Bali
Indonesia's most famous tourist resort island has plenty of options for scuba divers of all levels of experience. Deep walls, drift dives through deep water channels, coral reefs, volcanic muck diving, a world famous wreck, offshore islands, mola mola and mantas, superb island scenery and affordable prices. No wonder Bali remains a popular dive destination in Indonesia for many. Whether you are new to scuba diving or a seasoned pro, Bali offers an accessible and rewarding introduction to the country's underwater riches.
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Bali]
Banda Sea
The Banda Sea may be located between the better known destinations of Komodo and Raja Ampat, but for those in the know it deserves its own reputation as one of the world's best dive regions. Scuba diving in Banda means experiencing incredible variety of both large and small. Big pelagics and large schools abound. The reefs are healthy and thriving. Consider on top of this that many different species of whales and dolphins are often sighted, and you begin to get the picture. Diving here is varied, colourful and fascinating.
The Banda Sea icovers a huge area and the diving varies greatly from place to place. Many Banda Sea trips use the port of Ambon which is something of a macro haven. Here you can dive in Ambon Bay along the dark sandy floor beneath local fishing boats. Scraps are tossed into the sea from these boats making the waters a veritable banquet for all sorts of weird and wonderful critters. These include Ambon scorpionfish, fingered dragonets, thorny seahorses and multiple moray eel species - as many as 10 distinct species! There is plenty of wonderful muck diving in Indonesia, and Ambon Bay is up there with the very best.
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Banda Sea]
Cenderawasih Bay
Further northeast from Raja Ampat in West Papua lies the large and increasingly famous Cenderawasih Bay. It is best known for incredible scuba diving opportunities with large numbers of whale sharks. There are also several World War II wrecks to investigate and some top class muck diving locations with critters galore. Year upon year, as its reputation grows, more divers are experiencing the wonders of Cenderawasih, making it a must-visit for anyone seeking a unique Indonesia dive adventure.
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Cenderawasih Bay]
Derawan Archipelago
Sangalaki and the neighbouring islands of Maratua, Kakaban and Derawan are a remote diving region off the east coast of Indonesian Borneo. More liveaboards have begun to visit the region in recent years attracted by the promise of manta rays, whale sharks, meaty pelagics, large schools of fish and pristine reefs. Add to this snorkelling in the jellyfish lake of Kakaban and some great macro sites, and it is clear why this up-and-coming region is viewed as a leading diving destination in Indonesia.
Forgotten Islands
This is a diving region rising in reputation in eastern Indonesia, otherwise known as the south east Moluccas. This eastern section of the Banda Sea is often dived alongside Alor (to the south) or Raja Ampat (to the north). Few liveaboards venture here, so you will feel like a pioneer diving around islands like Wetar, Nila, Damar, Sermata and Tanimbar. There is often excellent visibility as you dive drop-offs, reef flats and pinnacles. Highlights include schools of hammerhead sharks (September to November), whale sharks, bumphead parrotfish, plus large schools of big-eye trevally and barracuda. There are also plenty of macro delights in the pristine reefs to keep you enthralled when the big pelagics are not in sight, making this one of the most exciting frontiers for Indonesia scuba diving.
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Forgotten Islands]
Halmahera
Halmahera, the largest island in the Maluku Islands (The Moluccas), is an emerging dive destination that offers a remarkable diversity of underwater landscapes and marine life. The region's nutrient-rich waters support vibrant coral formations, steep walls, and fascinating muck sites. Diving in Halmahera rewards visitors with encounters ranging from schooling hammerheads and pelagic fish to rare macro subjects like flamboyant cuttlefish and various species of frogfish. The island's remote location means fewer liveaboards venture here, ensuring that those who make the trip experience pristine reefs and a true sense of exploration. For Indonesia scuba diving enthusiasts seeking uncharted territory, Halmahera's combination of big fish action, pristine coral gardens, and intriguing critter sites makes it a compelling addition to any visit.
Komodo
The islands of myth and legend where dragons roam, are surrounded by rich nutrient-filled waters where a kaleidoscope of colour and life awaits scuba divers. Mantas, dolphins and sharks compete with critters galore, all against a riot of soft coral colours. Komodo liveaboard trips allow you to visit the many varied sites around this awesome marine park, some starting in Bali and visiting all the best sites along the way. The combination of thrilling diving and unique topside attractions makes Komodo a cornerstone of any Indonesia dive itinerary.
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Komodo]
Nusa Tenggara
Moving east from Komodo you will find the Lesser Sunda Islands of Alor and Flores which, together with other little surrounding islands form the excellent diving region of Nusa Tenggara. Less visited than some of its better known neighbours, Alor and Flores liveaboard trips promise some top quality Indonesian diving without the competition for space that can be seen elsewhere. Varied dive sites, superb macro-life, a low human population and excellent visibility make this a relatively undiscovered gem of a diving destination. Sharks, schooling fish, critters like pegasus and bobbit worms, plus underwater lava flows all contribute to this Indonesian dive experience that rewards those who venture off the beaten path.
Raja Ampat
One of the few destinations left which truly allows you to feel like you are a pioneer - to boldly dive where no man has dived before. You can marvel at the incredible topside scenery of West Papua, sail through waters where so few boats venture and experience some of the most impressive scuba diving in Indonesia ... and therefore the world. For those who want to get away from it all and dive in a remote paradise but not compromise on comfort then Raja Ampat liveaboards are the choice for you. This is the pinnacle of world diving.
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Raja Ampat]
Sulawesi
The island is home to some of the most varied and incredible diving in the world. To dive from Manado in the Bunaken National Marine Park means being surrounded by marine bio-diversity that is the envy of the world - with more varieties of coral than anywhere else. Ocean currents sweep nutrient rich water around Bunaken island meaning an abundance of marine life from tiny crustaceans to sharks and rays. Dive sites range from walls to reef flats to critter hunting in the sand. Bunaken is among the most rewarding and relaxing diving in Indonesia, and suitable for all experience levels.
A short drive from here is the Lembeh Strait - the undisputed King of muck diving destinations. This small calm stretch of water is where macro-photographers and critter hunters agree offers the most impressive diving. Along the black sandy floor you will encounter more bizarre and fascinating marine creatures than you could wish for. This is why many divers return time and again to Sulawesi, an Indonesian island where you can fulfil all your dive dreams.
Further north, Bangka Island offers a blend of wall diving, sloping reefs, and macro sites that rivals its more famous neighbours. This region is known for its pristine hard coral gardens, abundant sea turtles, and frequent encounters with eagle rays and reef sharks. The nutrient-rich waters attract large schools of pelagic fish, making it a rewarding destination for those seeking variety in their Indonesia diving trip. With fewer liveaboards and divers than nearby Bunaken or Lembeh, diving in Bangka provides a quieter, more relaxed atmosphere while still delivering world-class marine life encounters.
The Togian Islands, scattered across the Gulf of Tomini in Central Sulawesi, represent one of Indonesia's last true frontiers. This archipelago of 56 islands has remained largely off the main dive circuit due to its challenging accessibility, meaning reefs here have experienced very little pressure for decades. The diving is legendary because it is one of the few places on Earth where you can find atolls, barrier reefs, and fringing reefs all in one area. The Walea Strait, a deep channel with currents, attracts pelagic life, while the rest of the archipelago offers pure reef diving with an abundance of macro life including nudibranchs, pipefish, and moray eels.
Sitting on the northern shore of Tomini Bay, Gorontalo offers access to one of Indonesia's deepest bays at over 4,000 metres. This geography means deep-ocean water and pelagic life arrive almost at your feet, creating a unique and diverse diving environment. Wall dives here are unlike those elsewhere, featuring contorted, sculptural Salvador Dali sponges, a strange morphology of barrel sponge that grows into swirling forms up to 3 metres long. Just 20 minutes east lies Botubarani, where juvenile whale sharks aggregate, offering one of the most logistically easy and reliable whale shark encounters on the planet. For divers who appreciate pioneering spirit and endemic species, this region of Sulawesi is a compelling frontier.
Sumbawa
Sumbawa is a regular stop on Indonesia liveaboard cruises between Bali and the east, but it offers far more than a convenient anchorage. The northern coast, dotted with islands like Moyo, Sangeang, and Satonda, provides sheltered havens for exceptional diving: crystal-clear water, deep and vibrant walls, steaming underwater volcanic vents, and fertile breeding grounds. Scuba diving in Sumbawa reveals vast schools of triggerfish and butterflyfish, numerous reef sharks and tunas in deep walled sections, and macro sightings of blue-ringed octopus, clown frogfish, and nudibranchs. In recent years, pioneering liveaboards have started to include Saleh Bay, where whale sharks gather to feed on krill and fisherman's discards, offering a unique encounter with these gentle giants away from the crowds. With topside attractions like active volcanoes and enormous bat colonies, and few dive resorts on the island, a liveaboard safari is the primary way to explore these waters, ensuring your Indonesia dive experience here remains exclusive, adventurous, and rich with diverse marine life.
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Sumbawa]
Triton Bay
Lying to the south east of Raja Ampat in Indonesian West Papua, Triton Bay is often included in those liveaboard safaris which include the Banda Sea and/or Raja Ampat. It is an excellent dive region in its own right with fabulous soft coral coverage, vast forests of black coral, big schools of fish, epaulette sharks, turtles, whale sharks, pilot whales and more. The topside scenery, with its vaulting cliffs, lush verdant foliage and ancient cave paintings, also contribute to it being a unique and unforgettable Indonesian dive destination.
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Triton Bay]
Wakatobi
The Wakatobi archipelago is renowned for its pristine coral gardens and exceptional biodiversity, making it a standout diving destination in Indonesia. This remote region encompasses some of the healthiest reef systems in the world, with hard and soft coral coverage that is nothing short of spectacular. Scuba diving in Wakatobi offers wall dives, gentle drifts, and shallow coral gardens teeming with macro life, pygmy seahorses, and an impressive array of reef fish. The region's isolation means fewer visitors, ensuring that diving here remain intimate and unhurried. For those seeking world-class diving in Indonesia without the crowds, Wakatobi's protected reefs and exceptional biodiversity are hard to beat.
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Wakatobi]
