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If you have been to Indonesia before, please share your experiences, ideas and feedback (Hotel, Excursions, General Feeling,…) in the comments section below, by doing so you will help fellow travellers to plan their next trip
Indonesia is quite simply one of the best scuba diving destinations in the world! It offers many world class dive sites and an outstanding array of marine life.
Indonesia is the biggest archipelago in the world with over 17000 islands and makes up about 20% of the coral worldwide! It is located in South East Asia between the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean in the centre of the coral triangle.
Check List before your trip to Indonesia
You will find below my advices to plan your trip:
- To plan my trip I usually use this guide book as they have great maps and give a good overview of Indonesia with the best places not to be missed. An Indonesia road map is also very useful. I have this one and really likes it.
- I usually don’t book in advance my hotel when I am travelling in places I know very well such as Bali. However, I really advise you to book at least the first nights of your trip to have a place to stay right after you land. This will save save you time, stress and even money. If you travel during the peak season such as July August and December January, it is wise to book all your hotels in advance as room rates tend to double or even triple during these periods. I usually use this website as they generally have the best fares in South East Asia.
- Please do not forget to take a travel insurance that includes scuba diving. I really like this one as they offer a worldwide cover and include all the “risky” activites such as Diving, Trekking, Scooter, Surfing, snorkelling and so on.
Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rnugraha/148476893/
This is a truly magical country where you can still find adventure in many places. The country has many advantages, a few being that:
- People are very friendly
- It is very safe in most places
- You can travel and dive for very cheap
- Diving possibilities are so huge that you can spend a lifetime exploring them all
In this page you will find practical information to plan a scuba diving trip to Indonesia:
Table of contents
Where to stay?
I usually use this website to book in advance my hotels in Indonesia as they usually have the lowest rates I find. I like it because it's free to cancel and change the dates.
Indonesia is a cheap destination to travel. You will find all types of accommodation, from the basic backpacker guesthouse to the top end luxury resort on some private islands. Hotel rates tend to double or even triple during high season (July, August and December, January). On the contrary, during the low season you can bargain and get a luxurious room for a very low price :-).
Photo Credit: © Amre Ghiba
Best time to visit Indonesia
The climate is tropical all around the country. That means hot and humid all year round. Indeed, most of the country is covered with tropical rain forest. During the monsoon which runs in most part of the country from October to March, there is heavy rainfall but they usually don’t last more than 2 hours. Excellent diving can be found year round.
You will just need light clothes and a light sweatshirt if you plan on going to some of the mountains or volcanos. Indonesia is a Muslim country so every traveller should wear appropriate and respectful clothing especially when visiting temples and mosques. Bali is Hindu so you can dress how you like most of the time except in the Temples.
Health and Safety
There are no necessary vaccinations that you are required to get for Indonesia. Anti-malaria tablets can be useful if you travel to remote places like Borneo or Papua (Raja Ampat) so please consult your doctor for travel advice. If you stay on Java and even more on Bali and the Komodo Islands, the risk of Malaria is very low but don’t forget your mosquito repellent!
Never drink tap water and it is better to come prepared with a little first aid kit containing anti-diarrhea pills and pain relief etc.
Indonesia is a very safe country! Although in the past there have been a few terrorist bombings depicted in the media, the day to day safety is really not a concern. However, like everywhere in the world it is recommended to take care of your belongings while travelling and use common sense.
The main safety issue is the road safety. You have to be extra careful if you plan to drive a car or a motorbike. Driving rules do not seem to exist here so keep your wits about you!
Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mazzali/2527083099/
If you are planning an upcoming dive trip or travelling to Indonesia, it is a really good idea to invest in travel insurance for scuba diving, because you never know what could happen and when you might need it (because accidents do happen!). I recommend this diving insurance as they offer worldwide coverage and focus on providing scuba divers a quality insurance and medical assistance service.
Where is Indonesia located in the world?
Indonesia is located in South East Asia, South of Malaysia and North of Australia. It is a huge country with around 17 000 islands!
See the map below.
Indonesia Map
How to get to Indonesia?
There are numerous ways to travel to Indonesia. The main entry gates are the international airports of Jakarta, Bali, Manado and Makassar. There are many connections with all South East Asia main cities. If you fly from Europe, flying time will be around 14 hours with a stopover in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Dubai or Doha.
Getting Around
Between the islands
Indonesia is a huge archipelago. The most popular and fastest way to travel between the numerous islands is by airplane. There are many companies, with the most reliable being the national company Garuda airlines, along with the very good low cost airline Air Asia. The other main airlines are Merpati, Batavia and Lion Air.
If you have plenty of time, you can also find cargo ships travelling for example from Jakarta in Java to Borneo or Sulawesi.
Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rnugraha/1424205798/
On land
You can travel by train. For example, it is quite handy to land in Jakarta and take a night train to Surabaya and Yogyakarta to explore the island of Java.
Buses are also available but you may want to avoid them for long distances as travel times will be long and can often be uncomfortable and packed with people. Some people may prefer this type of travel for the cultural experience with locals.
The bemo, is the local minibus which are perfect for short rides but better to know where you are going!
Rent a car with a driver might be the best way if you can afford it. It is not overly expensive (around IRD 300 000, depending on the location) and is a very comfortable and relaxing way to travel as you don’t have to worry about navigation and driving.
In many places, like Bali, you could also rent a scooter or small motorbike. It is a very good way to explore hidden places that most tourists will never see so it does give you a bit more freedom. Always be extra careful when driving and always ask for a helmet. It is also advised to have an international driving licence from your own country beforehand.
Indonesia Photos
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Clown fishes waiting in front of their blue anemone housePhoto by Jihye Lee -
Beautiful & Colorful Mandarin FishPhoto by Rich Guest -
Yellow Seahorse in Lembeh StraitPhoto by Agnes Tjandranegara -
Blue Nudibranch in Lembeh StraitPhoto by Rich Guest -
Mola Mola And Moorish IdolPhoto by Jihye Lee -
Flying Ray Manta in Bali!Photo by Jihye Lee -
Lion Fish swimming in crystal clear waterPhoto by Agnes Tjandranegara -
FrogfishPhoto by Jihye Lee -
Surreal LifePhoto by Jihye Lee -
Guess The FishPhoto by Agnes Tjandranegara
Scuba diving
You will find all information about sea life, best time to visit, top dive spots, etc. in our review: Indonesia Diving
Diving Reviews for this region
destination of the monthKomodo Island
Diving in Komodo Islands is all about action! It is BIG fishes land! With wonderful coral, it is just incredible diving all year round.
Wakatobi
Wakatobi has 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!
Raja Ampat
Richest Reef in the World, Amazing Biodiversity, Wonderful Coral, perfect place for underwater photography.
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.
Lembeh Strait
Best Muck Diving in the World! One of the Best spot in the World for Macro Underwater Photography. Amazing Biodiversity!
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!
Tulamben
One of the best Wreck Dives in the World!!! And the most easy for sure, 30m from the Shore and starts at 4m deep! Fantastic Marine life and great Coral!
Pemutaran, Lovina
No current, Good visibility, unusual Marine Life and one of the BEST Diving sites around Bali for Muck Diving: Puri Jati (P.J.).
Padang Bai
Night Diving, Underwater Macro Photography, Resident Whitetip Reef Sharks, Huge green Turtles, and crystal clear water! Also a great Snorkelling spot!
Menjangan Island
Menjangan Island is famous worldwide for Wall diving with small caverns to explore. The reef and Coral are also great. A very nice wooden wreck from the 19th century: Anker Wreck.
Nusa Penida / Nusa Lembongan
One of the best spots in the world to see the rare Mola Mola and the graceful Manta Rays! Big fishes and action with lots of sharks. Very good Visibility and stunning Coral.
Candidasa
It is all about action! Big pelagic fishes, hunting action in the current, and many Sharks! Regular seeing of Hammerhead Sharks and Mola Mola!
Bali
Diving in Bali is simply amazing as you will see both an incredible array of marine life and plenty of wrecks. Indeed, Bali's underwater world will expose you to meet interesting critters, fishes of all sizes and mantas rays among others! Plus, scuba diving in Bali means being all in for stunning underwater visibility and great opportunities for drift diving. !
Indonesia
Diving in Indonesia will suit every diver's hopes and desires. In a land of opportunity, dive spots range from those suited to beginner divers wishing to learn in perfect easy conditions to unexplored dive sites with fierce currents for those more experienced divers looking for a challenge.
Amed
Magnificent coral, no current, relaxed and easy diving, possibilities for night diving, good place for underwater macro photography, and a great snorkelling spot.
Liveaboard Reviews in Indonesia
Cruise ship Reviews in Indonesia
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