Sponge Wall Map Partial species list

This dive site serves as an alternate location when certain winds temporarily make diving at most other locations inadvisable. The first 100 meters of the wall is draped with masses of hanging rope sponge. A narrow ledge covered in deep silt edges the wall bottom where numerous large sand gobies live. In several places the wall bottom pushes in, creating dimly lit shallow caves. The rest of the site is coral wall with a steep slope below 35 meters. In addition to black coral and numerous gorgonian fans, divers can find several large Salvador Dali sponges (Petrosia lignosa), including a huge cluster of three large tubes. This specie of large sponge was discovered in Tomini Bay in the 1920s and is only found on deep walls in Indonesia. These with wildly carved surfaces are distinct to Gorontalo. The site reminds underwater photojournalist William Tan of Lembeh’s Nudi Falls because of the “extremely messy layout” and mix of crabs, shrimps, and nudibranchs favored by macro photographers.

This site is about 240 meters long.

Depth: 0 - 40 meters

Highlights: sponges, gorgonian fans, large puffers, caverns

Conditions: Visibility varies considerably from a few meters to 30 meters. The first sponge-draped section of wall is dimly lit because of overhangs and the cliff above. Days of heavy surf can churn up the silt. Usually, visibility along the coral wall is excellent unless a cold upwelling brings silt. Occasionally, a moderate current will exit the tiny bay.

Special Note: Divers who follow the bottom of the sponge-draped wall along the silt shelf can easily become absorbed in exploring and become deceived by the downward slanting bottom, which quickly falls below 30 meters. Wise divers will use frog kicks here since any downward fin kick will stir up the silt bottom.

Virtual Dive

Divers descend near a huge boulder that has fallen off the cliff onto the shallow coral shelf. The wall bottoms out at 18 meters where a huge sea fan grows at the entrance of a large shallow cave. Peering cautiously inside, divers see tangles of rope sponge decorating the cave walls. Following the bends in the wall, divers explore dimly lit nooks. On the gloomy silt bottom, a lone crinoid crawls in search of a suitable perch, waving its feathered arms. A large goby eyes the human intruders then disappears into its hole, leaving a cloud of silt behind.

With the wall bottom quickly falling below 30 meters, divers opt to explore the walls in whose cracks orange sea fans, black coral, and an occasional ray live. Groups of the red and purple striped Randall’s anthias (Pseudanthias randalli) flit among the hanging sponges. A shy Blue-spotted puffer (Arothron caeruleopuncatus) hides behind some coral. Despite its large size, this puffer escaped notice until being named scientifically in 1994.

Up ahead a large multi-trumpeted Salvador Dali sponge marks the shift between silt bottom and steep coral slope. Visibility and light improve with plenty tropical fish to enjoy. After touring a long finger of coral, passing coral knobs, and exploring huge cracks in the wall, divers ascend near the reef crest for safety stop. Curled under a small clump of Acropora coral, a single Snowflake moray (Echidna nebulosa) smiles at the ascending visitors.

Sponge Wall Map Partial species list

Virtual Dive

Dive in Gorontalo