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80 | WINTER 2016
HOW TO DIVE IT
GETTING THERE
Established in 1993 by the
Republic of Indonesia, the
Cenderawasih Bay National
Park covers 5,612 square
miles in the southwest
quarter of Cenderawasih
Bay, West Papua. It can
be accessed by sea from
the towns of Manokwari
and Nabire, which lie 60
miles north and 25 miles
northeast, respectively.
Flights are available to
Manokwari, Biak and Nabire.
CONDITIONS
The weather is commonly rainy and stormy
from February through May; the best time
to dive is July through November. Whale
sharks are resident year round. Air and
water temperatures are commonly in the
mid-80s°F, and most dives are between
80 and 130 feet. Tidal currents can be
encountered on atoll and reef sites, but
conditions are reliably mild where the whale
sharks are found.
HYPERBARIC CHAMBER
The nearest hyperbaric facilities that treat
divers are in Raja Ampat (West Papua,
Indonesia), Manado (North Sulawesi,
Indonesia) and Darwin, Australia.
For more information,
contact the park’s office at
.
Australia
Papua
New Guinea
Cenderwasih
Bay
Indonesia
Malaysia
The bay offers reliable, intimate
encounters with whale sharks.
From top left: Massive sea fans
and gorgonians result from the
flow of water along the walls and
seamounts. Whale sharks have
discovered the bagans (fishing
platforms) are reliable sources
of food. The fisherman of the
bagans are tolerant and even
welcoming of the whale sharks
that visit them daily.