The Coral Triangle

Indonesian archipelago was lucky to be in the heart of Coral Triangle between the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Solomons, Fiji, northern Australia. Privileged sea biodiversity is an area of 5.7 million km2, equivalent Amazone forest wealth.
Natural beauty of the underwater ground water has invited local and foreign travelers to enjoy the diving and even snorkeling. Diving, the sport which was initially assessed exclusively by some communities in Indonesia, has been growing rapidly. Provision of equipment and dive by dive tourism service operators to freelance dive guide helped enliven the diving tourism industry of our country.

In a national seminar on the development of nautical tourism in Bali in 2002, Cipto Aji Gunawan, a PADI Course Director, disclose, that the potential of Indonesian dive tourism industry at least three times higher than in Thailand. To dive sites, Indonesia 34 and Thailand has 13 only. This is regardless of the candidate dive locations in Indonesia which has not been explored or pursued, as well as equipment purchases, expenses and course fees pelesatarian snowball effect on the environment.

But the data did not stand on their own pride. Individual actors to the individual level to the level of government should be taking shape. With dive sites less than half the number in Indonesia, Thailand able to make 128-240 million U.S. dollars, compared with Indonesia that ranged from 13.28 to 24 million U.S. dollars. Cipto estimate based on the nature of Indonesia, Thailand and more as a diving destination, rather than as origin of the diver. Through the assumption that Indonesia was estimated to be 507-960 million U.S. dollars earned through lodging, diving and other activities that are directly related to diving, and even additional activities suitable filler pause before flying after diving over.

INDONESIA National Geographic Traveler recently held a questionnaire which aims memeringkatkan best dive sites in Indonesia. Factors include the beauty and diversity, the challenge of diving, the availability of additional tourism, service, satisfaction value than the cost, sustainability and ease of location to the location. Average value (score) from the scale of 1 (very bad) to 5 (very good).

We involve players diving through an online survey in http://www.nationalgeographic.co.id/sub/survey/ (March 16 till 1 April 2009) and questionnaire in the Deep Indonesia (27 to 29 March 2009) at the Jakarta Convention Center. Through purposive sampling methodology (on target representative), until the expiry of 421 respondents encompass research. With the demographic profile, average age 30 years, 71% men and women 29%, 64% is of institutions PADI certified divers (43%).

INDONESIA BEST 16 dive sites

Diving tourism potential in the country entered the agenda of any local foreign travelers. Under panoramic ocean views not rare hard-up revealed through word-encourage them to come again. National Geographic Traveler Indonesian respondents selecting and assessing the ranking.

By the Indonesian Research and Development National Geographic Traveler
Introduction by Christantiowati and Manggalani R Ukirsari


Indonesian archipelago was lucky with its location in the heart of Coral Triangle (the Coral Triangle) between the islands of the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Fiji and northern Australia. A feature of marine biodiversity in an area covering 5.7 million square kilometers is equivalent to the natural richness of tropical rain forests in the Amazon (source: WWF, June 12, 2007).

Natural beauty of the underwater-Water Land of the total area of 5.7 square kilometers - has come up with the walkers, both local and foreign travelers to enjoy it, by diving and even snorkeling. Diving, the sport that had been assessed exclusively by some communities in Indonesia, has been growing rapidly. Provision of diving equipment, diving tours in the container service organization (dive operator) to freelance dive guide (freelancer) helped enliven the dive tourism industry of our country.

In a national seminar on the development of nautical tourism in Bali several years ago, Cipto A Gunawan, a PADI Course Director of the analysis reveal the potential for diving tourism industry in Indonesia at least three times larger than Thailand. To dive sites, Indonesia 34 and Thailand has 13 only. This is regardless of the dive sites in Indonesia and has not been found and / or cultivated, the purchase of equipment, course fees and expenses snowball effect towards environmental conservation.

But the data did not stand on their own pride. There's a row of numbers that make the various components, ranging up to individual levels of government must clean up. With dive sites less than half the number of locations in Indonesia, Thailand able to make 128-240 million U.S. dollars. Indonesia was ranged from 13.28 to 24 million U.S. dollars (Cipto A Gunawan, 2002, estimates are based on the nature of Thailand and Indonesia as a diving destination more than a diver resource location).

Indonesian National Geographic Traveler recently conducted a questionnaire aimed memeringkatkan best dive sites in Indonesia. Factors include the beauty and diversity, the challenge of diving, the availability of additional tourism, service, satisfaction, than the cost (cost benefit meets), sustainability and ease of location to location.

We involve the actors dive through an online survey on our site; http://www.nationalgeographic.co.id/sub/survey/ (16 March 1 April 2009) and the questionnaire in the event Deep Indonesia (27 to 29 March 2009) in Jakarta Convention Center. The methodology used is purposive sampling and until the expiry of the study collected 421 respondents. With the demographic profile, average age 30 years, men 71% and 29% female. 64% is of institutions PADI certified divers (43%).

Here is Indonesia's best dive sites ranking in a survey by National Geographic Traveler Indonesian Research and Development.

1. Papua: Raja Ampat Islands (VALUE: 4.23)
Respondents gave the highest values for diversity and beauty of (4.81) and the preservation of the location. Once been a dream of the divers who have never visited there (36%). "Life under the sea has not been disrupted and I hope will be and so on. Exact location to enjoy the fish and coral reefs are also various Relic of World War II, "Daniel Abimanju Carnadie, Jakarta.


2. East Nusa Tenggara: Komodo, Rinca (VALUE: 4.23)
Chosen because high-value challenge and difficulty to arrive at an underwater location (4.42) and ranked second only to the Raja Ampat to question the sustainability locations (4.24). "Location is complete, with the diversity of coral reefs and marine life combined with a strong current is a challenge," Dawn Anshori, Jakarta.


3. North Sulawesi: Lembeh Strait, Bitung (VALUE: 4.19)
The highest value obtained for the satisfaction of the sector compared to the cost or the cost meets value (4.52). Followed by service operators satisfying (4.09). "A lot of weird rare biota exist elsewhere," Qorina Ria Lubis, Jakarta.

4. North Sulawesi: Bunaken Island, Manado (VALUE: 4.14)
Ease to get to this location makes it selected as one of the best dive sites (4.09). Including top rankings for a list of locations to be visited divers (13%). "Biodiversity of marine inhabitants so rich. Its beauty was no doubt about it, "Syamsir M. Saputra, South Kalimantan.

5. Bali: Tulamben (VALUE: 4.05)
Ranked top for business service operator (4.12) and convenience to the location (4.17). "The point is very close to shore diving. Wreck diving is good, although sometimes Crowded below, "Johannes Suryo, Surabaya.


6. Bali: Nusa Penida, Lembongan (VALUE: 4.02)
Ranked high for the availability of additional tourism (3.1 also has the challenge during a dive (3.95). "Lots of choices for diving drift," Margareta W. Artanti, Jakarta.

More details, read National Geographic Traveler Vol 1 3rd edition, 2009. Circulating started 26 April 2009