Page 87 - Diving Indonesia 21 November 2019
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Selayar Island and Bira
islands main town which is spread along
the coastal road. Benteng has a local
clinic and for more serious issues there
are hospitals in both Bira and Makassar.
The eastern side and southern tip of
Selayar, which are home to Selayar Dive
Resort and their marine park, are as yet
undeveloped and when travelling the east
coast by boat the scenery is spectacular
– green peaks, waterfalls and sandy
bays with turquoise shimmering water
and interesting rocky outcroppings form
picture perfect views.
Divers and snorkelers should note that
the west coast and north section of the
east coast of Selayar Island have been
damaged through destructive fishing
practices. It is currently only the area
protected by the Selayar Dive Resort
marine park that offers world class diving.
If you are diving outside of the Selayar
Dive Resort area or with another operator
you may well be disappointed, but diving
within the park is an experience not to be
missed!
For those who do not have the time to
Selayar Island and Bira If heading to Selayar Island you may need a range of dive sites around Bira, Pulau
dive from south Selayer then Bira offers
Kambing (Goat Island) and Pulau Pasi.
to overnight in either Makassar or Bira
(unless your flight arrival is very early in Currents can be strong in the Bira area
but bring with them schooling fish and
Makassar); Selayar Dive Resort (South passing pelagics.
Stunning walls with Accessing Bira (which is the boat departure point Selayar) is a 2.5hour speedboat journey Diving the east coast of Selayar Island is
from Bira Harbour, alternatively Selayar
exceptional coral for Selayar Island) takes around 5 hours from Island does have a small domestic airport very seasonal. Diving is accessible from
Makassar by car – the picturesque journey takes
diversity, a wealth of you through endless rice paddies, local villages which received flights from Bali and October through to May but from May to
Makassar.
macro life, turtles, with traditional and colorful Minahasan houses October the winds blow in from the east
to west making dive sites, and resorts
and an endless stream of road side markets rich
passing pelagics including with local produce. Selayar Island is approximately 90 inaccessible.
sharks and a range of rays kilometers from North to South and only
a few of kilometers from east to west.
await divers in Selayar Bira (or Tanjung Bira) is located on the It sits directly below Bira with the small
southernmost tip of the south westerly ‘arm’
and nearby mainland Bira. of Sulawesi and boasts one of Sulawesi’s most islands of Pulau Kambing and Pulau Pasi
beautiful beaches. Bira is a harbor town with a in between. The west coast of Selayar
large passenger and cargo port and it is also a has most development and situated in
major traditional (Phinisi) ship building area. the center of the west is Benteng, the
170 Wonderful Indonesia Diving and Snorkeling Directory Wonderful Indonesia Diving and Snorkeling Directory 171
