Page 82 - Diving Indonesia 21 November 2019

How to Get There have slightly stronger currents and Snorkeling and Freediving
drifts. The entire Sulawesi land
AIRPORT mass is surrounded by some of the Highlights in Central, South and
deepest waters found in Indonesia South East Sulawesi
and some of the wall dive sites
can be up to 100’s of meters deep, It’s hard to find much wrong
Makassar is the main entry point to the region with however, most can be dived at a with snorkeling and freediving
its own airport Sultan Hassanudin International range of depths and offer abundant in Central or southern Sulawesi.
(Ujung Pandang). There are also smaller, domestic and dense coral coverage and Pristine reefs and warm, clear
airports in Gorontalo, Luwuk, Wangi Wangi, Selayar plentiful fish life at all levels. Water tropical waters make for some of
and Kendari. temperatures do not range as the finest snorkeling in Indonesia.
much as in other parts of Indonesia Expect to see a range of diverse and varied
Transport around the region is primarily by road or and the temperature holds steady marine species, including the opportunity
domestic air travel and by ferry for access to the at around 28 – 30 degrees all to swim with some larger species including
coastal island chains. year round. There are occasional turtles, eagle rays and potentially even a
seasonal lows of 26 degrees in basking whale!
some areas. Visibility is generally
good and despite it lowering after Some regions are more remote and require
rainfall in some regions and when more effort to reach than mainstream
waves are high, the usual range is
1. Waha Coremap N destinations in Indonesia, but the extra effort
2. Waha Cemara from 15 – 40 meters. will be rewarded by visiting snorkeling sites
3. Sombu and coral reefs that few people have ever
4. Wardoka Pinnacle visited before. This is an adventure off the
5. Wangi-Wangi Jetty beaten track and well worth it!
6. Tanki/Tonang Reef
7. Kapora Pinnacle
8. Wanci Gate
9. Kapora Gate Dive Site and Marine Life Highlights in Central,
10. Tanjung Kapora
11. Buci (Hoga) South and South East Sulawesi
12. Coral Gaeden
13. Outer Pinnacle Sinking beneath the surface of the Indonesia’s larger and most sought after
14. Blade 23. Conchita aquamarine waters reveals colorful predators including hammerheads, nurse
15. Magnifica 24. Turkey Beach reefscapes, staggering walls and a and grey reef sharks.
16. Fan 38 25. Tanjung Patok vibrancy of life which matches that found
17. Pocket 26. Dunia Baru on the land of Sulawesi – with hundreds of Bira promises some epic drift dives and
18. Tanjung Lintea 27. Table Coral City species of fish and corals it is hard not to currents which bring with them hoardes
19. Traiblazer 28. Teluk Waiti be impressed. of schooling fosh and passing pelagics.
20. Tanjung Maya 29. Kollo Soha For those seeking more relaxing dives,
21. Malabea 30. Roma Diving in Wakatobi takes the phrase “the the Togean islands are a blissful paradise
22. Zoo
living reef” to a whole new level as you are on land and underwater. Gorontalo offers
immersed in a sensory overload of colour beautiful corals and the chance to see
Central and Southern Sulawesi are Central and southern Sulawesi offer and life. Selayar’s walls are packed with the largest fish in the ocean – the mighty
arguably home to some of the most year round diving with above average macro critters whereas the open ocean whale shark.
pristine beaches that Indonesia has to visibility, relatively calm conditions and and deeper sites are hotspots for some of
offer and within only meters of these substantially less rainfall than in other
beaches are some of Indonesia’s most parts of Indonesia. Selayar operates
phenomenal dive sites. Walls abound seasonally from October to May due to Areas to Visit in Central, South and South
around Selayar, Bira, Wakatobi and the swells from May to September which limit
Togean Islands where coral diversity and accessibility on the islands east coast. East Sulawesi - Togean Islands
health is nothing short of what you would - Wakatobi (Tukangbesi Islands)
expect from areas so centralized in the The majority of the diving is relatively - Selayar Island and Bira
Coral Triangle. easy but there are some sites which can

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