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The Marine World of Indonesia
Indonesia lies in the middle of the large marine Indo-Pacific basin. This region extends from the Indian Ocean
waters off East Africa all the way to the Hawaiian and Marquesas Islands in the East South Pacific. The central
area, the waters around the Indonesian and Philippine Islands, is the lest well-known, and much scientific work
still needs to be done. In tropical waters, where the temperature and salinity are right, corals seem to "blossom"
into gardens, with an amazing variety of forms and colours.
Growing corals form reefs, functioning as homes for whole communities of marine life, they also provide nourishment
and nurseries for thousands of fish, shellfish, sponges, crayfish and marine plants, while protecting shorelines
and creating islands in the process.
Whether scuba diving {snorkeling) or deep-diving with breathing equipment, or exploring a reef it is an unforgettable
experience. Indonesia's smaller islands are often surrounded by reefs, and many are inaccessible and still undeveloped
as far as marine tourism is concerned. The single exception is Pulau Putri in the Thousand Islands, northwest of
Jakarta. Other good places: Pulau Peucang and Panaitan off Java's westernmost peninsula in the Ujung Kulon Reserve;
coral reefs off the Tangkoko Batuangus Reserve in North Sulawesi; Pulau Kasa near Ambon in Maluku, off the Bali
Barat Reserve, in Bali. The Riau archipelago also offers some excitement to divers of a different kind: coral reefs
are here combined with the interest of exploring sunken ships and wrecks from World War II.
The Riau Archipelago
The wrecks which dot the Riau waters, so close to Singapore, are strictly World War II vintage, but they still
have an air of mystery. Many were sunk by the Japanese in 1941. Riau is easily accessible by boat from Singapore,
from Pekanbaru in SUMATRA or from Pontianak in West Kalimantan. Good beaches and coral can be found near Bintan
island, but for divers and coral enthusiasts lor historians, archaelogists or anthropologists, for that matter)
there are also endless opportunities to explore the whole Riau archipelago. The islands are small and close to
one another, and the wrecks are usually in shallow waters. Island hopping is easy and inexpensive. Boats in Tanjung
Pinang are easily available.
Pulau Peucong and Pulau Panaitan
Both of these sizeable islands are part of the Ujung Kulon nature reserve, and lie just off Java's western end.
Peucang has two rest houses, a permit to enter the reserve and rest house accommodation must be obtained at the
Nature Conservation Directorte's Head Office in Bogor, or the local office in Labuan. Both islands are reached
via Labuan, a town on Java's west coast where there are fishing boats. It's wise to make firm arrangements for
return trips at the same time, and to make some allowances for bad weather. No food is available on the island,
but the reserve wardens on Peucang (in radio communication with the Nature Conservation office in Labuan) will
provide visitors with water, bedding, cooking facilities, and guides. There is good snorkeling and diving all the
way around Peucang, with many ledges to explore on the northern reef. More spectacular are the "under water
cliffs" of Tanjung Layar where the new and old lighthouses are perched on. Tanjung Layar is only a short boat
ride from Peucang and well worth the trip. Spear fishing is not permitted within the reserve.
Panaitan Island is uninhabited. Day trips to the southern beaches, about 1 hour from Peucang are recommended. Panaitan
has extensive reef platforms, particularly attractive to explore on foot at low air pasang tides.
Kepulauan Seribu
Kepulauan Seribu or the Thousand Islands is a group of small Islands scattered in the Bay of Jakarta. Actually
a total of 1 10 islands, they are within easy reach from Jakarta by boat or chartered aircraft. Several islands
have been developed as tourist resorts or for recreational purposes, where there are bird and marine sanctuaries.
The northern part of these islands have been zoned as a national marine park to preserve its underwater resources
and beauty.
About 90 km from Jakarta is the Pulau Putri, Pulau Pelangi, Pulau Melintang, Petondan which have upmarket accommodation,
restaurants, a dive shop and boats for hire. Nearby, the islands of Melinjo, Papa Theo and Sepa have been developed
for divers and budget tourists. Transport is available by private speedboats, inter - island ferries or charter
flights which land on a grassy strip on Pulau Panjang. The scenery among so many green islands as well as the coral
is beautiful. Bookings can be made with Pulau Putri Paradise in the Setia budi building 1, Jl. H.R. Rasuna Said.
There are also other agencies which offer sailing and diving tours.
Bali
Good skin diving areas among the reefs are off the coast of West Bali and those near Padangbai in eastern Bali,
and at Nusa Lembongan on Nusa Penida, the large island off Bali's southeastern shores. There is also a wreck, that
of the S.S. Liberty, only 40 metres oh the beach at Tulamben, near Kubu. Fish sheltering in the wreck make them
so tame that they will flock to divers.
North Sulawesi
Within easy reach from Manado, North Sulawesi, are good beaches and coral reefs, and plenty of speedboats or sailboats
for hire. Rent a boat to go to the nature reserve of Tangkoko Batuangus. The corals are exceptional and accommodation
can be found in Batu Putih village. Beach landings are not uniformly easy, depending on the time of the year.
The Directorate General of Forest Protection and Nature Conservation (PHPA) has an office in Manado. A permit is
necessary to enter the Tangkoko Dua Saudara Nature Reserve. The coral reefs which ring the islands of Bunaken are
among the most spectacular in Indonesia and have been rated by internationally experienced divers as on a par with
some of the great reefs of the world. The marine population is among the densest of Indonesia and is of unequalled
variety. Along the dramatic drop-offs, riddled with grottos, fissures and arches, downward visibility extends to
30 metres or more and the contours of the reef formations offer limitless diving opportunities for snorkelers and
scuba enthusiasts. The islands can be reached within half an hour by motorized outrigger from Malalayang Beach,
the jump-off point south of Manado.
Malalayang Beach has a dive-master with licenses from both the Indonesian and Sub aquatic Sport Association (POSSI)
and the Paris-based Confederation Mondiale des Activites Subaquatiques (CMAS). Scuba equipment can be hired there,
but it is advisable to bring along personal items such as depth gauges and decompression tables. Both are of particular
importance, as there is a decompression chamber in Manado.
Maluku
Ambon has to be considered from the marine enthusiast's point of view, more as a jumping off point than as a destination,
since it is accessible by air and lies in the heart of many interesting island groups. For the adventurous and
the self sufficient, the underwater islands of Maluku are magnificent.
There are about a thousand island islands in the region, and most have excellent beaches, reefs and seascapes,
almost anywhere less than a day's journey away from the population centres. The snorkeling is superb. Boats easily
available for hire.
Pulau Pombo and Pulau Kasa are two small island-marine reserves near Ambon.
Best time of the year is from September to March. Spells of rough weather can be expected between April and July.
A word of caution is necessary: some corals are very fragile and break under flippers. Some sting badly, like the
yellow-tipped fire coral. On sandy reef platforms, watch out for the long back spines of the sea urchins. Several
small islands in this archipelago are still uninhabited.
Banda Neira
Southeast of the islands of Maluku is the small group of islands of Banda, the original nutmeg island. Banda Neira
offers crystal clear water, full of coral gardens and tropical fish. There is a small hotel where diving gear is
available. The island of Banda Neira is seeped in history, starting from 1312 when the first Portuguese arrived
on its shores, followed by the English and the Dutch, all eater for the golden nutmeg trade. Some of the remnants
of this period still remain. Banda Neira is an hour's flight from Ambon.
Ichthyology
Indonesia is rich in ornamental fish species, which are exported to the United States, Japan and Europe. Among
these beautiful marine aquarium fish species are the Amphiprion, the Dascyllus, the red coloured Labrida and the
Gorisaygula found plenty in the waters around the Bali Strait. The Balistoides niger, is found in abundance in
North Sulawesi. Apart from fish, the waters around many islands, especially in the more virgin areas in the eastern
parts of the archipelago, offer a rich variety of conches and shells and one of the world's most beautiful conches,
the so called "Glory of the Sea". In waters around nature reserves, however, the collecting of fish,
shells and other objects of marine life is prohibited. |
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The following divesite descriptions were furnished by
World Diving Lembongan - Bali, Indonesia
These dive sites are located around the islands of Penida, Lembongan, and Ceningan. |
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Manta Point
- Nusa Penida
The site that has made Penida famous. Very regular sitings of adult Manta Rays, Turtles and Nurse Sharks make this
site on the exposed south side of the island stunning, but the sea conditions have to be favourable, so it is definitely
a dive to be savoured. |
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Blue Corner
- Nusa Lembongan
Dropping away to 50 metres, a series of overhanging terraces hide White Tips and large Black Marbled Rays and,
as you approach the corner, schools of Snapper and Jacks regularly pass by. This is also where, if you're lucky,
you may spot the bizarre Mola Mola (Sunfish). |
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Sekolah Dasar
- Nusa Penida
Sekolah Dasar means 'primary school', but this site is not for the novice. Less steep than Blue Corner but with
larger coral heads, the currents here wind you past Green and Hawksbill Turtles, Manta Rays, Sea Snakes, Octopus,
White Tip Reef Sharks and the most diverse collections of corals and sponges in Bali. |
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Toyapakeh
- Nusa Penida
The ‘jewel’ of Penida. Toyapakeh, which means ‘salt water’ in Balinese, is the richest site in Penida. It offers
a steep wall to the south, terraces with huge hard coral formations in the bay and a shelving reef in the north.
The density of coral, sponge and fish life is incredible and on a good day it has all this plus the large pelagics
(hammerhead sharks, mantas and sunfish have been spotted here). |
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Penida Bay
- Crystal Bay
This bay deserves its nickname of Crystal Bay as the visibility here is often 30m+. The rock in the middle of the
bay has very steep drop offs to the south and west and an amazing shelf in the north that is carpeted with Wrinkled
Soft Corals in the shallows. World Diving has found this site to be just as reliable for spotting Mola Mola in
August and September as Blue Corner. |
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Ceningan Wall
The nutrient rich waters flowing out of the mangroves feed dense collections of multi-coloured soft corals and
sponges on the north tip of Ceningan. Sweeping out into the current along the wall inquisitive Eagle Rays occasionally
join the dive groups for the tour which winds through schools of Oriental Sweetlips and Sleek Unicornfish. |
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