Indonesia is an archipelago country with an area of waters that are more than 5 million square meters, has some of the best scuba diving destinations in the world. No doubt, Indonesia became a shelter for hundreds or even thousands of species of underwater creatures and coral clusters are beautiful and colorful. Besides offering best scuba diving locations, Indonesia is among the countries that offer relatively low cost accommodation to make an adventure travel.
Here is a list of some of the best scuba diving destinations in Indonesia:
Bunaken, North Sulawesi
Bunaken Island
Bunaken is a famous diving destination that has an international reputation is better than the others, consisting of small islands such as Sialdoen island, Ganga, Mantehage, Nine and an old mountain in the middle of the sea, Manado Tua.
Snorkeling and diving are very popular here with more than sixteen diving spots spread across an area of islands. Bunaken has grooves as deep as 30 feet, housing a variety of species of fish and other marine life. Shark sightings are common, so be careful!
Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi
Lembeh Strait
Still in North Sulawesi, there are other icons of the world diving, Lembeh Strait.
Selat Lembeh
This location is renowned internationally as the diversity of marine life that exists only in this place.
Here you will be able to find the mimic octopus, pygmy seahorses, cuttlefish, and hairy frogfish.
This island is a paradise for underwater photography and is often called the “Qiblah of Macro Photography”. The beauty of the Lembeh Strait is for experienced divers.
Bintan Island, Riau
Bintan Island
Pulau Bintan or Bintan Island, is the most easily island to reached from outside Indonesia, this diving location is only one hour from Singapore. The island has white sandy beaches stretch along 18 km with a rich marine life, and a variety of diving spots.
Not far from the coastline to the north, there is a small canyon as deep as eight meters with a flat base, ideal for your first time to learn scuba diving. Another unique place is the location of shipwreck, you can explore the remains of an old tanker that sank many years ago in the depths of the sea.
Kepulauan Seribu, Jakarta
Kepulauan Seribu
This unique area made up of hundreds of small islands (hence so exaggerated Kepulauan Seribu, “Thousand Islands”), is a must for divers from Jakarta. Of the various islands, some of the famous island are Kotok Besar, Kotok Kecil, Karang Bongkok, Sepa island dan Pantara island.
Pulau Seribu is easy to achieved, you just need to hire a speedboat from Marina or boat fishing from one of the ports. Only about one or two hours from Jakarta, you will be able to dive as much.
Some of the larger islands provide better accommodation like resorts and villas, but you need to rent a boat to reach the small islands – places of the beautiful reefs.
Karimun Java, Central Java
Karimun Java
Another part of the Java Sea, which is also a paradise for divers is an island across the sea from Semarang, Central Java. This place, called Karimun Java, is a series of 27 small island surrounded by sea which rich with blue coral cluster, Acropora.
Divers can explore the remains of Indonour, an ancient merchant ship which sank in 1955. Additional treat here is the variety of sea turtle that hatched in the park of nature protection.
Derawan Island, East Kalimantan
Derawan Island
About 50 miles from Tanjung Redeb, Berau regency, East Kalimantan, an area that includes the small islands. This island is filled with a cluster of spectacular coral and underwater caves for the adventurous traveler. Derawan has more than 17 dive spots, each site has its own unique attractions for you to enjoy. Some places are famous Sangalaki island, Kakaban island and Maratua island.
Sangalaki
At Sangalaki Island, you can find eagle stingrays, stingrays, tiger sharks and cuttlefish. Every night you can see giant green turtles hatch their eggs on this island. Main attraction on Kakaban island is a salt water lake inhabited by a jellyfish that not sting and gobies. Meanwhile on Maratua Island, you will find plenty of large fish like barracuda, tuna and mackerel. If you are lucky you can find a hammerhead shark and up to eight species of whales at here.
Komodo Island, Flores
Komodo Island
The island is usually known for being a playground for the dragons, giant lizard species. For scuba diving, Komodo Island also has a number of the best scuba diving locations in Indonesia.
Pantai Merah
Sebayour Kecil, Pulau Tengah Kecil and Pantai Merah offer a variety of underwater attractions such as various kinds of mackerel, cod and grouper. At Merah beach, not far from the beach, you will find a 5-meter full derivation of colorful fish. There are more scuba diving destinations on the west coast of Flores such as Tatawa island, Tatawa Kecil island, Rinca island and Nusa Node island.
Nusa Penida, Bali
Nusa Penida, Bali
Nusa Penida Island, located in eastern Bali, is a famous scuba diving destination for local and international divers. About an hour from Bali, the island has some very healthy coral clusters, which is clearly visible at depths of 15 to 30 meters.
For beginners, there are many diving spots on the east coast of this island are suitable to be explored. On the south coast, there is Blue Corner, Nusa Lembongan and Gamat, more appropriate for experienced divers who are looking for a challenge. Sunfish are often seen in Crystal Bay, while manta birostris is a common sight at Manta Point.
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