![[Indonesia] The World's Largest Archipelago Nation — 17,000 Islands, a Must-Visit for Every Diver: Indonesia's Top Dive Sites Revealed!](/_images/0d587fce8237-480w.webp)
When people think of Indonesia, Bali and Komodo are the obvious names that come to mind — but Tulamben and Gam Island are just as unmissable for any serious diver. Of Asia's Top 10 dive sites, Indonesia claims four of them. Whether you're a beginner, an advanced diver, or a macro-photography enthusiast, there's a perfect dive site waiting for you. It's no wonder Indonesia has earned the title of "Ocean Kingdom." On December 1st, the Editor attended a cultural exchange tea event hosted by the Indonesian Economic and Trade Office in Taipei. Watching underwater footage filmed by Li Ming-ge, Chairman of the International Marine Ecology Image Education Association, made the Editor want to book a flight on the spot. Read on to discover what Indonesia has in store!
The Indonesian Representative (in yellow) poses for a photo with distinguished guests.
Many fellow diving and Indonesia enthusiasts attended the event in person.
Indonesia's Dive Sites — More Than You Could Ever Choose From
Known as the "Land of Ten Thousand Islands" and the "Ocean Kingdom," Indonesia — officially the Republic of Indonesia — ranks 13th in the world by total land area. It boasts the second-longest coastline on Earth and is the world's largest archipelago nation.
Indonesia is home to more than 17,000 islands, fewer than one-third of which are inhabited. Each island is home to different ethnic groups with distinct cultures, and over 740 languages are spoken across the country — no wonder Indonesia is also called a "cultural melting pot." The remaining islands are pristine, undeveloped territories, almost certainly harbouring countless undiscovered dive sites just waiting for adventurous divers to explore.
The Director of the Tourism and Transportation Department also took to the stage to share some fascinating facts about Indonesia.
Asia's Top 10 Must-Visit Dive Sites — and Indonesia Takes Four of Them?
According to CNN's rankings, Indonesia alone accounts for 4 of Asia's Top 10 must-visit dive sites: Derawan Islands (Derawan), Raja Ampat, Komodo (Pulau Komodo), and Tulamben. Every other country on the list is represented by just one site. Each destination has its own distinct character, catering to different types of divers — from beginners and advanced divers to macro photographers, wide-angle shooters, freedivers, scuba divers, and liveaboard enthusiasts. Indonesia truly is a diving destination for every level and every passion.
Within this vast ocean, Indonesia is home to 30% of the world's coral reefs.
The five most celebrated dive sites in Indonesia!
As time goes on, more and more undiscovered Indonesian dive sites are being found, drawing ever-growing numbers of divers eager to document them. The dive bucket list for Indonesia is sure to keep growing.
Why Dive Indonesia? Here Are the Highlights!
Indonesia is geographically close to the Philippines, Malaysia, and other Southeast Asian nations. Li Ming-ge explained: "Because Indonesia is close to the equator, weather conditions are far more stable than in many other countries. You can dive here year-round, and typhoons are virtually a non-issue. This stability makes for consistently excellent dive conditions and reliable marine life sightings — whatever you want to see, you can almost always find it."
Li Ming-ge highly recommends that everyone visit Indonesia at least once in their lifetime.
Let's Dive In! What Can You See in Indonesia?
The exchange tea event opened with underwater footage of Komodo and Bali, all filmed by Li Ming-ge. Through his lens, viewers were treated to brilliant blue waters, thriving coral, jack storms, and schools of manta rays — everyone in the room must have been just as awestruck as the Editor. The Editor also took the opportunity to ask Li Ming-ge for his personal Top 3 Indonesian dive sites. Here's what he said!
#1 Dive Site — Komodo, Without a Doubt
When most people think of Komodo, they picture Komodo dragons and the famously photogenic Pink Beach. But Komodo's underwater world is equally spectacular — manta rays, Humphead Wrasse, bumphead parrotfish, and other large pelagics abound. At certain special dive sites, if you're lucky, you might spot up to 7 species of sharks, including Hammerhead Sharks, in a single dive! Li Ming-ge laughed as he recalled: "I first set foot on this mysterious island 22 years ago and witnessed Komodo's grandeur — vast and dramatic as a desert." That bond forged 22 years ago eventually led him to become the exclusive Taiwan representative for Komodo Resort.
This large reef shark is resting quietly on the seabed.
Peek into the rocky walls and you'll often discover a surprising array of marine life and fish.
Batu Bolong is also packed with macro subjects — your memory card will fill up fast.
Mawan — over 20 manta rays appeared on this dive. Pure bliss!
*Images above are screenshots from footage provided by Nick Zhan. To watch the full video, see the Further Reading section at the bottom of this article.
Best Place to Stay — Bali
Bali is a favourite holiday destination for many. It's dotted with villas of every style and size, radiating a quintessential resort atmosphere — some nestled in the mountains, others with terraces opening directly onto endless stretches of white sand. Snorkeling, diving, rafting, hiking — Bali has it all. As a dive destination, Bali caters to both beginner divers and intermediate-to-advanced divers alike. You can even spot mola mola/ sunfish here — but first you'll need to conquer big swells, strong currents, and cold water, and then add a dash of luck for a chance encounter.
An adorable mola mola/ sunfish. Photo credit: Neko Wang.
A manta ray accompanied us throughout the dive — like our very own escort!
Zebra sharks often roam the sandy bottom — with a little luck, you just might cross paths with one.
The variety of coral and fish species is immense, and everything here is several times larger than what you'd see in Taiwan.
Tulamben — Where Macro and Wide-Angle Both Shine
Tulamben is defined by its distinctive volcanic black sand terrain, which draws in an extraordinary array of small creatures and makes it ideal for both macro and wide-angle photography. The USAT Liberty, a US Army cargo ship from World War II, ran aground here before being pushed into the sea by a volcanic eruption. It now lies just 30 m from shore at depths of 3–29 m, blanketed by lush coral, schools of bumphead parrotfish, and giant Humphead Wrasse — making it a favourite destination for both freedivers and scuba divers.
The ecologically rich Liberty wreck is a dive site for every type of diver! Photo credit: Neko Wang.
Here, gorgonian / sea fans and coral formations larger than a person are a common sight. Photo credit: Neko Wang.
A ghost shrimp appears! Doesn't it look like it's glowing? Photo credit: Neko Wang.
The macro critters are too many to count — dives here regularly clock in at 70 minutes or more! Photo credit: Neko Wang.
Indonesia: Diving, Food, and Culture — All in One
Beyond its rich underwater world, Indonesian cuisine is widely regarded as one of the most diverse, vibrant, and flavour-packed in the world. With over 300 ethnic groups and cultures living across the archipelago — each with its own language, regional character, and culinary traditions — no two parts of Indonesia taste quite the same. If you have enough holiday time, Indonesia is absolutely the ideal destination for an immersive, in-depth travel experience.
Indonesian handcrafted souvenirs — the craftsmanship is truly exquisite.
Even the famous Komodo dragon gets the wooden carving treatment!
Indonesian traditional food features plenty of fried dishes — mashed potato fritters and fried tofu are particular crowd-pleasers.
Wonderfully sweet sago pudding and delicious fried bananas.
Attending the exchange tea event hosted by the Indonesian Economic and Trade Office in Taipei was a treat in every sense. Not only did we get a glimpse of Indonesia's natural beauty, but the organisers also thoughtfully provided traditional local dishes for all guests to enjoy — a virtual journey to Indonesia. The Editor can't wait to go in person and witness Indonesia's splendour firsthand!
Editor-in-charge: Jenny Tsai
Further Reading:
Komodo videos, video credit: Nick Zhan
