1. Komodo Islands
Komodo Island and national park reserve offers just about every type of
tropical diving imaginable – from calm and colourful shallow reefs alive
with hundreds of colourful reef fishes and crammed with invertebrates,
to current-swept deep water sea mounts, walls and pinnacles patrolled by
sharks, tuna and other big fish. The variety of marine life for scuba
diving in Komodo rivals the world’s best dive destinations. This is the
world’s epicentre for marine diversity and you’ll see loads of stuff
here on a diving cruise that you just won’t see anywhere else in the
world – From whale sharks, sunfish, mantas and eagle rays to pygmy
seahorses, ornate ghost pipefish, clown frogfish, nudibranchs and
blue-ringed octopus – all at home amongst a spectacular range of
colourful sponges, sea squirts, tunicates and corals – a macro
enthusiast’s heaven. The island is also famous for its Komodo dragon
monitor lizard, the largest lizards in the world. An alert and agile
predator and scavenger that can reach 2.5 metres in length and 125 kg,
they are known locally as ‘Ora’ and now about 1,100 inhabit the island
and about half that live on nearby Rinca Island.2. Bunaken Island
To dive in the deep waters of the Bunaken Island National Marine Park in
Manado is to be among some of the highest levels of biodiversity in the
world, with outstanding fish variety and world-class wall diving. When
you’re scuba diving in Bunaken you can see seven times more genera of
coral than Hawaii, 33 species of butterflyfish and over 70% of all fish
species known to the Indo-western Pacific. From the smallest commensal
shrimp to black tip reef sharks and eagle rays, there is something for
everyone in this very special destination. Bunaken diving is very
popular with fun divers and marine biologists both of whom can take
great pleasure from the diversity of coral and fish found here. You will
surely encounter marine life here that you have not come across
elsewhere. Various schemes are being undertaken to encourage responsible
attitudes towards the reefs, the sea life and with regards to refuse
disposal in the area. In Bunaken your few dollars really do make a
difference!
3. Raja Ampat Islands
Located off the northwest tip of Bird’s Head Peninsula on the island of
New Guinea, Raja Ampat, or the Four Kings, is an archipelago comprising
over 1,500 small islands, cays and shoals. Put simply, Raja Ampat diving
is the bees knees in the world of scuba. If you don’t enjoy your dives
here, you may as well sell your dive gear! According to the Conservation
International Rapid Assessment Bulletin, the marine life diversity for
scuba diving in Irian Jaya is considerably greater than all other areas
sampled in the coral triangle of Indonesia, Philippines and Papua New
Guinea – the cream of the cream in world diving. Over 1,200 fish species
– a world record 284 on one single dive at Kofiau Island, the benchmark
figure for an excellent dive site of 200 fish species surpassed on 51%
of Raja Ampat dives (another world record), 600 coral species , 699
mollusc species – again another world high. The term “Frontier Diving”
seems to have been invented for Raja Ampat in Irian Jaya. To visit these
waters is to feel at the edge of the earth. To gaze over crystalline
seas at the beehive-shaped, largely uninhabited islands is to be as far
away from it all as you can imagine. At night time in Misool you can
peer out at the horizon and maybe see one or two distant specks of
light.
4. Bali Islands
One of the most beautiful islands in the world, Bali is Indonesia’s most
popular dive holiday destination. Many visitors find the attraction of
good shore-based diving set against a stunning back drop of huge,
magnificent volcanoes and picturesque rice paddy terraces, simply
irresistible. The greatest feature of scuba diving in Bali is the rich
and varied sites – deep drop-offs and steep banks, coral ridges and
bommies, one of the most famous wrecks in the world, volcanic outcrops
and seagrass beds. With the colourful and diverse marine life, there’s
enough here to keep you coming back for more. If you wanted to record
all the animals you can see here, you’d need to bring along a
mini-library of marine guide books. From hairy frogfish, cockatoo leaf
fish and pygmy seahorses in Secret Bay and Menjangan on the north west
tip of the island, to bumphead parrotfish and reef sharks in the north
and east at Tulamben and Candi Dasa, to the sunfish and trevallies of
nearby Nusa Penida and Lembongan islands, the Bali sights are truly
fascinating. Allow yourself to be surprised for you really never know
just what you might see in this ever-changing underwater jewel.
5. Sumbawa & Flores Islands
Diving in Flores gives you the perfect chance to add new, small fish and
aquatic animals to your knowledge base since it is known for its
endemic species. Although the combined effects of dynamite fishing and
the earthquake and tsunami of 1992 caused damage to certain areas
including Maumere, the regeneration of the reefs here is cause for
celebration. Space was cleared by these natural phenomena, which has
allowed new corals to flourish and bring an even greater diversity to
the sites. These sheltered and varied havens offer crystal-clear waters,
deep and vibrant walls, steaming underwater volcanic vents, fertile
breeding grounds and conditions that are prefect for some fantastic
macro diving opportunities. Sumbawa scuba diving has its own vast
schools of countless triggerfish and butterflyfish, macro sightings of
blue-ringed octopus, clown frogfish and nudibranchs, numerous reef
sharks and tunas in the deep walled sections. Allied to this are the
topside visual attractions of volcanoes and bat colonies, and you’ll
soon have enough reasons to plunge deep and explore the underwater
tapestry of Sumbawa.
6. Lombok Island
Some People think they have seen it all, but they dont, Lombok diving
offer spectacular diving destination with untouched coral reefs,
pinnacles and home of “Hammerhead” sharks and other giant creatures. For
divers who would like to enjoy some pristine dive sites, we offer a
world of 100% intact coral and a unique variety of species. “…It’s an
Eldora do for underwater photographers.” Lombok are the perfect place
when you want to escape from it all. The peaceful Lombok atmosphere
is the best place for holiday with white sand beach and under water
panoramas. The many drop-offs, plateaus and slopes around the Lombok”s
reflect a good cross-section of what Indonesia has to offer. Dive in and
be fascinated by a variety of turtles, White-tip Reef Sharks,
Cuttlefish, Moray Eels, Angel Fish, Ghost Pipefish, Snappers, Mantas,
Eagle rays and more. This is always a very popular dive site which will
offer you a large diversity and abundance in marine on a single dive.
The sea mounds and canyon walls differ in size and offer you an
interesting collection of overhangs and outcrops, all covered in a
variety of hard and soft corals. Huge sea fans and other interesting
coral formations will fascinate you from start to finish.
7. Bangka & Belitung Islands
The Islands of Bangka and Belitung, with its rolling hills of green
fields and forests, and the nearby islands of Gangga and Talise offer
over 25 dive sites with fringing reef slopes and pinnacles carpeted in
soft corals. The row of underwater boulder pinnacles that just break the
surface here form giant steps underwater. This is a drift dive that
requires a negatively buoyant entry, as waves can be present at the
surface at drop off and pick up points. As you descend down the
pinnacles you will marvel at the proliferation of green and golden brown
soft corals, huge elephant ear sponges, dense thickets of branching
green cup coral and table corals. There are carpets of frilled leather
corals and pink, brown, cream and lilac soft coral trees swaying in the
shallow surge. “Breathtaking” and “awesome” are oft-used words on the
boat after this Bangka & Belitung dive.
8. Banda Islands
Seemingly insignificant islands in the middle of nowhere in the Banda
Sea, in fact the Banda Islands are steeped in history and blessed with
some of the finest diving in the country. Central to the spice trade of
old, and former home to exiled freedom fighters, the islands are now
enjoying a growing reputation for what goes on below the surface. The
remoteness of the islands in the wide open Banda Sea, and the low levels
of human population, have meant less fishing pressures, and a vibrant,
natural and healthy reef system. The results of this are fishes in
incredible numbers, huge seafans and sponges, and some monumental hard
corals. At most sites you’ll see enormous schools of fusiliers and
thousands of redtooth tirggerfish. One certainty is that you will see
plenty of big stuff as well as no shortage of colourful reef life.
Topside, these islands boast climbable volcanic mountains which are
covered in lush green vegetation. For a taste of historic atmosphere
going ashore in Banda Neira is a must for its remnants from the old
spice trade of colonial times.
9. Wakatobi Islands
Rising from the depths of the Banda Sea, the main islands of Wangi,
Kaledupa, Tomea, Binongki – WaKaToBi – dish up large portions of all the
world’s reef types – fringing, atoll and barrier – and are served with
lashings of healthy corals and dense schools of fish. Being a national
park, fishing is strictly limited and the reefs are protected, meaning
plenty of action for you the diver. Local fishing communities obtain a
fair share of the income generated by dive tourism in exchange for
adopting more sustainable practices, such as leaving large stretches of
reef completely untouched. Other contributions go towards education and
strengthening local support for the marine park. Word is beginning to
spread about Wakatobi but it is still relatively new. Indeed there are
even new sites out there waiting to be discovered, particularly in the
outer atolls which are virtually untouched. Dive in and discover the
animal attractions here in the Banda Sea.
10. Sangihe & Talaud Archipelago
The Sangihe Archipelago is a chain of volcanic islands off the north
east peninsula of North Sulawesi. Consisting of about forty volcanic
islands some of which are over 1,500 metres high, the archipelago’s
waters are some of deepest in the world and deep-water currents bring
plankton and nutrients from the deep. Be the man from Atlantis by diving
what was once a thriving village. Feeling like an archeologist you
cruise around through the numerous black corals and investigate the
tunnels and doorways. Diving here amongst topography carved out by man’s
own hand stands in stark contrast to the norm of diving among nature’s
splendour and is definitely one you won’t forget. Diving just off the
dormant volcano of Ruang Island always gets the thumbs up from those who
have been here. It is as if the Creator has put every shape, size and
colour of sponge and crinoid here in this one spot. This provides a
magnificent backdrop against which you can spot some of the many sharks,
dogtooth tuna and extraordinarily large schools of barracudas that call
this place home.
Luxury holidays do not need to go abroad. In Indonesia the most amazing places in the world.
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