|
 |
| |
 |
| TAT number: 31/0734 |
|
| |
 |
 |
|
| |
 |
Indonesia, the world's largest archipelagic state, spans like a wide arc, (12% of the world's circumference), more than 5000 km of the equator, from mainland Southeast Asia to Papua New Guinea. It has more than 80,000 km of coastline with 3.1 million square kilometers of tropical seas, much of which has never been explored by scuba divers.
For charter cruises the regular itinerary may be modified to explore other destinations or regions throughout the archipelago. During these cruises, |
| |
divers have a chance to plunge into the unknown reefs of the Indonesian archipelago.
Always an enticing territory for the avid and adventurous explorer, exploration cruises provide a once in a lifetime experience.
There is everything, a diver's heart wishes for, from large sharks, manta rays and tunas to colorful nudibranches, special shrimps, frogfishes.
The sport of diving in Indonesia is relatively in its infancy, with diving centers in operation for a little over 10 years. Many popular dive locations have already been damaged due to encroachment by man, while new locations are constantly being explored and sought by diving aficionados. There are still many areas in Indonesia in which no one has ever dived before ... opening up the possibilities of new discoveries of pristine diving conditions and the sighting of unique marine species.
If you. re looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of Jakarta, the peace and tranquillity you find in many diving locations will soon refresh even the most flustered expat!
The seas sounding the Indonesian archipelago are considered an integral part of the nation, as evidenced in the term Tanah Air Kita, which literally means our “home water land”. The seas have been a unifying factory between the diverse cultures and peoples throughout the archipelago. Many Indonesians are greatly dependent for their livelihoods on the bounty of the seas, which they have fished and exploited for years. Fish and shellfish, pearls, seaweed and shells are only a few of the many treasurers found in Indonesian waters.
While traveling through the archipelago in search of pristine diving conditions, you will also have a chance to be exposed to Indonesian rural culture, far off the beaten track. Take time to see the local sites wherever you are, try the local cuisine and check out the local handicrafts.
Words can hardly begin to describe the variety of marine life in Indonesia. It's as if someone took a paintbrush and spattered and drew every imaginable color in every imaginable pattern on numerous different creatures. The result - the warm waters of Indonesia teem with abundant bright colored fish and other marine life - creating a kaleidoscope of color.
 |
Many marine creatures have highly developed camouflage systems which protect them from their enemies. Look closely and carefully and you'll soon discover much more than what you saw in your initial dive. Repeated passes by an area in different directions will reveal fish hidden in small caves and creatures hiding behind coral and other marine life.
You'll find different types of marine life in various depths and current conditions. Hard coral thrive in areas where there are rougher waters |
| |
and wave action, while lacy, fine structures can only live in shallower, calmer water. The coral reef is an amazing inter-dependent ecosystem where all the inhabitants are constantly competing for food, light and space.
As a beginner, you will probably spend all your time in fascinationover the endless variety of marine life ... but as you become more experienced, you'll undoubtedly come to learn more about the inter-dependency of the various creatures and marine plants and want to learn even more to prepare for your next dive!
The marine ecosystem is extremely fragile and is easily damaged whenever it comes into contact with mankind. Knowing what to do and not to do while diving will help to ensure that future generations will also be able to enjoy the abundant marine life which lives off and around the coral reefs.
Just as throughout much of the Pacific Ocean, fishermen seek to catch lots of fish quickly and easily ... so they toss dynamite into the waterwhich kills the fish and they float to the surface to be easily netted from the boats. This method of fishing not only kills the fish, but also destroys the coral reefs, the basic and most vital component of the marine ecosystem. While this practice is in fact illegal in Indonesia no one is enforcing this regulation in the poorly regulated fishing industry.
It takes a year for a centimeter of coral to grow - and will take dozens of years for coral stands which have been damaged by dynamite to return to their former glory.
|
| |
|
|
|
