Sardine Reef
Conditions & tides
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Marine forecast via Copernicus Marine. Score is a rule-based guide from swell/wind vs. the site's exposure — always dive your own assessment.
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About this site
Sardine Reef is an oval-shaped reef patch sitting in open ocean in Raja Ampat, with depths ranging from 5 to 25–30 metres. The reef rises as an underwater mound, and its position in exposed open water funnels strong currents across it, particularly during full or new moon phases and high tides. Water temperature runs 28–30 °C, and visibility is generally good.
The reef carries dense aggregations of schooling fish across its entire structure — fusiliers, surgeonfish, snappers, damselfish, and butterflyfish pack the mound closely, which is how the site earned its name. That concentration of prey draws in barracuda, Spanish mackerel, giant trevallies, and several species of jacks, along with grey reef sharks on active hunts. Less commonly encountered species such as oceanic triggerfish, bumphead parrotfish, and napoleon wrasse also appear here.
The site suits intermediate to advanced divers, and an Advanced Open Water certification is a practical baseline given the strong currents. The wide variety of subjects — from large schooling aggregations to individual reef fish — makes it well suited to both wide-angle and macro photography.
Marine life here
Confirmed by our research team, reported by independent divers, or observed nearby via iNaturalist — each entry is labelled with its source.
DamselfishDamselfishReported here · unconfirmed
OctopusOctopusConfirmed present · 2 independent sources
Bumphead parrotfishBumphead parrotfishConfirmed present · 3 independent sources
SurgeonfishSurgeonfishConfirmed present · 2 independent sources
SnapperSnapperConfirmed present · 2 independent sources
TrevallyTrevallyConfirmed present · 2 independent sources
MackerelMackerelReported here · unconfirmed
TriggerfishTriggerfishReported here · unconfirmed
SweetlipsSweetlipsConfirmed present · 2 independent sources
PipefishPipefishReported here · unconfirmed
WobbegongWobbegongReported here · unconfirmed
Nurse sharkNurse sharkReported here · unconfirmed
Jack / amberjackJack / amberjackReported here · unconfirmed
Reef sharkReef sharkReported here · unconfirmed
Napoleon (humphead) wrasseNapoleon (humphead) wrasseConfirmed present · 2 independent sources
Napoleon WrasseCheilinus undulatusReported here · unconfirmed
Clown TriggerfishBalistoides conspicillumReported here · unconfirmed
Oblique-banded SweetlipsPlectorhinchus lineatusReported here · unconfirmed
Boring Giant ClamTridacna croceaReported here · unconfirmed
Midnight SnapperMacolor macularisReported here · unconfirmed
Ribbon SweetlipsPlectorhinchus polytaeniaReported here · unconfirmed
Giant MorayGymnothorax javanicusReported here · unconfirmed
Clark's AnemonefishAmphiprion clarkiiReported here · unconfirmed
Blackspotted PufferArothron nigropunctatusReported here · unconfirmed
ParrotfishParrotfishReported here · unconfirmed
BarracudaBarracudaConfirmed present · 4 independent sources
FusilierFusilierConfirmed present · 3 independent sources
NudibranchNudibranchConfirmed present · 2 independent sources
LionfishLionfishReported here · unconfirmed
Mantis shrimpMantis shrimpReported here · unconfirmed
Leaf scorpionfishLeaf scorpionfishReported here · unconfirmed
WrasseWrasseReported here · unconfirmed
GrouperGrouperReported here · unconfirmed
Manta rayManta rayReported here · unconfirmed
Ghost pipefishGhost pipefishReported here · unconfirmed
BatfishBatfishReported here · unconfirmed
Durable tips from divers — access, hazards, marine life, facilities. For day-of conditions, use the report tool in the conditions card above.
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