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Triton Bay Whale Sharks

The regular appearance of whale sharks at Triton Bay’s Namatota area around floating fishing platforms provides yet another reason to dive this fantastic area of Indonesia.

Whale Shark, Triton Bay, Indonesia

Indonesia’s Triton Bay is famous for its outsize corals and marine life – the area’s waters is essentially a vast nutrient soup which makes for often poor visibility but also means everything is bigger and better. It’s like Raja Ampat on steroids.

But there’s a whopper of an attraction in Triton Bay that is still not that well known and often not on liveaboard itineraries – close-up, prolonged encounters with whale sharks. The Triton Bay Divers resort, now in its third year of operation, has been building relationships with local villages and fishermen and sharing their knowledge with visiting liveaboards too – and one of their key discoveries were fishing bagans, or platforms, in Triton Bay’s Namatota area (also spelt as Namatote).

Triton Bay Liveaboards
Several liveaboards now regularly visit Triton Bay – view pricing, schedules and availability.

Hidy with Whale Shark, Triton Bay, Indonesia

These fishing platforms have huge bait filled nets hanging underneath them which attract whale sharks looking for an easy meal. It’s remarkably similar to seeing whale sharks in Cenderawasih Bay, although it’s not quite on the same level: the whale sharks don’t always show up, it’s often just one or two and then tend to prefer early morning 630 am to 9 am to feed before disappearing for good.

But still – whale sharks!

The morning we dived at Namatota, we had two moments of good fortune – the previous night had been the night of the full moon, which usually means the fishermen’s catch is poor as the moonlight interferes with the lights they hang over the water to attract the bait fish. No fish, no sharks show up. However, there had been a torrential thunderstorm and the cloud had blocked the moon, allowing for a good catch.

Whale Shark, Triton Bay, Indonesia

The second stroke of luck was that not one but two whale sharks showed up, and one of them was at least 6 metres long. Typically in Cenderawasih it’s juvenile whale sharks that show the most interest in the nets and they are still an impressive 3 metres plus. Our first hour in the water at Namatota was dominated by Big Daddy before he imperiously disappeared into the gloom. The second shark stayed around for another couple of hours, even doing a loop around our tender boat when it was time to leave as a farewell flyby.

Hidy with Whale Shark, Triton Bay, Indonesia

Triton Bay’s Whale Sharks, then, are a bit more hit and miss than Cenderawasih. Jimmy Thai, co owner of Triton Bay Divers, reckons says they see them with 60 to 70% success rate – maybe just one, maybe not for very long, but certainly worth investing the time in seeing if they show up. There is a pleasant dive at Namatota Wall which is nearby and a useful consolation if the whale sharks are a no-show.

If this success rate continues, it will make Triton Bay one of the best places in the world to see whale sharks – not just a five second shadow passing by, but prolonged time in the water with these huge, graceful creatures.

Triton Bay is not the only whale shark hotspot in Indonesia – see Where To See Whale Sharks In Indonesia for other locations.

Triton Bay Dive Site

Triton Bay Indonesia Map

More About Triton Bay

  • Diving Triton Bay Podcast – Jimmy Thai from Triton Bay Divers resort talks about what makes Triton so fascinating
  • Diving Triton Bay 2017 Trip Report – the highlights of my four days in Triton Bay

Triton Bay Liveaboards

Several liveaboards now regularly visit Triton Bay – view pricing, schedules and availability.

Raja Ampat Diving Guides and Info

For an overview of what to expect when diving Raja Ampat and useful tips on how to get there and what to bring with you, see our Diving Raja Ampat: A Quick Guide and listen to the Divehappy podcast episodes on Raja Ampat. Misool Eco Resort and Triton Bay. For practicalities on getting there, see How To Get To Raja Ampat, Sorong Airport Guide and the Liveaboard Packing List

Raja Ampat Liveaboard Trip Reports

  • Raja Ampat Liveaboard Trip Report June 2023
  • Raja Ampat Liveaboard Trip Report December 2022
  • Raja Ampat Liveaboard Trip Report December 2019
  • Raja Ampat to Triton Bay Liveaboard Trip Report February 2017
  • Raja Ampat to Banda Islands and Ambon Trip Liveaboard Report February 2016
  • Raja Ampat to Triton Bay Liveaboard Trip Report February 2008

Triton Bay Trip Reports (as part of Raja Ampat liveaboard trips)

  • Diving Triton Bay 2017
  • Triton Bay Whale Sharks
  • Triton Bay podcast with Triton Bay Divers resort

Booking Raja Ampat Liveaboards

Browse Raja Ampat liveaboards by price level and month of departure:
  • Luxury Raja Ampat Liveaboards
  • Mid Range Raja Ampat Liveaboards
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  • Check Last Minute Raja Ampat Liveaboard Deals for big discounts on Raja Ampat liveaboard trips that are departing in the next couple of months

See availability for all Indonesia liveaboards departing
May 2025 | September 2025 | October 2025 | November 2025 | December 2025 | January 2026

Indonesia’s Main Scuba Diving Areas

Indonesia Diving Map showing location of Triton Bay



Diving And Travel Insurance

Considering travel insurance for your trip? World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities including scuba diving, as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.

Start Planning Your Indonesia Dive Trip Now!

:: Check the availability and pricing of liveaboards in Indonesia and book online.


:: Find the cheapest flights to Indonesia - one search will show you the prices and times from scores of airlines for your trip. A real timesaver. You'll typically need to fly into Jakarta and then get a connecting flight to Sorong (SOQ) for Raja Ampat, Labuan Bajo (LBJ) for Komodo, Biak for Cenderawasih Bay (BIK) - but check with your liveaboard operator on optimum flights


:: Make sure you don't forget to bring any of the essentials for your scuba diving trip with our comprehensive Liveaboard Packing List


:: World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world.


:: Find available places to stay in Indonesia on Booking.com - usually you can reserve a room with no upfront payment. Pay when you check out. Free cancellations too. The Jakarta Airport Hotel, located in Terminal 2, is convenient for a transit stayover.


:: Need inspiration? See our Best Places To Dive In Indonesia for ideas of where to go and what to do.


Dive Happy Podcast Newsletter

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Last Minute Liveaboard Deals

  • Last Minute Liveaboard Deals May 2025

More Indonesia Diving Stories

  • Indonesia Entry Requirements May 2025
  • Where To See Manta Rays In Indonesia
  • Where To See Whale Sharks In Indonesia
  • Komodo Dive Sites Overview
    • Manta Alley, Komodo
    • Cannibal Rock, Komodo
    • Yellow Wall, Komodo
    • Batu Bolong, Komodo
    • Pengah Kecil, Komodo
    • Castle Rock, Komodo
    • Crystal Rock, Komodo
    • Sebayur Kecil, Komodo
    • Siaba Besar, Komodo
    • Tanjung Batu Besar, Komodo
    • Saleh Bay Whale Sharks
  • Gangga Island Diving Trip Report December 2023
  • Menjangan Island Diving November 2023
  • Raja Ampat Liveaboard June 2023 Trip Report
  • Raja Ampat Liveaboard Deals 2025
  • Diving Raja Ampat – A Quick Guide
  • How To Get To Raja Ampat
  • Raja Ampat Christmas Liveaboard Trip Report December 2022
  • Sorong Airport Guide
  • Komodo Liveaboard Trip Report August 2022
  • Diving The USAT Liberty Shipwreck, Bali June 2022
  • Bali Muck Diving June 2022
  • Raja Ampat Liveaboard Trip Report 2020
  • Raja Ampat Liveaboard May 2018 Trip Report
  • Raja Ampat to Triton Bay Liveaboard Trip Report 2017
  • Raja Ampat to the Banda Islands Liveaboard Trip Report
  • Raja Ampat to Triton Bay 2008
  • Diving Triton Bay 2017
  • Triton Bay Whale Sharks
  • Indonesia’s Best Scuba Diving
  • Cenderawasih Bay
  • Bali Scuba Diving
    • Menjangan Island
  • Lembeh
  • Bangka
  • Kalimantan
  • Palau Weh
  • Banda Sea
    • Gunung Api
    • Ambon
    • Nusa Laut
    • Banda Islands
    • Banda Islands Land Tour
    • Manuk
  • Diving Raja Ampat Podcast
  • Diving Bali Podcast
  • Diving Cenderawasih Bay Podcast
  • Diving Triton Bay Podcast
  • Misool Eco Resort Podcast
  • Diving Indonesia

Raja Ampat Liveaboards

  • Budget Raja Ampat Liveaboards 2025
  • Mid-Range Raja Ampat Liveaboards 2025
  • Luxury Raja Ampat Liveaboards 2025

Dive Happy Podcast

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  • Tubbataha Reef Diving Podcast
  • The Father Of Palau Diving: Francis Toribiong
  • Sogod Bay Diving Podcast
  • LAMAVE Volunteer Whale Shark Research
  • Dream Job: What’s It Like To Be A Marine Biologist?
  • Dumaguete Diving Podcast
  • Komodo Diving Podcast
  • Diving The Yonaguni Monument, Japan Podcast
  • Diving Koh Lanta Podcast
  • Moalboal Diving Podcast
  • Diving The Banda Sea Podcast: Part 2
  • Diving The Banda Sea Podcast: Part 1
  • Diving Hawaii Podcast
  • Diving Malapascua Podcast
  • Diving Taiwan Podcast
  • Diving Japan Podcast
  • Diving HTMS Chang And Alhambra Rock Podcast
  • Diving The WW2 Shipwrecks Of Coron Podcast
  • Diving Lembongan Podcast
  • Diving Romblon: the Philippines’ Secret Super Macro Paradise
  • Triton Bay Diving 2020 Podcast
  • Dream Job: Liveaboard Cruise Director Podcast
  • Diving Triton Bay Podcast
  • Diving Tubbataha Reef Podcast
  • Diving Yap Podcast
  • Diving Truk Lagoon Podcast
  • Diving Sogod Bay Podcast
  • Misool Eco Resort Podcast
  • Diving Palau Podcast
  • The Manta Rays Of Myanmar’s Black Rock Podcast
  • Diving Myanmar Podcast
  • Diving Bali Podcast
  • Diving Cenderawasih Bay Podcast
  • Diving Komodo Podcast
  • Diving Raja Ampat Podcast
  • Dive Happy Podcast Home Page

My Recent Dive Trips

  • November 2024: Similan Islands liveaboard, Thailand
  • October 2024: Forgotten Islands and Banda Sea liveaboard, Indonesia
  • August 2024: Komodo and Saleh Bay liveaboard, Indonesia
  • May 2024: Similan Islands liveaboard, Thailand
  • April 2024: Sogod Bay, Philippines
  • February 2024: Similan Islands liveaboard, Thailand
  • January 2024:Gangga Island Resort, Indonesia
  • December 2023: Similan Islands liveaboard, Thailand
  • Mejangan Island, Bali
  • October 2023: Similan Islands liveaboard, Thailand
  • June 2023: Raja Ampat liveaboard, Indonesia
  • April 2023: Maldives liveaboard
  • April 2023: Similan Islands liveaboard, Thailand
  • February 2023: Similan Islands liveaboard, Thailand
  • December 2022: Raja Ampat liveaboard, Indonesia
  • December 2022: Similan Islands liveaboard, Thailand
  • August 2022: Komodo liveaboard, Indonesia
  • June 2022: USAT Liberty shipwreck, Bali, Indonesia
  • April 2022: Stonehenge, Koh Lipe, Thailand
  • March 2022: Manta Rays at Koh Bon, Thailand
  • January 2022: Richelieu Rock liveaboard, Thailand
  • March 2021: HTMS Chang and Alahambra Rock liveaboard, Thailand
  • February 2020: Similan Islands liveaboard, Thailand
  • December 2019: Raja Ampat liveaboard, Indonesia
  • October 2019: Malapascua, Philippines
  • June 2019: Sogod Bay, Philippines
  • April 2019: Tulamben, Bali
  • December 2018: Sogod Bay, Philippines
  • December 2018: Anilao, Philippines
  • October 2018: Moalboal, Philippines
  • October 2018: Malapascua, Philippines
  • July 2018: Tulamben, Bali
  • May 2018: Raja Ampat, Indonesia
  • April 2018: Sogod Bay, Philippines

My Less Recent Dive Trips

  • May 2017: Apo Island and Dumaguete, Philippines
  • April 2017: Tubbataha Reef, Philippines
  • April 2017: Sogod Bay, Philippines
  • March 2017: Triton Bay, Indonesia
  • March 2017: Raja Ampat, Indonesia
  • September 2016: Tulamben, Bali at Alba Dive Resort
  • August 2016: Cenderawasih Bay on Damai 1
  • April 2016: Sogod Bay at Sogod Bay Scuba Resort
  • February 2016: Raja Ampat and Banda Islands on Damai 1
  • April 2015: Anilao at Crystal Dive Resort
  • March 2015: Myanmar and Similan Islands on Thailand Aggressor
  • May 2013: Similan Islands on Thailand Aggressor
  • April 2013: Tubbataha Reef on Discovery Palawan
  • January 2013: Komodo, Indonesia on MSY Damai
  • August 2012: Cenderawasih Bay, Indonesia
  • April 2012: Similan Islands and Southern Thailand liveaboard
  • January 2012: Similan Islands liveaboard, Thailand
  • August 2011: Hanifaru, Maldives
  • June 2011: Tubbataha Liveaboard Hans Christian Andersen
  • April 2011: Similan Islands and Southern Thailand liveaboard
  • April 2011: Carpe Vita Liveaboard, Maldives
  • March 2011: Lembeh Strait, Indonesia
  • December 2010: Menjangan, Bali
  • July 2010: Tofo, Mozambique
  • July 2010: Sardine Run, South Africa
  • May 2010: Sangalaki / Derawan, Tambora
  • March 2010: MV Flying Seahorse, Similan Islands
  • March 2010: MV Orion, Southern Maldives
  • January 2010: Big Blue Explorer, Palau
  • November 2009: MSY Damai, Banda Sea Liveaboard, Indonesia
  • October 2009: MSY Damai, Komodo Liveaboard, Indonesia
  • October 2009: MV Orion, Maldives Liveaboard
  • September 2009: MV Scubanet, Koh Losin, Thailand
  • May 2009: MSY Seahorse, Banda Sea liveaboard, Indonesia
  • March 2009: Sachika Liveaboard, Maldives
  • February 2009: Daytrips, Koh Lanta, Thailand
  • January 2009: MV Jazz, Burma (Myanmar) Liveaboard

Back In The Day Bragging Rights Dive Trips

  • November 2008: Borneo Explorer, Visayas Liveaboard
  • September 2008: S/Y Siren, Komodo Liveaboard
  • August 2008: Ocean Rover, Sulawesi Liveaboard
  • August 2008: NAD Lembeh Resort, Indonesia
  • June 2008: Koh Tao
  • March 2008: Maldives, Bandos Island
  • February 2008: MSY Seahorse, Raja Ampat Liveaboard
  • January 2008: MV Jazz, Burma Liveaboard
  • October 2007: Bali Dive Safari
  • September 2007: Davao, Philippines
  • July 2007: Great White Sharks, Rodney Fox Liveaboard
  • June 2007: Big Blue, Palau Liveaboard
  • May 2007: Whale Sharks at Exmouth, Australia
  • April 2007: Borneo Explorer, Tubbataha Reef Liveaboard
  • December 2006: Komodo Dancer, Komodo Liveaboard

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