Melissa's Garden

Melissa's Garden lies in the Penemu group of the Fam Islands, in the north of Raja Ampat and within sight of the karst viewpoints of Piaynemo. It is an oval coral garden set between three small limestone islets, and it is regarded as one of the oldest and healthiest hard-coral reefs in a region already known for its reefs. The reef top sits at around eight to twelve metres before sloping to sand near twenty-five, and the hard coral cover is close to total, table corals and staghorn in green, yellow and rust running unbroken across the bottom. Clouds of anthias, damsels and chromis drift over it, blacktip reef sharks pass through, wobbegong sharks rest under the ledges, and pygmy seahorses hide in the sea fans. Current is usually gentle and the shallow reef stays bright, which makes Melissa's Garden an easy dive for most levels and a rare site that is as good for snorkelers as for divers. It is one of the signature stops of the Fam and Piaynemo area in the far north of Raja Ampat.

Confirmed by our research team, reported by independent divers, or observed nearby via iNaturalist — each entry is labelled with its source.

• Ocellaris AnemonefishAmphiprion ocellarisReported here · unconfirmed
• Lamarck's AngelfishGenicanthus lamarckReported here · unconfirmed
• Masked RabbitfishSiganus puellusReported here · unconfirmed
• Indo-Pacific Yellowtail DamselNeoglyphidodon nigrorisReported here · unconfirmed
• Ribbon SweetlipsPlectorhinchus polytaeniaReported here · unconfirmed
• Orange-spotted TrevallyFlavocaranx bajadReported here · unconfirmed
• Bath's BlennyEcsenius bathiReported here · unconfirmed
• Clark's AnemonefishAmphiprion clarkiiReported here · unconfirmed
• Redbreast Maori WrasseCheilinus fasciatusReported here · unconfirmed
• Napoleon WrasseCheilinus undulatusReported here · unconfirmed
• BarracudaBarracudaReported here · unconfirmed
• NudibranchNudibranchReported here · unconfirmed
• Napoleon (humphead) wrasseNapoleon (humphead) wrasseReported here · unconfirmed
• TrevallyTrevallyReported here · unconfirmed