Diving guide
Sites, depths, levels and the best windows.
Diving · what it costs
Five sites, and what a day on them costs
The short version of the dive guide, priced: five named sites, the season that suits each, and the rupiah figure a two-tank day is actually quoted at.
- 5
- Core sites from town
- 18–28 m
- Typical visibility
- IDR 1.2–1.6m
- Two-tank day, with gear
In short
Five sites carry most of the diving here — Batu Kapal, the Lava Flow, Karang Hatta, the Pulau Ai walls and Sonegat — and the difference between them is current, not scenery.
- The Lava Flow and Sonegat are the calm ones; Batu Kapal and Karang Hatta are not.
- Oct–Apr is when the outer sites are reachable at all.
- Gear rental is normally inside the two-tank price; Nitrox is not.
The five
Sites, seasons and costs
Indicative rupiah figures observed in 2026. Operators quote per person for tanks and per boat for charters, which is why a group changes the number more than the site does.
| Site | What it is | Level | Best window |
|---|---|---|---|
| Batu Kapal | Offshore pinnacle, schooling fish, real current | Advanced | Oct–Apr |
| Lava Flow | Coral regrown over the 1988 flow below Gunung Api | Open water | Oct–Apr |
| Karang Hatta | Sheer outer wall toward the Banda Trench | Advanced | Oct–Apr |
| Pulau Ai walls | Drop-off from the surface, snorkellable from the top | Snorkel to OW | Sep–Apr |
| Sonegat | The channel between Neira and Gunung Api, macro and easy access | Open water | Year round, calm days |
A two-tank day runs roughly IDR 1,200,000–1,600,000 including gear. A private boat for the day is IDR 800,000–1,500,000 on top, split across the group.
Full dive site guide
What does a dive day cost?
Roughly IDR 1,200,000–1,600,000 for a two-tank day including gear rental. Add the boat if you want it private: IDR 800,000–1,500,000 for the day, split among the group.
Is gear included?
Tanks, weights and rental kit are normally inside the two-tank price. Nitrox is separate and stock on the island is limited, so confirm before you arrive.
Which sites can a new diver do?
The Lava Flow shallow zone, Sonegat and the top of the Ai wall. Batu Kapal and Karang Hatta have real current and guides will hold back anyone without an advanced ticket.
When is the diving best?
Oct–Apr, with hammerhead schooling at Hatta and Ai over roughly the same window. Outside it the outer sites are usually unreachable rather than just quieter.
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The full diving guide
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