Waktobi

Tukang Besi Archipelago, south eastern Sulawesi

Rising from the depths of the Banda Sea, the main islands of Wangi, Kaledupa, Tomea, Binongki - WaKaToBi - dish up large portions of all the world's reef types - fringing, atoll and barrier - and are served with lashings of healthy corals and dense schools of fish. Jacques Cousteau was sufficiently moved to claim this area the finest diving site in the world.

Wakatobi is one of the newest and most exciting diving destinations in Indonesia, winning extraordinary praise from its visitors both for outstanding and accessible diving and the quality of service they receive from the dive operation.

The reefs for Wakatobi diving are unlike others in the region because of the dry climate and uplifted limestone or, in other words, fossilised reefs. This means there is an exceptionally clean environment due to the lack of soil erosion.

Being a national park, fishing is strictly limited and the reefs are protected, meaning plenty of action for you the diver. Local fishing communities obtain a fair share of the income generated by dive tourism in exchange for adopting more sustainable practices, such as leaving large stretches of reef completely untouched. Other contributions go towards education and strengthening local support for the marine park.

Word is beginning to spread about Wakatobi but it is still relatively new. Indeed there are even new sites out there waiting to be discovered, particularly in the outer atolls which are virtually untouched. Dive in and discover the animal attractions here in the Banda Sea.

Wakatobi Diving Season

March to December is the season for scuba diving in Wakatobi. This applies to both the resort vacations and to liveaboard safaris. July and August bring rich plankton blooms and their attendant big marine animals, but also cooler water and lower visibility.

The water temperature varies quite a bit here. This is a quick guide: October maximum of 30°C, the latter half of August minimum of 25°C, March until May the temperature averages 28°C, June, July and September are between 26 to 27°C, October 28 to 30°C November to March averages 28°C. In other words for 99% of the year, the temperature ranges between 26 - 29°C.

Wakatobi Reef Basics

Great for: Small animals, underwater photography, reef life and health and visibility
Not so great for: Wrecks and non-diving activities
Depth: 5 - >40m
Visibility: 15 - 80m
Currents: Gentle
Surface Conditions: Calm
Water Temperature: 26 - 29°C
Experience Level: Beginner - advanced
Number of dive sites: >50
Distance: 1,020 km north east of Bali (2½ hours)
Access: Wakatobi dive resorts and liveaboards
Recommended length of stay: 7 - 11 days

Source : www.divetheworldindonesia.com

Bangka

The island of Bangka, with its rolling hills of green fields and forests, and the nearby islands of Gangga and Talise offer over 25 dive sites with fringing reef slopes and pinnacles carpeted in soft corals.

Sahaung on the east coast is a very well thought of Bangka scuba diving spot and for very good reason. The row of underwater boulder pinnacles that just break the surface here form giant steps underwater. This is a drift dive that requires a negatively buoyant entry, as waves can be present at the surface at drop off and pick up points.

As you descend down the pinnacles you will marvel at the proliferation of green and golden brown soft corals, huge elephant ear sponges, dense thickets of branching green cup coral and table corals. There are carpets of frilled leather corals and pink, brown, cream and lilac soft coral trees swaying in the shallow surge.

At the same time swarming all around you are redtooth triggerfish, midnight snappers, blue-striped snappers and long-fin bannerfish. Fish soup! If you are not sufficiently enthralled by this, then the site may also throw in teira batfish, pygmy seahorses, frogfish, harlequin sweetlips, palette surgeonfish and perhaps a whitetip reef shark or two might put in a guest appearance. "Breathtaking" and "awesome" are oft-used words on the boat after this Bangka dive.

Batu Mandi is just off the Sulawesi mainland, opposite Bangka, and consists of a large rock jutting out of the surface, forming a steep slope. As you work your way along the wall here you will see no shortage of pretty macro life including ornate ghost pipefish, lots of nudibranchs and if you are lucky some gorgeous mantis shrimps.

In addition to the abundant macro life, another major feature here are the colossal sea fans at around 20 m and on top of the reef a series of sea fans in hues of pink and red. At Batu Mandi there is no great variation in depth so diving here normally takes the form of a nice and easy shallow dive.

Bangka Diving Season

You can dive here all year round but the conditions do vary. March to June is dry season and the visibility is at its best. November to December is generally wet and July to October is windy, both having reduced visibility.

Liveaboard season in the Bangka area runs year round.

Reef Basics

Great for: Small animals, underwater photography, reef life and health, snorkelling and dive value-for-money
Not so great for: Wrecks, wall diving and non-diving activities
Depth: 5 - >40m
Visibility: 10 - 35m
Currents: Can be strong
Surface Conditions: Can be rough
Water Temperature: 27 - 30°C
Experience Level: Intermediate - advanced
Number of dive sites: >25
Distance: ~80 km north of Manado Bay (2¾ hours)
Access: Dive liveaboards
Recommended length of stay: 5 - 7 days

Source : www.divetheworldindonesia.com

Sangihe Archipelago

The Sangihe Archipelago is a chain of volcanic islands off the north east peninsula of North Sulawesi. Consisting of about forty volcanic islands some of which are over 1,500 metres high, the archipelago's waters are some of deepest in the world and deep-water currents bring plankton and nutrients from the deep. As a result the marine life at this Manado diving destination is incredibly rich and varied.

Drowned Village - Be the man (or woman) from Atlantis by diving what was once a thriving village. Word is this village slid beneath the waves during the horrendous 1963 earthquakes that occurred here. Sangihe Rocks? Well, it did and now you can drop down onto what were once fields and buildings where local folk went happily about their business before the disaster.

Feeling like an archeologist you cruise around through the numerous black corals and investigate the tunnels and doorways. Diving here amongst topography carved out by man's own hand stands in stark contrast to the norm of diving among nature's splendour and is definitely one you won't forget.

Diving just off the dormant volcano of Ruang Island always gets the thumbs up from those who have been here. There is something so impressive about the scale of things here that one cannot help but be in awe of this most unusual landscape, both above and below the waterline.

It is as if the Creator has put every shape, size and colour of sponge and crinoid here in this one spot. This provides a magnificent backdrop against which you can spot some of the many sharks, dogtooth tuna and extraordinarily large schools of barracuda that call this place home.

Sangihe Diving Season

You can dive at the Sangihe Archipelago all the year round but the conditions do vary from season to season. March to June is the best time as it's the dry season and the visibility is at its best. July to October can be windy, and November to December is generally wet; both seasons having less visibility.

Reef Basics

Great for: Small animals, large animals, reef life and health and dive value-for-money
Not so great for: Wall diving and non-diving activities
Depth: 15 - 40m
Visibility: 8 - 30m
Currents: Can be strong
Surface Conditions: Can be rough
Water Temperature: 26 - 30°C
Experience Level: Intermediate - advanced
Number of dive sites: >50
Distance: ~220 km north of Manado (11 hours)
Access: Manado liveaboards
Recommended length of stay: 5 - 7 days

Source : www.divetheworldindonesia.com

Teluk Kambahu

A manageable name for a site which translates as that of the local village bay. Another entry off the boat into shallow water will see you descend over a dark sandy bottom, sloping gently to 25 m. To dive here is to snoop through the rubble and in and around sunken bit of wood and nets. Your possible discoveries could run into ridiculous numbers.

Hopping along the floor with clawlike fins, a sea moth will probe with its long nose for food in the soft muddy bottom, levitating briefy to scout for territory. Helmut's flying gurnards glide slowly until they unfurl their fins like wings and streak down a sandy slope. Resplendent in art nouveau camouflage, leaf scorpionfish will yawn as you approach, confident in the effects of their deadly spines.

Normally we at Dive The World try to avoid boring you with lists of fish but the temptation here is too great. Apart from lots of wrasses, pufferfish, anemone fish and the more normal creatures you might encounter, here is a list of what you can expect to see on this Lembeh muck diving site extraordinaire:

Mandarinfish, Bangai cardinalfish (endemic to this region), white devil scorpionfish, spiny devilfish, juvenile harlequin sweetlips, giant frogfish, painted frogfish, porcelain crabs, purple commensal shrimps, finger dragonet, yellow barred jawfish, razorfish, snowflake moray eels, ribbon eel. The list of likely nudibranch sightings is longer still!

• Manado tourist information

• View map of Sulawesi

TK 1 Reef Basics: Muck dive
Depth: 5 - 25m
Visibility: 5 - 20m
Currents: Gentle
Surface Conditions: Calm
Water Temperature: 26 - 29°C
Experience Level: Beginner - advanced
Number of dive sites: 1
Diving Season: All year round
Distance: ~3 km north of Lembeh resorts (10 mins)
Access: Lembeh and Manado diving resorts and liveaboards

Source : www.divetheworldindonesia.com

Lembeh

Nudi Falls

Your Lembeh diving boat will tie itself to both a low impact anchor as well as some over hanging trees at this site near the water's edge. The sheltered nature of the bay and the proximity to the land makes it feel like a lake dive. You will notice, as you roll over the edge, that the water is normally a degree or two less than Bunaken.

You will start slowly down over a dark sandy slope to about 25 m where the bottom is covered in soft corals like a bed of cauliflower. Look out for ribbon eels and shrimp and goby partners around here before coming to the mini-wall that is this site's main feature.

On the floor and the rocky base of the wall is where you can spot most action with flying gurnards, frogfish, mantis shrimps and pipefish all likely to be around. While amusing yourself here your guide will likely be scouring a fan on the wall for pygmy seahorses. These tiny, cute, little creatures must be the highlight of any dive as they seem to stare impassively ahead puffing their cheeks.

As you'd expect from the dive site's name, there are loads of nudibranchs. Gliding over gooseberry ascidians and stinging hydriods, nudibranchs sense water movement with horn-like organs on their heads called rhinophores. The colourful frills on their backs are their gills. These shell-less members of the snail family eat sponges, hydroids, and ascidians that are poisonous to other creatures, incorporating their toxins. Like many other animals, nudis advertise their toxicity with bright colourations.

Your final few moments here can be spent poking around the shallows by the wall near the boat where lionfish, banded pipefish and the eponymous nudibranchs bring your finger pointing tally up to an impressive number, such is the amount of interesting specimens at Nudi Falls. One of the favourite dive spots in Lembeh.

Nudi Falls Reef Basics: Mini wall

Depth: 5 - 25m
Visibility: 10 - 20m
Currents: Gentle
Surface Conditions: Calm
Water Temperature: 26 - 29°C
Experience Level: Beginner - advanced
Number of dive sites: 1
Diving Season: All year round
Distance: ~1 km south of Lembeh resorts (5 mins)
Access: Lembeh and Manado diving resorts and liveaboards

Source : www.divetheworldindonesia.com

Lembeh

Hairball

As you listen to the dive briefing for this Lembeh dive and look at the dive map you may feel a sense of déjà vu. The muck diving sites all sound the same - gentle slope, black sand, patches of activity, a few sunken logs. Hairball however, often emerges as a king among kings in the Lembeh Strait.

On a day dive here you are likely to run into a few quite large seahorses proudly going about their business unperturbed by divers. For frogfish lovers this is your spot. The question is not 'if' but 'how many?' White, yellow, black, hairy, giant ... you name it! Add to this the occasional encounter with an octopus lurking furtively inside half-buried coconut shells and you can see the reason for this site's popularity.

Night time, as with many sites here, turns the excellent into the unbelievable. Dreamlike oddities haunt hairball at night. Successfully spotting a buried stargazer, eyes cast up to the heavens, will keep you happy for a week. More frogfish, cuttlefish, cuttlefish eggs (with moving pre-hatched babies!) decorator crabs and Spanish dancers are but a few of the collection of wonders that Hairball spits out. Good dives here cannot be overstated and are unlikely to be forgotten.

Hairball Reef Basics: Muck diving slope
Depth: 5 - 25m
Visibility: 8 - 20m
Currents: Gentle
Surface Conditions: Calm
Water Temperature: 26 - 29°C
Experience Level: Beginner - advanced
Number of dive sites: 1
Diving Season: All year round
Distance: ~4 km north of Lembeh resorts (10 mins)
Access: Lembeh and Manado diving resorts and liveaboards

Source : www.divetheworldindonesia.com

Lembeh

Police Pier

If you dive here it is likely to be at night. Night diving and muck diving share the promise of discovery, so to do a night dive in a place like the Lembeh Strait should be something special, and it is. Police Pier may be an odd name but there is every chance of a 'Sting' coming your way as scorpionfish and lionfish lurk all around. The bottom composition is a dull grey mass, at first glance lifeless but on closer inspection, teeming with activity.

Look out for snake eels with only their stationary heads staring upwards, normally attended to by several cleaner shrimps, stargazers, free-swimming morays, flamboyant cuttlefish, long-armed octopus, and finger dragonets on the bottom.

As you make your way up into the rocky patches between about 15 and 8 metres there is a lot for you to see. The beautiful endemic Banggai cardinalfish are likely to be out en-masse, from miniscule young to fully grown specimens, their numbers can run into hundreds. frogfish too can be lurking around including the giants idly wafting their lure to attract unsuspecting supper.

Your eye seems to catch a different type of crab around every corner including decorator crabs, hermit crabs, spider crabs, countless coral crabs and other bottom-scuttling varieties. This will be another dive that will have you reaching straight for the fish books to try to identify all your weird and wonderful new friends.

Police Pier Reef Basics: Muck dive

Depth: 5 - 15m
Visibility: 5 - 15m
Currents: Gentle
Surface Conditions: Calm
Water Temperature: 26 - 29°C
Experience Level: Intermediate
Number of dive sites: 1
Diving Season: All year round
Distance: ~2 km south of Lembeh resorts (10 mins)
Access: Lembeh and Manado diving resorts and liveaboards

Source : www.divetheworldindonesia.com

Lembeh

Mawali Wreck

This Japanese World War II steel cargo ship diving wreck lies completely on its side in water ranging from 15 to 30 m. As the sight of the wreck begins to take shape beneath your fins you will marvel at just how beautifully encrusted it is with crinoids, black coral trees and soft corals.

The 60 m long structure is home to lots of fish predominantly enormous specimens of scorpionfish and lionfish, and several spotted barramundis. Look closer and you will find the other unusual suspects such as crabs, nudis and pipefish. All manner of sunken junk seems to get called an artificial reef these days but the Mawali wreck truly is a fine example. As you dive around its lower reaches you are aware that from the shape of the structure it is a wreck on its side but to cruise over the top of the wreck (formerly its port side) it is impossible to see any signs that it is a ship, such is the reef covering. Nature has well and truly reclaimed this lump of man made metal and it looks splendid.

It is also worth paying attention on your ascent here. Check out the buoy line here which is also absolutely covered in activity. There is enough to see here to help you run down your safety stop without even noticing. A really nice dive and an interesting change in the Lembeh Strait to see so much colour.

Mawali Wreck Reef Basics: wreck diving

Depth: 15 - 30m
Visibility: 10 - 20m
Currents: Gentle
Surface Conditions: Can be rough
Water Temperature: 26 - 29°C
Experience Level: Advanced
Number of dive sites: 1
Diving Season: All year round
Distance: ~4 km south of Lembeh resorts (10 mins)
Access: Lembeh and Manado diving resorts and liveaboards

Source : www.divetheworldindonesia.com

Lembeh

Angel's Window

If, during your diving in the Lembeh Strait you are growing tired of black sand, among some of the most amazing and bizarre, rare creatures on the planet, Angel's window gives you the chance to do a bit of reef diving. More than just a change of scene, however, this site is in fact a beautifully decorated pinnacle whose tip lies just below the surface, off Lembeh Island.

As you work your way down you will be struck by a vast field of soft corals with more orange and green on display than St Patrick's day in Dublin. Further down, the pinnacle base flattens out to the north and south which is home to sponges and sea fans harbouring knobbly, pink pygmy seahorses, whose presence is all but guaranteed.

Also look out for red octopus who often are found slithering around this area. Nudibranchs in various hues, pinnate batfish and schools of angelfish are likely to keep you amused as you make your way to Angel's window. This swim-through is at 22 to 25 metres. The window's walls are covered in crinoids and featherstars so it is advisable only to swim through if you can be sure of a contact free penetration.

The topography of the site allows for a spiral downwards to a possible depth of some 30 metres and a similar spiralled ascent past the golden trevally and snappers into swarms of square-spot anthias as you reach shallower water. Totally different from the usual Lembeh scuba diving experience and a wonderful site in its own right, be sure to include it in your dive plan.

Angel's Window Reef Basics: Rocky pinnacle and swim-through

Depth: 5 - 30m
Visibility: 15 - 25m
Currents: Gentle
Surface Conditions: Can be choppy
Water Temperature: 26 - 29°C
Experience Level: Beginner - advanced
Number of dive sites: 1
Diving Season: All year round
Distance: ~5 km north of Lembeh resorts (15 mins)
Access: Lembeh and Manado diving resorts and liveaboards

Source : www.divetheworldindonesia.com

Lembeh

Crazy Critter Heaven

Mention Lembeh diving in Manado to any serious underwater photographer and their eyes come over all misty and distant. Few places on the planet are as varied and give you the chance to see more shy critters such as the mimic octopus, flamboyant cuttlefish, harlequin shrimps, skeleton shrimps and innumerable nudibranchs.

The fish also include the usual tropical reef suspects but also the more bizarre: Ambon scorpionfish, snake eels, stonefish, sea robins, stargazers, devil fish and even the weedy scorpionfish. There are also beautiful seahorses including pygmies, pegasus, mandarinfish, ghost pipefish and the endemic Banggai cardinalfish. Manado diving resorts in the Lembeh Strait seem to have a higher than average rate of return customers as enthused first-timers return year upon year, never tiring of the wonders of this undersea paradise.

There are many diving places which claim to be the best and very few get close but it is difficult to imagine a better place in the world for critter hunting. No more than a few breaths go by between one bizarre and exhilarating sight and the next. If you've tired of night dives, then try one here - they are simply fantastic. We don't know of a better place for after dark encounters with extraordinary marine life.

Including the Lembeh Strait wreck, there are over 30 sites to choose from, all within six or seven kilometres of your dive resort, or just a few minutes boat ride across these calm, lake-like waters. It's easy to understand why scuba diving in the Lembeh Strait has a reputation that's hard to beat among discerning divers that want easy and convenient access to exceptional diving opportunities with bizarre marine life that you simply can not see in other destinations.

Lembeh / Manado Diving Season

You can dive in Lembeh all year but the conditions do vary. January to June sees variable (but still fine) conditions and less divers. August sees the poorest visibility but the richest numbers of critters. September to October are probably the best two months overall.

Liveaboard season in the Lembeh Strait diving area runs year round.

Lembeh Strait Diving - Reef Basics

Great for: Small animals, underwater photography and advanced divers
Not so great for: Large animals, wall diving, drift dives and non-diving activities
Depth: 5 - 30m
Visibility: 10 - 25m
Currents: Gentle
Surface Conditions: Calm
Water Temperature: 26 - 29°C
Experience Level: Beginner - advanced
Number of dive sites: >30
Distance: ~45 km east of Manado (1½ hours)
Access: Manado diving and Lembeh resorts and liveaboards
Recommended length of stay: 5 - 10 days

Source : www.divetheworldindonesia.com

Mandolin

Bunaken south west coast

The origin of the name is unknown but some have suggested it is a reference to the number of 'strings' present here in the form of whip corals. Descending down alongside one of Bunaken's typically colourful walls you will soon realise that, in the 20-45m depth range, there are more single whips than your eye can take in. For depth chargers this is a good chance to get down into the 'narc zone'.

As a good diver you will want to avoid any unnecessary contact with the reef which here is like trying to snake through a maze of tripwires. Bigger stuff to see includes Napoleon wrasse, bumphead parrotfish (both the big green ones and blue-pink ones), mappa pufferfish and white-tip reef sharks. There is also no shortage of macro stuff to keep you amused with the whip corals playing host to commensal shrimps and whip gobies.

Later you will see the wall morphing into a mat of sponges and hard and soft corals over which the current will lead you. At this stage of your dive you can hunt around for porcelain crabs on bubble coral and gorgeous little candy crabs on soft corals. Mandolin Point is an unusual and continually stimulating spot to dive and is unlike any other dive site in the haven that is Bunaken.

Mandolin Point Reef Basics: Wall diving

Depth: 5 - >40m
Visibility: 15 - 30m
Currents: Can be strong
Surface Conditions: Calm
Water Temperature: 27 - 30°C
Experience Level: Intermediate
Number of dive sites: 1
Diving Season: All year round, but can be rough from January to March
Distance: ~20 km north of Manado Bay (45 mins)
Access: Manado and Bunaken dive resorts

Source : www.divetheworldindonesia.com

Fukui

Bunaken west coast

This site always features highly on people's favourites list and is named, not as an insult to a visitor called Hughie, but after its Japanese discoverer who dived this spot some 20 years ago. Here, unlike most Bunaken diving sites around, you will find not a wall but more of a slope with a few short, steep drops.

Here you can find white-spotted moray eels peering out from their hideouts, and sailfin tangs elegantly raising their dorsal fins and soaring away. If there's a current running then you can expect to see thousands of red-tooth triggerfish, swarming low down and en-masse across the reef slope.

Since it is a cleaning station you are likely to run into all kinds of big fish. It's a perfect place to observe Napoleon wrasse having their parasites nibbled off as trevallys and large snappers line up for the same hygienic make over. Not only will the big fish show up here but you can also amuse yourself with the colony of garden eels or checkout the five hefty tridacna giant clams lying in a row.

Fukui Point Reef Basics: Sloping Wall

Depth: 5 - 25m
Visibility: 20 - 30m
Currents: Gentle to strong
Surface Conditions: Calm
Water Temperature: 27 - 30°C
Experience Level: Beginner - advanced
Number of dive sites: 1
Diving Season: All year round, but can be rough from January to March
Distance: ~20 km north of Manado Bay (45 mins)
Access: Manado and Bunaken dive resorts

Source : www.divetheworldindonesia.com

Bunaken Timur

Bunaken east coast

Meaning East Bunaken, this is a very long reef - so long in fact you'll need to dive here more than once if you want to see it all. What you will see is an array of beautiful soft corals and leather corals in the shallows, and a 35 metre wall, trimmed with fine lilac lace coral. There is plenty to delight the eye here and you may spot several different types of nudibranch as well as plenty of bright butterflyfish, including the ever-present crowds of pyramid butterflyfish and the rarely seen zebra butterflyfish, and the odd green turtle meandering by.

It's not all small stuff here though and you could well run into a few sharks, rare dolphinfish cruising below, or schools of eagle rays gliding elegantly into the blue. There can be a current on this dive, so it is normally reserved for intermediate divers. That said, it is not often difficult and is normally very rewarding, sometimes astoundingly so. Apparently, a Dutch couple diving in Bunaken Timur came within one metre of three orcas (killer whales) - datsh amayshing!

Bunaken Timur Reef Basics: Fringing reef

Depth: 5 - 35m
Visibility: 20 - 30m
Currents: Can be strong
Surface Conditions: Calm
Water Temperature: 27 - 30°C
Experience Level: Intermediate - advanced
Number of dive sites: 2
Diving Season: All year round, but can be rough from January to March
Distance: ~20 km north of Manado Bay (45 mins)
Access: Manado and Bunaken dive resorts

Source : www.divetheworldindonesia.com

Tanjung Kopi

Manado Tua Island, east coast

Located on the foothills of the spectacular volcanic island of Manado Tua, Tanjung Kopi is literally translated as "Coffee Point" but the reason for the name remains a mystery. However, one thing is for sure, the site is superb for the photographer. Both wide angle and macro lens can be used, so bring both along.

The dive site's main feature is a sloping underwater plateau that descends from 5 to 30 metres, fringed with a vertical wall that drops off to over 80 metres. An experienced dive guide is essential for diving here, as entry at the correct point is critical. Currents can be very strong, so you'll want to drop in upstream and drift over to the plateau.

This is the ideal location in Bunaken to see the bigger fish species. Use a reef hook or find a suitable rock to hold onto, then just hang out and watch the action in the deeper water off the wall. Black tip reef sharks, dogtooth tunas, Napoleon wrasse, giant trevally, eagle rays and the occasional hammerhead shark all glide through the currents, seemingly without effort.

But equally Tanjung Kopi is famous for its schooling fish with hundreds of batfish, jacks and bigeye trevallies imitating each other in a single group. On the reef plateau, blacktail barracuda hang around at seven metres deep feeding in the currents.

For lovers of macro life, reef fish and corals, there is something for all, as some of the best soft coral gardens at Manado Tua can be found on the southern reef top of Tanjung Kopi. Reef fish are in abundance and many surprises lie in store, from harlequin shrimps, boxer crabs, starry morays, ribbon eels,and nudibranchs of all shapes, sizes and colouration to mention just a few.

Amongst the most fascinating things about this Bunaken dive site is the grandeur of Manado Tua Island itself. Being an extinct volcano, you can actually follow the outline of the centuries-old larva flows down to the water's edge, and imagine how the underwater topography was formed all those eons ago.

Tanjung Kopi Reef Basics: Plateau with fringing wall

Depth: 5 - >35m
Visibility: 20 - 30m
Currents: Can be very strong, depending on tides with up and down currents
Surface Conditions: Calm
Water Temperature: 27 - 30°C
Experience Level: Advanced only
Number of dive sites: 1
Diving Season: All year round, but can be rough from January to March
Distance: ~27 km north of Manado Bay (60 mins)
Access: Manado and Bunaken dive resorts

Source : www.divetheworldindonesia.com

Lekuan

Whether beginner or experienced, in daytime or at night, you will drop down here through calm and crystal clear water to the coral wall in front of Lekuan Beach on Bunaken Island. The wall has three prongs imaginatively named I, II and III and is a very popular site for all levels due to the conditions and the variety of fish and turtles present.

There are perhaps ten green turtles on Lekuan I alone and some of the males are a very impressive size. You'll see them paddling by in the open ocean or resting under the many overhangs and ledges that mark this Bunaken scuba diving spot.

Legions of bump-headed parrotfish may charge past as you make your way to the wall where there lurk many lionfish and statuesque scorpionfish. Swarms of anthias at the reef edge will keep you entertained and there is every chance that the big lips of the Napoleon Wrasse might cruise by to say hello.

The steep walls have tremendous coral growth, some massive green stands of black coral bushes, and, unless you are a real depth junkie, they will go down far beyond your maximum depth. Lekuan II in particular has very deep sections, and some interesting coves and shafts to cut across, in search of tuna and other pelagics. Diving in Bunaken makes for a fine memory if you are fortunate enough to visit it.

Lekuan Reef Basics: Dramatic wall diving

Depth: 5 - >40m
Visibility: 25 - 35m
Currents: Gentle
Surface Conditions: Calm
Water Temperature: 27 - 30°C
Experience Level: Beginner - advanced
Number of dive sites: 3
Diving Season: All year round, but can be rough from January to March
Distance: ~18 km north of Manado Bay (40 mins)
Access: Manado and Bunaken dive resorts

Source : www.divetheworldindonesia.com

Dpan Kampung

East section of south Bunaken Island

Literally meaning "In front of the village", Depan Kampung offers quite a variety in underwater Bunaken diving terrains.

Starting your dive on the wall to the west, you can drift along at a healthy pace admiring the vast numbers of pretty pyramid butterflyfish, black damsels, and juvenile redtooth triggerfish. Neon and yellow dash fusiliers are scattered everywhere. Large black and white banded sea snakes slide up and down through the dendronephthya corals in search of easy pickings.

Round one of the jutting seams that split the reef and you may just startle a whitetip reef shark. Normally skittish and only occassionally inquisitive, the sharks may circle a few times if you have piqued their interest, otherwise they'll race off past the batfish into the depths.

About half way through the dive the wall gives way to a steep slope dominated by branching green cup corals and pink hydroids. Here there's always plenty of yellow margin triggerfish, gilded triggerfish and angelfish. The blue gilded angelfish is always a pleasure to see with its luminous orange markings.

Time for your safety stop and time to slow things down a little. With some careful attention you could find leaf scorpionfish, many different nudibranchs, picasso tobies, and the photogenic razorfish, quite common in Bunaken.

Depan Kampung Reef Basics: wall and slope

Depth: 5 - >40m
Visibility: 20 - 30m
Currents: Can be strong
Surface Conditions: Calm
Water Temperature: 27 - 30°C
Experience Level: Beginner - advanced
Number of dive sites: 1
Diving Season: All year round, but can be rough from January to March
Distance: ~18 km north of Manado Bay (40 mins)
Access: Manado and Bunaken dive resorts

Source : www.divetheworldindonesia.com

Bunaken Island National Marine Park

To dive in the deep waters of the Bunaken Island National Marine Park in Manado is to be among some of the highest levels of biodiversity in the world, with outstanding fish variety and world-class wall diving. The clear, warm waters contain astonishingly high numbers of species, whether corals, sponges or fish. When you're scuba diving in Bunaken you can see seven times more genera of coral than Hawaii, 33 species of butterflyfish and over 70% of all fish species known to the Indo-western Pacific.

Oceanic currents sweep into Bunaken bringing a steady supply of nutrients. It's a sure certainty that where there is plenty of food in the sea, there will be an abundance of marine life, and you can be here to witness this rich harvest too. From the smallest commensal shrimp to black tip reef sharks and eagle rays, there is something for everyone in this very special destination.

Bunaken diving is very popular with fun divers and marine biologists both of whom can take great pleasure from the diversity of coral and fish found here. You will surely encounter marine life here that you have not come across elsewhere.

The park is located just out of Manado Bay in the Sulawesi Sea, off the northern tip of Sulawesi, and features some two dozen diving sites spread across an area of 75,000 hectares and the five islands of Bunaken, Siladen, Manado Tua, Montehage and Nain.

Included in the measures to protect this eco-treasure, is the creation of the marine park for which all divers must buy a pass - 150,000 Rupiah used to fund conservation and village development programmes. It has long been recognised that the Manado area is an area worth preserving both for the good of the environment and the local economy. Various schemes are being undertaken to encourage responsible attitudes towards the reefs, the sea life and with regards to refuse disposal in the area. In Bunaken your few dollars really do make a difference!

Bunaken Diving Season

You can dive in Bunaken and Manado all year round but, overall, the best season for diving conditions is from April to November. January to March sometimes sees winds and rains, so surface conditions can be occasionally rough then with one or two metre swells.

Reef Basics

Great for: Small animals, wall dives, underwater photography, drift diving, reef life and health, dive value-for-money and advanced divers
Not so great for: Wrecks and non-diving activities
Depth: 5 - >40m
Visibility: 20 - 35m
Currents: Usually gentle but can be strong
Surface Conditions: Calm
Water Temperature: 27 - 30°C
Experience Level: Beginner - advanced
Number of dive sites: ~25
Distance: ~18 km north of Manado Bay (40 mins)
Access: Manado diving resorts
Recommended length of stay: 7 - 10 days

Source : www.divetheworldindonesia.com

Tala Island ( Komodo )

Tala Island, Komodo Island

Tala is a tiny, angular island in Langkoi Bay, just south of the southernmost part of Komodo Island, offering some excellent dive sites. It is one of the most southern Komodo liveaboard diving sites. The inner passage between Tala and Komodo proper is shallow and has ripping currents, but the southern point of the island has The End Of The World to the west in very deep water.

Here is a sheer wall of rock, broken up by some nice cuts, overhangs, and sandy shelves down to about 40 metres, and from there on a flat, black plane. There are white-tip sharks, rays, morays and rich coral growth in the cuts and shelves.

The flat areas of the wall are covered with extensive fields of marigold cup corals, a beautiful and vivid effect against the dark rock.

End Of The World Reef Basics: Wall diving
Depth: 5 - >40m
Visibility: 5 - 25m
Currents: Can be strong
Surface Conditions: Can be rough
Water Temperature: 20 - 26°C
Experience Level: Intermediate
Number of dive sites: 1
Diving Season: September to June
Distance: ~500 km east of Bali (25 hours)
Access: Komodo liveaboard from Bali

Source : www.divetheworldindonesia.com

Yellow Wall Of Texas ( Komodo )

Rinca Island, east of Komodo

Yellow Wall of Texas is the wall running down the east coast of Nusa Kode, to the south of Rinca Island.

The shallows are very rich in fish life, particularly plankton feeders. Fork-tailed fairy basslets swarm around the drop-offs in great orange and purple schools. Pairs of colourful butterflyfish forage in the reef crannies for small crustaceans or coral polyps.

Clown triggerfish, perhaps the most distinctively marked of all the reef fishes with its black body, round orange mouth, yellow face band, white-spotted underbelly and yellow tail, stake out their territory along the face of the reef.

In the deeper waters a couple of white-tip reef sharks may swing around to give you a close look. Red snappers with bright yellow eyes will keep a wary distance, and green turtles often row by.

Yellow Wall of Texas is best dived in the afternoon, when the sun provides more natural lighting.

Yellow Wall of Texas Reef Basics: Wall dive with overhangs

Depth: 5 - >40m
Visibility: 5 - 20m
Currents: Can be strong
Surface Conditions: Can be rough
Water Temperature: 20 - 26°C
Experience Level: Intermediate
Number of dive sites: 1
Diving Season: September to June
Distance: ~510 km east of Bali (26 hours)
Access: Komodo liveaboard from Bali

Source : www.divetheworldindonesia.com

Tatawa Island ( Komodo )

North Komodo

The prevailing current, north or south, will dictate where you enter at this dive site, some 30km east of Komodo's northern-most point.

When the current runs south, chances are you'll drop into a two or three knot current, possibly on the north east corner of the island.

The first stage of your dive can happen rather quickly and will require all of your attention as you are hit with an up-current just before you reach the north-west corner. Once you round the corner the rollercoaster is over for this dive and you'll have time to appreciate the remainder of your stay at this beautiful Komodo scuba diving site.

Turtles are everywhere and you can expect to see many as you navigate the site. Before you leave the currents behind watch out for the grey reef sharks and black-tail barracuda. Manta rays also make occasional guest appearances.

Further south and slightly west of Tatawa Island is a rocky islet called Batu Besar, meaning big stone, and this is the location of a dive site called 'Current City'. Diving in Komodo often takes the form of drift dives. East of the Batu Besar, as the name suggests, currents can regularly exceed three knots, making for some serious drift diving. If the current is this strong along the east face however, it is usually fairly calm along the west.

The west face of Batu Besar offers a series of steep drops to about 30 metres, and several interesting coral caves. The soft coral cover is very good, and there are lots of fish, including large schools of sweetlips. Sharks are again common here, as are turtles and very large fantail stingrays.

Tatawa Reef Basics: Fringing reef and steep banks with turtles

Depth: 5 - >40m
Visibility: 15 - 25m
Currents: Can be strong
Surface Conditions: Can be rough
Water Temperature: 21 - 26°C
Experience Level: Advanced
Number of dive sites: 3
Diving Season: March to December
Distance: ~500 km east of Bali (25 hours)
Access: Komodo liveaboard cruises from Bali

Source : www.divetheworldindonesia.com