Dive Riau Islands and Sumatera
A new frontier for tourism and resort diving.
The Riau Archipelago. Its waters are the backyard of native seafaring nomads who fish and trade for a living. Their traditional wooden sailing craft, called pinisi still dotted the forested channels of these islands, along with other indigenous craft, fishing vessels, and cargo ships which call the archipelago's main town and port of Tanjung Pinang.
Tanjung Pinang lies on the largest island of the archipelago - Bintan. Once known as Riau, it was the heart of an ancient Malay kingdom. Today, Bintan is the latest hot spot of development in Indonesia's surging economy. A master plan is underway to turn it into a major tourist destination. Barely an hour away from Singapore by ferry, tourist accommodation has begun to appear to take advantage of its get-awat-from-it-all appeal.
While its waters cannot baost the cracking visibility of Indonesia's other dive sites, its rich trove of marine inhabitants and proximity to Singapore more than make up for it. Divers are practically assured of enthralling encounters of the close-up kind: fin up to nurse sharks napping under boulders, spu on colorful dancing nudibranchs, spot seahorses with their tails anchored around staghorn coral, and drift across groupers lurking in crevices. If these don't make you stop in wonder, then the undersea nightlife will: a nocturnal parade of kaleidoscopic sea urchins, shrimp, and crabs, just to mention a few. There are plenty of suprise to keep experienced divers happy. What's more, shallow waters with a nary current make this a terrific destination for new divers.
In Bintan, diving promises to be comfortably civilised, with all underwater needs catered. Out of the water, Bintan will be the place with something for everyone. There's the golf course, horses for riding, and jungles for trekking- alternatives aplenty to tempt hardened divers to stay topside.
Sumatera offers two other famous diving spots: Pulau Sikuai off the Padang coast in West Sumatera, and Pulau Weh off Banda Aceh at the most northern tip of Sumatera. Padang is accessible by direct flights from Singapore, and Banda Aceh from Kuala Lumpur and Medan.
Dive Season
From Mar to Nov, best from Apr to Oct.Transportation
Flights
Direct from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Penang to Padang and Banda Aceh, and direct from Tanjung Pinang (Bintan) and Batam to Jakarta, Pekanbaru, and Medan.Sea
Direct ferry links Tanjung Pinang and Teluk Sebung (Bintan) to Singapore.Land
Minibuses available for hire at Tanjung Pinang, Padang, and Banda Aceh.Accommodation
Four-star hotels and resorts to midpriced cottages on Bintan and Batam islands and in Padang.
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