Indonesia
Komodo
Komodo National Park has a constant stream of rich and well-fed water because of fast currents during tidal changes and upwellings of cold, nutrient rich water from the Indian Ocean. In the north you find clearer waters and pristine hard coral reefs, the south has cooler richer waters that favor the growth of soft corals and other invertebrates. Komodo is one of the richest marine environments in the world, and one of the most challenging diving destinations.
| Sea | Banda Sea |
| Number of Dive Site | 50+ |
| Experience Level | Intermediate – Advanced |
| Depth | 5 – 40 m |
| Visibility | 5 – 30 m |
| Currents | Can be strong |
| Surface Conditions | Can be rough |
| Water Temperature | 21 – 24 in south, 24 – 28 in the north |
| Good For | Reef life, drift diving, pinnacles and walls |
| Number of Days | 7 – 10 days |
| Available | Resorts, Day Trips and Liveaboard |
| Best Time to Go | Year Round |
Raja Ampat
Raja Ampat in Western Papua consists of 4 main islands (the Four Kings) surrounded by 1,500 smaller islands. It is the last frontier of diving: soft corals, sea fans, hard corals, seagrass beds, mangroves, shallow reefs, drop offs, caves, black sand, white sand, pinnacles and wrecks are all to be explored. Over 1200 fish species are represented, from the smallest critter to the biggest predator. Being in the heart of the coral triangle its reefs just buzz with life.
| Sea | Banda Sea |
| Number of Dive Site | Unknown |
| Experience Level | Intermediate – Advanced |
| Depth | 5 – 40 m |
| Visibility | 10 – 30 m |
| Currents | Usually moderate |
| Surface Conditions | Usually calm |
| Water Temperature | 27 – 30 |
| Good For | Reef life, small and big fishes, wrecks |
| Number of Days | 10 – 15 days |
| Available | Resorts, Day trips and liveaboards |
| Best Time to Go | Year Round |
Sulawesi
North Sulawesi is a diver’s paradise with two dive areas to choose from. The Bunaken National Marine Park teams with thousands of different fish species, and has huge sponges, beautiful hard corals, and some world-class wall diving. The second area is Lembeh Strait, known for the world’s best muck diving, as nowhere else do you have a better chance to see shy critters as the mimic octopus, flamboyant cuttlefish, harlequin shrimps, and innumerable nudibranches. The remote Wakatobi archipelago in south Sulawesi has an abundant fish life and fossilized reefs offering visibility of up to 80 meters. Sulawesi truly offers the finest diving in the world and is a dream for every photographer.
| Sea | Celebes Sea (north) / Banda Sea (south) |
| Number of Dive Site | 200+ |
| Experience Level | Beginner – Advanced |
| Depth | 5 – 40 m |
| Visibility | 10 – 80 m |
| Currents | Usually gentle in the north, occasionally strong in the south |
| Surface Conditions | Usually calm but can be choppy |
| Water Temperature | 27 – 30 |
| Good For | Reef Life, walls, much diving, photography |
| Number of Days | 7 – 10 days |
| Available | Resorts, Day Trips and Liveaboard |
| Best Time to Go | Year Round |
Bali
Bali is a stop over on the way to destinations like Raja Ampat and Komodo, and caters to all sorts of divers. Experienced divers will enjoy the currents around Nusa Penida home of the famous Mola Mola (sunfish), beginners will like the gentle reefs around Amed and Padang Bai, and photographers will seek the muck diving sites of Tulamben with the famous USS Liberty wreck.
| Sea | Lombok Strait |
| Number of Dive Site | 50 |
| Experience Level | Beginner – Advanced |
| Depth | 5 – 40 m |
| Visibility | 5 – 30 m |
| Currents | Can be strong |
| Surface Conditions | Can be rough |
| Water Temperature | 20 – 27 |
| Good For | Muck diving, drift diving |
| Number of Days | 7 – 10 days |
| Available | Resorts and Day Trips |
| Best Time to Go | Year Round |