Indonesia is a world-class scuba diving destination. If you believe that no trip is complete without at least one dive, Indonesia is most likely near the top of your list. We’re sure you’ve seen your fair share of stunning corals, vibrant fish, and even a shark or two. But, if you find yourself yearning for something different, you should know that Indonesia isn’t just full of bright colors and pleasant sights.
If you believe that no trip is complete without at least one dive, Indonesia is most likely near the top of your list. There are numerous unusual dives available here, ranging from sunken fighter planes to active volcanoes and strange species. Let’s take a look at the 6 most unusual and unique diving site Indonesia for you to explore!
6 Diving Site Indonesia
Banua Wuhu
The Banua Wuhu diving site is located on the southwest side of Mahangetan Island. Banua Wuhu is an active volcano underwater. Its mountain peak is only five meters below the surface. This mountain rises approximately 400 meters above sea level. In one of these extreme diving site Indonesia, you will find exotic sea creatures and volcanic activity in the form of gas bubbles. This gas bubble contains sulfur and has a temperature of 37-38 degrees Celsius.
To reach this location you can fly on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The second option, you can sail with 3 types of ships from Manado to Tahuna available every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday with the Terra Sancta ship. The Lotus Marine Vessel travels the same route every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday at 19.00. Meanwhile, Express Ships are available every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 09.00 also from Manado to Tahuna. Tickets vary from IDR 150,000 to IDR 300,000. Travel time from Tahuna City is 3 hours by sea transportation. You can save time by renting a speed boat with a travel time of 2 hours.
Shark safari in Belongas Bay
Did you know Belongas Bay in southwest Lombok is one of the few places on the planet where you can dive with both scalloped and great hammerhead sharks?
Even the most experienced scuba divers will be saying “wow” to their dive buddies after this adrenaline-pumping dive.
The elements at this dive site take visitors on a wild ride in order to attract such a large school of hammerheads as well as other pelagic species. The currents are some of the strongest in the area, and the surface conditions are also not to be taken lightly. This is not a dive for inexperienced divers.
Read also: Best Luxury Liveaboard Destination in Indonesia
The dive begins with a negative entry to 20 meters after a rocky ride to a lighthouse about 20 minutes offshore. Divers gather here. If not all of the divers make it to 20 meters, the group must ascend. Otherwise, the dive group descends an additional 15 to 35 meters below sea level. The divers then make their way around the rock in search of the main attraction, a school of hammerhead sharks.
Hammerhead sharks rarely engage in aggressive behavior. Their tiny mouths are better suited to eating fish than humans. If a diver is attacked, it is usually because the shark has been provoked. Divers have nothing to fear from hammerheads in general, and there have been no recorded attacks in living memory at this site in particular.
Crystal Bay, Nusa Penida
Crystal Bay in Nusa Penida is Indonesia’s premier destination from August to October for spotting the Bali Sunfish or Mola Mola, one of the 5 creatures you won’t believe exist in Bali. The enormous fish can be seen around 30 meters. Beautiful Indonesian dive site teeming with marine life. There are particularly large Napoleon, gargantuan groupers, and black tip sharks. below sea level in Crystal Bay.
Scientists believe the Mola Mola appears in shallower waters to be cleaned by other fish. This is great news for divers because it brings the rare creature closer to recreational depths. As it moves around the bay, the fish can be seen slowly waving its vertical fins and eyeing divers.
Underwater Temple, Pemuteran
You may have heard of Pemuteran’s underwater temple, but what you may not know is that it is not a ruin at all. In fact, it’s a Biorock reef that was purposefully placed just offshore to encourage coral growth.
The project began in 2007, and you can now see ten statues and a four-metre entryway placed up to 15 meters below the surface. In just eight years, the reef has grown a diverse range of soft coral and attracted a diverse range of marine life. Turtles, frogfish, and nudibranchs are common.
Cenderawasih Bay, Raja Ampat
Do you obsess over collecting’superlatives’ on your travels? For example, seeing Bali’s largest waterfall or the world’s smallest primate?
If so, we have a new animal for you to discover: the whale shark, the world’s largest fish. Indonesian waters are one of the best places to see this magnificent animal.
Cendrawasih Bay is one of the best diving site Indonesia and the only places in the world where whale sharks are regularly seen all year round.
The sheer number of these gentle beasts here will captivate both divers and snorkelers. Unlike elsewhere in the world, there are enough whale sharks to go around for each group of divers/ snorkelers. Cenderawasih Bay is truly one of the best places to interact with these amazing creatures.
USAT Liberty, a War shipwreck in Tulamben
The USAT Liberty shipwreck in Tulamben is regarded as one of the world’s best and most accessible wreck dives. It’s also one of the places in Bali that will undoubtedly give you the chills. The ship, which was originally an American warship, survived WWI only to be sent to battle again in WWII. The Japanese torpedoed it off the northeast coast of Bali in 1942. The ship was eventually beached and rusted for over 30 years. A volcanic eruption pushed the ship into the water in 1963.
The ship isn’t the only reason to visit this Bali destination. A plethora of soft corals has transformed the boat, which now houses a plethora of macro life. On the larger side, divers can expect to see trevally, lizardfish, and barracuda at this eerie dive site.
