When In Indonesia, You Must DIVE
I was doing my regular browsing and clicked this site: http://nilatanzil.blogspot.com/2007/09/my-first-scuba-diving-experience.html. Yup, the one with Nila in the picture is me. As a free-lance diving instructor for 3 years, I felt a bit embarrased that I haven’t written anything on diving in this blog (besides my critique on Sabang). So, here it is.
Let me start with how I started diving. It was in 2001 when I took my PADI diving license. Like othere Jakartans, I did my first openwater course in Pulau Seribu, in Sepa Island. Since then, I was addicted. And I regretted that I didn’t start it earlier. But never too late to start, because diving is one of the adventurous activities that does not discriminate age.
As I travel and educate myself, I encountered lots of environments (mild and friendly current, bad visibility, strong current), introduced to different creatures I’ve only seen on TV, National Geographics or SeaWorld (sharks, manta, nudibranch, seahorse, mola-mola) and different sights (ship and airplane wrecks, caves). Different colour combination. Different ecosystem. As a geologist, it is a recent carbonate environment fieldtrip everytime I go diving. I see columnar joints and hot springs underwater (Banda Sea, Krakatoa), reefs, understand what exists on the shelf, slope and at the deeper part.
Diving is so addictive I always plan my vacations for diving. I explore different adventures: night diving, wreck diving, drift diving, underwater photography, discovering different macro creatures like nudibranches (which, up to this date, is my favorite). Diving land base and live aboards. All have different excitements and adrenalin rushes. My last exposure was on the Reef Check I joined in Sabang, where I learned more about reef ecosystem and the parameter for healthy reefs (check my posting on Sabang).
Besides underwater, there are other joys: meeting new people, talking to local people and experiencing different cultures. I wouldn’t be going to Sorong if it wasn’t for diving. Or Sabang, or Flores. And it also became challenging, so I took my Advance and Rescue class. That was actually enough for amateur divers, but I pushed myself getting pro by pursuing my Dive Master and finally, Instructor level. And then it becomes more fun teaching and sharing what I feel passionate about.
And I’m so glad I live in Indonesia and I dive. Why?
- The water is warm. A 3mm wetsuit is enough. OK, Nusa Penida is an exception, but still don’t need dry suit.
- After diving, you can sunbathe
- Lots of dive spots. Mecca for diving. In Indonesia, you have to dive Bali and Bunaken. Bali itself has lots of spots you never will finish. Every month it seems like there are new dive spots. Same with Bunaken. And everytime you dive the same dive spot, you see and experience different things. Now, Raja Ampat is another must. Derawan seems to be another regular trip by dive operators.
Diving gears are relatively cheeper here compared to Europe (divers, please check on this statement, I was told by my Italian friends regarding this)- I would like to say easy access, but unfortunately it is not. Some of the best spots are remote (but probably best kept that way)
- I can dive the whole year: during dry season, I dive the western Indonesia. During monsoon, I swing towards the east. Good news is, now live aboard is available so it is easier to dive the east (Raja Ampat, Komodo, Alor). And on a lucky day, visibility goes as far as 50m.
- Diversity. The Wallace line divides the Sunda flora and fauna from the Sahul flora and fauna. In Java, Sumatra, Bali, Lombok, Kalimantan, you find different creatures than those at Banda Islands and Papua. Wobbegong sharks are only found at the east, for example. Some species like Hippocampus pontohii was found in Bunaken (”Pontoh” is a Menadonese family name, so if you hear a Malaysian claim that it was found in the Malaysian waters, that’s bullocks). Mimic octopus, which, I don’t think has a latin name up to now, is always hunted by professional photographers in Lembeh, Sulawesi. Check this site: http://www7.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0709/indonesia/indonesia-photography.html
- Always things you can do during your no flying time: cultural experience for sure. Talking to the natives.
- The dive guides are fun and friendly. They really pamper divers. Not many places you have your gears donned; you just need to get into the water!
Indonesia consist of islands and underwater tourism should be one of the attraction in this country. Lots of 
divers that have visited Indonesia and dove said that Indonesia is a much better place than the Bahamas, Hawaii, Mauritius. The coral reefs are one of the treasures that Indonesia have and has to be protected. The more diver, the more people are educated and the more people will protect this treasure. And I believe all Indonesian diving instructors carry this responsibility: passing on the beauty of the underwater life and educate people to protect the reefs. One of my dive buddy, Dharmawan Sutanto, has started promoting the Indonesian underwater by organizing an annual event, started this year, called “Deep Indonesia”. Check this website: www.deepindonesia.com. The next event is February 2008. Stay tuned!
If you are healthy and you can swim, it’s a shame if you don’t dive in Indonesia. Guarantee, you will love it. Any questions on diving, I will try to respond and answer, at least find you a link to the answers. Feel free to contact me at quiet_diver@yahoo.com.
And don’t eat shark’s fin. It is so not hip, so not cool.
November 8, 2007 at 9:33 pm
Agree with you Parvita …
I started my dive course this April … And I cannot stop my self to dive again and again. In my 7 month experience … I’ll go dive to pulau 1000, Sanghyang, Bali, Derawan, Alor, Manado, Komodo, Karimun and Lampung … I’m just a beginner … some of divespots are not easy for me. But I really really hard to stop coz I did falling in love into Indonesian underwater ….
It’s trully heaven for me … and perhaps it can be for you all
Let’s dive in Indonesia
November 8, 2007 at 11:15 pm
Can’t agree more with what Parvita said. All of it are true. My diving experiences started in Sub Tropic temperature even until I got my DM certificate. After that I moved back to Jakarta and love the tropics since. My first dive was in P. Kotok, then after 3 years back, I dived Bali, Derawan, Raja Ampat, Bunaken, Lembeh, Krakatoa, P.1000, and more soon to come. I also agree with pricing wise. Here much cheaper to buy you a set of gears. But diving here I might said a lot more expensive. Its hardly to find a shore dive over here except we’re in eastern part of Indonesia.
I dived with Parvita once.. and it was a great experience.. can’t wait to dive with her again.
Regards
Budy
November 9, 2007 at 5:33 am
Vit,
A smart way to promote diving in our beloved Country and share the passion for the reefs and fish among fellow divers.
Most importantly, we need to arise the awareness and consciousness of protecting and conserving the underwater environment that we all love so very much for our children and children’s children.
How can I help? How can you help? It’s really about time for us, Indonesian Scuba Divers, to take actions and do something for the reefs and fish in our waters. There must be something we, mucho macho scuba divers, can do together………
Can’t just take from the sea all the time but never give. That’s not fair.
November 9, 2007 at 6:43 am
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November 9, 2007 at 6:50 am
@Nita: I envy your trips just within few months of being a diver. Dive more, read more, and dive more and more and more!
@Budy: my buddy! We should do the live aboard again find more and more exotic nudibranches! Remember when we jumped from the ship to the Raja Ampat waters, like little kids? Keep in touch!
@Hammerhead: Thanks for stopping by the blog, it’s an honour (Hammerhead is the chairman of Corona Diving Club, Indonesia, also a diving instructor). I share your passion and concerns. Start from information and education, that’s my two cents. And spread the news about how fun our diving vacations were. Btw, you met a toadfish in Raja Ampat last month, ay? Cool, Man.
November 9, 2007 at 8:39 am
Setuju banget sama semua yang Mbak Vita sebutkan!!!!!….. setelah kenal diving, makin cinta sama Indonesia.. beside educating and improving my diving skill, I really interested being an ecodiver and/or konservationist who will taking care of these beautiful and lovely our Islands ….. As Female Jakartan Diver, I really love Thousand Island (that was my first love with UW at my first dive). Being Female Indonesian Diver is make me sooo proud.. Being Indonesian Certified Diver is my highest achievement of my live (^_^)…………………You Go My Girl!!!!.. Lady Diver, Divas of the Sea!!!!!
November 9, 2007 at 9:31 am
Nice Blog ! Pls. do it regularly ….
November 9, 2007 at 12:06 pm
Hi Buddy! I couldnt agree more. I am so addicted to diving. It is truly so addictive that my bedtime books most of the time now are either fish ID book, dive magazines, anything related to the beautiful and mystical underwater world. I love it so much that i get Dry Land Syndrome when i dont dive for quite some time. I get Post Diving Syndrome after a dive trip. If you are in Indo, you gotta try it at least once. We’ve got the most beautiful corals and the varieties of it are so vast, even the experts and the experienced come all the way from far to enjoy it.
Dive More, Dive Safe!
For the love of the ocean & beyond =)
November 9, 2007 at 12:21 pm
Parvita, during your diving experience…have you ever faced a near to death experience or have had any bad incident ? What’s your memorable experience? The pic above looks great!
November 9, 2007 at 1:33 pm
@Agung: I promise to write more as long as you give me discount on your trips
I linked this blog to Planet Diving, by the way.
@Dewi: Yeah, I’m sufferring from the dry-land syndrome as we speak…
@Elyani: The most ‘near death experience’ was when my buddy yanked my regulator (luckily when we were doing safety stop at 5m, but strong current), we were drifting pretty fast. I suppose he was looking for something to hold on to, and maybe panicked and reached for my regulater, so off goes the mouth piece! Luckily, during our courses we were taught about how to ascend safely (and I teach how to do it) so I didn’t panic. During the courses, we were also drilled in handling different situation (Rescue and Divemaster courses) so we are prepared. I will always advise, check and service your equipment regularly, know your limit and be humble; you can’t beat the nature, really.
Memorable experience…almost all of them are memorable! When divers get together, we can talk endlessly about our diving stories. Teaching also has its own fun, especially, when I hear that my students are continuing to dive and enjoying it (during lebaran, two of my students called and said they saw 6 Mola Mola in Bali, while I was mopping the floor. My first encounter with Mola Mola, was only one Mola. I was jealous, but happy that my students are able to feel the joy of diving).
A bad day diving is much better than a good day at work
November 9, 2007 at 5:30 pm
Dear Vita..
Can’t wait to dive with u again, may i join your trip someday? ooh and i like this phrase so..so..much..
“A bad day diving is much better than a good day at work…”
November 9, 2007 at 9:46 pm
My uncle who’s been living in Germany for over 30 years ALWAYS goes back to Indonesia at least once a year to dive, starts from Jakarta and ends in Palu. When I visited him in Germany he was displaying his underwater photographs from all over Indonesia at the hospital gallery (he’s a surgeon). Last year he flew from Surabaya to Bali to dive, just to fly back to Surabaya on the next available flight because he left his underwater camera’s tiny part at my parents’, and went back to Bali at the same afternoon. This year he had a heart attack when he’s diving (not for the first time!) and must get rescued by a helicopter from Palu to Balikpapan (the heli costed like hell everyone almost had heart attack too when saw the bill!). But he already told my dad to expect him next year again because he’ll be back.
He never bothers to dive in any other country. Always Indonesia. I guess there must be something in the water then to get you all so addicted to it!
November 12, 2007 at 12:08 am
It is very true, Vit. Diving in Indonesia is a must for every diver, at least once in a lifetime (For those who live outside of Indonesia). Indonesian divers are considered very lucky, so dive more and dive safe.
But diving comes with a responsibility. Can’t see nothing from a damaged environment. That is why divers are also called the “Ambassador of Environment”.
Keep up your blog.
November 18, 2007 at 9:28 am
@Icha: if you are interested, you can get information from the National Geographic Indonesia. This year, I participated the Indonesia Reef 2007 and got lots of new knowledge and became an Eco-Diver.
@Anita: I just came back from Bali and talked to a Canadian Snorkeler who admitted that Indonesia is the best place underwater. You should discover diving when you visit home!
@Kunthi: planning to organize all female diver safari next year…interested?
@Dharmawan (founder of Deep Indonesia): I share your vision on education and salute for Deep Indonesia. Preserving the environment starts from pasing information; Deep Indonesia is one of the vehicle for that purpose (and this is what I’m doing in my little blog!). There must be more that divers and sea lovers can contribute to the environment. As Hammerhead addressed, we cannot just take without giving back. I believe the ocean should be managed more professionally; it is our diamond and jewels!
It is true, we are the Ambassador of Environment. Ambassador of the Sea, to be precise.
November 21, 2007 at 4:18 pm
tapi tanggal 4 januari jangan nyelem kemana-mana djo!!! awas ya kalau ga dateng!!!
November 21, 2007 at 11:33 pm
@Henry: Beres…yang tuker cincin di bawah laut, aduh romantisnya…
December 10, 2007 at 11:18 am
This year was the first time I dove in Indonesia. My fiance Anita and I went to Bali this past October. What an incredible adventure. We dove at Menjangan Island, Tulamben, and Nusa Penida. Prior to Bali I spent several years diving in the Carribean, Central America, and cold water diving in Monterey, CA. I was very impressed with the wall dives at Menjangan Island and would recommend it to everyone. Without a doubt I’m looking forward to visiting as many islands as possible!!!!
August 28, 2008 at 6:58 pm
i want to know how was the first female scuba diver
May 1, 2009 at 12:29 am
Hi Parv,
It’s lovely to read about your wonderful diving experience.
My parents dove a lot (by a lot means maybe 3-4 times a year, not that often compared to you and your diving buddies hehehe) when we were still living in Indonesia. Whenever we went to Bali or pulau seribu, they’d drag my wimpy 9 year-old ass and made me snorkel with them.
Fishes and corals are very pretty indeed, but only on shallow water. I got so scared once we swam further and the grounds are no longer in sight. the sea monsters and sharks would emerge to attack, I’m tellin ya!
my question: the next time I pulang kampung, I’d like to try this diving thing ur so in love with, however, i still have that sea monster fear rooted in me. How do I combat that?
Do you have any fear swimming along sharks and other biting carnivore creatures?
May 2, 2009 at 7:26 am
@feli: thank you for visiting My Busy Brain. Snorkeling is a start and diving is next on your plate!
There is no such thing as sea monster and if there is, they are probably other divers that does not dive safely which may cause other divers in their trip to suffer!
Lots of people ask questions about sharks. Like any animal, if you do not agitate them, they are fine. There is a saying that the difference between a diver and a non diver is that non divers run away when they see shark, while divers chase them! I actually find it fascinating to encounter these sharks. Usually, they are very timid and afraid when they hear our bubbles, and they swim away. I would actually consider myself lucky if I get to see a shark when I dive!
Sharks in Indonesia that I often encounter are tame ones like the black tip and white tip; I haven’t had an encounter with bull or tiger sharks yet. However, try to avoid wearing any shiny jewelry because sharks or other fish like barracuda might think that it is their food (they might think that it is a little fish that they can eat) and don’t agitate them. And…don’t kill anything because sharks do chase blood.
Regarding your fear, I can only say that it is the fear of unknown. Once you dive and see how fascinating it is, you will forget about it.
See you underwater.