With so much to see and do in this stunning underwater world, you’re nearly guaranteed the trip of a lifetime – no matter where or when you decide to visit! But, here are some of the undisputed highlights.

Greater Sunda Islands highlights

Derawan Archipelago

The Derawan Archipelago is a string of reefs, atolls and islands running parallel to East Kalimantan’s northern coast, surrounded by the species-rich Celebes Sea. Aside from Derawan and Maratua, these palm-fringed islands are largely uninhabited, except for a scattering of local ‘sea-gypsy’ villages standing on stilts above the water. Located far from the well-trodden tourist trail, these remote islands offer a tantalising frontier-feeling and some unique, once-in-a-lifetime experiences to anyone willing to make the journey.

North Sulawesi

Bunaken island

Bunaken National Park was one of the first protected marine areas established in Indonesia. Decades of protection have helped to preserve the region's stunning biodiversity, making it one of North Sulawesi's most fascinating diving environments. Visitors can expect moderate currents sweeping past coral-encrusted walls and over dizzying drop-offs.

Bangka and Gangga Islands

This area boasts colourful soft coral gardens festooned with fans and sponges, rocky pinnacles and outcroppings, and powerful currents teeming with fish. Plus, sprawling beds of seagrass where lucky divers can search for seahorses, swim alongside turtles, and even spot the exceedingly rare dugong.

Lembeh Strait

Commonly referred to as Indonesia's critter capital, the Lembeh Strait might be the world's best diving destination for macro enthusiasts. Most of the region's dive sites feature drab sloping silt and rubble, with little in the way of coral. But, take a closer look, and these waters are home to an astonishing variety of weird and wonderful wildlife, including rare finds like Rhinopias and mimic octopus, alongside nudibranchs and pygmy seahorses.

Lesser Sunda Islands highlights

Bali

Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida

A short boat ride away from Bali at the edge of the current-swept Lombok Strait, lie the islands of Nusa Lembongan, Ceningan and Penida. These islands – with their dramatic cliffs, swirling drift dives and beautiful beaches - attract tourists throughout the year. Although famous for manta ray encounters, divers also have a very good chance of an encounter with incredible mola mola during the summer months when the waters are icy cold.

Amed and Tulamben

Amed feels a long way from bustling southern Bali, with a rather more laid back atmosphere. Whilst the diving here is not as well known as other areas, the reefs are interesting enough to satisfy all divers. Located a little further northwest, Tulamben is one of Bali’s iconic dive locations thanks to the Liberty Wreck – known as one of the easiest wreck dives in the world. But, Tulamben also has a lot more to offer. The reefs and sand flats to the east and west are home to a huge variety of species, from amazing macro to the odd ocean giant such as mola mola.

Pemuteran and Menjangan

In the far northwest corner of Bali is the village of Pemuteran. Once just a small fishing village, Pemuteran now caters to those making the trip north to explore Menjangan – a beautiful island close to Java that offers some of the best diving in Bali. Menjangan’s fringing reefs and walls have some stunning coral and are perfect for both divers and snorkelers.

East Sumbawa

As the final island before Komodo National Park, East Sumbawa’s vast coastline benefits from the same nutrient-rich currents as the park itself – meaning biodiverse and action-packed dives at every turn. Macro-life proliferates close to home while thrilling currents, underwater landscapes, and big fish action dominate further afield. Migrating whales and dolphins can also be seen in certain seasons.

Komodo

Komodo is famous for wild currents, washing machine surge, and up-close encounters with some of the ocean’s largest and most impressive species – including manta rays and sharks. The dive sites in the north are rocky and forbidding, with walls that drop nearly-vertically into the deep, as well as outcroppings and channels covered in healthy hard corals. In the south of the park, soft corals flourish, making it a favourite spot for macro marine life and underwater photographers.

Alor

Incredibly, Alor's incredible hammerhead encounters and macro-rich reefs are just the tip of the iceberg. Fast-moving currents also attract pelagics in all shapes and sizes, including rare thresher sharks and mola mola, as well as migrating whales and dolphins passing by on the surface.

Maluku highlights

Ambon

This lesser-known critter hotspot is known for its black silt and rubble slopes literally crawling with nudibranchs, frogfish, rhinopias, and the psychedelic frogfish - found nowhere else on earth. While most of the diving here is focused strictly on macro, there are other attractions - with an impressive shipwreck, a few fast-paced drifts, and bubbling hydrothermal vents waiting to be explored.

Banda Sea

The expansive Banda Sea is steeped in history and scattered with tiny tropical islands. Just metres from their rocky shores, the islands transform, boasting lovely coral landscapes and bubbling volcanic slopes encrusted with delicate gardens of sea fans and sponges. But, the Banda Islands also have a wild side – one swept by powerful currents and guarded by hundreds of hammerhead sharks and sea snakes.

Forgotten Islands

This 1,000 kilometre-long chain of islands stretches all the way from Timor to Papua and is home to the final frontier of scuba diving in Indonesia. The Forgotten Islands are home to kaleidoscopic coral gardens fuelled by fast-moving currents, alongside massive coral bommies, and plummeting drop-offs. Plus, more incredible encounters with schooling hammerheads and sea snakes.

West Papua highlights

Raja Ampat

Raja Ampat is a vast network of marine protected areas encompassing large swathes of the Bird’s Head Peninsula’s western coast. Famous islands in the north are home to picture-perfect lagoons and shallow reefs washed by strong currents. The park’s southern limit is marked by the large island of Misool, along with hundreds of smaller islands and pinnacles that stretch to the southeast. This entire area is home to what many divers believe is the best reef diving on the planet.

Cenderawasih Bay

Located on the east side of West Papua’s Bird’s Head Peninsula, the huge Cenderawasih Bay National Park covers 1.5 million hectares, making it the largest national park in Southeast Asia. But, this little known destination is well off the beaten track for most visitors, ensuring undisturbed access to exciting wrecks and personal whale shark encounters.

Triton Bay

Triton Bay’s dive sites allow divers to explore a huge range of landscapes including cascades of boulders, current swept islands, dramatic overhangs and caverns, and sheltered bays. The region is also renowned for beautiful carpets of colourful soft corals and huge black coral bushes that grow close to the surface.

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