Dive Indonesia
Diving in Indonesia fulfills our imagination of diving in tropical waters - warm water, stunning coral, swarms of colorful reef fish along dramatic reef walls, great visibility and endless processions of pelagic.
Climate in Indonesia is straightforward, with a dry and wet season, with the best season to dive being the dry season. For most parts of Indonesia, dry season falls from April to October and the wet season between November to March. There is some geographical variation in the intensity of the wet season, with the major anomaly being Maluku province, where rains come between April and July and the dry season from September to March. Water temperatures are generally around 29 Degree Celsius but it can dip to as low as 22 Degree Celsius with localised upwellings.
The spectacular variety of Indonesia’s marine life is what keeps divers coming back. From the smaller ones to the bigger ones like Napoleon Wrasses, Giant Groupers, with sharks and rays, tunas, barracudas, and mackerels. Exotic species such as the Leafy Scorpionfish, the mythical Mola Mola, Whales, Dolphins and even the endangered Dugongs. Even the primeval Komodo Dragons can be seen in the waters of Komodo National Park.
Dive Destinations
Bintan
One of the closest diving destination, only forty-five minutes away from Singapore, Bintan offers good diving in shallow waters. The shallow bottoms are great for beginners and new divers, yet there is plenty to keep the keen-eyed, experienced diver entertained. A galore of subbranch and flat-worms, awaits you. The visibility of the waters, even though not great, are full of life.
Bali
Bali has been a well-known diving destination in Asia. Visitors are drawn to the balmy climate, the lush green rice fields, white pristine beaches and the mysterious Hindu-Balinese culture. Accommodation are easy to find, with different ranges of hotels available. August and September are the high seasons, make sure that you plan well ahead in advance if you intend to travel during the peak seasons.
Lombok - The Gilis
Lombok, located just east of Bali, the offshore islands (gilis in the local language) are ringed with beautiful coral reefs, home to a variety of sub-aquatic creatures such as sharks and plentiful turtles amongst the tropical reef fishes.The three Gilis being Gili Trawangan, Gili Air, and Gili Meno. Also home to the majestic Mount Rinjani, Lombok has a special place in global ecology.
Lombok lies in the “border” that divides the Asian ecosphere, eastward from the Wallace Line. The area’s reefs are in excellent conditions. The dive sites are very easy to reach, especially from the Gilis, even the furthest sites are just a few minutes away by boat. Water temperature and clarity are both good, with average visibility consistently around 20m mark and temperatures around 26 degree celsius.
The Banda Islands
Known as Spice Islands, The Banda Islands are one of the most intriguing islands in Indonesia. It is rich in cultural history and were once the prize of power struggle amongst the international communities. The eclectic mix of architectural buildings on the streets is a stark reminder of her glorious past, where churches, colonial buildings, mosques stand side by side.
The Banda Islands is made up of seven islands, spread over a 30km of ocean, with Banda Neira being the main island. This is the jumping-off point for diving in the area and the centre of accommodation. Gunung Api is the volcanic pinnacle amongst the inner islands, till now, you could see the remnants from the 1988 eruptions.
The range of sites here are fantastic. Tunas can be seen on every dive along with other pelagics and possibly the best reef fish population in Indonesia. Hammerheads are seen here in October and November. The growth of soft corals here are amazing. Reef profiles here encompasses every single option that you could think of, with conditions from the extreme – from howling currents to flat and calm seas.
