SCUBA DIVING IN INDONESIA. Bali, Lombock, Alor and Sulawesi: scuba dive the largest archipelago in the world. Divers’ Reviews Indonesia is the largest archipelago in the world. It consists of five major islands and 30 smaller groups (17, 508 islands in total). Indonesia´s unique location between two continents and oceans places it at the hottest spot for marine biodiversity on Earth and then amazing scuba dives are available. There are 3,500 species of animals living in Indonesia´s waters; Bali alone has over 60 diving sites, Sulawesi over 140. More Information about Scuba Diving in INDONESIA: http://www.ediving.com/dives-divers-scuba-diving-in-asia-and-indonesia/diving-in-indonesia/

1. SCUBA DIVING IN INDONESIA
• INTRODUCTION & CLIMATE
• BALI, PRISTINE SCUBA DIVES FOR ALL LEVELS
• LOMBOK, DIVING HAVEN
• ALOR, AN ARCHIPELAGO OF KISSES
• SULAWESI, SIMPLY REMARKABLE
• WESTERN NEW GUINEA, THE HEART OF CORAL TRIANGLE
• MALUKU ISLANDS, HOME OF THE WUNDERPUS
• KOMODO ISLANDS, LIVE ABOARD TERRITORY FOR DIVERS
• KALIMANTAN, BIG FISH COUNTRY
• ABOUT THE AUTHOR 1

2. SCUBA DIVING IN INDONESIA. Bali,
Lombock, Alor and Sulawesi: scuba dive the
largest archipelago in the world
Indonesia is the largest archipelago in the world. It consists of five major islands
and 30 smaller groups (17, 508 islands in total). Indonesia´s unique location
between two continents and oceans places it at the hottest spot for marine
biodiversity on Earth and then amazing scuba dives are available. There are 3,500
species of animals living in Indonesia´s waters; Bali alone has over 60 diving sites,
Sulawesi over 140.
CLIMATE
Indonesia has two seasons: dry season (June to September), influenced by the
Australian continental air masses, and rainy season (December to March), a result
of the Asian and Pacific air masses.
Average temperatures are 78.8°F to 82.4°F (26°C- 28°C) and humidity levels of
70% and 90%. The best time to visit is in the dry season.
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3. BALI, PRISTINE SCUBA DIVES
FOR ALL LEVELS
There are 11 diving areas around the island of Bali. Among them you can find
wall dives, drift dives and muck dives in pristine biodiversity.
The wreck of the USS Liberty, a cargo ship sunk by a Japanese submarine in 1942, is
one of the best and safest wrecks you will find. Just 40 m. off the beach, the Liberty
wreck has large populations of fish and is even a great night dive.
Menjangan Island Marine National Park has pristine coral and macro
diving; groupers, whitetip and blacktip sharks can be spotted here among deep
walls and large gorgonians.
The Kapal Budak dive site at Menjangan is the site of the Anker wreck, a wooden
19th century cargo ship.
Trekking, bird watching, and nature interpretation hikes are available at
the Bali Barat National Park, where you could observe black monkeys, macaques,
leaf monkeys and the rare mouse deer 3

4. Nusa Penida makes for good diving: it has 17 different dive sites and is an
ideal place to look for the mola mola (Sunfish).
The best dive site is probably Buyuk, staghorn coral can be observed here
among large schools of pelagic fish. Please note, this site is a known area of
strong currents so be careful.
Amuk Bay is an interesting area, although experience is needed due to strong
currents and swells here. There are nine dive sites, the highlight of which is
Gilli Biaha east of Amuk Bay; it has a big wall and it´s good for pelagic dives.
Bali has an incredible variety of cultural and nature-related activities: temple
visits, rafting the Ayung River, the Sacred Monkey Forest; all this topped with
the beaches of Bali.
.
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5. LOMBOK, DIVING HAVEN
Lombok Island, UNESCO World Heritage Site, has three main diving areas, each with their
own corresponding dive sites
- The Gilli Islands, to the north of Lombok, offer a variety of coral gardens in light blue water
Shark Point is a standout, suitable for all level divers it has canyons and plenty of fish,
whitetip reef sharks, green and hawksbill turtles swimming with schools of trevally and
mackerels.
- Gili Nanngu, southwest Lombok is a good reef dive site.
- Lombok is not as well-known as Bali, but it´s good to avoid mass tourism. It has stunning
beaches and really good trekking. The villages of Banyumulek and Sukara are worth seeing
for its pottery and weaving. Sasak has unique examples of local architecture and beautiful
beaches.
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6. ALOR, AN ARCHIPELAGO OF KISSES
The small island of Alor, between the Flores and Banda Seas, is part of a volcanic belt.
Visitors arrive from Denpasar (Bali) via Kupang, capital of West Timor.
Diving is fantastic in its two main dive sites: Alor Divers Housereef and Anemone City.
Both have a good variety of coral and Anemone City has very good drift diving. The
Cathedral and Paradise Point are good spots to observe the mola mola fish.
Alor is a popular destination for live-aboards.
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7. SULAWESI, SIMPLY REMARKABLE
Sulawesi has over 100 dive sites, and offers some of the best dive areas in the world:
Bunaken, Manado, Bangai and Wakatobi. Bunaken National Marine Park and Lembeh
Strait are a must, with good spots for muck diving. Ambon scorpionfish and the Bangaii
cardinalfish can be found here.
Lembeh is the best place on Earth for small critters. Amazing underwater formations
created by lava flow are found around the islands of Ruang, Taguladang and Siau.
Twkang Besi (Wakatobi) is an archipelago with over 20 dive sites. Above the water, the
island resorts are perfect for honeymooners. House Reef is one of the most popular sites for
both day and night dives. Teluk Maya is the go-to-site for the pygmy seahorse.
Gorontalo is characterized by its limestone cliffs plunging directly into the sea.
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8. WESTERN NEW GUINEA, THE HEART OF
CORAL TRIANGLE
Above the surface, the Raja Ampat islandsare of intense emotional beauty; clashing shades
of blue, intense greens in dreamlike topography; below the surface, the most bio-diverse
marine region known to man.
The Raja Ampat archipelago of 1500 small islands can only be fully appreciated on
a liveaboards. Cenderawasih Bay is the largest Marine National Park in Indonesia. Raja
Ampat waters sit in the heart of the Coral Triangle, the richest coral diversity in the world.
The way coral larvae are carried by the currents here and the coral´s resistance to bleaching
and disease make Raja Ampat unique and a priority in marine conservation. This is an area
with a high population of wobegongs.
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9. MALUKU ISLANDS, HOME OF THE
WUNDERPUS
Known as the Spice Islands, the main diving site is Ambon Island.
There are 14 dive sites of which Ahmed is good for drift, deep and pelagic dives, large
schools of trevally and, toward the end of the year you may spot hammerheads.
Cape Paperu House Reef is excellent for night dives, look for the wunderpus octopus, the
way they change color is mind-blowing!
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10. KOMODO ISLANDS, LIVE ABOARD
TERRITORY FOR DIVERS
Although most tourists come here to see the Komodo Dragons, the Komodo Islands has
untouched coral ecosystems, cleaning stations and very few divers.
There´s 11 dive sites here where you will find reef dives, wall dives and or pelagic dives.
Cannibal Rock is one of the best sites, easy diving and very good for night dives too. This site
is famous for invertebrates, as well as pygmy seahorse and frogfish.
In Crystal Rock you will find the sweetlips and lots of anthias.
The Komodo National Park, a World Heritage Site since 1977, is home to
the Komodo Dragons.
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11. KALIMANTAN, BIG FISH COUNTRY
Kalimantan, on east Borneo, has a reef with four main diving areas, Maratua and Sangalaki
offering the most dive sites. It is famous for the gathering of manta rays, ghost pipefish and
scorpionfish.
In Sangalaki you will dive with manta rays in shallow and calm waters.
In Maratua Island, is big fish country is a very good site for pelagic dives. Currents can be
strong.
A visit to Tanjung Puting National Park is recommended for jungle treks, orangutan sightings,
and nature interpretation hikes too.
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12. OTHER INFORMATION
DIVE CENTERS LISTED IN INDONESIA
AquaMarine Diving Bali / Bali Breizh Divers / Bali Diving / Bali Diving Academy / Bee
Diver / Blue Bubble Bali / Blue Corner Dive / Blue Season Bali / Discover Aceh
Divers / Dive Indonesia / DiveZone Lombok /Dolphin Dive School / Geko Dive
Bali / Hammerhead Bali Diving / Hotel Mangga / IQ Divers / Joe’s Gone Diving / Nautica
Bali Dive Center / Ocean 5 Dive Resort / Orca Dive Club Bali / Raja 4 Divers / Sinbad
Scuba / Tauchen in Bali / Wallacea Dive Cruise / Waou Charters / Water World Dive
Resort /
More Information about Scuba Diving in INDONESIA
To find & book an hotel recommended by our Dive Operators:
http://www.ediving.com/hotels-for-scuba-divers/
To contact us:
contact@ediving.com
To register your Dive Operation on Ediving (Full Business Listing is FREE):
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13. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Thomas SACCONE is a former
financial manager who discovered
scuba diving in Costa Rica in 2007.
Since then, he is only satisfied
when underwater.
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