If you believe variety is the spice of life, you have come to the right place - stunning Indonesia, where you can gaze your eyes upon over 3000 different species of fish! Compare that with 1500 on the Great Barrier Reef and just 600 in the Red Sea, and here you have an amazing array of diversity and rich teeming reef life just waiting to be discovered.
You also have the chance to spot graceful Manta Rays gliding through the water at many dive sites throughout the country as well as the mysterious Mola Mola in Bali. Reef sharks and big schools of pelagic fishes are also very common in various spots and the macro life is just as incredible with quite possibly some of the best muck diving spots in the world, such as Lembeh strait, Sulawesi. The good thing is, you can dive just about anywhere in Indonesia! Check out this vid to get a tiny glimpse of this underwater paradise which may inspire you to come and see the real thing:
Out of the water, you might be feeling ambitious and want an up-close encounter with the mysterious (and rare!) Komodo dragons in the Komodo national park. There is plenty to explore in Indonesia, from the beautiful sparkling green rice terraces to the pristine white sandy beaches.
The coral, which is made up of over 600 species, is absolutely everywhere you go. In some places, part of the reef may have been heavily damaged by cyanide fishing and bomb fishing but places like Bunaken, Raja Ampat, Komodo and other spots in Bali feature unspoiled and outstanding hard and soft coral! These destinations are a must for underwater photography!
Beginners have the chance to learn scuba diving for very cheap in places like the Gili islands, Lombok.
Where to dive?
The best and main scuba diving destinations are:
- Bali
- Manado, Sulawesi
- Komodo National Park, Flores
- Raja Ampat, Papua
- Wakatobi, Sulawesi
- Pulau Weh, Sumatra
- Gili Islands, Lombok
In this page you will find more detailed information about scuba diving in Indonesia.
Table of contents
Dive Summary
Muck Diving in Indonesia
Indonesia offers terrific muck diving opportunities. The macro photographers will be delighted to find all the rare famous species such as the mimic octopus, the ornate ghost pipefish, the flamboyant cuttlefish and the pygmy seashore. The best location for macro lovers is the Lembeh strait in North Sulawesi.
This is a real muck diving paradise. Many rare critters and nudibranchs can also be found North of Bali at dive sites such as Secret Bay, P.J. and Seraya Secret. Another upcoming new dive spot is Raja Ampat with the highest biodiversity on Earth! Underwater photographers are coming from all over the world to shoot new and very rare species there!
Wreck Diving
You will find many wrecks to dive in Indonesia. The most famous one is the world class dive site of the US Liberty Ship in Tulamben on the North East coast of Bali. This is among the best wreck diving in the world. You can also find some wrecks to explore in Papua from World War II.
Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/neilspicys/2815969239/
How to dive Indonesia?
Indonesia is very easy to dive. There are numerous dive centres in the touristy areas. However some diving places are much better to explore via Liveaboard like Komodo, the Celebes and Raja Ampat.
Your safety is important so keep in mind that some dive centres do have lower safety standards than others so choose your dive operator carefully.
Best time to Dive in Indonesia
It is possible to dive in Indonesia all year round. Although it is important to remember that the country is a very large country and weather conditions varies greatly from place to place so check the conditions in advance. The basic rule for many areas is:
- Rainy season from November to March
- Dry season from April to October.
For more specific weather information on an area, refer to the destination pages. For example, in Moluccas (Maluku), seasons are reversed. Bali has also it's own weather patterns and is actually much less affected by monsoon.
As you can imagine the best time to go diving is during the dry season and the worst time during the rainy season when the visibility is usually not as good. However destinations like the Komodo islands are really exciting to dive during the monsoon because this is the Manta Season!
Liveaboards are running all year.
Scuba Diving conditions
Air temperature: 25°C to 35 °C depending on the location and the season
Average Water temperature: ranges from 26°C to 30°C year round, places like Nusa Penida, Komodo islands or Lembeh Strait can be much colder as low as 16°C!
Average Visibility: You can expect from 10m to 60m depending on the season and location.
Current: Depends a lot on tide and location, ranges from none to fierce
Snorkelling in Indonesia
Snorkellers need not worry – you can also see and experience all of the amazing marine life right off the shore in many spots in Indonesia. In most places it is possible to arrange a day trip to go snorkelling with local people or you can rent cheap snorkel gear for the day and explore yourself. Some of the great snorkelling locations include Amed, Bunaken, Tulamben and Padang Bai in Bali, Gili Islands for the numerous turtles, and Komodo for the amazing coral.
Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rnugraha/2049786537/
Travel Guide
Now that you know all about the underwater world, you might want to start planning your scuba holiday! Check out our Indonesia Travel Review for information about how to get there, activities and excursions, where to stay, and more.
Dive destinations in Indonesia
Bali
Diving in Bali is incredible for BIG Fishes, Macro Diving, Drift Diving and Excellent Visibility!
Regions & Places to discover
Pulau Menjangan , Nusa Penida / Nusa Lembongan , Padang Bai , Candidasa , Tulamben , Amed , Pemutaran, Lovina
Pulau Menjangan , Nusa Penida / Nusa Lembongan , Padang Bai , Candidasa , Tulamben , Amed , Pemutaran, Lovina
Komodo Island
Diving in Komodo is all about action! It is BIG fishes land! With wonderful coral, it is just incredible diving all year round.
Bunaken, Manado
Diving in Bunaken is just fantastic for wall Diving, Coral gardens, endless visibility, incredible biodiversity. Also staying on an isolated island is something really special to experience!
Lembeh Strait
Best Muck Diving in the World! One of the Best spot in the World for Macro Underwater Photography. Amazing Biodiversity!
Gili Islands, Lombok
Diving in Gili islands is great for swimming with Turtles! It can also be a great spot to take your next diving course as the dives here are relatively cheap.
Raja Ampat
Richest Reef in the World, Amazing Biodiversity, Wonderful Coral, perfect place for underwater photography.
Wakatobi
Some of the finest coral in the world, amazing biodiversity and one of the best places in the world for macro photography! On the right day, the visibility can be outstanding!
User reviews
If you have been diving in this area, you can share your experience with other divers by posting your Dive Review in the comments below:
If you have any other feedback or updated information about this destination, please leave a comment. We regularly improve our Diving reviews after reviewing your feedback!
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