Neptune's Fan Sea

Overview

La Galigo Liveaboard places Neptune's Fan Sea, which it says is sometimes also called Neptunes Fantasea, in the narrow passage between Walib and Wayilbatan Islands in the Misool region. It says the site is known for its sea fans, some of which grow up the walls from 28 metres to the surface. The Jakare cabin-charter brochure lists the Neptune Fan Sea channel in its Wavil area and describes a profusion of big gorgonian sea fans. Cruising Raja Ampat lists "Neptune fan" among its Wayilbatan sites, describes a valley of gorgonians and singles the site out for pygmy seahorses. Barefoot Conservation starts one day of its itinerary with a dive at either 'Fantasea' or 'Wayilbatan chanel', which it describes as having notable corals and especially huge sea fans.

Marine life

La Galigo describes forests of gorgonians growing on the sloping reef and walls, with hard and soft corals forming a mosaic of colour and texture. In its account, damselfish, anthias and butterflyfish gather among coral bommies in the shallows, while divers at mid-depth are often surrounded by schools of fusiliers and jacks, with the occasional blacktip reef shark. It also lists nudibranchs, shrimp, ghost pipefish and pygmy seahorses on the reef, and garden eels and resting stingrays on the sandy bottom.

The dive

La Galigo says it chooses whichever end of the passage the current is pushing from on the day and rides with the current. According to the same account, the southern end is scattered with coral bommies and the northern end has a ridge. Steep walls reach up to 5 metres below the surface, which is where La Galigo reports the best sea fans, and the fringing reef top at 5 metres serves for the safety stop at the end of the dive.

Conditions

La Galigo describes visibility of over 25 metres and pretty mild currents, and considers the site suitable for both intermediate and more advanced divers. Its site summary gives a maximum depth of 30 metres and a typical current of mild to medium, and describes the site as snorkeller friendly. The Bird's Head Seascape Misool map gives a GPS position for its Neptune's Fan Sea pin.