South East Asian Trips

Travelling to Bali is an experience in itself, but Bali's dive sites are in a world of their own. With deep drop-offs, steep banks, coral ridges and a world famous wreck, these waters are home to great depths of ecological, geographic and historic sights, framed by a coast dotted with volcanoes and rice paddies. The most popular dive destinations are Nusa Penida, Tulamben, Amuk Bay and Menjangan.

Some of the extraordinary local marine life includes mola mola (sunfish), hairy frogfish and pygmy seahorses, while more ‘usual' sightings are of reef sharks, blue spotted stingrays, turtles and parrotfish. Visibility can be anywhere between 6 and 45m, and current strengths also vary substantially from one dive site to another. The water is generally at a comfortable temperature and the best diving months are from April to December.

There are various locally based dive operators and resorts offering anything from snorkelling over the wreck to dive excursions or courses. Visitors may use their own kit or rent equipment from the operator or resort, and all divers must carry valid scuba certification.

There are approximately 80,000 Km (50,000 miles) of coastline, reputed to contain 15 per cent of the world's coral reefs. In spite of the obvious opportunities, Indonesia's diving industry is still relatively young, though the number of companies offering courses and excursions is rising rapidly.

On Java island, the best diving is on the west coast, where three volcanic islands mark the remains of the Krakatoa volcano (which last erupted in 1883). Bali's tourist stronghold in the Kuta, Nusa Dua and Suar triangle offers easy and moderate diving, with easily accessible reefs. Tours to more remote (and less busy) areas are available. On the northern tip of Sulawesi island, the Taman Nasional Laut Bunaken Manado Tua is a national marine reserve with particularly steep coral walls; international air connections to the island facilitate access. Further north, the lesser-known Sanggihe-Talaud and Togian islands are reached by live-aboard dive boats. In the south, Take Bone Rate is the world's third-largest atoll, while the Tukang Besi islands have featured extensively in the films by the French underwater explorer Jacques Cousteau. Nusa Tenggara's most popular sites are the three Gili islands near Lombok, whose calm shallow waters are ideal for beginners. Maluku consists of approximately 1000 islands and has only recently been discovered as a top diving destination. Southeast of Ambon, the Bandana islands are accessible by air and offer a number of sites suitable for beginners and experienced divers. The major resort in the Sumatra and Riau islands is Bintan, easily accessible from Singapore. The clearest and most colorful dive sites are in Pulau Sikuai off the Padang coast (western Sumatra) and Pulau Weh off Banda Aceh (northern Sumatra). Irian Jaya also offers good diving around the famous Mapia Atoll (where dolphins and killer whales can sometimes be spotted) and the waters of Cenderawasih Bay off the western end of Bird's Head peninsula.