Other marine life
Olive sea snake
Aipysurus laevis
A large, curious sea snake common on the Ribbon Reefs and a signature of sites like the Snake Pit and Two Towers. Venomous but rarely aggressive; individuals sometimes investigate divers and camera housings. Air-breathing, so seen at the surface and throughout the water column.
- Max size
- Up to ~2m
- Habitat
- Coral reef; forages over reef flats and around bommies
Best places to dive with Olive sea snake
| 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 |
Resident year-round on the Ribbon Reefs; not seasonal. Commonly seen, particularly at exposed reef sites; encounters vary dive to dive.
| 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 throughout the operating year; no unsupported monthly peak is applied.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | rare |
| February | rare |
| March | rare |
| April | rare |
| May | rare |
| June | rare |
| July | rare |
| August | rare |
| September | rare |
| October | rare |
| November | rare |
| December | rare |
Listed by several operators alongside the sea kraits at Manuk, but the reports are inconsistent and much of what gets called an olive sea snake in the Banda Sea is a banded sea krait. Treat as a possible rather than an expected sighting, and check the tail and head markings before logging it.
Sources & last checked
Checked July 2026
Research is source-backed, but conditions and fees should still be confirmed locally.
View 2 sources and checking notes
- Olive sea snake (Aipysurus laevis), Wikipedia
- Ribbon Reefs dive sites (Snake Pit, Two Towers), Spirit of Freedom