Destination Indonesia

Denise Nielsen Tackett & Larry Tackett
Liveaboards Operating in Indonesia
Ambasi Liveaboard Cheng Ho Liveaboard Indo Siren Liveaboard MV Mermaid 1 Liveaboard MV Mermaid 2 Liveaboard MV Queen Scuba Liveaboard Siren Liveaboard Ocean Rover Liveaboard Pelagian Liveaboard Sea Safari VII Liveaboard
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The Best Times to Visit: Seasonal Variations Between Regions

The following chart shows what time of year is considered peak or "high" season for various dive sites and destinations throughout the Indonesian Archipelago. Most areas you are able to dive or visit all year-round--if there is a schedule published, it's diveable to be sure. This chart gives you a good general picture. The country covers so much area east to west so the climate various dramatically, and the Wallice Line makes it even more variable from one strait to another.

Sulawesi
Type
Season
Visibility
Current
Temp
Highlights
Manado/Bunaken
Walls, Drift Diving
Apr - Nov
15 - 30m
Moderate to strong
27º - 29ºC
Beautiful Walls
Bangka Islands
Pinnacles
Mar - Nov
10 - 30m
Slow to Strong
27º - 28ºC
Pinnacles
Sangihe Islands
Coral Reef
Aug - Nov
20 - 50m
Moderate to Strong
27º - 28ºC
Pelagics, UW Volcano
Lembeh Strait
Black Sand
Apr - Nov
5 - 20m
Mild
24º - 27ºC
Critters
Wakatobi
Coral Reef & Beach
Apr - Nov
30 - 50m
None to Strong
24º - 29ºC
Beautiful Reefs
Bali
Type
Season
Visibility
Current
Temp
Highlights
Menjangan
Walls & Muck
Apr - Nov
5 - 25m
Mild
23º - 28ºC
Anker Wreck & Critters
Nusa Penida
Drift Diving
Jun - Oct
15 - 20m
Strong
21º - 24ºC
Pelagics
Tulamben
Beach Diving
Apr - Nov
10 - 20m
Mild
26º - 27ºC
Liberty Wreck
Bali to Komodo
Everything
Mar - Dec
10 - 30m
Slow to Strong
23º - 30ºC
Prolific Marine Life
Komodo to Kupang
Type
Season
Visibility
Current
Temp
Highlights
Flores
Black Sand
June - Sept
15 - 20m
Mild
28º - 30ºC
Fish Life
Alor
Walls, Drift Diving
Sept - Dec
20 - 25m
Moderate to Strong
28º - 30ºC
Pristine Reefs
Kupang
Coral Walls, Slopes
Mar - Dec
5 - 15m
Mild
24º - 27ºC
Caverns & Overhangs
Banda Sea
Coral Reefs, Walls
Mar - Nov
30 - 40m
Slow to moderate
27º - 30ºC
Pristine Reefs
West Papua
Type
Season
Visibility
Current
Temp
Highlights
Raja Empat
Coral Reefs
Mar - Nov
20 - 40m
Slow to Strong
28º - 29ºC
Fishes & Wobbegongs
Manokwari
Wrecks
Apr - Nov
10 - 30m
Mild
28º - 29ºC
WW2 Wrecks
Kalimantan
Type
Season
Visibility
Current
Temp
Highlights
Sangalaki
Coral Reefs
Apr - Oct
20 - 30m
Mild
27º - 30ºC
Mantas & Turtles


View Indonesia Archipelago in a larger map

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About the Authors

Larry and Denise TackettLarry and Denise Tackett are the authors of all of our Indonesian dive site and regional descriptions. They are professional photographers specializing in underwater and terrestrial natural history and travel subjects. They are represented by stock photo agencies in the US and United Kingdom and their photographs have been widely published in books and magazines worldwide. Their work has appeared in magazines such as National Wildlife, Islands, BBC Wildlife, Ocean Realm, Asian Diver, Unterwasser, Tauchen, Canadian Wildlife, Popular Science, Sport Diver, National Geographic Kids, Geo, and many others.