Papua dive sites

Biak is served by daily flights from Jayapura, the capital of Papua, and several times weekly from Makassar. The airport is on the main island and most dive operations arrange transfers. Diving the Padaido Islands requires a boat ride of one to two hours from Biak town. Currently only two dive operations serve the area, and advance booking is essential. Liveaboard vessels operating Cenderawasih Bay itineraries occasionally include Biak and the Padaido Islands in their routes, offering the most comprehensive access to the region's scattered dive sites.

Whale sharks are present in Cenderawasih Bay year-round, congregating around traditional bagan fishing platforms where fishermen attract small baitfish with lights at night. The whale sharks have learned to feed on fish escaping the nets, creating reliable encounters. The main whale shark aggregation sites are in the Kwatisore area, roughly three to four hours by boat from Biak town. Peak numbers of ten to fifteen individuals at a single platform occur between October and April, though encounters are possible in any month. These are among the most reliable whale shark encounters anywhere in Indonesia.

Biak was the site of fierce fighting between Japanese and American forces in 1944 during the Battle of Biak. The island's surrounding waters contain numerous WWII artefacts including sunken Japanese aircraft, landing craft, and supply vessels. Some lie in shallow water on reef flats at depths accessible to snorkellers, while deeper wrecks require advanced certification. The wrecks are heavily colonised by coral and marine life after eight decades underwater. Local guides know the locations, though many sites remain uncharted and new discoveries occur regularly.