Yellowfin Tuna
Thunnus albacares
Sighting evidence at Banda Besar Wall, Banda Sea
Photo: Almcglashan · CC BY-SA
Yellowfin tuna appear in the blue water off Banda Besar Wall during aggregation periods, their torpedo-shaped bodies and distinctive yellow finlets making them unmistakable as they streak through at speeds exceeding 70 km/h pursuing schools of surface fish. As highly migratory apex predators, they connect open ocean and reef ecosystems, and their presence in the Banda Sea reflects the region's exceptional productivity driven by upwelling of cold deep water. Encounters are fleeting but electrifying — a single pass by a group of 50-kilogram tuna is one of the most visceral experiences in pelagic diving.
Evidence at this site
No confirmed records on file at this site
Yellowfin Tuna is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.