Scuba Diving at Makassar
Scuba diving at Makassar, particularly around Samalona Island, offers an incredible underwater experience with its diverse marine life and fascinating wreck sites. Due to limited publicity, only a little is known about diving here, and as for me, I only went snorkelling as time was not on my side.
Scuba Diving at Makassar
My trip to Samalona Island was with a general tourism group, and we mostly explored this beautiful island for photography. After snorkelling there, I told myself I would scuba dive one day, but I am still waiting for that day to come.
Makassar is located on the southern side of Sulawesi, but many people prefer to head to the north, where Manado is. You can find world-class dive sites like Lembeh Straits, Bunaken Marine Park, and Gorontola here.
A local dive boat around Samalona Island. |
Here’s a bit more detail about scuba diving opportunities around Samalona Island:
- Samalona Island Coral Reefs: The coral reefs surrounding Samalona Island are home to a wide variety of tropical fish, both large and small. The beautiful coral landscape makes it an ideal spot for beginner divers.
- Wreck Diving: For experienced wreck divers, Samalona Island and its neighbouring islands and atolls offer a treasure trove of wreck sites to explore. Here are some of the wrecks you can find in the area:
- Samalona (Maru wreck)
- Kodengareng Keke (Gunboat wreck)
- Tin-Tingan Atoll (Cargo vessel wreck)
- Takabakan Atoll (Japanese Submarine wreck)
- Samalona Island (Michell-Lanchester bomber wreck)
- Tanakeke (Cargo vessel and the Nikko Maru wreck)
- Labutung Atoll (Cargo vessel wreck)
- Lai Lai Island (Hakko Maru wreck)
The wreck sites above provide a unique opportunity to explore sunken ships and witness marine life thriving in and around them.
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced diver, diving at Makassar promises unforgettable underwater adventures. Just ensure you dive with a reputable operator for safety and guidance.
Dive Centres in Makassar
Below is a list of active scuba diving centres in Makassar, which were checked in early May 2024. You can look them up on Google and contact them for more information about prices.
- Nemo Diving Makassar
- Sangkarang Dive Makassar
- Makassar Scuba World
- Bubblemakers Pro Dive Shop & PADI Dive Center
- GGI Scuba
- Cahaya 32 Dive Shop
- Dolphin Diving Club
- FDC UNHAS (Fisheries Diving Club)
- AC DIVE CENTER
- Deco Dive Trip
- FAMS’ SCUBA DIVE
Conclusion
For more information, visit the Malaysia International Dive Expo, or MIDE, which occurs yearly in Kuala Lumpur. Anyone planning to go scuba diving in Makassar should make prior arrangements with a certified and licensed dive operator.
There are direct flights into Makassar from Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta with budget airlines such as AirAsia, Wings and even Batik.
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