Indonesia is little known to divers out there that Indonesia is actually one of the world's best scuba destination even though it has many beautiful diving spots.
Indonesia has one of the longest coastline in the world stretching from the Indian Ocean to the east and Pacific Ocean to the west. Being part of the Coral Triangle of the world, Indonesia have a diverse marine life with 20% of world's coral reefs. There are over 3000 fish species and 600 coral species to discover, where the dive sites come in diverse types from coral, steep walls, deep water trenches, wrecks and underwater volcanic mountains. To top it off, diving in Indonesia is affordable.
The best time and weather to dive in Indonesia is during the dry season of April to December. But it is generally alright to dive all year round in Indonesia.
Forming one corner of the 'Coral Triangle', the epicenter of world marine biodiversity, and containing 20% of the world's coral reefs, it will come as no surprise that it boasts the most diverse waters in the world.
Raja Ampat
Located just off the northwest tip of Papua (Irian Jaya), it is the most well known dive site in Indonesia. Diving in Raja Ampat is one of the most talked about activity in Indonesia travel. It is an archipelago of 1,500 small islands. The marine life diversity here is staggering with 1200 fish species where a world record of 284 on a single dive in Kofiau Island was noted, Raja Ampat set itself apart from the rest of the world's dive site. It is even coined with the term Frontier Diving, where diving will take you over crystal clear seas, inhabited islands with horizon stretch out beyond into infinity. If you are lucky and in season, you can even catch whale sharks while diving!
Togian Islands
Diving in Togian Islands are also among the top activities in Indonesia that many know besides Raja Ampat. Just located North of Sulawesi, Togian Islands are a group of islands boasting secrets to amazing dives. This place is still largely unexploited, invoking feelings of diving in unexplored places. One of the best diving places in Indonesia and maybe even on earth, you will have to explore more than the 3 dive sites among these 56 islands!
Bunaken Islands
One of the top diving sites in Indonesia, Bunaken Island (Pulau Bunaken) is unsurprisingly very popular for divers around the world. The Bunaken Marine Park, located at the north tip of Sulawesi, is not only rich with marine lives, it is also mesmerizing for its water so clear it is truly transparent. It has an amazing diverse marine life such as 70 different corals, five species of sea turtles, many fish species and even white tip and black tip reef sharks, the almost extinct dugongs, barracuda and even saltwater crocodiles! Bunaken island also features a world class wall diving.
Bali Islands
No doubt there are reason for Bali's popularity, not only was it one of the best place to surf in Indonesia, it is also one of the best places to dive here. Many divers find this place with good shore-based diving surrounded with a view of magnificent volcanoes and lush rice paddy terraces. Scuba diving in Bali gives you deep drop-offs, steep banks, coral ridges and famous wrecks from the world war, volcanic outcrops and seagrass beds. Choices of dive sites here includes Nusa Penida, Lembongan islands, Tulamben and Candi Dasa.
Lombok Islands
Just neighbour to the famous Bali, this sister island Lombok keeps its own secrets to spectacular diving with untouched coral reefs and pinnacles. You may even find Hammerhead sharks here and other wild marine life. besides being a peaceful holiday getaway, it features many adventurous dive to balance it with drop-offs, plateaus and slopes among fascinating corals and diverse marine lives.
Pulau Weh, Sumatra
Diving in Pulau Weh is well knowned for its rich ecosystem and off the beaten track in oppose to its distant famous sister Bali of Indonesia. A part of this island had been declared as wildlife protection are by the Indonesian government because it is the home to many rare species on land wild the coral reefs are bursting with large and diverse variety of Indo-Pacific marine life. The remoteness of this Island makes the open Banda Sea all the more fascinating to dive in as the place is still bursting with vibrant and natural reef system and large variety of marine life that are not exploited.
Wakatobi Islands
Dotted in the Banda Sea, the islands of Wakatobi - Wangi, Kaledupa, Tomea and Binongki is another Indonesia's answer to world class diving. Rich with reefs along barriers, corals and fishes, this national park is well protected thus brimming with healthy marine lives. Diving here will alos contribute towards local community and the support for the marine park. Relatively new in the diving scene of Indonesia, the place is still practically untouched.
