Pulau Memyai
0.3676°S 131.1827°E · reef
Pulau Memyai is an island reef dive in the outer reaches of Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia. The island’s fringing reef follows the classic Raja Ampat pattern of extraordinary coral density and fish life, with the added benefit of its slightly remote position which reduces dive traffic and keeps the reef in excellent condition.
Overview
The reef wraps around Pulau Memyai’s shoreline, with the most productive diving on the seaward faces where current exposure supports dense coral growth and active fish communities. Staghorn and table coral gardens cover the shallower reef flat, giving way to gorgonian sea fans and barrel sponges as the reef slopes down to 18–20 metres. The diversity of hard coral species here is typical of Raja Ampat’s status as the global epicentre of marine biodiversity.
Napoleon wrasse are regularly encountered on the reef slope, and bumphead parrotfish visit in small groups. Reef sharks — both whitetip and blacktip — patrol the drop-off edge. Schools of fusiliers cloud the mid-water above the reef crest, pursued by jacks and trevally. The site is rarely crowded and offers an unhurried encounter with reef life.
Visibility runs 15–25 metres. Water temperatures average 27–29°C. Currents vary from light to moderate depending on tidal phase.
Marine Life
- Napoleon wrasse and bumphead parrotfish
- Whitetip and blacktip reef sharks
- Dense gorgonian sea fans on the slope
- Schools of fusiliers, jacks, and trevally
- Rich hard coral diversity on the reef flat
Dive Profile
The dive traces the reef slope from the shallower coral gardens down to 18–20 metres, exploring sea fans and overhangs before ascending for a safety stop in the coral garden. Entry and exit are by boat.
Practical Information
- Depth range: 5–20 m
- Visibility: 15–25 m
- Current: Light to moderate
- Best time: October–April
- Water temperature: 27–29°C
- Entry: Boat
Sources: Papua Diving - Raja Ampat Dive Sites, Bluewater Dive Travel - Raja Ampat Diving, La Galigo Liveaboard - Top 10 Raja Ampat Dive Sites, Girls That Scuba - Scuba Diving Raja Ampat, PADI - Diving in Raja Ampat. Last updated 2026-04-04.
Sea-surface temperature and wave height from Open-Meteo Marine (ERA5 reanalysis, monthly averages).
37 verified species observations (36 species) logged within ~11 km of this site between 1929 and 2011, from the Ocean Biodiversity Information System.
- Novaculoides macrolepidotus · Seagrass Wrasse
- Scorpaenopsis papuensis · Papua Scorpionfish
- Siphamia fistulosa
- Gymnothorax microstictus · Smallspot Moray
- Moringua ferruginea · Intermediate Thrush-eel
- Moringua microchir · Common Worm Eel
- Diancistrus alleni · Allen's Coralbrotula
- Gymnothorax rueppelliae · Banded Moray
- Plesiops corallicola · Redspined Devilfish
- Plesiops coeruleolineatus · Banded Devilfish
- Uropterygius micropterus · Shortfin Snake Moray
- Abantennarius dorehensis · New Guinean Anglerfish
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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