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 | 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 |
Found on sandy reef margins; regularly pointed out by guides but not on every dive.
Sources & last checked
Checked July 2026
This is a researched draft, not yet human-verified. The seasonality and logistics are drawn from the sources below — confirm specifics (permits, fees, closures) with an operator before you book.
- Wakatobi: 10 Top Underwater Photography Sites — DivePhotoGuide