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With over 17,000 islands, it should come as no surprise that Indonesia has more miles of coastline than almost any other country. Factor in the location of this considerable coastline, at the heart of the Coral Triangle, and it soon becomes apparent why Indonesia is home to some of the best shore diving on the planet. With wrecks of World War II supply ships, a veritable cornucopia of cryptic critters and cameos from crowd-pleasing pelagics, the shore diving in Indonesia is nothing short of spectacular.
With so many islands and shorelines to visit, it can be a little daunting to plan your first Indonesian shore-diving sojourn, which is why we dispatched our team of Original Diving specialists to scour the sprawling archipelago in search of the best shore diving in Indonesia. We have unearthed some hidden gems among the perennial favourites and can tailor the perfect Indonesian shore diving itinerary, so all you have to do is pack your bags, head to the airport and marvel at Indonesia’s magnificent diving.
From the welcoming warm waters surrounding the Wakatobi Regency island group to the surreal and strange critters in the Lembeh Strait, Indonesian shore diving is as varied as it is impressive. And let’s not forget Bali, the Island of the Gods, with the iconic USAT Liberty wreck just a few fin kicks from the shoreline...
Bali
Indonesia's best-known island serves as a gateway to the archipelago and is itself a diving mecca. The north and east coasts, where Bali's waters are at their warmest, are dotted with stunning shore diving sites. Tulamben is world-renowned for its USAT Liberty shore dive, while Secret Bay and Seraya Secrets harbour an array of critters and nudibranchs to please the most discerning macro photographer.
Wakatobi
A short two-and-a-half-hour flight from Bali will transfer you to the secluded paradise of Wakatobi Dive Resort. A stay here includes three dives per day and unlimited house reef dives, and, given that the house reef is vaunted as the best in the world, with over 400 species of coral and 700 species of fish, Wakatobi offers easily some of the best shore diving in Indonesia.
Lembeh Strait
Muck divers and macro photographers have long fawned over the incredible diving on offer in the Lembeh Strait. This stretch of water, which separates Lembeh Island from the north-eastern coast of Sulawesi, is inhabited by hairy frogfish, mimic octopus and stargazers semi-submerged in the black sand. With such an array of bizarre creatures on the dive centre's backstep, Lembeh is also a strong contender for the best shore diving in Indonesia.
Top Destinations for Shore Diving in Indonesia
Itineraries
Best for: Couples, Honeymoons, Families, Groups and Solo Travellers
Indonesia Cool Combo: Raja Ampat & Sulawesi
On this two-week trip you will experience some of the best
diving on offer in Indonesia. Starting on the beautiful reefs of
Raja Ampat where
you...
15 Days
From £4,300pp
Best for: Couples and Solo Travellers
Bali and Komodo Twin Adventure
Indonesia is a diverse melting pot of a country with endless
opportunities for adventure. On this 15-day itinerary to Bali and
Komodo you can...
15 Days
From £4,543pp
Best for: Couples, Honeymoons, Families, Groups and Solo Travellers
Highlights of North Sulawesi: Colourful Corals and Wonderful Wall Diving in Lembeh, Tangkoko National Park and Siladen
From diving with turtles and hairy frogfish to climbing
volcanoes and searching for tarsiers, this 15-day diving adventure
has all of the highlights...
15 Days
From £4,540pp
Where to go
Where to Stay
Wakatobi Dive Resort
The Wakatobi Dive Resort is something of an enigma, straddling the divide between luxury dive resort and boutique hotel. The atmosphere is incredibly...
Dive into Lembeh
Boasting two of the most famous dive sites in the region on its house reef – Hairball and Aw Shucks – Dive into Lembeh is a muck diver’s...
Lembeh Resort
Lembeh Resort provides the perfect place from which to explore the incredibly diverse marine life found in the Lembeh Strait of North-Eastern...
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Luxury Diving Indonesia
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Emily C and Eleanor are our 'Shore Diving in Indonesia' experts and as seasoned travellers they have the inside track on the most memorable adventures.
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