Dermaga VIP
West Halmahera
Halmahera Island is the largest island in the Mollucas, or Maluku Islands. Ternate, a tiny island to the west is the ‘gateway’ to Halmahers. Many centuries ago, when the Sultanante Ternate wan is power, Halmahera Island dominated the political and economic spheres of the Mollucas. The area was famous for its spices and played a siginificant role in international trade. Now, however, it has begun attracting international attention for another reason – its diving.
The diving industry here is developing in several areas: Jailolo Bay in West Halmahera, some sites in the Guraici Island in the north, and others near Ternate and Tidore. Acces to diving in Jailolo is quite easy, with Jailolo being the capital if West Halmahera, There are many speedboats connecting Jailolo and Ternate.
However, when diving this area, you should contac the operators in Ternate to find someone to to assist you in planning your dive trip. The dive sites are remote, which means that access to emergency and medical facilities is limited. Please make sure that operator and guide you choose are professional and prioritize diver safety.
Jailolo offers a plethora of macro marine life in mini drop offs. Around the Joilolo Pier, you can enjoy a muck dive full of various types of nudibranch, scorpionfish, and also mandarinfish if you dive at dusk. A little further out of the bay there is a submerged reef, five to 40 meters deep, where blacktip and whitetip sharks are usually seen. Turtles and schooling fusilier, damsels, anthias, are also highlights of this underwater scene.
Jailolo’s underwater world is truly fantastic. Other than the attraction of the muck diving and coral reefs, there is also the wreck of sidangoli to explore. The wreck is big and full of life, and, although sometimes the site has reduced visibility and sme current, it is still a diveable wreck for most divers.
If you don’t have time to island hop, then diving in Ternate is a great option; there are sites here that will really sate your diving appetite. And you don’t have to go too far, two of the best sites are just behind the Grand Mosque and right in front of Floridas Restaurant.
Getting There
Best Season : May – October
Fly to Ternate
Airport : Sultan Babullah Airport
Route :
Jakarta – Ternate
Manado – Ternate
Makassar – Ternate
Boat transfer :
From Dufa Dufa Harbour in Ternate to Jailolo by speedboat(duration : 50 minutes)
Dive site name : Dermaga VIP (1)
Area : West Halmahera
Average depth : 7m
Maximum depth : 10m
Visibility : 5m
Min temperature : 26c
Max temperature : 30c
Bottom contour : Flat
Bottom composition : Coral reef, Sand, Rubble, Mud
Current : –
Marine life : Grouper, Damselfish, Gobies, Moray Eels, Octopus, Crab, Nudibranch
Coral reef : Bad
Type of reef : Patchy
Type of diving : Boat, Shore, Muck,
Highlights : Mandarinfish
Caution : Boat traffic
Recommended for : All divers
Dive Site Classification : 0-1
Dive site name : Banahena NHR 3 (2)
Area : West Halmahera
Average depth : 10m
Maximum depth : 25m
Visibility : 15m
Min temperature : 26c
Max temperature : 30c
Bottom contour : Slope, Steep slope
Bottom composition : Coral reef, Sand
Current : Long shoe
Marine life : Snapper, Fusilier, Barracuda, Butterfly, Angel, Grouper, Damselfish, Parrot, Surgeon, Puffer, Porcupine, Moray eels, Scorpion, Blennies, Octopus, Shrimp, Crab, Nudibranch, Flatworm, Shell, Ray
Coral reef : Good
Type of reef : Submerged
Type of diving : Boat, Drift
Highlights : –
Caution : –
Recommended for : All divers
Dive Site Classification : 1-2
Dive site name : NHR 4 (3)
Area : West Halmahera
Average depth : 40m
Maximum depth : 25m
Visibility : 10m
Min temperature : 26c
Max temperature : 30c
Bottom contour : Mixed
Bottom composition : Coral reef, Sand
Current : Long shoe
Marine life : Fusilier, Butterfly, Cardinal, Angel, Grouper, Damselfish, Anthias, Batfish, Wrasse, Surgeon, Trigger, Puffer, Gobies, Moray eels, Scorpion, Blennies, Octopus, Shrimp, Nudibranch
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 : NHR 5 (4)
Area : West Halmahera
Average depth : 20m
Maximum depth : 30m
Visibility : 10m
Min temperature : 26c
Max temperature : 30c
Bottom contour : Mixed
Bottom composition : Coral reef, Sand
Current : Long shoe
Marine life : Snapper, Fusilier, Butterfly, Cardinal, Angel, Grouper, Damselfish, Anthias, Wrasse, Surgeon, Trigger, Flounders, Gobies, Moray eels, Scorpion, Blennies, Octopus, Shrimp, Nudibranch
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 : NHR 10 (5)
Area : West Halmahera
Average depth : 20m
Maximum depth : 30m
Visibility : 15M
Min temperature : 26c
Max temperature : 30c
Bottom contour : Mixed
Bottom composition : Coral reef, Sand
Current : Long shoe
Marine life : Snapper, Fusilier, Butterfly, Cardinal, Angel, Grouper, Damselfish, Anthias, Batfish, Wrasse, Surgeon, Trigger, Gobies, Moray eels, Scorpion, Blennies, Shrimp, Nudibranch, Shell, 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 : NHR 8 (6)
Area : West Halmahera
Average depth : 20m
Maximum depth : 30m
Visibility : 15M
Min temperature : 26c
Max temperature : 30c
Bottom contour : Slope
Bottom composition : Coral reef, Sand
Current : Long shoe
Marine life : Snapper, Fusilier, Butterfly, Cardinal, Angel, Grouper, Damselfish, Batfish, Wrasse, Surgeon, Trigger, Gobies, Moray eels, Scorpion, Blennies, Shrimp, Nudibranch, Ray
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 : NHR 7 (7)
Area : West Halmahera
Average depth : 20m
Maximum depth : 30m
Visibility : 15m
Min temperature : 26c
Max temperature : 30c
Bottom contour : Mixed
Bottom composition : Coral reef, Sand
Current : Long shoe
Marine life : Snapper, Fusilier, Butterfly, Cardinal, Angel, Grouper, Damselfish, Anthias, Wrasse, Parrot, Surgeon, Trigger, Flounders, Gobies, Moray eels, Scorpion, Blennies, Octopus, Shrimp, Nudibranch, Ray
Coral reef : Average
Type of reef : Submerged
Type of diving : Boat
Highlights : –
Caution : –
Recommended for : All divers
Dive Site Classification : 2-3
Dive site name : Babua NHR 1 (8)
Area : West Halmahera
Average depth : 20m
Maximum depth : 30m
Visibility : 10m
Min temperature : 26c
Max temperature : 30c
Bottom contour : Mixed, Drop off, Slope
Bottom composition : Coral reef, Sand
Current : Long shoe
Marine life : Snapper, Fusilier, Butterfly, Cardinal, Angel, Grouper, Damselfish, Anthias, Batfish, Wrasse, Parrot, Surgeon, Trigger, Puffer, Gobies, Moray eels, Scorpion, Blennies, Octopus, Shrimp, Crab, Nudibranch, Shell
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 : Jojo Reef NHR 6 (9)
Area : West Halmahera
Average depth : 20m
Maximum depth : 40m
Visibility : 10m
Min temperature : 26c
Max temperature : 30c
Bottom contour : Mixed, Drop off, Slope, Steep slope
Bottom composition : Coral reef, Sand
Current : Long shoe
Marine life : Snapper, Fusilier, Butterfly, Cardinal, Angel, Grouper, Damselfish, Anthias, Batfish, Wrasse, Parrot, Surgeon, Trigger, Box, Puffer, Gobies, Scorpion, Blennies, Octopus, Shrimp, Crab, Nudibranch, Flatworm, Shell, Turtle, Ray, Shark
Coral reef : Good
Type of reef : Submerged
Type of diving : Boat, Drift
Highlights : Pygmy seahorse
Caution : –
Recommended for : All divers
Dive Site Classification : 2-3
Dive site name : NHR 9 (10)
Area : West Halmahera
Average depth : 20m
Maximum depth : 30m
Visibility : 15m
Min temperature : 26c
Max temperature : 30c
Bottom contour : Slope, Steep slope
Bottom composition : Sand, Coral reef, Rubble
Current : Long shoe
Marine life : Snapper, Fusilier, Butterfly, Cardinal, Angel, Grouper, Damselfish, Anthias, Wrasse, Parrot, Surgeon, Trigger, Box, Puffer, Gobies, Moray eels, Scorpion, Blennies, Octopus, Shrimp, Nudibranch, Shell, Turtle, Shark, Ray
Coral reef : Average
Type of reef : Fringing
Type of diving : Boat
Highlights : Napoleon wrasse
Caution : –
Recommended for : All divers
Dive Site Classification : 2-3
Dive site name : Fastofiri (11)
Area : West Halmahera
Average depth : 10m
Maximum depth : 15m
Visibility : 10m
Min temperature : 26c
Max temperature : 30c
Bottom contour : Slope, Steep slope
Bottom composition : Sand, Coral reef
Current : Long shoe
Marine life : Snapper, Fusilier, Butterfly, Cardinal, Grouper, Damselfish, Wrasse, Trigger, Puffer, Gobies, Moray eels, Scorpion, Blennies, Octopus, Shrimp, Nudibranch, Shell
Coral reef : Average
Type of reef : Submerged
Type of diving : Boat
Highlights : Mushroom coral Pipefish
Caution : –
Recommended for : All divers
Dive Site Classification : 1-2
Dive site name : Sidangoli Wreck (12)
Area : West Halmahera
Average depth : 20m
Maximum depth : 30m
Visibility : 10m
Min temperature : 26c
Max temperature : 30c
Bottom contour : Slope
Bottom composition : Sand, Coral reef
Current : Long shoe
Marine life : Fusilier, Cardinal, Angel, Grouper, Damselfish, Wrasse, Surgeon, Trigger, Gobies, Scorpion, Moray eels, Scorpion, Nudibranch
Coral reef : Bad
Type of reef : Fringing
Type of diving : Boat, Wreck, Drift
Highlights : Sidangoli wreck, Banded pipefish
Caution : –
Recommended for : All divers
Dive Site Classification : 2-3
