Batu Lima
0.4502°S 130.6987°E · pinnacle
Batu Lima — “Five Rocks” in Indonesian — is a pinnacle dive near the Friwen Island area of Raja Ampat, where five limestone pinnacles protrude from the sea surface and extend underwater to 27 meters, creating a complex, richly colonized underwater landscape.
Overview
The five limestone pinnacles that give this site its name rise above the waterline and drop to depth, creating a variety of microhabitats: exposed summits with strong coral growth, shaded sides with sponges and soft coral, sandy pockets between the structures, and overhanging ledges that shelter larger fish. The interaction of tidal flow with these rocky pinnacles creates variable, sometimes strong currents and localized eddies that concentrate plankton-feeders and the fish that hunt them. Visibility is typically 15–20 meters and water temperature averages 27–29°C. Batu Lima sits close to the excellent diving of the Friwen area, making it a natural companion dive on any Friwen Island itinerary.
Site Information
- Location: Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia
- Entry Type: Boat dive
- Site Type: Pinnacle/seamount
- Difficulty Level: Intermediate
- Maximum Depth: 27 meters
- Typical Visibility: 15–20 meters (50–65 feet)
- Current: Variable, exposed location; can be strong on tidal flow
- Best Time: October to April
Marine Life
Regional Raja Ampat marine life applies; no site-specific species reports were available for this site. The five pinnacle structures and their connecting reef are expected to support reef fish typical of the Friwen Island area.
Site Information
Depths range from the surface (pinnacles break the waterline) to 27 meters at the deeper bases. Assess current direction before entry and plan accordingly.
Entry and Exit
Boat access from the Friwen Island area or from liveaboards operating the northern Raja Ampat itinerary. Entry via giant stride. The site’s multiple pinnacle formations provide natural orientation references. Deploy SMB for ascent; assess surface conditions at the exposed location before entry.
Sources: Papua Diving - Raja Ampat Dive Sites, La Galigo Liveaboard, Raja Ampat Biodiversity. Last updated 2026-06-27.
Sea-surface temperature and wave height from Open-Meteo Marine (ERA5 reanalysis, monthly averages).
134 verified species observations (109 species) logged within ~11 km of this site between 1990 and 2019, from the Ocean Biodiversity Information System.
- Hippocampus bargibanti
- Hippocampus denise
- Pseudamia hayashii · Hayashi's Cardinalfish
- Melanotaenia
- Trimma xanthum · Yellow-red Pygmygoby
- Asterropteryx
- Apogon · three-saddle cardinalfish
- Hemiscyllium
- Echidna nebulosa · Bosch's Reef-eel
- Phoxocampus
- Oxyurichthys auchenolepis · Scaly-nape Tentacle Goby
- Trimma lantana · Lantana Pygmygoby
Scientific survey records skew toward sampled taxa (molluscs, corals) and do not reflect what you are guaranteed to see on a dive.
Source: OBIS (obis.org), aggregated Darwin Core occurrence records.
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