Reef fish
Ribbon Eel
Rhinomuraena quaesita
A slender moray with a flared nostril and vivid colour that changes with life stage, from black juvenile to blue-and-yellow male to yellow female. It sits with its head out of a burrow on sandy reef edges. A popular macro and photographic subject on Wakatobi's slopes.
- Max size
- 1.2m
- Habitat
- Sand and rubble near reef, head protruding from a burrow
Best places to dive with Ribbon Eel
| 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 |
Commonly seen poking from the sand and rubble at Twin Rocks and other sites, both blue adults and black juveniles.
| 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 |
Reliable in the rubble at Ribbon Valley, which takes its name from them, and scattered across other Mabul sites. Black juveniles and blue adult males are both seen; no seasonality.
| 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 the sandy slope at Moray Beach. Individual eels hold the same burrow for long periods, so sightings depend on whether the guide knows a current one.
| 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 |
Ribbon eels poke out of the sand at macro sites such as Coral Cove. Regularly found but localised to sandy patches.
| 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 by local operators on reef and sand sites, but no quantitative frequency or seasonal dataset was found.
| 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 |
Found on sandy reef margins; regularly pointed out by guides but not on every dive.
Sources & last checked
Checked July 2026
Research is source-backed, but conditions and fees should still be confirmed locally.
View 1 source and checking notes
- Wakatobi: 10 Top Underwater Photography Sites, DivePhotoGuide