Indonesia provides some of the best scuba destinations in the world. Situated across a region aptly named the ‘coral triangle,’ the country is an archipelago of 18,000 islands with only 922 of them inhabited. Indonesia’s coral reefs contain more than 600 species of corals and are home to more than 3,000 species of fish. The best time for diving is during the dry season, between May and October, when visibility is consistently very good, but with water temperatures usually around 26-27 oC, there are excellent diving opportunities all year round. There are numerous dive sites and locations to explore across this magnificent expanse of coastline, from unspoiled coral reefs and seagrass meadows to deep-water trenches, shipwrecks and underwater volcanic mountains. With so much natural beauty to choose from, we take you on an enchanting, watery journey through our Top 5 favourite places to dive in beautiful Indonesia.
1. Raja Ampat (West Papua)
Putting it simply, Raja Ampat is considered the bees-knees of scuba diving, allowing you to explore the most biodiverse waters on earth. Previously known as Irian Jaya, now part of the West Papua Province of Indonesia, Raja Ampat is an archipelago made up of more than 1,500 small isles, cays and shoals surrounding the four main islands of Misool (home to a beautiful retreat Misool Eco Resort), Salawati, Batanta and Waigeo. Picture powder-like, white sand beaches, tropical lagoons and an abundance of untouched, natural beauty both on and off-shore.
“Frontier Diving” seems to be the term invented for the Raja Ampat islands, a place where diving in the turquoise waters feels as though you are floating on the edge of the planet, far, far away from everything else in the world. For many, journeying through Raja Ampat on one of the Indonesian live-aboard boats is the best way to discover the area, allowing you to dive pristine seas, remote underwater sites and explore the untouched tropical paradise from dawn till dusk – a majesty of tranquillity and natural wonder.
2. Bunaken National Park (Manado)
North of the island of Sulawesi, in the centre of the coral triangle lies Bunaken National Park. This stunning area covers 890 km², 97% of which is marine habitat, and includes the five islands of Bunaken, Manado Tua, Mantehage, Nain and Siladen. Dive resorts are plentiful from the city of Manado and cater for divers of all levels. The underwater discovery is breath-taking and you can expect to encounter marine-life here that you would not find anywhere else. From dugongs feeding on the seagrass to black tip reef sharks to eagle rays, there is something here for everyone, making Bunaken a very special destination for marine biologists and divers alike.
3. Komodo National Park
Adventurous divers and dragon chasers have been coming to Komodo since the 1980s, but tourism is now growing on the island of Flores, the gateway to Komodo, and so are the opportunities for new divers to explore this magnificent region. Ships like Silolona, Si Datu Bua or Alila Purnama often cruise around Komodo and Eastern Indonesia
Diving in the mysterious world of Komodo showcases some of the most exotic environments on earth. Known also for the famous ‘Komodo Dragon’ – the world’s largest living lizard – this vast and seemingly barren area is dotted by many small islands as well as the three larger islands of Komodo, Rinca and Padar. There are endless dive sites and dozens of coves and bays to explore with huge walls of steep coral plunging deep into the crystal-clear ocean. Komodo diving trips offer some of the strangest mix of species found in one place and even snorkelers can enjoy the exhilaration of drifting through the sparkling waters alongside the giant manta ray that inhabit the area.
4. Wakatobi
Jacques Cousteau once called the Wakatobi islands an “Underwater Nirvana” and the word is certainly starting to spread about the magnificence of this region. Located south east of Sulawesi, Wakatobi National Park is the third largest marine park in Indonesia and home to the highest number of reef and fish species in the world. The islands are famous for forming the largest barrier reef in Indonesia (2nd only to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef), and due to the dry climate and uplifted limestone, it is made up of reefs that are unlike others in the region. The sparkling, blue waters and a rich, bio-diverse underwater-life create a true paradise for divers from beginners to professionals.
5. Ambon
Situated amongst thousands of volcanic islands in the Moluccas, deep in the eastern seas of Indonesia, you will find the beautiful, tropical havens of Ambon and Banda. Discovered by the Portuguese in the 15th century, these little islands hold a special place in history as the sole producers of the spices nutmeg and mace, a trade that continued for hundreds of years, and at the time in Medieval Europe, these spices fetched their weight in gold. Diving sites around Ambon are as beautiful as they are diverse. Explore the huge, 100 metre shipwreck that rests within Ambon Bay, or the twisting caverns and canyons of Hukarila Cave that swarms with marine life, or enjoy the exhilarating thrill of drift diving on the northern and western coasts. With idyllic white sand beaches, fringed with palm trees and pristine waters, Ambon is a fascinating place to visit and experience underwater discovery.
