Skip to content
OpenWaterAtlas
Close-up of a scuba diver in full gear in the ocean, ready for an underwater adventure.
📷 Kindel Media · Pexels

Cookie Monster

3.2 — based on 6 community signals

Cookie Monster is a year-round dive site in Indonesia featuring intriguing underwater terrain and active community interest.

⭐ Best for intermediate divers.

updated 4 months ago
BleachingRiskCurrentVariesPhotoFriendlySeasonal

At a glance

Activity
dive

Map

This spot POIs Airport Nearby spots
Cookie Monster location map © Google · Map data © Google, contributors
Open in Google Maps

Conditions today

Conditions

Open-Meteo
Wind
3.7 kn
Wave
0.2 m
Water
29.6°C
N E S W
Wind direction (7d)
Primary: NNW (21%)
Now: ESE (122°)
Tide (7 days)
range: 1.07m

Next: Low at 01:00 (+0.45m)

+1.1 m0 m-0.0 m
▼ 01:00 · +0.45m ▲ 05:00 · +0.65m ▼ 12:00 · -0.01m ▲ 19:00 · +0.77m
Sat 19Sun 20Mon 21Tue 22Wed 23Thu 24Fri 25
UV9.2 · very high Air PM2.512 · moderate 05:44 17:50
Day Wind Wave UV Rain
09-19 7.5 0.26 9 0mm
09-20 7.6 0.22 9 0mm
09-21 7 0.14 9 1mm
09-22 6.9 0.16 9 3mm
09-23 6.5 0.18 8 2mm
09-24 5.9 0.18 9 1mm
09-25 5.6 0.1 10 0mm
⚠ Coral bleaching: Watch — favorable conditions
DHW: 0.6°C-weeks · NOAA Coral Reef Watch

About this spot

Cookie Monster sits in Indonesian waters as an emerging dive destination with consistent year-round accessibility. The site draws divers seeking exploration and discovery, with a small but engaged community documenting dives through video. While depth, visibility, and technical difficulty remain variable, the location's appeal lies in its potential for encountering diverse marine life and unique underwater formations. The area warrants attention for coral health, as bleaching conditions merit ongoing monitoring. Divers should stay informed about seasonal variations and plan accordingly, despite the year-round accessibility claim. The lack of formal MPA designation means fewer restrictions, though responsible diving practices remain essential. Community engagement is evident through video documentation, offering prospective visitors glimpses of what awaits. Conditions and marine encounters vary, making each dive potentially different. Check current reports from recent visitors before planning your trip to ensure you're prepared for prevailing conditions.

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

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 ↔ 12230km · ~2813kg · €51

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 Cookie Monster?

Cookie Monster is accessible year-round, so diving is possible any month. However, seasonal conditions vary. Check with local operators or recent dive reports for current visibility and water conditions before booking your trip.

What depth and difficulty level is Cookie Monster?

Specific depth and difficulty ratings are not documented for this site. Before diving, verify conditions and requirements with local dive operators who can assess current site characteristics and your experience level.

What marine life can I expect to see?

While specific species data isn't compiled, community video documentation suggests active marine life presence. Coral bleaching conditions warrant monitoring. Bring an underwater camera and check recent diver videos to see what others have encountered.

Do I need permits to dive Cookie Monster?

Cookie Monster is not within a Marine Protected Area, which typically means fewer permitting restrictions. Still, verify local regulations and any entry requirements with your dive operator or local authorities before planning your dive.

Verified marine species observations

24 records · 24 species · sources: OBIS, GBIF

Holothuria atra

Holothuroidea · Holothuriidae
GBIF
Last seen:
7 Nov 2025
×1records

Acanthopleura gemmata

Polyplacophora · Chitonidae
GBIF
Last seen:
10 Jul 2024
×1records

Echinaster luzonicus

Asteroidea · Echinasteridae
GBIF
Last seen:
15 Feb 2024
×1records

Odontodactylus scyllarus

Malacostraca · Odontodactylidae
GBIF
Last seen:
14 Feb 2024
×1records

Cuapetes kororensis

Malacostraca · Palaemonidae
GBIF
Last seen:
14 Feb 2024
×1records

Linckia laevigata

Asteroidea · Ophidiasteridae
GBIF
Last seen:
14 Feb 2024
×1records

Halgerda batangas

Gastropoda · Discodorididae
GBIF
Last seen:
13 Feb 2024
×1records

Turbo petholatus

Gastropoda · Turbinidae
GBIF
Last seen:
13 Feb 2024
×1records

Ancylocaris brevicarpalis

Malacostraca · Palaemonidae
GBIF
Last seen:
13 Feb 2024
×1records

Ascarosepion latimanus

Cephalopoda · Sepiidae
GBIF
Last seen:
13 Feb 2024
×1records

Chromodoris lochi

Gastropoda · Chromodorididae
GBIF
Last seen:
13 Feb 2024
×1records

Fromia monilis

Asteroidea · Goniasteridae
GBIF
Last seen:
13 Feb 2024
×1records

Data: 187,991 observations from OBIS (Ocean Biodiversity Information System) and GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility). CC-BY 4.0.

See this spot in action

YouTube videos — click to play.

Great white shark swims into cage

smackme1
💬 3 top comments
  • Shark: Hello there human. Do you have time to learn about the late great Megalodon?

    @wo7925 · 👍 27000
  • Shark: * crashes into cage * Shark: "You didn't see anything..." Diver: "Understandable, have a nice day."

    @c3p6 · 👍 7800
  • Shark: Hello... my name is bruce..

    @bonyap9249 · 👍 9800

KIDS SCUBA DIVING THE GILIS, INDONESIA.avi

sarasample

Mucky Secrets (full) - The Marine Creatures of the Lembeh Strait

Bubble Vision
💬 3 top comments
  • This is not an insult by any means, but I watch this to fall asleep at night. So calm and beautiful.

    @zaanbanaan · 👍 664
  • You've no idea how much I love hrs long documentaries about animals. This is perfect, to sleep, background noise, and drawing. Thanks so much!

    @VorpalSnickerSnack · 👍 26
  • THIS is how documentaries should be done! No annoying music, people talking about irrelevant info etc. ! bravo

    @allsmiles3281 · 👍 630
wind peaks Feb-Jan-Dec, calmest May-Jul-Jun.

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: May (100/100) Worst: Feb (0/100) Now: Sep (0/100) NOAA MODIS Aqua · 5y mean

Nearby spots

Diving
🇮🇩 Indonesia

Tanjung Tampo

Tanjung Tampo is a year-round Indonesian dive site with active community content and growing coral monitoring.

Beginner Jan·Feb·Mar+
Rap God Indonesia Diving
🇮🇩 Indonesia

Rap God

Rap God offers year-round diving near Bukabuka Island in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, with growing community video documentation.

Jan·Feb·Mar+
House Reef Indonesia Diving
🇮🇩 Indonesia

House Reef

House Reef at Bukabuka Island offers year-round diving in Central Sulawesi with accessible shallow coral gardens and reef fish.

Beginner Jan·Feb·Mar+

Similar spots

Same activity, shared marine species or similar profile.

Diving
🇮🇩 Indonesia

Tanjung Gurita

Tanjung Gurita is a dive site near Bukabuka Island in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, accessible year-round with growing video documentation from the diving community.

Beginner
Diving
🇮🇩 Indonesia

Circus

Circus is a year-round dive site near Bukabuka Island in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, featuring coral reefs worth monitoring for bleaching stress.

Beginner
Diving
🇮🇩 Indonesia

Survival

Survival is a year-round Indonesian dive site with emerging community documentation and coral bleaching monitoring.

Intermediate Jan·Feb·Mar+
Diving
🇮🇩 Indonesia

Nurek

Nurek offers year-round diving in Central Sulawesi with accessible reefs near Bukabuka Island. Local videos showcase the site's potential.

Intermediate Jan·Feb·Mar+

Suggest an operator

Know a great dive shop, kite school, or local guide at this spot? Tell us — we'll review and add it.

Up to 500 characters
Plan
View →