Reefs
Brunei’s coral reefs remain relatively undamaged but some patches have become barren due to unchecked fishing activities involving drift nets, chemicals and bombs. Dive sites that attract leisure divers have also doubled as fishing ground for those who depend on them for their livelihood.
Despite the damage on these sites, there are many more reef patches that are in stunning conditions and the authorities have taken measures to prevent further damage through legislation and control.
For snorkelers, the Pelong Rock and Two Fathom Rock has areas that are shallow enough (2 -4m) with good visibility for some leisurely, snorkeling fun.
Despite the damage on these sites, there are many more reef patches that are in stunning conditions and the authorities have taken measures to prevent further damage through legislation and control.
For snorkelers, the Pelong Rock and Two Fathom Rock has areas that are shallow enough (2 -4m) with good visibility for some leisurely, snorkeling fun.
Brunei Patches
Certainly rated the best dive site by local divers. Foreign reef experts have likened the reefscape here to that found in the Caribbean. Here you can find a neighbourhood of hard and soft corals sheltering a society of marine life: schools of yellow-striped Caesio, sting rays, nurse and white-tip sharks, squids, moray eels have been seen here.
Victoria Patches
Similar to the Brunei Patches in terms of coral reefscape but here you will see a different variety of coral and fish. There is plentiful little striped catfish among tall man- sized seaweeds. Large scattered rocks conceal lobsters and mantis shrimps.
Rig Reef
Oil rig jackets, approximately 50 metres-long were placed on the seabed to foster marine life. The result is a breathtaking sight of soft corals, groupers, sponges, feather stars and other colourful organisms. The platforms’ upper surfaces are covered in dendronephthya soft corals and reef fish can be found in abundance. Snapper, barracuda, sweetlips and schools of Jacks are among the inhabitants of these man-made reefs.
Barat Banks
All over the rocky surroundings here, yellow soft corals, table corals, barel sponges, stinging hydroids and blue starfish cling and embrace with a beautiful effect. Bat fish, fire-tail dotty back, bubble shrimp, hawkfish and common sergeants roam and add life to this vibrant community.
Ampa Patches
This site is quite a long way from Kuala Belait. There is a beacon, the Ampa Light, which marks the site of Brunei Shell Petroleum’s first offshore exploration well in 1959. Near the beacon are the remains of the drilling derrick. Whip corals, gorgonians and crinoids are abundant here along with schools of fusilier, Moorish idols and brown parrotfish.
Chernley Shoal
A great location for a relaxing dive featuring large bommies, colourful soft and hard corals with schools
of fusilier, travelly, groupers, and an abundance of whip corals and crinoids. There is even a community of the coral-damaging Crown of Thorns starfish lurking quietly. On the south side of Chearnley Shoals lie a number of subsidiary, deeper ridges peaking at about 20 m in the extreme south to 13m closer to the main body of the shoal.
of fusilier, travelly, groupers, and an abundance of whip corals and crinoids. There is even a community of the coral-damaging Crown of Thorns starfish lurking quietly. On the south side of Chearnley Shoals lie a number of subsidiary, deeper ridges peaking at about 20 m in the extreme south to 13m closer to the main body of the shoal.
Fairley Patches
Fairley lies to the south-west of Ampa Patches. It is a typical Brunei reef, with good, diverse corals, but not particularly teeming with fish. It is about two miles long and a few hundred metres wide. A sandy base surrounds the reef at approximately 27 metres. Towards the edges, look out for gorgonian sea fans and patches of stag-horn coral.
Abana Rock
Rocks are covered with colourful sea weed, soft and hard coral: cabbage coral, barrel sponge, whip coral and big mushroom coral which occurs in dense fields across this site. Amidst the reefscape of rock and coral, there are good chances of gliding into yellow tails, fusiliers, pipefish and mantis shrimp. Sea cucumber fans should be thrilled by the large Ananas – spiky sea cucumber.
Porter Patch
This is a small reef of about 500 by 150 metres that has stunning colour and diversity. Great range of hard corals, fish life and interesting nudibranches. Plentiful gorgonian sea fans, whip corals and large anemones on its northern side share a bustling scene with schools of yellow tail, sea perch, pipefish, lionfish and squids.
Littledale Shoal
A little gem that still attracts a good variety of fish. The thriving community here comprises fusilier, snapper, sea perch, travelly and the occasional string ray and moray eel. Sometimes divers can be treated to passing whale sharks and manta rays. This site has some interesting rocky reef formations, table coral and mounts of porites coral.
Hornet's reef
This ridge runs north to south and features coral bommies on the east side and areas of whip corals and rubble before graduating into sandy region. To the west of the ridge is the shallower part of the reef which consists of mainly hard corals and more bommies surrounded by sand. There’s plenty of cuttlefish, different kinds of anemone fish, schools of friendly batfish as well as the occasional leopard shark.
Two Fathom Rock
This site is a short distance from the Rig Reef and it is a submerged reef consisting of hard corals and boulders. The mostly-hard terrain is populated with reef fishes and occasionally some pelagics coming in for the hunt. It is shallow and is a great location for novice divers and snorkelers.
Pelong Rock North
Big rocks jutting out from a wall-like structure give divers interesting shallow swim-throughs among common Brunei reef fishes. Anemones abound and the lucky diver may catch an occasional sighting of oversized cuttlefish and a rare turtle coming out of its hiding place.
Pelong Rock South
A long rocky wall dips at an angle from about 7m to the sandy bottom at 12m. Divers can expect sightings of cuttlefish andschools of juvenile barracudas. Even though this site is a short distance from the north side of the rock, the landscape is very different, showcasing a variety of hard and soft corals with a greater population of trevallies, yellow tails and barracudas.
Takat Arus
This reef is aptly named Takat Arus, meaning ‘Current Reef’, as there is always a slight current as this coral reef patch is found in the middle of a sandbar. Part of the Two Fathom Rocks site, this reef presents medium size rocks and table corals with some soft corals around. A wide variety of nudibranchs can be observed here. Schools of yellow tails swim by and are occasionally joined by moray eels. The seabed provides a stable perch for the incredible giant clams.
Blunt Rock
An interesting dive site not often visited by local divers, a big rock of a breathtaking size, jutting out unexpectedly amongst several smaller rocks. With a height of 8 meters and width of 5-6 meters. The top of the rock here is just a mere 4 meters deep with a meadow of colorful soft corals. The many crevices between the rocks make it a natural sanctuary for lobsters, moray eels yellow tails, juvenile fishes and various kinds of nudibranch. An interesting feature of the rock is a swim- through passage where effervescent bubbles stream out from the corals after a diver has gone through it