The Zoo
Wakatobi · Indonesia
A gently sloping macro site where coral bommies rise from fine sand and shelter one of Wakatobi's densest concentrations of critters. Frogfish, ghost pipefish, pygmy seahorses and leaf fish reward a slow, close search, and at dusk mandarin fish emerge to mate among the rubble. A rewarding night dive for photographers and macro hunters.
Conditions
Depth
5 to 25 m
Open water and up
Current
Usually gentle
Can pick up on the edge
Visibility
20 to 40 m
Clearest in the calm season
Water
26 to 30°C
5mm wetsuit; coolest month, plankton blooms
Month by month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water (°C) | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 28 |
| Vis (m) | 25 | 25 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 25 | 20 | 20 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
| Current | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Moderate | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle |
Your chances of seeing each animal
Pygmy seahorse
Last confirmed Dec 23, 2025 · 5 records
Very likely
Most dives
Leaf scorpionfish
Last confirmed May 15, 2026 · 7 records
Very likely
Most dives
Mandarin fish
Last confirmed Jan 24, 2024 · 1 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Mantis shrimp
Last confirmed May 17, 2026 · 2 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Frogfish
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Ghost pipefish
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Gear