Any length of time spent on the Internet searching for diving-related sites in Indonesia will quickly show you that diving is very popular in Indonesia. As the largest archipelago in the world, Indonesia has over 17,000 islands spread across 3,000 miles with an estimated 80,000 kilometers of coastline, 3.1 million square kilometers of territorial waters and an estimated 10 to 15 percent of the world's coral reefs.
Indonesia is strategically located across both the Asian and Melanesian-Australian biological realms which are divided by the imaginary boundary called the Wallace Line. This location leads to Indonesia's top ranking alongside Brazil as one of the most biologically rich countries on the earth. Evidence of this biodiversity is found both on land and in the seas of the archipelago. The abundant species of marine life are found in numbers and concentrations directly attributable to the length of the coastline and proliferation of coral.
The sport of diving in Indonesia is relatively in its infancy, with diving centers in operation for a little over 10 years. Many popular dive locations have already been damaged due to encroachment by man, while new locations are constantly being explored and sought by diving aficionados. There are still many areas in Indonesia in which no one has ever dived before ... opening up the possibilities of new discoveries of pristine diving conditions and the sighting of unique marine species.
If you're looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of Jakarta, the peace and tranquillity you find in many diving locations will soon refresh even the most flustered expat!
Tanah Air Kita
The seas sounding the Indonesian archipelago are considered an integral part of the nation, as evidenced in the term Tanah Air Kita, which literally means our “home water land”. The seas have been a unifying factory between the diverse cultures and peoples throughout the archipelago. Many Indonesians are greatly dependent for their livelihoods on the bounty of the seas, which they have fished and exploited for years. Fish and shellfish, pearls, seaweed and shells are only a few of the many treasurers found in Indonesian waters.
While traveling through the archipelago in search of pristine diving conditions, you will also have a chance to be exposed to Indonesian rural culture, far off the beaten track. Take time to see the local sites wherever you are, try the local cuisine and check out the local handicrafts.
Travel Challenges
The biggest challenge for divers in Indonesia is choosing from the many great locations in which to dive. The best dive sites are in unpopulated, remote locations where mankind hasn't destroyed the reefs yet. To get to these remote locations becomes a tactical challenge, especially now that the economic crisis has led to decreased flights by national airlines to distant islands.
National airlines do not have enough airplanes, tend to be 'disorganized' by western standards (primarily due to inadequacy of computerized reservation systems) and there are inevitable delays, overbooked flights and cancellations. Trying to reach remote islands can be a frustrating experience and the best planned schedule can be destroyed by travel disruptions. This precludes the 'quick trip up to Manado' for a weekend of diving, when the flight schedules are so undependable.
We can't emphasize enough the need to confirm, and re-confirm flight bookings as soon as you reach your destination. Even if you are told that the flight you want is full ... go to the plane and try to get on the flight. While many flights are supposedly over- or fully booked, in actuality they often aren't. It might help to pay a 'fee' for assistance in getting on your desired flight. Even people with confirmed reservations can be bumped because someone else had the foresight to grease the wheels of the reservations system.
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