wreck
Highlights : Schooling silversides, Eagle ray, Wreck of a cargo ship sunk in 1958 during the permesta insurgence (covered in colorful black coral)
Caution : Deep Dive
Recommended for : Experienced divers
Dive Site Classification : 3-4
Dive Site name : Wreck Mutiara (6)
Area : Donggala
Average depth : 20m
Maximum depth : 30m
Visibility : 5m
Min temperature : 27c
Max temperature : 30c
Bottom contour : Flat
Bottom composition : Mud
Current : Long shore
Marine life : Trevalies, Snapper, Fusilier, Sweetlips, Grouper, Batfish, Surgeon, Trigger, Puffer, Moray eels, Scorpion, Flathead, Octopus, Shrimp, Nudibranch, Shell, Snake, Ray
Coral reef : Bad
Type of reef : Fringing
Type of diving : Boat, Wreck
Highlights : Wreck of a passenger ship sunk in 1958
Caution :-
Recommended for : All divers
Dive Site Classification : 2-3
Dive Site name : Green Wall (7)
Area : Donggala
Average depth : 20m
Maximum depth : 35m
Visibility : 15m
Min temperature : 27c
Max temperature : 30c
Bottom contour : Slope
Bottom composition : Coral reef, Rock, Sand
Current : Long shore
Marine life : Trevallies, Snapper, Fussilier, Sweetlips, Butterfly, Cardinal, Angel, Grouper, Damselfish, Anthias, Batfish, Wrasse, Parrot, Surgeon, Trigger, Box, Puffer, Gobies, Flounder, Moray eels, Eels, Frogfish, Leaf fish, Scorpion, Flathead, Blennies, Dragonet, Octopus, Shrimp, Crab Nudibranchn Flatworm, Shell, Snake, Turtle, Ray, Shark
Coral reef : Good
Type of reef : Fringing
Type of diving : Shore, Wreck
Highlights : Schooling silversides/fusilier/batfish/redtooth triggerfish, Eagle ray, Whitetip reef shark, Huge colony of green tubastrea
Caution : –
Recommended for : All divers
Dive Site Classification : 2-3
Dive Site name : Natural Reef (8)
Area : Donggala
Average depth : 20m
Maximum depth : 25m
Visibility : 20m
Min temperature : 27c
Max temperature : 30c
Bottom contour : Slope
Bottom composition : Coral reef, Rock, Sand
Current : Long shore
Marine life : Trevallies, Snapper, Fussilier, Sweetlips, Butterfly, Cardinal, Angel, Grouper, Damselfish, Anthias, Batfish, Wrasse, Parrot, Surgeon, Trigger, Box, Puffer, Gobies, Flounder, Moray eels, Eels, Frogfish, Leaf fish, Scorpion, Flathead, Blennies, Dragonet, Octopus, Shrimp, Crab Nudibranchn Flatworm, Shell, Snake, Turtle, Ray, Shark
Coral reef : Average
Type of reef : Fringing
Type of diving : Boat
Highlights : Dugong in the shallows during high tide
Caution :-
Recommended for : All divers
Dive Site Classification : 2-3
Dive Site name : Anchor Reef (9)
Area : Donggala
Average depth : 18m
Maximum depth : 25m
Visibility : 10m
Min temperature : 27c
Max temperature : 30c
Bottom contour : Slope
Bottom composition : Coral reef, Rubble, Rock
Current : Long shore
Marine life : Trevallies, Snapper, Fussilier, Sweetlips, Butterfly, Cardinal, Angel, Grouper, Damselfish, Anthias, Batfish, Wrasse, Parrot, Surgeon, Trigger, Box, Puffer, Gobies, Moray eels, Eels, Leaf fish, Scorpion, Blennies, Dragonet, Octopus, Shrimp, Crab Nudibranchn Flatworm, Shell, Snake, Turtle, Ray, Shark
Coral reef : Average
Type of reef : Barrier
Type of diving : Boat
Highlights : Schooling fusilier and rabbitfish, Mackerel, Ship’s anchor covered with corals and sea fans
Caution :-
Recommended for : All divers
Dive Site Classification : 1-2
Dive Site name : Coral Valley (10)
Area : Donggala
Average depth : 20m
Maximum depth : 30m
Visibility : 15m
Min temperature : 27c
Max temperature : 30c
Bottom contour : Slope
Bottom composition : Coral reef, Rock, Sand
Current : Long shore
Marine life : Trevallies, Snapper, Fussilier, Sweetlips, Butterfly, Cardinal, Angel, Grouper, Damselfish, Anthias, Batfish, Wrasse, Parrot, Surgeon, Trigger, Box, Puffer, Flounder, Gobies, Moray eels, Eels, Frogfish, Leaf fish, Scorpion, Flathead, Blennies, Dragonet, Octopus, Shrimp, Crab Nudibranchn Flatworm, Shell, Snake, Turtle, Ray, Shark
Coral reef : Average
Type of reef : Barrier
Type of diving : Boat
Highlights : Pygmy seahorse, Frogfish, Dugong, Many barrel sponges
Caution :-
Recommended for : All divers
Dive Site Classification : 2-3
Dive Site name : Pasi Pome (11)
Area : Donggala
Average depth : 15m
Maximum depth : 30m
Visibility : 15
Min temperature : 27c
Max temperature : 30c
Bottom contour : Slope
Bottom composition : Coral reef, Rock, Sand
Current : Long shore
Marine life : Trevallies, Snapper, Fussilier, Sweetlips, Butterfly, Cardinal, Angel, Grouper, Damselfish, Anthias, Batfish, Wrasse, Parrot, Surgeon, Trigger, Box, Puffer, Gobies, Moray eels, Leaf fish, Scorpion, Blennies, Octopus, Shrimp, Crab Nudibranchn Flatworm, Shell, Snake, Turtle, Ray, Shark
Coral reef : Good
Type of reef : Submerged
Type of diving : Boat
Highlights : Whitetip reef shark, Sea mount covered by healthy hard corals
Caution : –
Recommended for : All divers
Dive Site Classification : 1-2
Dive Site name : Pasi Kawe (12)
Area : Donggala
Average depth : 25m
Maximum depth : 30m
Visibility : 15m
Min temperature : 27c
Max temperature : 30c
Bottom contour : Slope
Bottom composition : Coral reef, Rock, Sand
Current : Long shore
Marine life : Trevallies, Snapper, Fussilier, Sweetlips, Butterfly, Cardinal, Angel, Grouper, Damselfish, Anthias, Batfish, Wrasse, Parrot, Surgeon, Trigger, Box, Puffer, Flounder, Gobies, Moray eels, Eels, Frogfish, Leaf fish, Scorpion, Flathead, Blennies, Dragonet, Octopus, Shrimp, Crab Nudibranchn Flatworm, Shell, Snake, Turtle, Ray, Shark
Coral reef : Good
Type of reef : Submerged
Type of diving : Boat
Highlights : Eagle ray, Whitetip and blacktip reef shark, Pygmy seahorse, Leaf fish, Frogfish ; Shallow section covered in green soft corals resembles a golfing green
Caution :-
Recommended for : All divers
Dive Site Classification : 2-3
Dive Site name : South Atol (13)
Area : Donggala
Average depth : 20m
Maximum depth : 30m
Visibility : 15m
Min temperature : 27c
Max temperature : 30c
Bottom contour : Slope
Bottom composition : Coral reef, Rock, Sand
Current : Long shore
Marine life : Trevallies, Snapper, Fussilier, Sweetlips, Butterfly, Cardinal, Angel, Grouper, Damselfish, Anthias, Batfish, Wrasse, Parrot, Surgeon, Trigger, Box, Puffer, Porcupine, Flounder, Gobies, Moray eels, Eels, Frogfish, Leaf fish, Scorpion, Flathead, Blennies, Dragonet, Octopus, Shrimp, Crab Nudibranchn Flatworm, Shell, Snake, Turtle, Ray, Shark
Coral reef : Average
Type of reef : Submerged
Type of diving : Boat
Highlights : Schooling Fusilier; Whitetip and blacktip reef shark, Pygmy seahorse, Frogfish
Caution : –
Recommended for : All divers
Dive Site Classification : 2-3
Dive Site name : Enu Gorgonian Forest (14)
Area : Donggala
Average depth : 20m
Maximum depth : 30m
Visibility : 10m
Min temperature : 27c
Max temperature : 30c
Bottom contour : Slope
Bottom composition : Coral reef, Rock, Sand
Current : Long shore
Marine life : Trevallies, Snapper, Fussilier, Sweetlips, Butterfly, Cardinal, Angel, Grouper, Damselfish, Anthias, Batfish, Wrasse, Parrot, Surgeon, Trigger, Box, Puffer, Gobies, Moray eels, Frogfish, Leaf fish, Scorpion, Flathead, Blennies, Dragonet, Octopus, Shrimp, Crab Nudibranchn Flatworm, Shell, Snake, Turtle, Ray, Shark
Coral reef : Average
Type of reef : Fringing
Type of diving : Boat
Highlights : Whitetip reef shark, Pygmy seahorse, Frogfish
Caution :-
Recommended for : All divers
Dive Site name : Enu Wall (15)
Area : Donggala
Average depth : 20m
Maximum depth : 30m
Visibility : 10m
Min temperature : 27c
Max temperature : 30c
Bottom contour : Drop off, Slope
Bottom composition : Coral reef, Rock, Sand
Current : Long shore, Down current, Other
Marine life : Trevallies, Snapper, Fussilier, Sweetlips, Butterfly, Cardinal, Angel, Grouper, Damselfish, Anthias, Batfish, Wrasse, Parrot, Surgeon, Trigger, Box, Puffer, Gobies, Moray eels, Frogfish, Leaf fish, Scorpion, Flathead, Blennies, Dragonet, Octopus, Shrimp, Crab Nudibranchn Flatworm, Shell, Snake, Turtle, Ray, Shark
Coral reef : Good
Type of reef : Fringing
Type of diving : Boat
Highlights :-
Caution :-
Recommended for : All divers
Dive Site Classification : 2-3
Dive Site name : Batu Suya (16)
Area : Donggala
Average depth : 20m
Maximum depth : 35m
Visibility :10m
Min temperature : 27c
Max temperature : 30c
Bottom contour : Drop off
Bottom composition : Coral reef, Rock, Sand
Current : Long shore
Marine life : Trevallies, Snapper, Fussilier, Sweetlips, Butterfly, Cardinal, Angel, Grouper, Damselfish, Anthias, Batfish, Wrasse, Parrot, Surgeon, Trigger, Box, Puffer, Gobies, Moray eels, Frogfish, Leaf fish, Scorpion, Flathead, Blennies, Dragonet, Octopus, Shrimp, Crab Nudibranchn Flatworm, Shell, Snake, Turtle, Ray, Shark
Coral reef : Average
Type of reef : Fringing
Type of diving : Boat
Highlights : –
Caution : –
Recommended for : All divers
Dive Site Classification : 2-3
Dive Site name : Pulau Pasoso (17)
Area : Donggala
Average depth : 20m
Maximum depth : 30m
Visibility : 15m
Min temperature : 27c
Max temperature : 30c
Bottom contour : Steep Slope
Bottom composition : Coral reef, Rock, Sand
Current : Long shore
Marine life : Trevallies, Snapper, Fussilier, Sweetlips, Butterfly, Cardinal, Angel, Grouper, Damselfish, Anthias, Batfish, Wrasse, Parrot, Surgeon, Trigger, Box, Puffer, Gobies, Moray eels, Eels, Leaf fish, Scorpion, Flathead, Blennies, Dragonet, Octopus, Shrimp, Crab Nudibranchn Flatworm, Shell, Snake, Turtle, Ray, Shark
Coral reef : Average
Type of reef : Fringing
Type of diving : Boat
Highlights : Dogtooth tuna, Many turtles
Caution :-
Recommended for : All divers
Dive Site Classification : 2-3
Dive Site name : North Atol (18)
Area : Donggala
Average depth : 25m
Maximum depth : 35m
Visibility : 20m
Min temperature : 27c
Max temperatre : 30c
Bottom contour : Droop off, Steep slope
Bottom composition : Coral reef, Rock, Sand
Current : Long shore
Marine life : Jack, Trevallies, Snapper, Fussilier, Sweetlips, Butterfly, Cardinal, Angel, Grouper, Damselfish, Anthias, Batfish, Wrasse, Parrot, Surgeon, Trigger, Box, Puffer, Gobies, Moray eels, Eels, Scorpion, Blennies, Octopus, Shrimp, Crab, Nudibranch, Flatworm, Shell, Snake, Turtle, Ray, Shark
Coral reef :Average
Type of reef : Submerged
Type of diving : Boat, Deep
Highlights : Cuttlefish, Whitetip and blacktip reef shark, Grey shark
Caution : Deep dive, Possible strong current
Recommended for : Experienced divers
Dive Site Classification : 2-3
Dive Site name : Marantale (19)
Area : Donggala
Average depth : 20m
Maximum depth : 30m
Visibility : 20m
Min temperature : 29c
Max temperature : 30c
Bottom contour : Drop off, Slope
Bottom composition : Coral reef, Rock, Sand
Current : Hardly any current
Marine life : Jack, Trevallies, Snapper, Fussilier, Sweetlips, Butterfly, Cardinal, Angel, Grouper, Damselfish, Anthias, Batfish, Wrasse, Parrot, Surgeon, Trigger, Box, Puffer, Gobies, Moray eels, Scorpion, Dragonet, Shrimp, Crab, Nudibranch, Flatworm, Shell, Snake, Turtle, Ray, Shark
Coral reef : Good
Type of reef : Submerged
Type of diving : Boat
Highlights : Schooling jack, Many huge sponges
Caution : –
Recommended for : All divers
Dive Site Classification : 2-3
Dive Site name : Naz Dream (20)
Area : Donggala
Average depth : 20m
Maximum depth : 30m
Visibility : 20m
Min temperature : 29c
Max temperature : 30c
Bottom contour : Drop off, Slope
Bottom composition : Coral reef, Rock, Sand
Current : Hardly any current
Marine life : Trevallies, Snapper, Fussilier, Sweetlips, Butterfly, Cardinal, Angel, Grouper, Damselfish, Anthias, Batfish, Wrasse, Parrot, Surgeon, Trigger, Box, Puffer, Gobies, Moray eels, Eels, Scorpion, Blennies, Shrimp, Crab, Nudibranch, Shell, Snake, Turtle, Ray, Shark
Coral reef : Good
Type of reef : Submerged
Type of diving : Boat
Highlights : Schooling redtooth triggerfish, Whale sharks (occasionally)
Caution : –
Recommended for : All divers
Dive Site Classification : 2-3
