Batu Kapal
Batu Kapal ('ship rock') is a boat-shaped rock north-west of Pulau Pisang with a group of submerged pinnacles off its west side: the main one slopes to about 22 m, one drops to 34 m and another rises from 40 m to 10 m. Huge sea fans, barrel sponges and yellow soft coral cover the rock, while clouds of red-tooth triggerfish, pyramid butterflyfish and fusiliers swirl above. Grey reef sharks, longnose emperors, bluefin trevally, Napoleon wrasse and banded sea kraits are regular; a thresher shark has been reported.
Facts
- Region: Banda Sea & Ambon
- Area: Banda Islands
- Depth: 10–40 m
- Level: intermediate
- Current: strong
- Type: pinnacle, reef
- Coordinates: -4.487, 129.9305
- Highlights: pinnacles with saddles, giant gorgonian sea fans, barrel sponges, pyramid butterflyfish schools, red-tooth triggerfish, grey reef sharks, longnose emperors, bluefin trevally, banded sea kraits, potato cod
- Tips: The best part is the cluster of pinnacles a short way west of the rock; current can be strong, so plan more than one dive here.
Sources
- https://www.dive-the-world.com/diving-sites-indonesia-banda-islands.php
- https://www.wannadive.net/spot/Asia/Indonesia/Maluku_Islands/Batu_Kapal_/index.html
- https://divehappy.com/diving-banda-sea-podcast-part-2/
- https://cloudfront.masterliveaboards.com/website-docs/Indonesia/Itineraries/Banda-Sea-Ring-of-Fire-Itinerary.pdf
- https://www.dive-bluemotion.com/dive-sites