Conditions referenceSeason, water and visibilityBest Year-round · Moderate current · 28–31°C
- Current
- Moderate
- Water temperature
- 28–31°C
- Visibility
- 10–30m: The Kwatisore platforms commonly have 10–20m visibility.
- Experience
- Whale shark dives beneath the fishing platforms are generally shallow and sheltered.
01 · Marine life
What you may see
Sightings are never guaranteed. The bars show typical likelihood by month.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | commonly seen |
| February | commonly seen |
| March | commonly seen |
| April | commonly seen |
| May | commonly seen |
| June | commonly seen |
| July | commonly seen |
| August | commonly seen |
| September | commonly seen |
| October | commonly seen |
| November | commonly seen |
| December | commonly seen |
Long-term tracking supports year-round habitat use in Cenderawasih Bay.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | occasional |
| February | occasional |
| March | occasional |
| April | occasional |
| May | occasional |
| June | occasional |
| July | occasional |
| August | occasional |
| September | occasional |
| October | occasional |
| November | occasional |
| December | occasional |
Possible on healthy outer reefs, but published evidence does not support a seasonal peak or a guaranteed aggregation.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | occasional |
| February | occasional |
| March | occasional |
| April | occasional |
| May | occasional |
| June | occasional |
| July | occasional |
| August | occasional |
| September | occasional |
| October | occasional |
| November | occasional |
| December | occasional |
Reported on outer reefs throughout the operating year.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | occasional |
| February | occasional |
| March | occasional |
| April | occasional |
| May | occasional |
| June | occasional |
| July | occasional |
| August | occasional |
| September | occasional |
| October | occasional |
| November | occasional |
| December | occasional |
Hawksbills are associated with the bay's coral reefs.
See all 8 species
02 · Dive sites
Dive sites worth knowing
A starting point, not a ranking. Conditions decide what works on the day.
Kwatisore Bagans
The bay's best-documented whale shark area.
2–20m · Mild current
Numamuran Island
A northern bay reef zone associated with the region's restricted-range reef fish.
5–30m · Mild current
Purup Island
An outer-island reef stop used on full-bay routes.
5–30m · Mild current
See all 5 dive sites
03 · LogisticsGetting there and costsModerate. Fly to NBX. Typical trip $$–$$$.
Route overview
Moderate
Reachable but with some friction: 1 domestic flight, a 3h boat crossing.
Airport options
NBX
Douw Aturure Airport (Nabire)
Domestic connections via major Indonesian hubs; used for shorter Kwatisore trips and some liveaboard departures
MKW
Rendani Airport (Manokwari)
Domestic connections via Makassar, Jakarta or Sorong; common full-bay liveaboard port
Typical trip cost
$$–$$$
$2,000–4,000 to over $4,000
Per person, excluding international flights.
- Three-day land-based whale shark packages have recently been advertised from about $700 before flights.
- Full-bay liveaboards commonly run 7–12 nights and roughly $2,800–5,300+ per person.
- Prices and local fees vary by route and should be reconfirmed before booking.
Permit or park fee
What you pay
Published procedures record a Rp300,000 per-person Kwatisore village whale shark fee. Liveaboard listings may bundle broader park and port charges, currently advertised around $300 per trip
confirm the exact inclusions with the operator.
How it works
Visits operate inside Teluk Cenderawasih National Park. Boats report to local authorities and liveaboard procedures require coordination with a park ranger and Kwatisore village before whale shark visits.