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A stunning underwater view of a barracuda school swimming in West Papua, Indonesia, showcasing marine life diversity.
📷 Tom Fisk · Pexels

Barracuda Point

3.3 — based on 11 community signals
4.2 5 species 19 contributors

Barracuda Point is an Indonesia dive site known for encounters with barracuda and other pelagic species year-round.

⭐ Best for intermediate divers.

updated 4 months ago
Difficulty
Intermediate
BleachingRiskPhotoFriendly

At a glance

Activity
dive
Difficulty
intermediate
Best months
Year-round
Marine life
Great barracuda, Green sea turtle, Hawksbill turtle

Map

This spot Airport Nearby spots
Barracuda Point location map © Google · Map data © Google, contributors
Open in Google Maps

Conditions today

Conditions

Open-Meteo
Wind
4.6 kn
Wave
0.26 m
Water
29.1°C
N E S W
Wind direction (7d)
Primary: N (24%)
Now: SE (140°)
Tide (7 days)
range: 1.78m

Next: Low at 04:00 (+0.22m)

+1.4 m0 m-0.3 m
▼ 04:00 · +0.22m ▲ 09:00 · +0.54m ▼ 14:00 · +0.22m ▲ 21:00 · +0.91m
Sat 19Sun 20Mon 21Tue 22Wed 23Thu 24Fri 25
UV9.3 · very high Air PM2.539 · sensitive 05:31 17:38
Day Wind Wave UV Rain
09-19 12 0.34 9 0mm
09-20 13.1 0.22 9 0mm
09-21 13.2 0.22 9 0mm
09-22 14.2 0.32 9 0mm
09-23 12.1 0.32 9 0mm
09-24 12.1 0.3 9 0mm
09-25 12.4 0.26 9 0mm
⚠ Coral bleaching: Watch — favorable conditions

About this spot

Barracuda Point lives up to its name. Schools of barracuda hunt these waters regularly, creating dramatic moments for divers. The site draws visitors throughout the year, making it accessible whenever you plan your trip to Indonesia. Marine life here goes beyond barracuda. Community observations document five distinct species at the site, giving you a sense of the local ecosystem. Local divers have posted three videos showing what to expect underwater, so you can preview conditions before you go. The site sits outside a marine protected area, which shapes how it's managed. Water conditions and depth specifics aren't uniformly documented, so contact local operators before your dive to confirm current conditions and what gear you'll need. Coral bleaching is a concern worth monitoring at this location, as it is across much of Indonesia's dive territory.

📖 Guide: Diving in Indonesia: 323 Sites, Mantas to Micro-critters

Best months

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Marine life

Great barracudaGreen sea turtleHawksbill turtle

Dive types

Reef

Trip essentials

Everything you need before you pack — checklist, sun, logistics.

Trip checklist

  • 🛂 Visa-free or visa-on-arrival
  • 📜 C-card + dive insurance (DAN)
  • 📔 Dive logbook
  • 🧴 Reef-safe sunscreen SPF 50+
  • 🔌 Plug type C/F · 230V adapter
  • 💊 Seasickness meds + ear drops
  • 📱 Offline maps + emergency contact

Quick facts

  • 🌓 Moon First quarter · 47%
  • GPS
Sustainability disclosures
🌍 CO2 footprint LHR ↔ 12183km · ~2802kg · €50

From your departure country

United States
Origin score: 54/100
  • Visa: Visa on arrival · 30 days max
  • Flight: 12h · direct
  • Jet-lag: 12h east · 8 days recovery

FAQ

When is the best time to dive Barracuda Point?

The site is diveable year-round. No seasonal closure exists, so plan based on your schedule and overall Indonesia travel dates. Check with local operators for current conditions before booking.

What kind of marine life will I see?

Barracuda are the signature species. Community observations confirm at least five species at the site. Local videos show what divers regularly encounter, so watch a few before you go.

Do I need special permits or certifications?

The site is not inside a marine protected area, so standard diving practices apply. Verify current access rules with local dive operators before your trip.

What are the depth and difficulty ratings?

Specific depth and difficulty data aren't standardized for this site. Contact local operators directly—they'll tell you what experience level suits Barracuda Point and what depth range to expect.

Recently spotted by divers

iNaturalist →

See this spot in action

YouTube videos — click to play.

Amazing Schooling Barracuda in Derawan HD

Marischka Prudence
💬 2 top comments
  • Pemandangan yg indah... Keajaiban laut yang LUAR BIASA

    @samuelsitumeang6702 · 👍 0
  • keren pruee

    @themarxgross · 👍 0

Sipadan Dive Nov 2017 - Barracuda Point

Megat Shah
💬 1 top comments
  • The animal creatures underwater of sipadan is just amazing.

    @andrewchua1425 · 👍 0

The World’s Best Dive Site: Barracuda Point, Kakaban [4K] | Indonesia from Below (S01E07) | SZtv

SZtv
💬 3 top comments
  • I dive here 23 years ago! And thats true Kakaban is 1 of the best dive site site in the world.

    @robinwol2264 · 👍 0
  • Added to todo list

    @minhytube · 👍 3
  • channel of maratua has large group of barracuda

    @zjywill · 👍 1
wind peaks Apr-Feb-Mar, calmest Jul-Jun-Aug.

5-year monthly climate

60 samples
0 5 10 15 20 25 JFMAMJJASOND
p25–p75 range Median Wind (kn) Air (°C)
Visibility (month-by-month)
Best: Jun (100/100) Worst: Feb (0/100) Now: Sep (95/100) NOAA MODIS Aqua · 5y mean

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