Mayhem

Overview

Divernet's local guide to Raja Ampat dive sites, published with Meridian Adventure Dive, places Mayhem Reef on the western edge of the Dampier Strait, just off the coastline of Gam Island. It describes a huge submerged pinnacle that starts at about 10 metres and can drop below 35 metres at points, with natural walls and slopes rich in soft and hard coral. Bird's Head Seascape lists Mayhem on its West Waigeo dive map at the GPS position S 00 30.777 E 130 26.716, which is the point used here, and gives the photography highlight as wide. Raja Ampat Biodiversity Nature Resort describes a sloping reef with a few large bommies surrounded by glassfish and many small overhangs, and gives the travel time from the resort as 35 minutes.

How the site is dived

Divernet says the site is best dived starting from the north in a gentle to medium current, drifting along either the west or the east wall of the pinnacle. At the southern tip divers can make their way up a gentle slope, using the reef as protection from the current, with dense hard coral and rock formations where the safety stop can be made. Divernet advises always carrying a surface marker buoy or another signalling device on this site.

Marine life

Divernet reports schools of fusiliers, batfish, snappers, sweetlips and bumphead parrotfish, schools of barracuda and jacks off the walls, triggerfish among the soft corals, and on some days dozens of reef sharks with tasselled wobbegongs lying on the reef. It says the deeper water to the west can at times attract larger animals, with sightings of manta rays and even whales. The resort mentions fusiliers on the north and east sides of the reef, giant trevallies, dogtooth tuna and grey reef sharks, wobbegongs and stingrays under the overhangs, two species of pygmy seahorse and many nudibranchs.

Conditions and level

The resort gives a depth range of 7 to 30 metres, while Divernet says the pinnacle can drop below 35 metres at points. The resort gives the current as mild to strong; Divernet says strong currents can occur and that the more current there is, the more fish there are. The resort rates the site intermediate to advanced, and Divernet considers it more suited to advanced divers because of the currents. The sources give no visibility, water temperature, season or minimum certification for the site.