Eagle Rock, located off the southern coast of Kawe Island in Raja Ampat, offers divers an exhilarating dive experience among some of the richest marine biodiversity in the world.
Eagle Rock, located off the southern coast of Kawe Island in Raja Ampat, offers divers an exhilarating dive experience among some of the richest marine biodiversity in the world.
This dramatic underwater geography features steep slopes descending into deep blue water and several undersea rock formations—rock pinnacles, really—that rise from the ocean floor to within a few dozen feet of the surface.
These sculpted rocks, even more so than conventional reef structures, attract big pelagic species, which offer a not-to-be-missed opportunity for divers. We advise divers with an intermediate skill level and above to take on this challenge.
The dive location is renowned for its massive amounts of fish and large predators, making it an awesome place for underwater photographers and those seeking adrenaline. It is not uncommon to dive here and encounter schools of giant trevally, snapper, or even a few barracuda.
Schools of giant trevally, snapper, and barracuda are common sights here, while sharks, including grey reef sharks and occasional wobbegong sharks hiding stealthily in the coral.
Here divers are often graced with the presence of manta rays.
The creatures are drawn by the concentrated masses of fish and plankton, and they make use of the area as both a cleaning station and a feeding grounds.
Eagle Rock’s slopes are not just the domain of majestic megafauna; they also serve as a haven for all manner of macro life, many of which are not only colourful but also frankly odd when compared to the larger marine life.
In addition to the larger animals, the slopes are home to an abundance of colourful reef fish, and divers can spot pygmy seahorses, leaf scorpion fish, and ornate ghost pipefish.
The vibrant coral formations around the rocks are teeming with life, hosting both hard and soft corals, as well as sponges and sea fans. This site is a true showcase of Raja Ampat’s marine wealth, with spectacular biodiversity in every direction.
Steep underwater slopes and mini-walls that descend to depths of 25 meters define Eagle Rock. Enveloping these walls and slopes—in a perfunctory design that covers all too many of the underwater sculptures of Guadeloupe—are hard corals, sponges, and gorgonian fans.
Eagle Rock usually enjoys clear visibility, between 15 and 25 to 40 meters, with the clearest conditions usually found during the dry season, from October to April.
These ideal conditions create an awesome dive experience with clear views of the reef’s steep drop-offs and large schools of fish whizzing by.
When we drop into this dive we find a fringing ledge at about 5 meters surrounding the island. We will want to descend down past this and start to make our way along the steep slopes and mini walls of the site.
Generally, there will be a current split around the reef on the direction that it is running on the day. We will drop in on the side from which the current is coming from, and drift with the current. Once we make our way down to 25 meters we will explore around all the large rocks and bommies looking for Mantas.
As we get further through the dive, we will make our way back up the mini walls and steep slopes, hiding from the current until we reach the 5m shelf to do our safety stop.
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Topography: Sloping Reef.
Max Depth: 25 meters.
Typical Current: Moderate to Strong.
Best For: Manta Cleaning Station Below, Circling Eagles from Their Nests Above.
Snorkeller Friendly
12 Days 11 Nights
Dive in Eagle Rock with our 12 Days 11 Nights itinerary to North, Central & South of Raja Ampat.
8 Days 7 Nights
Dive in Eagle Rock with our 8 Days 7 Nights itinerary to North, Central & South of Raja Ampat.
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