If you have dived in Indonesia before, please share your experiences: Dive spots you would recommend, which Dive Center you used, Fishes & Diving, Visibility, Currents, etc. Please post your comments in the section below, by doing so you will help fellow divers to plan their next trip
A manta circles a cleaning station. A turtle rests beneath a coral ledge. On dark volcanic sand, your guide points out a frogfish you would otherwise swim straight past. Diving in Indonesia is about this extraordinary variety.
In the heart of the Coral Triangle, you can build a holiday around shore dives, reef walls, tiny creatures or remote island cruises. The experience you want is a useful starting point, with the region and season shaping the rest of the journey.
Where should you dive in Indonesia?
- A first dive holiday: Bali or the Gili Islands, with established centres and courses.
- Coral gardens and fish-filled reefs: Raja Ampat.
- Mantas and dramatic underwater terrain: Komodo.
- Unusual creatures and macro photography: Lembeh Strait.
- Walls and turtles: Bunaken.
- A stay focused on reefs and macro life: Wakatobi.
Our planning tip: one region usually makes a more satisfying short trip. Flights, road journeys and boat transfers can consume valuable diving days.
In this page you will find more detailed information about scuba diving in Indonesia.
Table of contents
Best Dive Review
Bali: wrecks, reefs and volcanic shores
The coral-encrusted USAT Liberty at Tulamben pairs naturally with time around Amed, while Menjangan offers reef walls. Around Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan, manta encounters and seasonal sunfish attract divers, but conditions can be more demanding.
A useful planning detail: your dive base. Staying close to your chosen sites makes a different holiday from long daily transfers across Bali.
Raja Ampat: look in every direction
Schooling fish above the reef, intricate corals below and tiny creatures in the details: Raja Ampat rewards an unhurried approach. Island stays and liveaboards offer different ways to explore.
A useful planning detail: the itinerary. Resorts explore their surrounding area; cruises can connect more distant island groups. Transfers through Sorong and the sites realistically reached from the chosen base shape the available diving time.
Komodo: mantas, pinnacles and changing currents
Komodo combines coral gardens, manta encounters and dramatic underwater terrain. Day boats from Labuan Bajo and liveaboards both explore the park. Northern, central and southern sites can have very different conditions.
A useful planning detail: experience and tides. An itinerary matched to recent experience is more useful than a list of famous site names.
Lembeh Strait: slow down and look closer
Muck diving means searching sandy or silty habitats for small, well-camouflaged animals. A seemingly empty seabed can reveal frogfish, unusual octopuses, cuttlefish and nudibranchs. A patient guide and careful buoyancy make all the difference.
A useful planning detail: creature watching and macro photography. Its appeal is the small detail rather than a coral panorama on every dive.
Bunaken: walls, turtles and blue water
The reef’s contours, passing turtles and life tucked into ledges give each wall its own character. Pairing Bunaken with Lembeh gives a North Sulawesi trip both wide-angle scenery and macro detail.
A useful planning detail: your base and transfers via Manado. The accommodation’s road and boat arrangements determine how smoothly the two bases connect.
Gili Islands and Wakatobi: two different island stays
The Gilis suit travellers combining diving, courses and island time. Wakatobi appeals to divers building a trip around reefs and macro life. Boat diving, house-reef access and suitable sites vary between operators.
Looking further afield? Pulau Weh, Alor and the Banda Sea offer more possibilities. They work best as distinct trips, with their own seasons, transport and experience requirements.
Photo credit: Original photograph on Flickr.
Six dive-site reference points
This separate map places a selection of named sites in their geographical context. It is not an exhaustive list, a promised cruise programme or a guide for use underwater.
- USAT Liberty, Bali (-8.27396, 115.59307): Coral-covered wreck reached from Tulamben; shore entry conditions matter. Local operator listing via PADI.
- Manta Point, Nusa Penida (-8.79547, 115.52553): An exposed cleaning-station site; access depends on favourable sea conditions. Local operator listing via PADI.
- Batu Bolong, Komodo (-8.53608, 119.61399): A fish-filled pinnacle where current and the guide’s route choice are important. Local operator listing via PADI.
- Cape Kri, Raja Ampat (-0.55627, 130.69074): A reef reference in the Dampier Strait; actual dive plans depend on conditions. Local operator listing via PADI.
- Blue Magic, Raja Ampat (-0.50953, 130.74795): An offshore reef reference near Kri and Mioskon. Local operator listing via PADI.
- Mioskon, Raja Ampat (-0.49742, 130.72699): An island-reef reference for the central Raja Ampat area. Local operator listing via PADI.
Approximate reference positions, checked 9 November 2026.
How to dive Indonesia?
Liveaboard or land-based diving?
A resort or local dive centre suits a flexible schedule, courses, time ashore or a holiday with non-divers. Bali, the Gilis, Bunaken and Lembeh are useful starting points. Raja Ampat and Komodo also have land-based options.
A liveaboard comes into its own when diving is the main purpose of the trip and you want access across a wider area. The actual route, number of diving days, cabins and experience requirements are the useful points of comparison. Two cruises in the same region can offer very different holidays.
Explore Indonesia liveaboard itineraries and availability. This is an affiliate link; Divezone may earn a commission if you book through it.
Three ways to build your trip
- About one week: one Bali dive base. Tulamben or Amed can leave time for local exploration and a relaxed departure.
- About 10 days: Bunaken and Lembeh. Reef walls and macro diving share the holiday, with a transfer day in between.
- About two weeks: Raja Ampat or Komodo. A resort stay or cruise forms the centre of the holiday, with travel buffers and time ashore.
These are suggested trip shapes, not fixed schedules. Transfer days and the applicable no-fly interval after the final dives determine which flights fit.
Budget for the complete trip
Accommodation, meals, dives, equipment rental, park or conservation fees, transfers, Nitrox and any single-cabin supplement all affect the total. Written inclusions and cancellation conditions make two offers easier to compare.
Boat choices with different strengths
Moana offers a smaller Komodo-focused setting; Cheng Ho has two single cabins within a larger phinisi layout; Pindito has a broad expedition programme and Nitrox included. The individual reviews explain cabin choices, dated budget examples and the limits of each published programme.
Indonesia liveaboard itinerary examples
These evidenced route families show how different an Indonesian cruise can be. They draw on the Mermaid programme reviewed for our boat profiles; other operators use different ports, stops and durations. Reverse departures also occur. Lines are schematic connections, not navigation tracks or guaranteed dives.
| Route family | Ordered regional stops | Travel implication |
|---|---|---|
| Raja Ampat | Sorong → Misool → Dampier Strait → Sorong | A regional loop; which island groups fit depends on trip length. |
| Bali–Komodo loop | Benoa, Bali → Saleh Bay → Komodo → Bali | An extended cruise rather than a Labuan Bajo day boat. |
| Bali–Komodo–Maumere | Benoa, Bali → Saleh Bay → Komodo → Maumere | Different start and finish ports. |
| Banda–Raja crossing | Ambon → Banda Islands → Misool → Sorong | A crossing with two different flight gateways. |
| Ring of Fire | Maumere → Alor → Banda Islands → Ambon | A regional expedition; daily sites depend on conditions. |
| Maumere–Raja crossing | Maumere → Alor → Banda Islands → Misool → Sorong | A longer journey across several distinct regions. |
| Halmahera crossing | Lembeh / Bitung → Halmahera → Sorong | Broad regional connections, not exact daily tracks. |
| Togian loop | Lembeh / Bitung → Togian Islands → Lembeh / Bitung | Special programme rather than a universal weekly departure. |
| Forgotten Islands special | Sorong → Dampier Strait → Misool → Koon → Manuk → Nil Desperandum → Serua → Banda → Ambon | An expedition example; island sequence is itinerary-specific. |
Programme reviewed 9 November 2026; operator itineraries and transfer arrangements. The exact sailing determines the ports and included stops.
The route table remains available without the map.
A glimpse of a Komodo cruise
Christopher Pen’s film from Mermaid I’s 2–11 July 2026 trip, featured in the operator’s trip report. It shows one journey, not guaranteed sightings on a future cruise.
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.
Best time to dive in Indonesia
There is no single best season for all of Indonesia. Favourable months in Raja Ampat differ from the usual dry-season window in Bali and Komodo.
- Bali: May to November is a useful planning window, with diving possible year-round. Around Nusa Penida, August to October is commonly targeted for sunfish. Sightings are never guaranteed.
- Komodo: April to November generally suits many central and northern itineraries. Diving also operates in wetter months; routes change with sea conditions.
- Raja Ampat: October to April is a common window for calmer seas and liveaboard trips. Some land-based diving continues outside this period; check the specific resort and island group.
- Bunaken: April to October is generally drier. Diving is possible throughout the year, subject to local conditions.
- Lembeh: macro diving is a year-round attraction. Dates can be tailored with the operator when particular animals or photography goals matter.
- Gilis, Wakatobi and remote regions: seasonal advice and transfer schedules depend on the exact base.
Rainfall, sea state, visibility and wildlife activity are different things. Sunshine does not guarantee calm water, and plankton-rich water can bring memorable encounters.
Seasonal references: PADI’s guides to Bali, Komodo, Raja Ampat and North Sulawesi. Current local conditions can differ from these seasonal tendencies.
Top liveaboards in Indonesia according to divers reviews
Dive courses
Bali and the Gili Islands offer many options for learning to dive. The instructor and teaching conditions matter as much as the destination.
- Trying diving: a supervised introductory experience starts with skills and suitable water conditions.
- Getting certified: theory, confined-water practice and open-water training all need time, with room for weather or extra practice.
- Returning after a break: a refresher can help make a later, more demanding itinerary enjoyable.
- Building skills: buoyancy, drift diving and photography training can each add something different to the trip.
Instructor credentials, teaching language, group size, equipment, materials and certification fees are useful questions for the course quotation. The choice of training sites should reflect the students and conditions. A certification card alone does not make a diver ready for every current-swept site.
Scuba Diving conditions
- Currents: can change sharply with tide and location. Komodo and Nusa Penida deserve particular attention when choosing a trip. Recent experience and comfort level help the guide choose an appropriate dive.
- Temperature: many reefs are warm, but upwellings around Nusa Penida and parts of Komodo can make dives much cooler. Recent route-specific temperatures are more useful for wetsuit choice than a national average.
- Visibility: varies with rainfall, plankton, tides and seabed. Clear-water reef diving and close-up muck photography call for different expectations.
- Entries and exits: shore diving may involve rocks or surf; boat diving may involve moving water. The planned entry and exit need to suit the diver, not just the depth on the briefing.
- Difficulty: certification, recent practice and the day’s conditions all matter. One destination can contain both sheltered and demanding sites.
For remote trips, emergency oxygen, communications and evacuation arrangements belong in the planning conversation. Insurance cover needs to match the diving and location.
For one regional benchmark, PADI lists 26–29°C (79–84°F) for North Sulawesi. That range should not be carried across to cooler upwellings around Nusa Penida or southern Komodo. Visibility also differs sharply between clear-water walls and silty macro sites; recent operator reports are more useful than a single Indonesia-wide figure.
Reference: PADI North Sulawesi.
Snorkelling in Indonesia
You do not need scuba equipment to enjoy Indonesia’s reefs. Amed, Menjangan, the Gilis, Bunaken and parts of Raja Ampat offer options for mixed groups of divers and snorkellers.
The individual site makes the difference. Sheltered water, easy entry, boat traffic, supervision and a clear return route shape the experience. A boat visiting deep or current-swept dive sites may not suit snorkelling.
For a family trip, included snorkelling and a dedicated guide are useful details to establish with the operator. Manta excursions require suitable sea conditions and should never involve chasing animals.
Photo credit: Original photograph on Flickr.
Travelling with a non-diver?
Cheng Ho welcomes snorkellers and lists a snorkelling guide and offered excursions; a current non-diver discount was not verified. Ondina publishes a 15% non-diver reduction, subject to the quoted fare and conditions. These are vessel-specific examples, not a fleet-wide rule. Long crossings and exposed dive sites can limit swimming or time ashore, so an island stay may suit companions better than a dive-intensive expedition.
Fishes and Coral
Indonesia’s appeal lies in the variety of habitats: coral gardens, steep walls, volcanic sand and open-water passages. Each rewards a different way of looking. These six familiar characters are drawn from the site’s credited Indonesian photo collection.
Reef manta ray
Cleaning stations around Nusa Penida, Komodo and Raja Ampat offer a chance of encounters; access and sightings vary.
Photo: Jihye Lee
Sunfish
A seasonal highlight around Nusa Penida, often associated with cooler water. A sighting is a bonus, not a booking guarantee.
Photo: Jihye Lee
Frogfish
Camouflage makes these patient hunters a rewarding find on macro dives.
Photo: Jihye Lee
Mandarinfish
A colourful reef resident whose small size rewards an unhurried approach.
Photo: Rich Guest
Seahorse
This Lembeh photograph shows how much life can hide in the detail of a macro-diving habitat.
Photo: Agnes Tjandranegara
Anemonefish
A familiar face on Indonesian reefs, with behaviour that can be as absorbing as a larger encounter.
Photo: Jihye Lee
Small habits that protect the reef
Good buoyancy and tidy equipment leave space between the diver and the reef. Wildlife encounters are most rewarding when animals can carry on undisturbed, without touching, feeding, chasing or repositioning them for a photograph. On muck dives, staying clear of the bottom also keeps sediment from settling over tiny animals.
Reef condition varies between sites and over time. Recent local reports add context that a beautiful historical photograph cannot provide.
Diving Safety
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.
Indonesia diving: practical questions
Where should I go on my first trip?
Bali is a useful starting point for combining diving with time ashore. The Gilis are another option for a course and island stay. The chosen centre can match suitable sites to the diver.
Do I need a liveaboard?
No. Many regions can be explored from shore-based accommodation. A cruise is most useful when its route, schedule and access to distant sites suit the holiday.
Can I combine Bali, Komodo and Raja Ampat?
With enough time, yes. But island-hopping adds flights, transfers and days without diving. For a shorter holiday, exploring one region well is usually more rewarding.
Can I count on seeing mantas or sunfish?
No wild encounter is guaranteed. Suitable places and seasons improve the possibilities, while the reef and its smaller inhabitants provide plenty to enjoy.
What should I check before booking?
The route, required experience, full cost, transfers, equipment, cancellation terms and emergency procedures all belong in the booking details, along with a buffer for travel delays.
Help another diver plan their next adventure
Have you dived in Indonesia? Share your experience below: where you went, the month, your dive centre or boat, the conditions and one thing you would do differently. Specific, recent advice helps other divers plan a better trip.
Guide checked 9 November 2026. Regional conditions and operator programmes vary; original photo credits and reader experiences are retained.
Photos Indonesia
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Clown fishes waiting in front of their blue anemone housePhoto by Jihye Lee
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Beautiful & Colorful Mandarin FishPhoto by Rich Guest
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Yellow Seahorse in Lembeh StraitPhoto by Agnes Tjandranegara
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Blue Nudibranch in Lembeh StraitPhoto by Rich Guest -
Mola Mola And Moorish IdolPhoto by Jihye Lee
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Flying Ray Manta in Bali!Photo by Jihye Lee
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Lion Fish swimming in crystal clear waterPhoto by Agnes Tjandranegara -
FrogfishPhoto by Jihye Lee
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Surreal LifePhoto by Jihye Lee -
Beautiful Black Orange Nudibranch On Colorful ReefPhoto by Agnes Tjandranegara
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.
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!
Pemuteran, Lovina
Pemuteran combines shore-access restoration reefs, short boat dives and rewarding macro excursions. Lovina is a separate north-coast base; Puri Jati and Secret Bay offer a different, sand-and-critter diving day.
Padang Bai
Padang Bai rewards close looking: sandy slopes, reef fish and tiny macro subjects near Blue Lagoon and Jepun, with more demanding offshore dives available when conditions suit.
Nusa Penida / Nusa Lembongan
Manta cleaning stations, seasonal sunfish and lively coral drifts make Penida and Lembongan memorable. The best dive is the one matched to the current, swell and experience of the group.
Menjangan Island
Menjangan’s reef shelves and coral-covered walls reward unhurried diving and snorkelling from mainland bases in northwest Bali. Clear water and sea fans are part of the appeal, with profiles and site choices matched to conditions and experience.
Candidasa
Candidasa’s offshore islets offer dramatic walls, schooling fish and reef-shark encounters, with seasonal sunfish possibilities. Strong, changeable currents make Tepekong, Mimpang and Biaha outings for suitably experienced divers and careful local planning.
Bali
Bali brings together the coral-covered Liberty wreck, east-coast macro life and the manta encounters and seasonal sunfish of Nusa Penida. Shore dives and drift dives suit different experience levels; currents, colder upwellings and the chosen base shape the trip.
Amed
Amed combines volcanic-sand macro dives, shallow reef gardens, artificial reefs and deeper walls. Shore entries and short jukung trips make a rewarding east-Bali base, with sites chosen for experience and conditions rather than a promise of current-free diving.
Liveaboard Reviews in Indonesia
MS Wellenreng
The 22 meters MS Wellenreng is a charter liveaboard sailing around the thousands of islands in Indonesia. The beautiful traditional Indonesian phinisi sails to world renowned destinations such as Komodo, Raja Ampat and Alor. . Boat Cabins & Layout
KLM Sea Safari VI
Indonesia · A smaller phinisi with a changing island programme
MV Black Manta Diving
MV Black Manta: archived boat profile This page describes the former White Manta Fleet vessel, not a confirmed current booking offer. Black Manta was sold and left that fleet. We have not confirmed its current name, operator or future departures. Our o
Mutiara Laut
The 46 meters Mutiara Laut is a five stars liveaboard cruising the waters of Indonesia. Built in 2009/2010, the wooden hulled vessel has launched from the Kalimantan province and now sails mostly to Komodo and Raja Ampat. . Boat Cabins & Layout The
SY Adelaar
Designed with luxury and comfort in mind, the 39 meters Adelaar is a liveaboard sailing in Indonesia. Finished in 2011, this classic-looking schooner is cruising exclusively the Komodo area. Perfect for smaller groups, the dive boat is equipped with al
Arenui
The Arenui Liveaboard is a traditionnal wooden Phinisi, navigating year round in Indonesia. Since the vessel follows the seasons of Raja Ampat and Komodo, it offers the best diving conditions possible. You can check the availability and prices for this
Alila Purnama
The Alila Purnama liveaboard is simply the best of the bests, in Indonesia but also everywhere else. Indeed, this 46 meters traditional wooden Phinisi is a 6 stars floating hotel. Yes you read correctly, 5 stars would not make it justice. Forget about
Manta Mae
The 30 meters Manta Mae is a liveaboard built in 2014 which sails in Indonesia. Indeed, with destinations such as Komodo and Raja Ampat, this dive boat is sure to impress with it’s traditional phinisi style and lavish accommodations! . BOAT CABINS
Tiaré Cruise
The Tiaré Cruise is a luxury liveaboard operating in Indonesia. The construction of the boat finished in 2016, lauching the boat soon after to explore areas like Komodo, Raja Ampat, but also Flores, Alor, the Forgotten Islands and the Banda Sea. The Ti
MV Samambaia
MV Samambaia is a beautiful looking vessel from the fleet of Samambaia Komodo Liveaboards. Travelling the waters of Indonesia to the very best diving locations, she is designed with comfort and safety in mind. Indonesia itself is located in the
Tulamben is great for beginners. It’s a fantatic experience to dive the US Liberty Wreck just off the beach. Good marine life including sharks. Tulamben is also not so expensive and easily accessible by road from South Bali.
I completely agree with you Tempo Dulu. I did my Open Water Advanced on the Liberty Wreck in Bali and it was amazing. This is I think one of the of top 3 best wreck dives in the World.
I dived on the Liberty wreck in December and it really was a fantastic experience. The wreck is easily accessible from the beach and on your way from the shore to the wreck you swim through fantastic eel garden. Marine life is really very good. I have not seen sharks, but saw one giant turtle, which looked amazing swimming among the ship debris.
it was fun RRRRRRIIIIIIGHHHT
Hi Everybody, the auto reply to my email asked that I post my question on the blog, so I hope this is the right place! I’ll be in Indonesia for work, with the opportunity to dive 2 days while staying in Nusa Dua. I’m hoping you have some recommendations on diving and dive shops in/near Nusa Dua. I’m not keen to take a long bumpy boat trip, which is what people describe from that area, but am excited to do some good diving. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance! S.
I went there recently and made a load of dive videos if anyone wants to check them out: LINK REMOVED, this links to my scubatopia.co.uk youtube page that I just set up a couple of days ago. I hope you like them!
Snorkellers head to Amed! Relaxing laidback beach, easy access, amazing underwater life. You can spend hours there!
If you like to deep dive, Bunaken in Manado Sulawesi is good choice, since mostly dive spot in Bunaken is wall…
I’m really satisfied to dive overthere, especially with the best dive center I’m doing with, is Larascasse Dive center.
Mansinum Cross Wreck, Manokwari, Papua. The Cross wreck site is a 40m long Japanese patrol boat lying on sand bottom at 19m depth, just outside a large concrete cross standing on Pulau Mansinum, Manokwari, Papua. Various colorful hard & soft corals, crinoids, starfish, angelfish, butterflyfish, trumpetfish, yellow-back fusilier, and other reef fish were spotted. Visibility is good (over 10m). Sometimes the current is strong during the low tide.
In late March my husband Stephen and I went on the MV Black Manta Komodo trip. We had dived Raja Amput the previous year and so our expectations were high. We were not disappointed. The liveaboard was comfortable and well managed but the diving was sublime. The crew did everything to make my life easier as jave has a previous back injury and have to be handed all the heavy gear in the water or on the dingy. The currents were a bit stronger than in RA. One day at a site called Manta Alley we saw eight huge manta rays swimming about and then the stopped and seemed to freeze in the water as the smaller fish cleaned them. One of those wonderous and humbling moments a diver relishes. Thoroughly Recommended.
Hi
Thanks for that info.
My wife and I had planned a trip to Palau next year, but overcrowded comments and Japanese and US divers have put us of.
Being Brits living in NZ and now having dived over forty different countries we are into Nudi’s.
Dived Uepi again in Sept so need something special and maybe a liveaboard is best option so thanks for your comments
I love Nudis as well I have logged over 1000 dives in Indonesia and worked on livaboards in Raja Ampat and Komodo
For Nudis my favorite place has been Sangeang Api above Sumbawa amazing diving on an active Volcano it’s the one you can see smoking from North Komodo so many types of Nudis, pigmy seahorses, frogfish
Also s favorite is diving around Amed and Tulumben Gili Selang, Soraya, Melasti and Sidem
hey I’m going to Bali next week-end for diving. Any recommendations? :))
my last dives were in the Mediterranean, in Turkey Kas, Kas (Kalkan), Cesme, Adrasan. Warm water and good visibility
Hope you’ll enjoy diving in Bali. I visited there twice & did diving in Tulamben (USS liberty wreck), Padangbai & Nusa Dua. Not bad, & saw many fishes. You may contact my dive guide in Denpasar, Agus Sumanjaya (PADI instructor, mobile phone: (62)818362900, email: sumanjaya08@yahoo.com), &/or contact Baliku Holiday (mob. phone: (62)81999004554, info@balikuholiday.com). I run Hotel Mangga in Manokwari, West Papua, where has excellent wreck dive sites. My hotel also has diving & tour service. If you’re interested to visit here, please feel free to contact info@mangga-hotel.com. Cheers!
been to amed last week and stayed at Puri Wirata. Amed is good for beginner divers with diverse ecosystem, calm water, and its good for relaxing. It was a great escape! I recommend puri wirata for those planning to go to Amed, with great service, good food, clean rooms, very nice dive masters and equipments.
Hi julian i dived bali last august to september last year with my wife christine and brother in law and sister in law ian kerry . we started of with a 10 day safari with blue seasons bali .,the trip was well organised and accomodation was great, we started in north and dived singaraja, menjangen kubu,amed and tulamben. once we finnished the safari we returned to sanur for a couple of days before heading of to padangbai to dive with a small outfit geko dive, whom i must say were a well organised outfit small and very freindly ,with geko we dived mimpang ,tepekong,crystal bay and of coarse manta point,we also did local sites as well .we will be returning this year for a lot longer trip and would like to highly recomend team geko cederic and liv and all the crew will welcome you all with open arms and make sure your trip will be a special adventure,well on that if you get there before us have a bintang for us Cheers
Very pleased you enjoy the trip in Indonesia. Just come back to Indonesia, and find other beautiful places that you should visit and stay. Maybe http://www.jakpost.travel could be a good recommendation for you to find another interesting destinations in Indonesia
Just back from a week diving in Komodo National Park; the best sites we have ever visited. Batu Bolong, Manta Alley, Crystal Rock and Castle Rock were amazing for the profusion of species and the size of inhabitants, turtles, mantas, sharks, giant trevally, dog-tooth tuna, massive schools of sweetlip and coral that seems healthy and colourful. Strong currents, but if you are fairly experienced and choose a good dive company, it is the experience of a lifetime. We chose Divine Diving in Labuan Bajo and we thank them for a look into one of the world’s best sites. Planning to return in June/July.
Hello,
I will be in Jakarta for a weekend and was wondering if anyone could tell me what the best dive site is to squeeze in for one day.
Thanks in advance for your help,
Mike
Hi Mike,
You can check out Dive Centers based in Jakarta. I’m sure they are offering dives in nearby sites.
Myself & a friend are going to Indonesia for 10 weeks. We are both Open Water but fairly experience (both > 50 dives) and have already dived Vietnam, Thailand, Barrier Reef & Egypt.
When we were on the GBR some dive operators offered to let you live on the boat / free dives in return for helping with the cooking, cleaning for other paying customers etc. Does anyone know if a similar scheme exists in Indonesia?
Hi Adam!
I actually don’t know of any dive operators, who does that. But we’ll let you know once we know of some operators who does that arrangement.
Hello Adam,
Are you still here in Indonesia? If you want to find great dive sites, the place to go is Bali!
I am also not aware of such services that you mention, however you should take note that here in Bali, Mola Mola season is just about to start ! It will be worth the trip! You have an option to go with dive safari, such as written here : http://www.baliocean.com/en/dive_safaris.blueseason
It is really a pity if you have come so far to Indonesia, and never visit this place, and see sunfishes..
This is a really inlegtilent way to answer the question.
Hi! I am planning a trip to the GBR and I would love to do something like this to cut down on costs! What was the company that you did this through??
Kaitlyn
hey kaitlyn,
I was on a boat out on the GBR (departed from Cairns) last week and did exactly that volunteering/hosting. The company’s called Divers Den (don’t now about other company’s offering that). You’re on the boat for 4 days/4 nights and you can do up to 4 dives a day (only 2 on both first and last day) (including night dives and, if you’re lucky, even a flouro dive for free which was one of the best experiences I’ve ever made so far..). The work schedule is quite tough though if you choose to go for all the 4 dives per day but it’s worth it, especially the night and flouro dives. Inlcuded is accommodation (but don’t expect to get a room like the passengers), 3 meals a day + all the dive gear you need. Very good to improve your dive skills in a short time and to safe some money because diving here on the GBR is quite expensive..but before you can do the liveaboard hosting, you need to do at least one day trip hosting on one of their vessels and purchase a crew shirt for 35AUD, but still the value you get is worth it..the dive sites are propably not the world’s best but there’s still a lot to explore
Just visited Amed, with my son and my wife, we dove everyday for two weeks, including Tulamben wreck, wall and coral wall, we dove the wall and pyramids at Jemeluk, Japanese wreck, To Nusa Penida, Mantas and of course the Mola Mola. We had a great time, we dove with Ecodive, based in Amed. A Canadian owner, John, extremely nice, professional person with absolutely the greatest and polite staff. I completed SSI Dive Guide and Divemaster with them, and have decided to return for DCS and Instructor. The diving was great, couldn’t keep my 14 year old son out of the water, he finished with over 30 dives in the two weeks, he dove mainly with the dive guide Ketut very pleasant, and my son absolutely loved diving with him, almost like a big brother. Great trip….. If in Amed check out Ecodive.
Dived Islands round Komodo in July on Damai 11 Livaboard
found the diving pretty good although we were restricted to certain areas due to supposed bad weather in the areas we would have liked to dive.
The boat once great for space and just 9 divers was so expensive and we are sure we could have dived with another boat for a lot less and seen more.
Would like to dive thearea again as parts were pretty cool.
Maybe being just going for diving the super Over the top boat and price was wasted on us.
We gave overall trip 6/10
Beautiful pictures, it really makes you want to go scuba diving in Indonesia.
Indonesia Dangerously Beautiful! Definitely agree with you, Indonesia has many beautiful places to dive (dive spot) as you have mentioned before like in Weh Island (Sumatera), Bali Island, Gili’s Island (Lombok), Komodo Island, Bunaken (Celebes), Wakatobi (Celebes) and also Raja Ampat (Papua). Indonesia also has many other beautiful dive spots like Bangka Island, Banda Island, Alor (Mollucas), Derawan Archipelago (Borneo) and many more.
just done my PADI certification last week at Tulamben. As a beginner i find the location is just perfect!. The beach located right in front of the hotel – Puri Madha which is just 20 meters away .. calm current .. really good ! for those who brings small kids .. you can leave them play at the pool while diving, they can see you before you descend ..
I am an Advance OWD with 210 immersions, from Guayaquil, Ecuador
I was diving for a week in Bali on April 2012, at the Crystal Divers Shop.
They have a nice dive shop and accommodations with their own pool for classes and refreshment. They have fair prices and an excellent group of instructors and master divers.
I was in the group of Amin, a local instructor that has the magic to find mola mola, mantarays, sharks and all kind of those peculiar species on the reefs of Bali.
Pandang Bay is very nice to start with; Candidasa requires an Advanced OWD training; Nusa Penida/Lenbungam/ Manta Point is the best place, specially at Crystal Point; and finally Tulamben for all kind of divers that enjoy shore diving.
With Crystal Divers you can do 2 or 3 dives a day, including night dives.
What I find so inttieserng is you could never find this anywhere else.
Nice Post about diving in Indonesia, In this beautiful picture,the viewer will really try to have diving with that place.
Ambon/’Global Dive Center’
Originally Posted by hughrster View Post
A dozen of us tried to visit Ambon last year with John Edward Sidjibat of Global Diving. Paid $1000 deposit, then could not get any response from him or Blue Rose. With only a week or so to go before flying out we had to divert to Manado – Bunaken – where we had some splendid diving.
Our John eventually got back to us, and promised to refund the deposit. More foot dragging, then he promised 75% refund because his business was suffering from bad debts. This has now gone on for a year.
Does anyone know about either Mr Sidjibat or Blue Rose? Do they really exist or is it a scam?
Thanks in advance for any info.
One reply from France:
Yes I have had some mails with that Mr.John Sidjibat who was at some time uselessly taking care of Blue Rose Marketing. At the time he started to interfere into my relationships with Blue Rose i knew that was over. To put it simple, this guy is highly unreliable and a joke : his only use was to inflate the prices and intriduce more chaos into the organization, so that I was at one day waiting at Laha wharf for my diveboat that never came.
I suggest you complain to the owner of Blue Rose, M.Augustinus Tanumiharjo. PM me if you want the mails.
If anyone has more and better particulars, please post.
Thanks
Hughrster
Me and my wife did a few dives with Bali Scuba.. Did the wreck dive at tulamben , USS Liberty and also the Tulamben wall drop .. Simply amazing .. The wreck is still very intact and the visibility is good.. Really recommend all to check out this 2 dive spots .. The current is not that strong however the shore entry was a bit tough as we experience strong waves on that day. But other that that it was a great dive.. A lot of colorful fishes n sea snakes and if your lucky you will get to see a huge school of yellow fishes , prob in the hundreds.
The next day we tried our luck with manta ray and mola mola but we were unlucky as the water was a bit warm..got to check out BaliScuba as they are great n wonderful guides..
Have been to Pulau Weh 2 weeks ago (with Rupiah Titra Dive Centre). Lovely weather, nice people, great experience. Although the current there is a bit stronger than my other experience, but with the experienced dive guards (Isfan & Mun Nandar) there we saw variety of creatures, from micro to huge guys. Thanks to the great experience and im planning to visit there every year.
Interesting posts. Indonesia is a maritime country with many islands and straits around him. This country certainly has a lot of spots for scuba diving. very interesting to know. because this activity is quite fun and thrilling. nice post. thanks.
I love Indonesian people visited dive sites
et qu’il fallait néanmoins leur envoyer des colis.On l’a oublié auh&urdorsquo;jui mais la question du ravitaillement occupait les esprits de façon obsessionnelle en ces temps. Vichy a réussi à nous éviter des famines mortelles. Ce ne fut pas le cas partout.
Hi, I wish to make a solo diving trip to Indonesia for 1 week or so. But am on a real tight budget. I have dived in Pulau Weh which is real value for money.
Was wondering if there’s any cheap & good dive centers (or LOB) in Indonesia that you can recommend? Lombok?
FYI the likes of Raja Ampat or anywhere in Sulawesi is currently WAY OUT of budget for me.
Thanking you in advance !
Cheers
Bluelagoon
Hello,
I’m a fairly new diver (25 dives) trying to decide between going to Palau and Sulawesi in May.
Do you have any advice?
Thank you
Hi,
Trying to plan a dive trip in Indonesia in March second half this year. I’d have about 8 days, could you please recommend a few dive sites for (very excited) beginners? Thanks!
I am going on a live aboard departing Sarong on December 6. I am very confused as far as flights and timing are concerned. I can leave from JFK, I just need to be in Sarong on December 6. I know there are many routes, I am looking for the most expedient and economical routes. Although I am carrying my dive equipment so those airlines that do not have 20kg. limits are preferred. Can you suggest any travel agencies that could be of help?
If you are a beginner and you want to do a snorkeling, you can try to snorkel in Pulau Tidung. And if you want to dive and you are a beginer try to dive in Tulamben. It will make you feel great!
There is new recently discovered jewel in diving at Una Una Volcano.
Full of fishes and whole healthy coral ecosystem.
Highly remote but really worth the visit. now there is airport service to 1 hour away only.
Sanctum Una Una is the only resort providing diving service there
Nice little article. It reminds me that with all the SEO work going on these days, when you learned HTML by hand you knew you had to use the title tags, the meta keywords and the meta description tags. I like how you have specifically labelled a magic number for low competition. I’ll look forward to reading more from you Paul.
We want 2 deep sea driver.
1.mechanical fitter nos -01
2.Normal deep sea driver nos-01
This work will be done bay of Bengal of Bangladesh at Chittagong.
Information
1. Monthly total expenses (salary & other).
2. Visa processing system.
3, Terms & condition.
pls let me know immediately.
Thanks
Md. Siddiqur Rahman
Mobile : +8801920614297
Dhaka,Bangladesh
I wish I could share my pictures from diving in Raja Ampat here! The colors are mesmerizing and oh the varieties! My company do liveabord trip for 7 days with as much dives as possible. Heaven on earth! LINK REMOVED
I’ve made some dive videos of Indonesia and put them online, they’re on Scubatopia.co.uk
I went to Amed in Bali, Gili T and Komodo recently and made a load of dive videos if anyone wants to check them out: LINK REMOVED, this links to my scubatopia.co.uk youtube page that I just set up a couple of days ago. I hope you like them!
Thanks for such a great article.This motivates me to do scuba diving again and again.I have done scuba diving with Gomantak scuba.Only PADI dive centre in malvan,maharashtra.It was great experience with them.Dream to dive in Indonesia once in my life. LINK REMOVED
Hello John! I’m happy you had a great experience and that you love scuba diving. That said, please note that the comment section is not for link promotion and that it’s more useful to fellow scuba divers if you review and give tips on destinations which the page your commenting on is about. This page is about diving in Indonesia, but the dive center you mention is Indian. Hope this helps for future comments. Safe bubbles!