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No one knows exactly how many
islands there are in Indonesia, but with over 17,000 of
them, its total coast lines sweep a staggering 80,000
kilometres, and its territorial waters claim kilometres of
sea. These are seas that hold some 15% of the world's coral
reefs. They bloom in blue waters, awaiting a diver's
discovery. The waters of Indonesia offer the last vestiges
of untapped tropical diving left on our planet. Here,
islands are still revealed and stolen by the sea, seeded by
the geological activity that cuts a great 5,000 kilometre
arc from mainland Southeast Asia to New Guinea.
Strewn with fractious volcanoes marking the edge of a
tectonic plate, the arc is lyrically dubbed the "Ring of
Fire". This arc is traced by rugged islands blanketed with
tropical flora. Emerald canopies where the jungle still
reigns, rice fields of jade and gold where man has stamped
his claim. It is a beauty that spills into the seas,
encircling islands with rainbow-hued coral reefs where a
myriad of marine creatures play.
Depending on aptitude and attitude, there is diving to suit
all desires. Land-based resort diving in gentle waters ideal
for novices; offshore sites for the privilege of depths less
known; luxury live aboards for those after the adrenalin
high of waters remote and pristine. Coral gardens, reef
walls, caves, underwater volcanoes, lagoon channels and
wrecks. Indonesia has it all. And still more sites and
depths are awaiting discovery... Come, discover the other
side of Indonesia. And learn a new meaning to the rapture of
the deep. Dive Indonesia!
Information
provided by
Department of Tourism. Government of
Indonesia |
