Catalina Dive Center Biak

Located on the island of Biak in the Cenderawasih Bay, West Papua, Catalina Dive Center Biak offers a gateway to one of Indonesia's most historically and biologically significant marine environments. The area is defined by its dramatic underwater topography, ranging from rich reef flats to significant wartime relics resting on the seabed.

The centre serves as a base for divers looking to explore the north coast of Papua. Whether you are interested in the technical challenges of a cave system or the photographic opportunities provided by WWII wrecks, the local waters offer a diverse range of environments.

As a PADI certified dive centre, the team at Catalina Dive Center Biak provides instruction and guided excursions following international safety standards. They facilitate a variety of diving styles, including macro photography, wreck diving, and wide-angle explorations.

The centre works in partnership with the Swiss-Belhotel Cendrawasih Biak to manage accommodation for guests. This allows for a streamlined experience where diving packages can be combined with comfortable stays in Superior or Deluxe rooms.

The centre offers a complete range of PADI training programmes. Beginners can start with Discover Scuba Diving or the Open Water Diver course, with progression available through to the Advanced Open Water Diver certification.

More experienced divers can refine their skills or expand their capabilities through the PADI Rescue Diver and Emergency First Response courses. The centre also provides the PADI Enriched Air Nitrox course to prepare divers for using accelerated decompression gases.

The centre utilises speedboats to access the various dive sites around Biak. These vessels are used to transport divers to the reefs and wrecks, ensuring efficient transit times between the shore and the dive locations.

For divers travelling without their own kit, the centre provides full rental equipment, including BCDs, regulators, wetsuits, fins, masks, snorkels, and dive computers. They also supply weights, weight belts, and camera equipment for those looking to document their dives.

Nitrox is available for divers looking to extend their bottom time or manage nitrogen loading more effectively. The centre's service includes the provision of cylinders, weights, and necessary documentation for all scheduled dives.

The waters around Biak are home to several significant pelagic species. You can regularly encounter Great barracuda and Reef shark passing through the dive sites, providing excellent opportunities for wide-angle photographers.

For those interested in macro life, the reefs host a variety of Nudibranch. The diverse coral structures also support a wide array of smaller organisms and reef-dwelling species.

The local ecosystem is built upon vibrant coral reefs and seagrass habitats that support a complex food web, ensuring a constant presence of both large predators and smaller, more delicate life forms.

The dive sites in the Biak area are characterised by varying environments, from the sheltered, low-current conditions found within the Wundi Cave to the more open reef systems. Divers should be prepared for different levels of exposure depending on whether they are exploring a wreck or a reef flat.