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Saleh Bay Liveaboard Diving

Our customers rated liveaboard diving in Saleh Bay as 9.0.

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Liveaboard Diving in Saleh Bay

Diving Around Saleh Bay

Saleh Bay, located on the island of Sumbawa in Indonesia, is a hidden gem for diving enthusiasts. Saleh Bay is becoming a popular destination for liveaboard diving, and it is known for its crystal-clear waters, diverse marine life, and stunning underwater topography. The bay offers a mix of calm, sheltered waters and more challenging dive sites, catering to divers of all experience levels. With its remote location, Saleh Bay remains relatively untouched, providing an authentic diving experience away from crowded tourist spots. Divers can expect to see an array of colorful coral reefs, underwater caves, and various fish species, making it an ideal destination for underwater photographers and marine biologists.

When is the Best Time to Dive in Saleh Bay?

The best time to dive in Saleh Bay is during the dry season, which runs from April to November. During this period, divers can enjoy calm seas, excellent visibility, and favorable weather conditions. The water temperature ranges from 26°C to 29°C (79°F to 84°F), making it comfortable for extended dives. While diving is possible year-round, the wet season, from December to March, can bring rougher seas and reduced visibility due to rain. However, this period also offers a chance to see certain species that migrate or are more active during the rainy season. Ultimately, the choice of when to dive depends on the diver's priorities: optimal conditions or unique marine life sightings.

What Type of Diving Can Be Done at Saleh Bay?

Saleh Bay offers a variety of diving experiences, including reef diving, wall diving, and muck diving. One of the most popular types of diving in this area is reef diving, where divers can explore vibrant coral gardens teeming with marine life. Famous reef dive sites include the Coral Garden and Tanjung Menangis, which are known for their stunning coral formations and abundant fish species. For those interested in wall diving, Saleh Bay's underwater cliffs offer thrilling dives with the chance to see larger pelagic species. Muck diving enthusiasts will find the bay's sandy bottoms and seagrass beds rich with macro life, including nudibranchs, pipefish, and other small creatures. This diversity ensures that divers of all preferences and skill levels can find something exciting in Saleh Bay.

What Marine Life Can Be Seen at Saleh Bay?

Saleh Bay is renowned for its diverse marine life, making it a hotspot for divers looking to encounter a wide range of species. One of the most iconic sightings in the bay is the whale shark, often seen around the bay's plankton-rich waters. Divers can also spot manta rays gliding gracefully through the water, especially near cleaning stations like Gili Banta. Shark enthusiasts will enjoy sightings of reef sharks and occasionally hammerheads. The bay's coral reefs are home to many colorful fish, including parrotfish, angelfish, and schools of barracuda. Macro life is abundant, with photographers often finding rare nudibranchs, seahorses, and frogfish. The rich biodiversity of Saleh Bay ensures that every dive is a unique adventure, with something new to discover each time.

Top Dive Sites in Saleh Bay

Saleh Bay boasts several top-tier dive sites that are a must-visit for any diving enthusiast. Here are five of the most renowned:

  1. Coral Garden - Known for its breathtaking coral formations and vibrant marine life, this site is perfect for exploring Saleh Bay's rich biodiversity.
  2. Tanjung Menangis - A stunning reef dive site with excellent visibility, offering encounters with various fish species and beautiful coral landscapes.
  3. Gili Banta - Located near a manta ray cleaning station, this site provides an exceptional opportunity to see these majestic creatures up close.
  4. Manta Point -  Aptly named for its regular sightings of manta rays, this site is a favorite among divers looking to experience these gentle giants.
  5. Whale Shark Point - As the name suggests, this site is famous for whale shark sightings, providing a thrilling experience for divers lucky to encounter these massive creatures.

Each site offers something unique, ensuring that divers have a memorable experience exploring the underwater wonders of Saleh Bay. Book your liveaboard adventure online today.

Saleh Bay Diving Reviews

  • Rating 9.0 out of 10
  • 9.0 Superb
  • 4 Verified Reviews Only people who have booked through LiveAboard.com and joined the trip can write a review.
  • Rating 10.0 out of 10
  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • Katia F
  • Flag of United StatesUnited States

Amazing whale shark dive! Unfortunately is just one day...

Diving Saleh Bay in May on the Adelaar
  • Rating 8.0 out of 10
  • 8.0 Very good
  • Pablo A
  • Flag of United StatesUnited States

Loved the set up with the fishing boats which guaranteed to see and dive with the Whale sharks

Diving Saleh Bay in July on the Mermaid I
  • Rating 8.8 out of 10
  • 8.8 Fabulous
  • Lisa F
  • Flag of New ZealandNew Zealand

4 whale sharks for an hour swimming circles around us is one of my top diving highlights!

Diving Saleh Bay in July on the Mermaid II
  • Rating 9.2 out of 10
  • 9.2 Superb
  • Raimondo R
  • Flag of ItalyItaly

Almost guaranteed encounters with whale sharks. The whale sharks on this site will come very close to you which is are but I can ensure it creates an amazing experience and kind of an intimate interaction with these "gentle giants".

Diving Saleh Bay in June on the Mermaid I

What to know about diving in Saleh Bay

Where is Saleh Bay?

Saleh Bay is a large bay on Sumbawa Island, in Indonesia's West Nusa Tenggara province, known as a seasonal gathering spot for whale sharks around local fishing platforms (bagans). It's typically visited on liveaboard routes connecting Komodo and Lombok.

Can you see whale sharks in Saleh Bay?

Yes — Saleh Bay is a seasonal whale shark aggregation site, with the animals drawn to baitfish activity around local fishermen's bagan platforms, similar to the phenomenon at Cenderawasih Bay. Sightings are most likely between April and October (as of 2026).

Is Saleh Bay part of Sumbawa?

Yes — Saleh Bay is located on the northern coast of Sumbawa island, in West Nusa Tenggara province. It's best known for its seasonal whale shark encounters near traditional fishing platforms.

When is whale shark season in Saleh Bay, Sumbawa?

Whale shark sightings in Saleh Bay are most consistent roughly between April and October, when the fishing platforms that attract them are most active (as of 2026). Sightings outside this window are possible but less reliable.

What is a bagan, and why do whale sharks gather near them in Saleh Bay?

A bagan is a traditional fishing platform that uses lights to attract baitfish overnight, and whale sharks learn to hang around these rigs to feed on the scraps and small fish stirred up by the nets. It's this Bagan-driven food source, not a natural migration route, that makes Saleh Bay's whale shark encounters so reliable.

Do you swim or dive with whale sharks in Saleh Bay?

Most whale shark encounters at Saleh Bay's bagans happen at the surface with a mask and snorkel, since the sharks feed near the platforms rather than at depth. Some operators also offer scuba encounters, but snorkeling is the more common and accessible way to see them.

How does Saleh Bay compare to Cenderawasih Bay for whale shark encounters?

Both bays offer Bagan-based whale shark encounters, but Cenderawasih Bay in West Papua is a year-round phenomenon, while Saleh Bay's sharks are more seasonal, showing up roughly April through October (as of 2026). Cenderawasih is also considerably more remote, making Saleh Bay a comparatively easier add-on to a Sumbawa or Komodo trip.

How do you get to Saleh Bay?

Saleh Bay sits on Sumbawa Island and is generally reached via the town of Bima or by liveaboard from Komodo or Lombok. It's not a walk-up destination — most visits are arranged in advance around the whale sharks' feeding schedule.

Is Saleh Bay suitable for snorkelers, not just divers?

Saleh Bay is arguably better suited to snorkelers than divers, since the whale shark encounters happen at the surface around the fishing platforms. No scuba certification is needed to have a close encounter here.

What other marine life can be seen in Saleh Bay besides whale sharks?

Beyond the whale sharks, Saleh Bay's waters support the same baitfish schools and small pelagics that draw the sharks to the bay in the first place. It's primarily visited for the whale shark encounter rather than for reef diving.

What are the water and current conditions like in Saleh Bay?

Saleh Bay is a large, relatively sheltered bay rather than an open-ocean current hotspot, which helps make the bagan encounters manageable for swimmers of varying experience. Conditions can still vary by season and weather, so it's worth checking locally before a trip (as of 2026).

Is Saleh Bay typically visited by liveaboard or day boat?

Saleh Bay can be visited either way — as a stop on a Komodo–Sumbawa liveaboard route or as a dedicated day trip arranged from nearby towns on Sumbawa. Liveaboards tend to combine it with other Sumbawa stops, such as Moyo Island or Satonda.

What other destinations are commonly combined with a trip to Saleh Bay?

Saleh Bay sits close to other Sumbawa stops popular on Komodo–Lombok liveaboard routes, including Moyo Island's waterfall and reef and Satonda's crater lake. Combining several of these into one Sumbawa itinerary is common practice.

Is there a recommended etiquette for interacting with whale sharks in Saleh Bay?

As with whale shark encounters anywhere, the general etiquette is to keep a respectful distance, avoid touching the sharks, and let them approach rather than chasing them. Local guides at the bagans typically brief visitors on this before entering the water.

How long do whale shark encounters typically last in Saleh Bay?

Encounter length depends on how long the whale sharks linger in a given bay that day, ranging from a brief pass to an extended session of repeated close swims. Because the sharks are wild and free-ranging, no encounter is guaranteed to last any set amount of time.

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