The Best Dive Spots in Indonesia

Indonesia is home to some of the best dive sites in the world. With sparkling waters, warm temperatures, varied marine life, divers from around the world have always come to visit every year. Here are described some of the best diving spots in Indonesia

1. Wakatobi.,  Southeast Sulawesi

 

Wakatobi is one of 50 parks nasoinal in Indonesia, located in the district of Wakatobi, Southeast Sulawesi. This national park is set in 2020, with a total area of ​​1.39 million ha, involving marine biodiversity, scale and condition of coral; which occupies one of the highest priority for marine conservation in Indonesia. The water depth in this national park is varied, the deepest reaching 1,044 meters below sea level. In this garden there is a panoramic underwater natural beauty which has 25 pieces of coral reef.

Coral reefs can be found around 112 species of 13 families located on 25 points along the 600 km coastline. The types of coral are: Acropora Formosa, Hyacinthus, Psammocora profundasafla, Pavona cactus, Leptoseris Yabei, Fungia molucensis, Lobophyllia robusta, Merulina ampliata, Platygyra versifora, Euphyllia glabrescens, Tubastraea fronds, Stylophora pistillata, Sarcophyton throchelliophorum, Sinularia spp.

In addition to the beauty that is served by a diverse coral reefs, the park also has a variety of fish species. Fish species richness owned this national park as many as 93 species of food fish trade and ornamental fish include: Argus spots (Cephalopholus argus) Takhasang (Naso unicornis), Pogo-pogo (Balistoides viridescens), Napoleon wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus), Red Fish (Lutjanus biguttatus), Baronang (Siganus guttatus), Amphiprion melanopus, Chaetodon speculum, Chelmon rostratus, Heniochus acuminatus, Lutjanus monostigma and Caesio caerularea

For tourists who love the beauty of the underwater world can do some activities in Wakatobi National Park, such as diving, snorkeling and swimming to see the beautiful coral reefs and a variety of underwater animals and also witnessed a wide range of local culture.

Wakatobi have up to 750 species of coral with 25 pieces of coral reef. Its depth varies up to the deepest reaches 1,044 meters, visibility 15-80 meters, and flow friendly. There are about 40 best dive sites scattered in the area immediately adjacent to the Banda sea.

2.  Raja Ampat, Papua Barat (Raja Ampat, West Papua)

Islands in West Papua has 610 islands. Four of which the largest is the island of Misool, Salawati, Batanta, and Waigeo. The area is recognized as one of the locations with the highest diversity of marine life. Raja Ampat is one of the most beautiful marine park in Indonesia, even the world, and is part of the Raja Ampat Islands Wildlife Refuge. Here identified 537 coral species (75% of total coral species in the world), more than a thousand species of coral and 700 species of molluscs.

The best dive sites in Raja Ampat, among others Mansuar Island, Chicken Reef (cluster of coral reef with strong currents above but quiet inside), Mike's Point, Manta's Point (Arborek Island), Blue Magic, and more.

A team of experts from Conservation International, The Nature Conservancy, and the National Institute of Oceanography (LON) Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) has conducted a rapid assessment in 2001 and 2002. As a result, they noted in these waters there are more than 540 species of hard corals (75% of total species in the world), more than 1,000 species of reef fish, 700 species of mollusks, and the highest note for gonodactyloid stomatopod crustaceans. This makes 75% of the world's coral species in Raja Ampat. None of the places with the same area has a number of coral species of this.  

There are several coral reefs that are still very good condition with the percentage of live coral cover up to 90%, which is in Dampier Strait (strait between the island and the island Waigeo Batanta), Kofiau Islands, Southeast Misool Islands and Isle Wayag. Types of reef in Raja Ampat is a fringing reef generally with the contours of the steep ramps up. But there is also the type of atoll and burnt or taka.

3. Komodo Islands, East Nusa Tenggara

Komodo Island is located in the District of Komodo, West Manggarai regency, East Nusa Tenggara province. Together with the island of Rinca, and Padar (as well as several smaller islands), designated a National Park in 1980 and then set to be one of the UNESCO world heritage site since 1991. 

Komodo National Park is located in the Coral Triangle (coral triangle) an area with a wealth and highest marine biodiversity in the face of the earth. The Coral Triangle covers an area of ​​approximately 6 million square kilometers. Stretching in 6 countries in Asia Pacific from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Kep. Solomons and East Timor. Approximately 75% of coral reefs in the world can be found in the Coral Triangle. There are approximately 3,000 species of fish, including 2,228 species of reef fish, 500 species of coral, six of the seven types of sea turtles and a variety of other marine biota.

Coral Triangle is also home to more than 130 million people are highly dependent on the sea as a source of food and income. Therefore, the World Wildlife Fund named Coral Triangle as one of the top priorities of conservation of life in 2007. Komodo National Park alone there are more than 1,000 species of fish, 385 coral, 105 species of crab, 70 species of sponges, 10 species of dolphins , 6 sharks, green and hawksbill turtles, dugongs, sharks and manta rays.

Best diving locations around the island of Komodo include Red Beach, Batu Bolong, Tatawa Besar, Batu Tiga, Manta Point (location see manta). In addition to a manta, Komodo Island, divers can see a variety of other fish species ranging clown fish, reef sharks, turtles, barracudas up. Here there is a diversity of underwater topography, ranging from reef flat to the wall. Currents strong enough so it is not recommended for novice divers. 

4. Derawan , East Kalimantan

Derawan is one of the islands is an archipelago in Berau, East Kalimantan. Consisting of 31 islands, with some pretty famous as Maratua, Derawan, Charitable, and Kakaban. In Kakaban famous atolls that make up the salt water lake and 4 types of jellyfish that do not sting (Read: Jellyfish Kakaban). In addition, there are around other dive spots to number 28 diving points.

In Derawan Islands-there are several coastal and small island ecosystems is very important that Coral Reef Seagrass and Mangrove (mangrove). Besides this place is also a lot of protected species such as the green turtle, hawksbill turtles, whales, dolphins, giant clams, coconut crabs, dugongs, barracuda and a few other species.  

Clear sea water in East Kalimantan is one of the best dive sites in Indonesia. Marine park with a depth of 5 meters there is a wide range of marine life including squid (cuttlefish), lobster, fish pipes (ghostpipe fish) Octopus (bluering octopus), sea horses (seahorses), ribbon eels (ribon eels) and fish scorpion (scorpionsfish).

On the rock at a depth of 10 meters there is a reef known as: blue trigger wall) because of the reef along the 18 meters there is a lot of trigger fish (red toothed trigger fishes).  

5. Bunaken, North Sulawesi

Bunaken is located in the bay of Manado and including the territory of the city of Manado. The area was designated as a National Park Bunaken and Bunaken Marine Park. Bunaken Marine Park is worth mentioning as the most beautiful marine parks in the world because of the diversity of marine life ranging reefs, dugongs, dolphins, ancient fish choelacanth and various kinds of ornamental fish. Bunaken marine park has a 20 point dive (dive spot) with varying depths up to 1344 meters.

Bunaken National Park is a marine park located in North Sulawesi, Indonesia. The park is located in the Coral Triangle, a habitat for 390 species of coral reefs as well as various species of fish, mollusks, reptiles and marine mammals. Kruger National Park is representative of Indonesian marine ecosystems, including seagrass meadows, coral reefs and coastal ecosystems.

This national park was established in 1991 and covers an area of ​​890.65 km². 97% of this national park is the habitat of the sea, while the remaining 3% is land, includes five islands: Bunaken, Manado Tua, Mantehage, Naen and Siladen.

Bunaken National Park has a coral reef ecosystem is very rich. There are about 390 species of coral reefs in the region. Algae species that can be found in Bunaken National Park is Caulerpa, Halimeda and Padina, while the seaweed species that were encountered are Thalassia hemprichii, acoroides acoroides, and Thalassaodendron ciliatum.

Bunaken National Park also has a variety of fish species, marine mammals, reptiles, birds, mollusks and mangrove.Sekitar 90 species of fish living in the waters of this region. On the mainland, the island is rich in Arecaceae, sago, woka, silar and coconut. Additionally, Bunaken National Park also has animal species that live on the mainland, such as deer and fitch. The mangrove forest in the park is a habitat for crabs, lobsters, molluscs and sea birds.  

6. Karimunjawa, Central of Java

Karimunjawa islands in the Java Sea is included in Jepara, Central Java. With a land area of ​​1,500 hectares and waters ± ± 110,000 hectares, Karimunjawa is now being developed into a tourist charm Marine Park that began much-loved local and foreign tourists. Since March 15, 2001,

Karimunjawa Jepara set by the government as a National Park. Publications are home to coral reefs, mangroves, coastal forests, and nearly 400 species of marine fauna, including 242 species of ornamental fish. 

Some rare fauna here are white-bellied sea eagle, hawksbill and green turtles. Plants that characterizes Karimunjawa National Park is Dewadaru (Crystocalyx macrophyla) contained in lowland rain forest. Waves in Karimunjawa is low and tame, bordered by beaches that are mostly fine white sand beach. 

Karimunjawa Islands have at least 30 dives sites. Its depth is between 5-40 meters, with visibility between 5-25 meters and varying currents. The charm of its underwater coral reef cover among other things the meeting, various kinds of marine animals such as fish Napoleon, Hawksbill and Green turtles, and over 200 species of ornamental fish.  

7. Selat Patar (Patar Strait) East Nusa Tenggara

Pantar Strait is a sea park is claimed as the most beautiful second under the Caribbean Islands. There are 26 diving spots with underwater views of the upper class. Beautiful coral reefs, various types of sharks, barracuda, and the various octopus can be found here.

Pantar Strait marine park Pantar Strait Marine Park covers the waters of Alor Besar, Alor Kecil, Dulolong, Crocodile Island, Kepa Island and Temple Island and included in Alor regency, East Nusa Tenggara province,

The specialty of Pantar Strait is has many points of diving or diving tourist favorite because it has a panoramic view of the marine park beautiful and rare. In fact, the world-class diver admits that the Alor marine park is one of the best in the world.

Spot number recorded 26 points, including Half Moon Bay; Peter's Prize; Crocodile Rook; Cave Point; The Edge; Coral Clitts; Baeylon; The Arch; Fallt Line; The Patch; Nite Delht; Kal's Dream; The Ball; Trip Top; The Mlai Hall; No Man's Land; The Chatedral; School's Ut; and point dive Shark Close.

Close Shark diving point is the point where there are sharks, but these fish are quite friendly with divers. Besides Sharks, in Pantar Strait Marine parks are also many dolphin gray including rare fish.