Karang Hatta
Karang Hatta (also Skaru/Sekaru, 'shallow area') is a submerged reef a couple of kilometres south of Pulau Hatta: a hard-coral plateau some 500 m wide slopes to about 40 m before dropping into the abyss. Southerly currents on the south-east side gather fish so thick it is hard to see past them — fusiliers, red-tooth triggerfish, snappers and surgeonfish — while dogtooth tuna, great barracuda, eagle rays, whitetip sharks, green turtles and occasionally mobulas or scalloped and great hammerheads patrol the blue.
Facts
- Region: Banda Sea & Ambon
- Area: Banda Islands
- Depth: 40 m
- Level: advanced
- Current: strong
- Type: reef, drift, pinnacle
- Coordinates: -4.625, 130.04 (approximate)
- Highlights: submerged reef plateau, fusilier schools, red-tooth triggerfish, dogtooth tuna, eagle rays, great barracuda, scalloped hammerhead, great hammerhead, whitetip reef sharks, green turtles, titan triggerfish
- Tips: Titan triggerfish nest here — keep clear of them in nesting season. Far from Banda Neira, so day boats add a fuel surcharge.