Satonda Island

Satonda Island sits just off the north coast of Sumbawa in West Nusa Tenggara, within Saleh Bay, and is known on land for its crater lake separated from the sea by a narrow rim of volcanic rock. Diving around the island takes place along its fringing reef slopes, reached by boat from the Sumbawa coastline or from vessels transiting the bay. The reef here reaches a maximum depth of around 30 metres, rated an advanced dive despite generally light current, with visibility usually described as great. Manta rays are a regular sight along the reef, and divers have also reported eagle rays, hammerhead sharks, trevally, and even whales passing through, alongside reef fish such as anthias, batfish, damselfish, fusiliers, and surgeonfish, plus smaller finds like nudibranchs, leaf scorpionfish, and lionfish. Some divers have also noted cave sections, sea snakes, patches of cold water, and stronger currents at points around the island, so conditions can vary across the site.

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

• AnthiasAnthiasReported here · unconfirmed
• Zebra LionfishDendrochirus zebraReported here · unconfirmed
• Blue LinckiaLinckia laevigataReported here · unconfirmed
• Shirley's CoralblennyEcsenius shirleyaeReported here · unconfirmed
• Ocellaris AnemonefishAmphiprion ocellarisReported here · unconfirmed
• Skinspot PygmygobyTrimma halonevumReported here · unconfirmed
• Blackvent DamselDischistodus melanotusReported here · unconfirmed
• Broadclub CuttlefishAscarosepion latimanusReported here · unconfirmed
• LionfishLionfishReported here · unconfirmed
• FusilierFusilierReported here · unconfirmed
• Leaf scorpionfishLeaf scorpionfishReported here · unconfirmed
• Hammerhead sharkHammerhead sharkReported here · unconfirmed
• DamselfishDamselfishReported here · unconfirmed
• WhaleWhaleReported here · unconfirmed
• SurgeonfishSurgeonfishReported here · unconfirmed
• TrevallyTrevallyReported here · unconfirmed
• BatfishBatfishReported here · unconfirmed
• Eagle rayEagle rayReported here · unconfirmed
• Manta rayManta rayConfirmed present · 3 independent sources
• NudibranchNudibranchReported here · unconfirmed