Category: Diving in Indonesia

 

Diving in Indonesia is one of the best in Asia-Pacific with famous diving spots such as Bali, Komodo National Park and Raja Ampat and famous dives such as the Liberty shipwreck and Crystal Bay. Indonesia is a great destination for scuba divers who love muck diving and coral reefs. It is one of the underwater photographers’ favourite destinations for macro photography. A little less known, you can also give a try at diving in North Sulawesi.

The marine life in Indonesia is mostly about mola molas, manta rays, reef sharks, pygmy seahorses and nudibranchs. It’s the right place to go for experienced divers mainly. Due to the water temperatures, regarding scuba gear, it is most common to scuba dive there in a 5 mm wetsuit. The best time of the year is often from May to October, but the islands can be dived year-round. The best dive sites can be reached by boat or from the shore.

Below you will find all my best scuba diving stories from diving in Indonesia. I share my top tips on how to organise your trip, my favourites dives, what is the best itinerary or how to do it without breaking the bank. From a travel budget point of view, Indonesia is a lower budget destination, so you may need to save up but not as much as you think.

diving in Menjangan Island - Bali - Giant red sea fan

Diving in Menjangan Island: a remote coral wonderland in Bali

Nestled off its northwestern coast, Menjangan remains one of Bali’s most underrated dive destinations. Often overshadowed by more popular and more easily accessible diving spots such as Tulamben or Nusa Penida, Menjangan offers a tranquil escape with turquoise waters and vibrant coral gardens. Any underwater adventurer should make the effort to drive a little further and put the tiny island on the itinerary when

USAT Liberty shipwreck Bali - Florine

The USAT Liberty Shipwreck: 11 reasons why it became Bali #1 dive site

Beyond its lush nature and serene temples, Bali is a treasure trove of diving spots. Among its underwater gems, one shines brighter than the others: the USAT Liberty Shipwreck. This World War II remnant has captivated divers from all over the world since the 1980s. When diving in Bali, a trip to its northeast coast is a must for any passionate scuba diver, free

Where to recover from jetlag in Bali?

Once you arrive at Denpasar Airport, the journey to the best dive sites in Bali is still quite a while longer. If you arrive from America or, like me, from Europe, you may need some serious rest after often more than 20 hours of flight. Besides, Bali is in the GMT+8 time zone, so there is a 13-hour time difference from NYC (12 in

2 weeks in Bali: my ultimate road trip itinerary for scuba divers

Bali is a dream destination for many scuba divers. After two trips there, I can easily understand why. The island of the Gods is a paradise for adventure seekers and culture lovers while being very affordable. If you look at scuba diving package holidays you might have been shocked by the price tag whereas it is simple to plan a trip to Bali by

Diving the Liberty shipwreck at sunrise

At the end of a curvy road, up and down the slopes of Mount Agung, between the jungle and the rice fields, lies the Balinese village of Tulamben on a black pebble beach. Without the periodic wrath of Agung, an active volcano, Tulamben would have stayed a village in the middle of nowhere. Not only is it an incredible macro diving spot where underwater

Diving in Nusa Lembongan: Mission Mola-Mola in Bali

The Mola-Mola, or oceanic sunfish, is certainly the best ambassador of scuba diving in Bali and maybe Indonesia. Meeting the heaviest bony fish in the world (it can weigh up to 1000 kg) is like searching for the Holy Grail for most scuba divers coming from all over the world. Located on Bali south-east shore near Sanur, the island of Nusa Lembongan is the

Scuba diving in Komodo

How I unexpectedly ended scuba diving in Komodo

For my first trip to Indonesia, I initially only had in mind a road trip to scuba dive and get around Bali. Yet, this is how the magic starts within a journey: when you leave enough space for spontaneous adventures.  After one month in Indonesia, I actually discovered more of Indonesia beyond Bali with a trip to Flores Island, where I went scuba diving

Jukung on Amed beach

The charm of a jukung dive in Amed, Bali

Located on the northeastern coast of Bali, Amed is one of the most popular scuba diving destinations on the island of the Gods. Dive sites such as the Wall and the Pyramids are some of the best dive sites in Bali. Scuba divers can frequently see underwater anemone fish and nudibranchs. Amed is about muck diving and is perfect for beginners thanks to its