Indonesia is a state whose name literally translates as "island India". Hardly anyone, except specialists, can accurately name the number of islands and islets that make up the state - there are many thousands of them. Inhabited and not, large and small, with a developed infrastructure and generally without it - they are very different from each other.
But almost everywhere there are wonderful weather conditions and a rich underwater world - a joke whether in the territorial waters of Indonesia, about 25% of the entire underwater world fauna lives! This is what makes diving in Indonesia so attractive for tourists.
There are a lot of great diving sites here, but we will still try to list the best places for scuba diving in Indonesia.
Bali
In the opinion of everyone who has already had a rest in Bali , this island in Indonesia is a paradise for diving. And this, of course, is so. Bali Island offers about 30 sites. Tulamben is a favorite place for beginners. Its main attraction is the American ship sunken during World War II. It lies on a slope at depths from 3 to 30 m. Experienced divers like to sink near the ship, especially on moonlit nights, when the light of the moon brightly illuminates the remains of the ship.
Other popular dive sites in Bali are:
- The village of Amed , located a short drive from Tulamben; Here are the Uyah Reef and Reef Cemeluk, which are home to parrot fish, fish surgeons, unicorn fish, trigger fish, starfish and many other marine species; snorkeling off the coast of Amed is as popular as diving;
- the island Mejangan , famous for its amazing underwater landscapes; the walls of the reef start at a depth of 5 m and go down to a depth of 60 m, so this place is suitable for beginners and professionals alike;
- Padang Bay , 4 dive sites which are not suitable for divers without experience: first, it is much colder (the water temperature reaches +18 ... +20 ° C, while in other places it is often not lower than + 26 ... + 28 ° C), and secondly - there is a strong undercurrent;
- Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan : these islands are located near the south-eastern coast of Bali. There are several sites here, some of them are suitable for beginners, and most are for experienced divers. In the local waters live clownfish, eels, rays, angelfish, moray eels, and those who come here to relax in August or September, can be lucky enough to see the fish-sun.
Raja-Ampat
The water area of this archipelago is considered one of the richest in the world for a variety of flora and fauna. Here lives more than 10 thousand species of fish. Manta rays and other types of rays, hammerheads, tuna, dolphins and even whales can all be seen by a diver sinking near the shores of any island in the archipelago.
But not only does this make the archipelago a "place number one" for divers all over the world: the fact is that in the coastal waters there are many ships and aircraft that sank here during the World War.
Sumatra
Not far from Sumatra is the island of Ve (Vekh) . It has a volcanic origin. 60 sq. M. km of sea area around it are nature conservation area. The island is surrounded by a coral reef, which offers divers about 20 slots. Here you can see manta rays - giant rays; In addition, in coastal waters live a whale shark and a large pelagic shark.
Milestones are not the only island near Sumatra that attracts divers: the Mentovai and Bintan islands are also popular (the latter is rapidly developing as a tourist center in Indonesia, including thanks to diving).
Sulawesi
It can be called the least tourist of all the major islands of Indonesia. And, nevertheless, having gone to the province of North Sulawesi (another name - Sulut), in the city of Menado, located on the shore of the bay, tourists get into this mecca of divers. Here is the unique sea National Park Bunaken , 97% of which is located under water.
Through this section there passes a current carrying its waters from the Philippine Islands; it creates unique conditions for the growth of coral reefs. Corals here grows more than 390 species! And to enumerate all who dwells in them is simply unrealistic: here sea sponges and ascidians grow, flocks of fish-clowns and other, no less bright tropical fish, the sea turtles are lazily dissecting water. Relatively often you can see a barracuda, and sometimes even a shark.
Splendor opens the view, starting from a depth of 3 m, that is, the pleasure is guaranteed even by those who never sank to the depth and diving prefers snorkeling. And experienced divers will be able to see a picture that will amaze their imagination - regardless of where they have already dived.
Komodo
This place is famous not only for its "dragons", but for diving. True, there is not a single diving center on the island, but everything you need can be found on the nearby island of Flores .
There are plenty of places for diving in Komodo ; they are struck not only by the richness of flora and fauna, but also by their fantastic underwater landscapes, the most famous of which is the "Cannibal Rock".