The Best Places to Scuba Dive in Indonesia

Indonesia is an archipelago comprising of over 17,000 islands, a volcanic arc that spreads over two thousand miles from Sumatra in the west to Papua in the east. At the heart of the coral triangle, a region which scientists believe holds the planets highest concentration of marine biodiversity, Indonesia surely plays host to some of the worlds finest dive sites. Of course the quality of a dive is purely subjective but here are my top five for scuba diving in Indonesia.

Pantee Peunateng, Pulau Weh, Sumatra: This high adrenaline dive sites is highly exposed making it an intense experience even when conditions are calmer than most. A fringing reef with dramatic craggy wall sections it has typically strong currents that attract many species of pelagic fish. Black and whitetips are often seen whilst larger fish, attracted by the nutrients brought in by ocean currents include whale sharks, mola mola and mantas. Though might not be the best for beginners, Pantee Peunateng boasts of the most exciting places to dive in Indonesia.

Lekaun One, Bunaken Island, North Sulawesi: The infamous Lekaun dive sites have always been on many a travelers list whilst diving in Indonesia. The reef flat that surrounds the island plunges to hundreds of meters creating a dramatic wall covered in hard and soft corals desperately competing for space.  Hunting reefs sharks and trevally can often been seen working their way up the reef, whilst giant green turtles rest in the ledges of the wall.

The Passge, Raja Ampat: This area boasts of 5-10 meters deep that forms river-like sea fjord that twists and turns to meet underwater grottoes. A truly mystical experience this is one of many in the region like it. The corals are uniquley illuminated by sun’s rays penetrating a tree canopy that covers the area.

Hairball, Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi: For macro life there are few places on earth that can compare with the Lembeh Strait. The black sand slope at Hairball plays host to a huge abundance of marine life. On a typical dive here you can expect to find many types of octopus, snake eels, frog fish, star gazers and nudibranchs (sea slugs) where in other parts of the world these sightings would be few and far between.

Langkoi Rock, Komodo: A submerged pinnacle found not far from Langkoi Island to the Southwest of Komodo which makes an exhilarating dive. The walls that surround the pinnacle drop away steeply to great depths. Exposed to strong currents and surge, it attracts many types of shark including grey reefs, white tips, hammerheads and bronze whalers. Many believe it is a breeding ground for many grey reef sharks. Langkoi Rock offers the most thrilling dive anywhere in Indonesia.

Indonesian Scuba Diving Adventure with Pygmy Seahorses

The pygmy seahorse was only recently discovered for the first time after a specimen of a gorgonian fan was bought in for research by a scientist scuba diving in Indonesia. Supremely well camouflaged, the pygmy seahorse can grow to just 2 cm in height and is therefore the smallest species of seahorse in the world. Large bulbous tubercles cover the species’ body which resembles the soft coral polyps of the host gorgonian fan making it extremely difficult to spot in its natural environment.

What is perhaps most fascinating about the Pygmy Seahorses is the way they have taken on the characteristics of so many other species of both marine and terrestrial life. Whilst it has the head of a horse, its tail is much like a monkey’s, which it uses to wrap around its host. It also has the pouch of a kangaroo to carry its young, the exoskeleton of an insect and the eye of a chameleon, making it one of the most impressive fish found in the ocean.

During courting behavior the male will attach itself to her hitching post and then proceed to vibrate his dorsal fin to attract her attention. She then extends her egg tube and will pass them into his pouch. The male seahorse then holds the eggs during pregnancy and is one of the only species of its kind to carry out birth. Pygmy seahorses are thought to feed on the same zooplankton as their host polyps although very little is known about their life cycle thereafter.

Pygmy seahorses are found all over the world, but are especially widespread in the western pacific, specifically Indonesia, Papua, Fiji, and the Philippines. Those diving in Indonesia are increasingly on the look out for this rare species which is increasingly growing in popularity amongst the diving community since its first discovery. Observe the animal in its natural environment yourself for you to fully appreciate its grandeur.