The small volcanic island of Pulau Weh lies northwest of Sumatra in Indonesia, where the Indian Ocean meets the Andaman Sea. Nature and wildlife are diverse both above and below the waves. Pierre Constant recounts his revisit to Sumatra.
With a wealth of macro subjects to choose from, the Indonesian island of Bali is a macro photographer’s dream. Underwater photography instructor Kate Jonker takes us to the quaint fishing village of Tulamben on Bali’s northeastern coast and shares her insights and tips for making the most of your trip.
The Southeast Asian nation of Timor-Leste, known in the local Tetum language as Timór Lorosa’e (“where the sun rises”), comprises the eastern part of the island of Timor. Pierre Constant tells of his journey to explore its beautiful reefs and mysterious caves.
Raja Ampat in Indonesia is now recognised as the epicentre of biodiversity on the planet. However, its conservation has been 20 years in the making. A key figure in its development and strategy is ecologist Mark Erdmann. Don Silcock has the story.
The event welcomed ten hearing-impaired students from Sekolah Kebangsaan Pendidikan Khas Besut, Terengganu, many of whom had never set foot on a boat or an island, despite living near the coast of Besut. The students, accompanied by their teachers, explored the wonders of the underwater world in Terengganu through snorkeling and scuba diving, where they experienced the sensation of weightlessness. Dr Tengku Farah Kamilia, a lecturer in environmental and marine pollution at UMT, conducted a sharing session with the participants, highlighting the importance of marine conservation.
Indonesia is located in the Coral Triangle, a marvel of marine biodiversity often referred to as the “Amazon of the Seas.” Lureen Ferretti shares some of the hotspots and highlights of her adventures there.
Far away from the stress of everyday life and modern civilisation lies a paradise in the middle of the Coral Triangle, where time has stood still. Claudia Weber-Gebert tells of her adventure to Indonesia’s Banda Sea and the Forgotten Islands.
Part of Indonesia’s East Nusa Tenggara province, West Timor, also known as Timor Barat, is home to beautiful reefs, diverse marine life and even an underwater bubbling vent within recreational diving depths. Matthew Meier tells us about an exploratory dive trip there on a liveaboard.
On a night dive in the Philippines several years ago, I had an opportunity to do a "fluoro" night dive. Atlantis Dive Resort rented blue underwater flashlights and yellow filter shields that went over divers' masks. Geared up, I set off into the night. The blue light was very dim and the dive was much darker than a normal night dive.
Undeniably one of the world’s extraordinary destinations, Raja Ampat blends breath-taking, above-water landscapes with a staggering abundance of marine biodiversity, into a remarkable combination that draws divers from all corners of the globe. Don Silcock writes about one of the pioneers of diving in this region, Ricard Buxo.
