| 1 | Street Directory to Travel in Jakarta and Bali "This website contains map of Jakarta & Bali completed with "Travel Guide" on it plus Sattelite image." This website contains map that shows street directions along with the names of location, street and building. It also shows other various informations |
| 2 | MedanKu.com Various Information on Traveling in Medan, South Sumatra |
| 3 | Wallacea Dive Cruise Wallacea Dive Cruise, PO Box 136, 94701 Luwuk - Central Sulawesi, Indonesia Dive Indonesia: live-aboard scuba diving to North Sulawesi: Bunaken, Bangka islands, Lembeh strait and Sangihe archipelago. On board of our comfortable boat, enjoy wonderful diving at the epicenter of biodiversity, discover the landscapes of islands still preserved from the modern world, and meet the culture and kindness of the Indonesian people. Dive with us into the heart of Indonesia! |
| 4 | TourJogya.com Tourjogja.com is your comprehensive resource for Jogja tourism information. We proudly propose the information needed to arrange your holiday in Jogja. Tourjogja.com strives to present the perfect and accurate information about Jogja tourism. You can be a part of Jogja in a unique ways through Tourjogja.com, because you can find lots of stories in a different section such as portrait of Jogja, heritage, the nature, rich culture, local culinary and museums. Running offer time, we will add information about hotels, travels, cafes, restaurants and other unique tourism in Jogja. |
| 5 | Trivago Indonesia Travel Information by Trivago U.K. |
| 6 | http://www.indonesiatravelplan.co.uk Footsteps across the rumbling volcano. Sleep in beach bungalows in Bali paradise and cycle through the rice paddies. We'll help you build your very own Indonesia adventure |
The Banda Islands are one of Indonesias top destinations for divers. Both experts and beginners will enjoy themselves here, as the diving ranges from the shallow lagoon between Banda Neira and Gunung Api to the vertical walls of Hatta Island, the most easterly in the group. The Bandas offer stunning tropical scenery, a remarkable history, friendly villages, and some of the globe's most pristine, biologically diverse coral reefs. Scuba is new here, but the pioneering divers didn't have to work hard for their thrills. The undersea world around Ambon and the nearby island of Saparua have top-rate dive sites. Highlights among reef walls here are the presence of large marine life - sharks, enormous turtles, schools of Napoleon Wrasse, giant groupers, tuna, rays, and huge lobsters - neighbors to generous schools of reef fish.
The Banda Islands, about 132 kilometers southeast of Ambon, consists of three larger islands and seven smaller ones, perched on the rim of Indonesia's deepest sea, the Banda Sea. Near the island Manuk, the water reaches a depth of more than 6,500 meters. Of the three biggest islands Banda, Banda-Neira and Gunung Api, the first two are covered with nutmeg trees and other vegetation. The third however, is entirely bare and highly volcanic. The seas around Banda are the site of the famous Maluku sea gardens with their bright corals and colorful fish darting through the crystal- clear waters and makes it suited to dive, snorkel or even just sightseeing.
The Banda Islands Dive Sites :
Sonegat : The nearest site for a decent dive is just five minutes by boat from the hotels. It is in the sonegat-sea arm- between Banda Neira and Gunung Api, just offshore from a little seaside house owned by Des Alwi, the Bandas most famous son. The drop off here is steep and the wall extends down 25 meters to a grey, sandy bottom. There were few fish around, but a good sized dogtooth tuna cruised by and some beautiful blue girdled and emperor angelfish.
Keraka Island: Pulau Keraka or Crab Island is just a few minutes further out, and protects the north entrance of the Neira " Gunung Api sea passage. A nice sandy stretch on the north coast is perfect for picnic. At the south shore, there are some 18 meters down a mini-wall covered with hundreds of large blue-and-yellow tunicates. To the east shore, you may see at 10 meters a good assortment of reef fish and a school of half meter long barracudas.
Sjahrir Island and Batu Kapal: Sjahrir Island or formerly known as Pisang Island (Banana Island) and Batu Kapal (Boat Stone) are just 20 minutes by boat from the hotels on Banda Neira. These two sites combine well for a morning dive, a picnic on the beach, and an afternoon dive.
Gunung Api: In May 1988, the explosion from this mountain has killed of most of the off-shore coral formations around Gunung Api, but amazingly spared many sponges. Some corals are beginning to to grow back, but by and large the seascape remains bleak. There are no walls off Gunung Api. The bottom slopes gradually to 30-35 meters.
Lontar Island: The outer edge of Lontar Island, which represents part of the rim of a sunken caldera, offers several good dive sites.
Batu Belanda: On this site, you will find many barrel and tube sponges and small caves and cracks. The fish were varied and plentiful: a school of snappers, large emperor and blue-girdled angelfish, wrasses, a large pinnate bat-fish and numerous bannerfish
Ai Island: Together with Hatta Island, this island offers Bandas best diving. Both the north coast and the south "west of Ai are ringed with flawless coral walls, which are rugged and full of caves, the kind of habitat that harbors fish.
Hatta Island: Hatta Island is about 25 km by sea from Banda Neira. Skaru atoll, a barely submerged reef a few hundred meters off the southern point of Hatta. On a coral outcrop, watch the passing parade of Unicornfish, Fusiliersm Jack Fish and Rainbow Runners, often seen Whitetip Sharks (almost 2 meters) and Dogtoothed Tuna, Napolean Wrasse, and Hawksbill Turtles.
Getting There
To Ambon :usually fly from Denpasar Bali via Ujung Pandang. To Banda Islands :fly from Ambon by small plane/Merpati Airlines. Or you could try this one :Flying from Ujung Pandang to Ambon. Then you'd have to wait for the ferry (once every two weeks), and stay at the Bandas for 17 days until the ferry returned.
Where to Stay
There are plenty of small, very inexpensive places to stay around Bandas that you can choose to stay with varied price and facilities
Moving Around
Many days can be spent around these lush islands. Spices are still grown here and the local people still make traditional food and snacks using these once very rare and sought after spices. Short walks to see the forts left behind by the Dutch, visits plantations of nutmeg. The trek up Gunung Api will surely leave a lasting impression with amazing panoramic views if the islands surrounding Banda Niera.
Dining Guide
There are only a few small restaurants with varied of Indonesian foods.
Souvenir Tips
Try to buy some local souvenirs here or traditional foods and snacks.
Other Things to See or Do
For non divers need not worry about boredom, beside snorkeling in the lagoon right off Banda Neira, there are tennis courts and go on a short pleasure trip around Banda Neira. For those who bring their children, they can swim in calm waters or watch the sharks, fish and turtles in two enclosures in the lagoon.
Travel Tips
Diving is possible all year round, but the monsoon may restrict your choice of dive sites from July to September,
Diving is usually comfortable, with good visibility and calm waters, but some of the dive sites are subject to conditions that make them suitable for experienced divers only,
Don't forget to equipped yourself with diving equipments, surf board and snorkel,
Try to hire equipment from larger firms as these tend to be more reliable, but remember the responsibility of checking the equipment is ultimately yours.
Bring a bathing suit and extra clothings.
it is an amazing museum diorama of the Mesozoic era dry tundra and reptilian supremacy. Komodo's symbol of international fame its dragons, the world's largest living lizard.
The waters that surround the island are turbulent and teeming with unparalled marine life. A marine reserve has recently been established and this reserve is largely undocumented and
remains unexplored. Komodo National Park was established in 1980. It was declared as a Man and Biosphere Reserve and a World Heritage Site in 1986. KNP includes three major islands - Komodo, Rinca and Padar and numerous smaller islands together totaling 41,000 ha of land contains 132,000 ha of marine waters.
DIVE SITES:
Bidadari IslandSabolon
- Sabolon kecil 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.
- Sabolon Besar steep slopes off the southern and western sides of the bigger island, fabulous coral coverage and a good chance of spotting Scorpion leaf fish.
- Sebayur kecil walls and slopes of every kind of coral you can imagine, wide variety of marine life to be seen at this site, mantas often seen.
- Tatawa Besar slope with soft coral garden changing to hard coral along the slope, lots of shoaling fish, rainbow runners, fuseliers and often turtles and black tip sharks.
- Tatawa Kecil (current city) as the name implies, this site is washed by very strong currents, which is why this site is among the many world class sites in the Komodo National Park,schools of pelagic fish patrol the waters, best dived at slack tide.
Batu Bolong
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 3mm wetsuit & hood is recommended. More active people will
prefer a sports suit in northern sites. - VISIBILITY: 10 - 50M year round. Traditionally clearer water on northern sites.CURRENT: Komodo experiences a strong tidal flow. Not all sites are affected by current. Drift diving is excellent, however 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, inaccordance 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, however we do offer special sites for encountering unusual marine species.
- OTHERS: Seamounts, fringing reefs, gutters, muck, and sandy locations are also found in the archipelago.
Getting There
Where to Stay
You can contact the above tour operators for more information. You can also plan to stay in Bali, and spend a whole day for visiting Komodo Island.
Moving Around
Dining Guide
Traditional restaurants and small cafes.
Souvenir Tips
Other Things to See or Do
- Fishing
- Snorkeling in Komodo has one of the world's most famous snorkel sites (Pink Beach)
- Dragon walks
- Nature walks
- Hiking
- Beach-combing.
Travel Tips
- Guide Book : Diving Indonesia (a guide to the world's greatest diving), Periplus Action Guide, Kal Muller.
- More Information about Diving in Komodo Islands you can contact: Adventure Indonesia, Jakarta Office-Wisma 31 Kemang, 3rd Floor, Jl Raya Kemang 31, Jakarta 12730. Phone:
62-21-7182250,7182256,Fax:62-21-7180438. www.adventureindonesia.com,email:info@adventureindonesia.com, bali@adventureindonesia.com
(Taken from www.iriandive.com)
Raja Ampat Island is the most westerndistrict of the Indonesian province of Papua. Raja Ampat consists of an
area surrounding four major island off the western coast of Birds Head
Panisula of New Guinea Island. The western half of which is Indonesia and
the eastern half, Papua New Guinea. The province was called Irian Jaya,
and its a cluster of over 1500 small Islands.
Raja Ampat is the most bio-diverse location in the world more than 3000 species of fishes and over 300 species of corals have been identified here, in a single one and half hour dive you can identified more than 282 fish species and more than 400 species. Till this very day the area is virtually unexplored and unknown due to its size. This area as there are still many remnants of WW II.
The Roughest seas and decreased visibility in the Raja Ampat area are from mid-June until the end of August. During the rest of the year, the sea is mostly very smooth whit good visibility.Dive sites in Raja Ampat Island:
- Kri Island: Kri has several sites and Cape Kri is one of the fishiest. The fish numbers and variety are truly amazing. The site is current dependent. Generally it's a steep slope with beautiful coral growth, lots of reef and schooling fishes, including the giant Queensland Grouper.
- Sardine Reef: Sardine Reef has really giant clams at 10m (33ft) but it's all about non-stop fishes here. There's a resident school of bumphead parrotfish in the shallows, colorful soft corals and plenty of critters.
- Kaboei Bay Rock Islands: The bay is a labyrinth of rock islands. Visibility isn't great but this is a great place for macro and finding odd nudibranches, mollusks and the pictured dragonet. Bat caves and skeletons are found on some of the islands.
- The Passage: This is a drift dive through a narrow channel near Waigeo. Look for archerfish among the mangroves, orange cup corals, seahorses, and percula clownfish.
- Fam Island: Several sites near Fam have stunning coral growth. Sponges and soft corals add color and fishes keep it going. Sites include walls, sloping reefs, and muddy bays.
- Misool: Misool is awash in fish life and huge sea fans. Caverns and boulders mark several sites. The schooling fishes seem endless and pygmy seahorses live in less than 10m (33ft). Some sites are current dependent.
At a Glance Irian Diving
- Reef type: Vertical walls, Lagoon channels, caves, platform reefs, etc.
- Access: By boat from base camps.
- Visibility: Very good, 20-45 meters.
- Current: Moderate, excellent for drift diving.
- Coral: Excellent " abundant & divers.
- Fish: Variety & abundanceguaranteed.
- Highlights: Snorkeling with dolphins near the Wai base camp (5m); White-tip sharks under P47B wing; finding new wrecks untouched/complete.
Getting There
It is easiest to fly through to Sorong via Jakarta or via Singapore. Merpati, Pelita and Lion/Wings Airlines operate daily flights from Jakarta to Sorong (with stopovers in Ujung Pandang/Makassar and/or Manado), whereas Silk Air operates regularly from Singapore to Manado. Daily flights to and from Sorong by Airlines Merpati, Lion/Wings or Pelita.
Where to Stay
Raja Ampat Island have several accommodations whit traditional design, and there many boat you can rent for a stay. If you using dive operator they will arrange for your base came.
Raja Ampat islands have a very diverse topography with steep mountain shores and deserted white sand beaches. Explore the land on foot. Use a boat to move from one dive site to another dive site.
Dining GuideThere are several restaurants and cafes throughout Sorong. Try their specialties: traditional irian foods!
Souvenir Tips
There are many traditional souvenirs made from wood.
Other Things to See or Do
waterways breathtaking limestone landscapes and Manta ray spotting and
bird watching.
Travel Tips
- To enter Papua itself, you need a surat jalan (Travel Permit) which is issued by the local police. Please bring: 3 Passport Photos, 3 Copies of the photo page of your passport and 3 Copies of the passport page with the Indonesian Visa.
- Guide Book : Diving Indonesia (a guide to the world's greatest diving), Periplus Action Guide, Kal Muller.
- More Information about Irian Jaya Dive, contact: Sorong, Indonesia Office: Papua Diving. Phone: +62 (411) 401 660, Fax: +62 (951) 325 274. http://www.iriandiving.com/

