Submerged, pristine marine empires await passionate divers. Countless fish and invertebrates that shelter among and encrust the rugged surface provided by the clumps, shelves and branches of corals are overwhelming in shapes and colors. All reminds us of a time when all life on earth existed in shallow, tropical seas. Amidst political issues, stability and safety of the nation, as well as the slowly recovering struggles from the last monetary crisis, I'm still able to find lots of love and hope in this beautiful country, especially when I'm underwater!

Consisting more than 17,000 islands, Indonesia IS the largest archipelago in the world, with at least 80,000 kilometers of coastline. As an Indonesian, I think it would be a total shame not to explore the rich waters of Indonesia. And it would be even more shameful to leave the explorations and discoveries to foreign divers who have enjoyed underwater adventures for decades in this country. So here I go. I'd like to think that I'm one of those avid divers who will jump in the clear blue waters of Indonesia at a drop of a hat. And you should too.

Just imagine, about 4,000 different fish species are found in Indonesian waters (over 25% of the planet's fish species), in comparison to the 1,000 found in the Red Sea or the 400 from the Caribbean. Apart from this, invertebrates proliferate throughout the hundreds of patch reefs, sheer walls and barriers reefs. Colorful nudibranch, pipe fishes and pigmy seahorses roam amongst the chrynoids, gorgonias and soft corals, a whole rainbow hue covering the entire extension of the reef walls. Big fish pop up every now and then, offering superb sights of big tunas, shoal or barracudas, manta rays and sharks galore. It is also possible to sight a rarity such as dugong, the impressive marine herbivorous relative of the manatees and the unique survivor of the syrenid order. And of course, let's not leave out the exciting possibilities to spot several species of cetaceans, from tiny porpoises to the huge Sperm whale.

Dive Bali

Bali, the Island of Gods, is located in the Lesser Sunda region, midway along Indonesia's southernmost chain of islands between Java and Lombok. The south coast of Bali just touches the easternmost edge of the Indian Ocean, while the north coast looks onto the Java Sea. To the southeast lies the islands of Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Penida and Ceningan, all of which offer excellent diving. The eastern coast offers Amen and Tulamben, while in Bali's northwestern waters lie the gorgeous Menjangan Island, a part of Bali Barat National Park, a protected conservation area.

Amed & Tulamben

Amed and Tulamben provide a picturesque combination of 30-meter-long coral walls, drop offs and slopes that are easy to access from the shore. These areas are actually Bali's greatest underwater charm, with their wide range and variety of sites. Experienced divers can tempt numerous sites, including Jemeluk Beach, Shipwreck, Gili Selang, Amed Wall, Tulamben Wall, Monkey Reef and Balu Kelebit. As you probably can guess, a dive on the 110-meter steel U.S. Liberty shipwreck from World War II, is the most favorit dive site of all times!

Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and Ceningan

Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan and Ceningan is within easy access from Tanjung Benoa using dive operator boat or live-aboard vessel, or from Sanur by a traditional boat or jukung. Off vertical drop-offs. Over sand slopes. Off limestone shores. In roaming currents. In quiet bays. Along deep, coral-covered ridges. In short, all tastes are accommodated here. Furthermore, between June to November, if you're lucky, you can possibly encounter the rare, endangered and magnificent mola-mola (oceanic sunfish). Several recommended sites include Blue Corner, Crystal Bay and Manta Point.

Menjangan Island

It is easier to access the Island of Menjangan from the small town of Banyuwangi in East Java, rather than from Bali. But despite the long detour, its waters promise superb slope and wall diving all the way to 40-meter deep! Schools of big fish can be found easily here, hiding in numerous coral alleys decorated with sea-fans, hard corals and soft corals, quietly waiting to ambush their preys.

Padangbay & Candi Dasa

These two sites are only recommended for experienced divers due to the wild currents in both locations. But for those of you with Advance Open Water Diver qualifications, Padangbay and Candi Dasa, which are set between Mimpang Island and Tepekong Island, both display unique marine biodiversities, including plenty of “Nemo” or anemone fish, sweetlips and also sharks. Definitely worth fighting the currents!

Dive Banda

Dark blue waters of Banda Sea, blue as far as you can see. The depth and the vastness of this particular ocean is nevertheless quite intimidating. But out of the blue, six tiny islands come into view, out of nowhere, in the middle of nowhere, with a towering volcano in the middle of them all, like a confident guardian, humbling you infinitely. The historic Banda is where this nation started. The spice race around four centuries ago had led European traders to this unknown part of the world, looking for cloves and nutmegs, eventually causing the entire Indonesian archipelago to fall under Dutch colony for 350 years. Now, these islands are still regularly visited by people from all over the world. No longer by traders, but by divers! Why? Because this is simply… heaven.

Tanjung Burang

From afar, Banda Besar Island or also known as Lonthoir Island looks like a big wall hiding and protecting the smaller Neira Island and Mount Api from gusting wind and riotous waves. This biggest island in Banda extends its invitations to divers to its underwater treasure in Tanjung Burang. Ride a speedboat to reach this northernmost tip of Banda Besar Island to dive with thousands of marine organisms, such as gorgonias, sponges, crinoids dan ferns in the depth of around 30 meters.

Batu Kapal

If you enter Banda Islands from the north, this location is set in the "mouth" of Banda Neira, sandwiched perfectly between Neira Island and Mount Api. Above its waterline, Batu Kapal is only a small uninhabited rocky boulder in the middle of Banda Sea. But underwater, it offers a dramatic topography, displaying breathtaking underwater kingdoms, consisting of two drop offs that strategically divide this site into two zones, outer zone and inner zone. Dominated by intriguing black corals, marine lives such as mantas, gorgonias and sponges burst richly in vivid existence between these two zones. Pure volcanic diving sensation!

Run Island

The underwater delight surrounding Run Island provides plenty sites for everyone, from the amateur snorkelers to the most daring advanced divers. The "floor" of Run Island is carpeted with fertile underwater garden, offering an unmatched sense of wealth and beauty unknown to other parts of the world. To reach Run Island, just hire a speedboat from Banda Neira or hop on a regular fishermen boat from Ay Island.

Dive Komodo

Diving in Komodo National Park is definitely world-class diving! Situated 200 nautical miles east of Bali, between the islands of Flores and Sumbawa, the islands of the dragons, Rinca and Komodo Islands, are only two of the 175 islands in the Park (about 90% uninhabited). Both above and below the sea, Komodo represents a unique range of geological and biological diversity. On shore it is an amazing museum diorama of the Mesozoic-era dry tundra and reptilian supremacy, with the Komodo dragon, the world's largest living lizard, as its symbol that has claimed international fame, as well as a UNESCO World Heritage status.

In the sea, it's vibrant color and exotic life will enchant divers and snorkelers alike as endless schools of fish ride the waterways rushing up from deep sea vents. Below them the seabed is covered with a thick carpet of florescent corals and marine invertebrates, providing an underwater photographers paradise. The waters that surround the island are turbulent and teeming with unparallel marine life. The corals in Komodo National Park are pristine, with mantas, sharks, turtles, dolphins, dugong, many pelagic fish to the tiny pygmy seahorses, nudibranch, frog fish, scorpion fish and many more. You name it, Komodo's got it.

The sites vary from gentle easy coral slopes to heart-pounding adrenalin current rides, from the warm waters of the Flores Sea in the north to the chillier waters down south in the Indian Ocean. The underwater terrain is so varied with sheer cliff walls, pinnacles, sandy flat bottoms, underwater plateaus, slopes, caves, swim-throughs, channels, all with varying colors, sizes and types of corals, both hard and soft.

Bidadari Island

Angel steps, huge towers of stone, encrusted with hard and soft corals, fully covered in nudibranch, small caves and overhangs make this a very interesting and beautiful site, Dusky sharks, bumped-head parrot fish are among the bigger creatures you can see here. Cathedral Coral, a gentle slope covered with table corals of every color and schooling fish, a towering spire of coral with a small cave at it's base, all creates a home to some huge lobsters.

Sabolo Kecil & Sabolo Besar

Sabolo Kecil is a slope on the east side of this tiny island, with two underwater mounds at the southern end with fields of garden eels and sea pens. Schools of round bat fish are often seen coming quite close for some nice photography. While Sabolo Besar offers steep slopes off the southern and western sides of the bigger island, with fabulous coral coverage and a good chance of spotting Scorpion leaf fish.

Sebayur Kecil, Tatawa Besar & Tatawa Kecil

Sebayur Kecil features walls and slopes of every kind of coral you can imagine, teaming with wide variety of marine life. Mantas often seen here. Tatawa Besar's slope is packed with soft corals slowly changing to hard corals along the further end of the slope. Swim with lots of shoaling fish, rainbow runners, fusiliers, as well as turtles and black tip sharks. For advanced divers, never ever miss diving at Tatawa Kecil, which is also called the Current City. As the name implies, the site is washed by very strong currents, which is why it is among the many world class sites in the Komodo National Park. Schools of pelagic fish patrol the waters, which is best dived at slack tide.

Batu Bolong

A little further west from the Current City, a small rock outcrop with a hole through it is the surface mark of another world class site, only to be dived at slack tide or with a current not long from stopping or starting to run. These giant slabs of rock which disappear into the depths are an amazing sight to see, covered with every form of marine life and patrolled by giant trevallies, Napoleon Wrasse, sharks and turtles, with schools of barracuda sweeping in and out to check out the divers.

You will also often see the iconic Manta Rays at many of the sites. Whale sharks also have their season here, while whales and dolphins are often spotted from the boat. Furthermore, diving the Komodo National Park provides some fantastic conditions:

• Water temperature: 20 - 28 degrees Celsius (68 - 85 °F) , cooler water is experienced on the southern sites. Full 3 mm wetsuit is recommended. More active people will prefer a sports suit / skin suit in northern sites.

• Visibility: 10 - 50 meter all year round. Traditionally clearer water on northern sites.

• Current: Komodo experiences a strong tidal flow. However, not all sites are affected by current. Drift diving is excellent. But during spring tides, some sites are impossible to dive. Particular attention is placed on diving the correct sites at the most suitable time to ensure optimum conditions, in accordance with the preferences of the group.

• Night diving: The night diving in Komodo is breathtaking. The sheer beauty, color and diversity of life makes it a must see for all divers.

• Walls: There are numerous walls to choose from. Both drift and static wall dives are offered.

• Canyons: Huge chasms drop thousands of meters, fringed by extraordinary coral gardens.

• Critters: Found in all locations, offering encounters with unusual marine species.

• Others: Seamounts, fringing reefs, gutters, muck, and sandy locations are also found in the archipelago.

• Snorkeling: Komodo has one of the world's most famous snorkel sites (Pink Beach). Also a number of other first class locations.