Triton Bay

Triton Bay is a large marine bay on the south coast of the Bird's Head Peninsula near Kaimana in West Papua, Indonesia. Part of the Kaimana Marine Protected Area, it is noted for exceptional marine biodiversity, extensive soft coral reefs, dramatic karst limestone islets, and seasonal whale shark aggregations. The bay combines clear waters, prehistoric rock art sites, and small fishing villages, making it a remote diving and nature tourism destination accessible by boat from Kaimana town.

Visitors can expect a remote tropical bay with emerald water, scattered karst limestone islets and islets covered in vegetation. Access is by chartered boat from Kaimana town, typically as a day trip or multi-day liveaboard. Activities center on boat cruising, snorkeling and diving over soft and hard coral reefs, observing marine life including whale sharks, turtles and reef fish, viewing prehistoric rock art on cliff walls, and visiting small coastal villages. There are no built tourist structures in the bay itself; services are provided by boat operators.

Triton Bay is known for prehistoric rock paintings on limestone cliffs, including sites at Maimai, estimated to be thousands of years old and depicting hand stencils and figures. The bay was named after the 19th-century Dutch corvette Triton and has long been used by local Kuri and Irarutu communities for fishing.

The bay is within the traditional waters of local Papuan communities, including Kuri and Irarutu groups, who maintain traditional fishing practices using bagan platforms. Rock art sites hold cultural importance and the area is managed as part of the Kaimana Marine Protected Area reflecting local conservation values.