Beginner Diving in Indonesia

The sprawling archipelago of Indonesia spans some 3,000 miles from its western tip in Sumatra to its border with Papua New Guinea in the east. The nation straddles the equator and is home to more than 17,000 islands and some of the best diving on the planet. While experienced divers crave the swirling currents of Komodo and the resplendent reefs of Raja Ampat, the beginner diving in Indonesia should not be overlooked. Bali, Bunaken and Lombok boast a plethora of excellent dive sites to suit divers of all levels, with shallow coral gardens, coral-encrusted walls and even a WWII shipwreck to discover.

Hindu temples, rice paddies and majestic volcanoes pass by en route to Bali's diverse dive sites. Bali's east coast makes a great base for discovering some of the best beginner diving in Indonesia. The colourful wreck of the USAT Liberty rests just yards from the shore at Tulamben and is enjoyed by first-time divers and veterans of the deep alike, while the local sites at Kubu and Padangbai are ideal for completing your certification dives among turtles, octopus and the occasional reef shark.

Lombok

Bali's east coast looks out across the Lombok Strait to its neighbouring island of Lombok. A stay on Lombok's northern shores, in the shadows of the volcanic Mount Rinjani, puts you in an ideal location to enjoy the gentle dive sites of the three Gilis-Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air. The clear and rich waters surrounding the Gilis are a favourite hangout for octopus and turtles, and there's always the chance of a manta ray swooping by.

Bunaken Marine Park

Bunaken Marine Park boasts a rich biodiversity, with some of the most colourful wall dives around and a stunning array of reef fish hiding among the healthy corals. Luxurious hillside villas offer a tranquil vantage point over the marine park, and the island's coral gardens are perfect for certification dives and gentle critter-spotting dusk and night dives in search of mandarin fish and seahorses.

Our team of dive travel specialists love the diversity on offer in Indonesia. Sitting at the heart of the Coral Triangle, Indonesia's dive sites are among the most colourful in the world, and they constantly amaze new and experienced divers alike. To enjoy the best of the beginner diving in Indonesia, allow our team to engineer your ideal itinerary to take in idyllic islands and pristine reefs, surrounded by tropical rainforests, hike-able volcanoes and serene temples.