It's no secret that Indonesia is one of the best diving destinations on the planet. Located in the epicentre of the Coral Triangle, it's home to some of the world's healthiest coral reefs. And with thousands of islands scattered across the Indian and Pacific oceans, Indonesia accommodates every diving interest, ranging from world-class muck diving to exhilarating encounters with big animals. If you're dreaming of a diving holiday to this vast archipelago, but are unsure where to stay, read on four our roundup of the top five dive resorts in Indonesia.
Misool Eco Resort, Raja Ampat
Since Misool Eco Resort first opened its shores in 2008, this private island resort has been making waves in sustainable tourism. The owners, inspired by the spectacular natural beauty of Raja Ampat, built the resort on a former shark-finning camp with a dream of protecting the world's richest reefs. This initiative began with the creation of the 300,000-acre Misool Marine Reserve, which has seen a 600 percent increase in fish biomass since 2008. The resort's charity arm, the Misool Foundation, also collaborates with the local community on coral restoration and manta ray projects, resulting in some of the richest reefs in the world. Whether exploring the house reef or the surrounding 60 sites - including the world-famous Boo Windows and Nudi Rock - diving here is truly exceptional.
The resort itself boasts equally impressive eco-credentials. The 12 Balinese-style cottages were constructed using reclaimed wood, each featuring a private veranda overlooking the shallow turquoise lagoon. The island also hosts its own solar farm, vegetable co-op, and recycling and community education projects.
Wakatobi Dive Resort, Sulawesi
Wakatobi's House Reef is regularly touted as one of the world's best shore dives, earning it a solid reputation as one of the top five dive resorts in Indonesia. Located in south-east Sulawesi, Wakatobi Dive Resort holds a prime position within the Wakatobi Marine Reserve, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, with world-class diving a few fin kicks from the shore. From the jetty, divers can access the House Reef wall, which is festooned in soft and hard corals, with overhangs concealing resident turtles, lobsters and macro critters. Venturing further afield, there are 40 sites close by that rank among the finest in Indonesia (insider tip: dive The Zoo twice - once during the day and as a night dive - for completely different encounters with the marine life).
Returning to the shore, this luxury dive resort is far from a one-trick pony. Whether you're accompanied by a non-diver or wish to explore above the waves, guided trips to neighbouring villages, kayaking through mangrove waterways, kiteboarding and paddleboarding are available. There's also a superb spa (get the Balinese massage). The icing on the cake? Wakatobi also spearheads an award-winning Collaborative Reef Conservation Program, dedicated to supporting the local community and preserving the marine environment.
Kalimaya Dive Resort, Komodo
Perched on the edge of Komodo National Park, Kalimaya Dive Resort was built by divers for divers. The focus is on building a diving community, from serving family-style meals to offering unlimited, unguided diving on the house reef and daily trips from the onsite PADI 5* centre. As the only dive resort in East Sumbawa, guests of Kalimaya will likely be the only ones to blow bubbles on the nearby sites; Kalimaya is also the only dive resort to offer day trips to West Komodo Island, Gili Banta and Sangeang Volcano.
Thanks to strong currents, the sites are best for experienced divers, but those who make the journey to this remote resort will be rewarded with an impressive mix of thriving coral reefs, muck sites and macro diving. The house reef alone harbours some of the ocean's most sought-after macro critters, including paddleflap rhinopia, candy crabs and bobtail squid, to name but a few.
Alami Alor, Alor
Alor, situated east of Komodo and Flores, has quietly been winning over divers from Raja Ampat and Komodo - and for good reason. The diving in the Alor Archipelago is diverse. Here, you can experience world-class muck diving, thriving coral reefs and strong currents, and encounter big animals - all without the crowds.
At the centre of all this diversity lies Alami Alor. Located in Alor's Kalabahi Bay, the resort boasts world-class muck diving straight from its shores while also sitting adjacent to the Pantair Strait. With only seven villas, this boutique resort has been designed for divers, featuring an on-site camera room and the Alami Alor Photography Academy, along with serving family-style meals for guests to meet new dive buddies. If you're looking to lounge on the beach, this isn't the place for you (the beach is rocky), but for experienced divers looking to dive, rinse and repeat, Alami Alor is hard to beat.
Lembeh Resort, Sulawesi
There's a reason Lembeh Resort draws divers back year after year. Situated on the shores of the Lembeh Strait, the world's muck diving mecca, this is the best dive resort in Indonesia for the ocean's weirdest, rarest macro critters. Lembeh Resort has everything a diver could wish for, offering top-notch dive gear and boasting a spacious camera room and photo centre. However, what makes this resort truly special is its passionate team of divers.
From the in-house marine biologist to the dive guides, who have amassed over 70,000 dives in the Lembeh Strait, guests are given unparalleled access to the Critter Capital of the World. For underwater photographers, there's even a Photo Pro on hand to help capture subjects, ranging from pop-pom boxer crabs and blue ring octopus to flamboyant cuttlefish (to name a few).
Inevitably, there will be surface intervals, and there's ample opportunity to explore above the waves here. Lembeh Resort offers everything from trekking in Tangkoko National Park to volcano tours, sunset cruises, kayaking and cooking classes. There's also a pool if you simply want to chill and read a book.
