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Last updated on June 24, 2024
Satonda Island is a little gem hiding a freshwater lake within the small island itself. The seabed close to the dock has few corals but has a good ecosystem rich of underwater life thanks to the restoration project happening on the left side of the dock. The area we recommend to visit is the one on the right side of the dock where the underwater life is more interesting.
Satonda Island (Pulau Satonda) is a small island off the northern coast of Pulau Sumbawa, Nusa Tenggara. There is no accommodation on the island hence you can visit it as part of a day tour or a liveaboard.
The entrance to the spot is directly from the beach on a seabed that is immediately rocky. Beware of potential stingrays but also of sea urchins.
The highlight of the spot is the exceptional water visibility which, on a clear day, can be defined as infinite.
Close to the beach, the seabed is of little interest with sporadic corals but rich in fish swimming around the rocks.
As the water gets deeper (↕10 to 13 feet/3 to 4 meters) the corals become more dense and quite varied but the water sometimes becomes too deep (↕16 feet/5 meters) to truly enjoy it from the surface.
Nevertheless, it should be noted that the corals are various and include both hard (pillar, table, brain) and soft corals (mainly Sinularia).
The fish variety includes Blue chromis, Sweetlips, Butterflyfish, Triggerfish, and Cornetfish.
At certain times of the year, a high presence of small jellyfish can be noted in the area. These are not venomous but the constant stinging may sometimes make snorkeling impossible.
There are some basic facilities on the island but it looks like they have been abandoned or are seldom opened without a fixed schedule.
These snorkeling spots are accessible to beginners and kids. You will enter the water gradually from a beach, or in a less than 3ft. deep area. The sea is generally calm, shallow, with almost no waves or currents. These spots are usually located in marked and/or monitored swimming areas. It is not necessary to swim long distances to discover the sea life. This level only apply when the spot experiences optimal sea and/or weather conditions. It is not applicable if the sea and/or weather conditions deteriorate, in particular in the presence of rough sea, rain, strong wind, unusual current, large tides, waves and/or swell. You can find more details about the definition of our snorkeling levels on our snorkeling safety page.
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Snorkeling spots are part of a wild environment and their aspect can be significantly altered by weather, seasons, sea conditions, human impact and climate events (storms, hurricanes, seawater-warming episodes…). The consequences can be an alteration of the seabed (coral bleaching, coral destruction, and invasive seagrass), a poor underwater visibility, or a decrease of the sea life present in the area. Snorkeling Report makes every effort to ensure that all the information displayed on this website is accurate and up-to-date, but no guarantee is given that the underwater visibility and seabed aspect will be exactly as described on this page the day you will snorkel the spot. If you recently snorkeled this area and noticed some changes compared to the information contained on this page, please contact us.
The data contained in this website is for general information purposes only, and is not legal advice. It is intended to provide snorkelers with the information that will enable them to engage in safe and enjoyable snorkeling, and it is not meant as a substitute for swim level, physical condition, experience, or local knowledge. Remember that all marine activities, including snorkeling, are potentially dangerous, and that you enter the water at your own risk. You must take an individual weather, sea conditions and hazards assessment before entering the water. If snorkeling conditions are degraded, postpone your snorkeling or select an alternate site. Know and obey local laws and regulations, including regulated areas, protected species, wildlife interaction and dive flag laws.
