Yeben Shallows

Yeben Shallows is a shallow reef dive tucked close to Yeben Island in Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia. Protected from heavy wave action by the island’s bulk, the site offers calm conditions that make it accessible to beginner divers and ideal for relaxed, slow-paced exploration.

Overview

The reef rises to within a metre or two of the surface in places, creating extensive shallow terrain for snorkellers and divers to explore. Plate corals, staghorn gardens, and massive Porites heads dominate the shallow zone, transitioning to a more sloping reef with gorgonians and encrusting sponges at depth. The site is typical of Raja Ampat’s extraordinary coral diversity, with dozens of coral genera visible on a single dive.

Small reef creatures reward attentive observers: nudibranchs, flatworms, and tiny gobies shelter among coral rubble and encrusting growth. Cleaner shrimp stations in crevices draw small reef fish throughout the dive. Juvenile fish of many species use the shallow coral gardens as nursery habitat, resulting in unusually high fish density even by Raja Ampat standards.

Visibility runs 15–25 metres in calm conditions. Water temperature stays between 27–30°C. Currents are generally mild at this protected site.

Marine Life

• Diverse hard coral communities: staghorn, plate, and massive Porites
• Nudibranchs and flatworms in the rubble zones
• Dense populations of juvenile reef fish
• Cleaner shrimp stations in crevices
• Butterflyfish, parrotfish, and wrasse grazing the coral

Dive Profile

The dive follows the shallow reef contour at 5–18 metres, with ample time to hover over coral gardens and search for macro life. Its gentle profile makes it a strong choice as a first dive of the trip or for less experienced divers. Entry and exit are by boat.

Practical Information

• Depth range: 2–25 m
• Visibility: 15–25 m
• Current: Mild
• Best time: October–April
• Water temperature: 27–30°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.