DIVING SITE
The preference of the astute holiday makers...
Discover the Charm of This Tropical Paradise
Teeming ecology and rich marine life
Located at the meeting point between Andaman Sea and Indian Ocean, Pulau Weh is naturally blessed with an amazing array of rare marine life. Here are some examples of the island¡¯s rare marine life:
• The island is the only habitat for the threatened toad, Bufo valhallae (genus Bufo)
• Sighting of the rare shark, megamouth shark
• The home for whale shark, mantra ray , dolphin and other pelagic marine life.
The surrounding seas of Pulau Weh is the haven for coral reefs, making it the perfect place for diving and snorkeling. Pulau Weh is a natural oceanic beauty, in every sense of the word. To preserve this attractive eco system, the Indonesian Government has declared an estimated 60 square kilometers of inland and sea around the tropical island as wild life protection area, making it the ideal place for ecotourism. On and around the island are two protected areas namely, Pulau Weh Marine Park (2,600 ha) and Iboih Recreation Park (1,300 ha).
The Dive Sites
Season in Pulau Weh is year round. Winds are less likely to effect the more popular dive sites from October to April, and there are fewer chances of heavy rain showers during these months. But no matter what time of the year you visit Pulau Weh, there are always places to dive because of the variety of locations around the islands. We make every effort to select the best dive sites to take advantage of changing conditions. Water temperatures remain constant throughout the year, averaging 28 ~ 29degrees Celsius, Visibility ranges 40m from the depths of the open ocean around Weh.
Most of the popular dive sites in Pulau Weh are situated in the East and South of the island. Still being an insiders' secret, and off the beaten track, Pulau Weh offers unspoiled and uncrowded dive sites. Visitors will get unforgettable dives, from spectacular full-adrenaline dives to long slow relaxed macro spotting dives. With more than 20 recognised diving/snorkeling spots, Pulau Weh is a mouth watering attraction for snorkeling and scuba diving.
There are up to 20 dive spots around Pulau Weh, we will cover the more popular ones.
Most of the popular dive sites in Pulau Weh are situated in the north-west of the island. Still being an insiders' secret, and off the beaten track, Pulau Weh offers unspoiled and uncrowded dive sites. Visitors will get unforgettable dives, from spectacular full-adrenaline dives to long slow relaxed macro spotting dives. Pulau Weh is a mouth watering attraction for snorkeling and scuba diving. The dive sites are:
1. Batee Dua Gapang & Gapang's house reef
Aside from its serene white sand beaches, Gapang is well known for its beautiful coral reefs and rich marine life. Gapang is a popular spot for easy diving and night diving. Start out by snorkeling out to Batee Dua (Two Rocks) and begin the deep part of your dive at 30 m and head back to the shallower reef closer to the beach .Alternatively, divers can opt for a long shallow beach dive and stay in the bay part of our house reef.
At 14 m level, Gapang Reef is occupied by different hard corals and big waving leather corals, while at the 30 m level, visitors can enjoy the sight of reef sharks, the manta or eagle rays in the blue and the loads of blue-spotted ribbontail rays and blue spotted stingrays. ¡°Resident¡± Hawksbill turtles further enhances the majestic view of the Gapang hosue reef. The house reef is densely populated by marine life, namely scorpion, lion fishes, Macro ghost pipefish, mantis shrimp,nudi branch, flyinggarnet,leaf fish, frog fish &... Amazing tales from divers on their marine adventure adds up spice to this popular area.
Is just 5 minutes from Gapang, lies another dive site, Batee Meuroron. Albeit a less frequented site, it is the haven or rather the regular ¡°hang out¡± place for clown fishes in their anemones in the shallow water at safety stop level between the rocks.
2. Rubiah Sea Garden:
A heaven for coral and nature lovers, the Rubiah Sea Garden Marine National Park is the home to many rare sea creatures such as whale sharks, manta rays, sea turtles and dolphins. Easily accessible by boat from Iboih, this beautiful coral garden is shallow and is ideal for relaxed diving. Also a very good spot for night dives. This dive site is an ideal spot for shallow and relaxed diving.
Excited divers will normally not miss the sight of the colourful view of this oceanic paradise from 10 m level onwards. Divers can follow the rugged terrain slope to see big branching hard corals till over 30 m. Adding up to their amazing diving experience, divers will certainly enjoy their sight of colourful nudibranches and flatworms here in this spot. It is usual to spot moray eels, blue spotted sting rays and scorpion fish
Beyond the description of words, the tales from divers would include the spotting of a couple of amazingly red fluorescent bubble anemones at 13 m. Stated simply diving in Rubiah Sea Garden is truly eye opening, in every sense of the word.
3. Rubiah Utara:
The advice of experienced divers is that this site is only accessible under mild current conditions. Located at the north point of Rubiah Island, this dive spot is outlined by rocks to the north. The deep end of this spot at the 30 m level offers beautiful scenery with huge boulders and gigantic seafans forming a colourful dense cover. Back up to the 18 m level, visitors are often amazed by the view of an underwater savannah. where white whip gorgonians roam freely. Here, visitors will certainly not miss the view of sharks, giant reefrays, fusiliers, trevallies, snappers and butterfly fishes.
4. Arus Balee:
Noted for its strong currents, this popular dive site is situated between the small islands of Rubiah and Seulako, bordering a rocky pinnacle. This narrow passage often encounters current, and is a popular hang out place for sharks and other current loving sea creatures. Adding up naturally, its stature as a very popular dive site.
Rich in marine life, visitors can easily spot an amazing amount of fusiliers, snappers, manta rays, Devil Rays... This site is certainly well known for the kaleidoscopic view of moving palette of colours, displayed by underwater movement of an amazing amount of neon bright fusiliers.
5.Batee Tokong:
Batee Tokong is part of a big underwater plateau stretching to the north. Some rocks even reach the surface and form a wall down to 25 m where a plateau begins which is literally covered with big seafans. Further north this dive sites continues to Shark Plateau where there is a good chance to watch napoleon wrasses, giant groupers and blacktip reef sharks. Divers are attracted by the ever spectacular scenery and its amazingly rich marine life, making it favourite site for short and long term divers in Pulau Weh.
Shark Plateau¡¯ is located on the north side in a 24-28 m deep plateau, where black and white tip reef sharks, gray sharks and the occasional silvertip roam. On a deeper level, divers may spot bluefin trevallies , yellow goat fishes, dog tooth Tuna, schooling Baracuda...
Right at the bottom level, a busy crowd of marine life such as Octopuses, Lionfish, Scorpion fish, Frog fish, Nudibranchs, Butterfly fishes, Triggerfishes and the beautiful big nose Unicornfish fish carrying on their day to day activities. Ton of eels from giant moray, honey comb moray eel, blue ribbon eel.
6.Seulako¡¯s Drift :
Fancy the experience of ¡°fly WHILE you dive¡±? Then try out this site. Not ideal for the faint hearted as currents here are strong. Not withstanding this, Seulako¡¯s Drift offers a different kind of adventure for die hard divers. Expect to be entertained by the majestic view of hard corals and gorgonians in the deep and the fields of soft leather corals in the shallow. You may even enjoy a somersault or two under the strong currents!!. What more can be said?
7.Pantee Aneuk Sueke (The Canyon):
This is a fascinating, deep dive on the west coast of Pulau Weh. Getting to the Canyon takes about 25 minutes by boat. During the west monsoon this spot is inaccessible as the seas are quite tumulous during this time of the year. Dazzling rock formations and caves are the main attraction in this site.
When the current is heads northwards, a normal dive will start with divers descending unto the south to the cave at the 29m level. When the ascending towards the canyon divers will hover over the beautiful narrow gorgonian garden the home ground of some napoleon-wrasses, school of Jacks and black tip reef sharks. Occasionally, mantra ray are spotted here, especially at times when there are plenty of plankton.
Swimming trough through the narrow arch is like a ritual to most divers before ending up the dive on top of the reef. Swimming between the coral lined walls of the Canyon accompanied by schools of reef fishes and other form of marine life is a truly memorable experience not only for the relatively new divers.
8.Pantee Peunateung
There lies the adventure for the more experienced hands in Pantee Peunateung . Loosely translated as ¡°Rice field¡± this site takes about 35 minutes to reach by boat and is dominated by a beautiful and visible coral reefs ranging from north to south. Coral reefs are clearly visible from above water level and visitors can immediately estimate the change in water depth while enjoying the scenic colours of the reefs!! A truly absorbing experience!!! drop off starts at about 30 m and is pretty and large gorgonian sea fans are common sight here, thriving on the rich nutrient waters.
At the deeper level, do keep an eye for sharks namely, black tips, white tips and gray reef sharks cruising around the walls. Otherwise giant sting rays, eagle rays, bumphead parrots and Manta Rays do make common appearances.
Looking up at the sun from this level is a fascinating experience, especially when Eagle/ Manta rays and gorgonians are at sight.
Another favorite with a series of huge walls and vertical drop offs into deep-water landscapes all covered with enormous gorgonian sea fans mixed with green tree corals creating an incredible spectacle. Then the intermediate depths are covered with lava rocks and volcanic formations, supporting a dense reef comprising hard corals, reef fish, turtles, morays etc.
9. Pantee Ideu
Enjoy miles and miles of panoramic view of reefs, under the good visibility of the waters around Pantee Ideu . Alike a big aquarium, divers are privileged to enjoy splendid view of spectacular underwater landscape of big boulders covered with huge gorgonians, sponges and big branching hard corals. Truly an oceanic view crafted in heaven. Divers may opt to end their dive between the beautiful coral boulders and table corals in the 10 m depth range. Good place to catch a glimpse of Napoleon wrasses in the deep and nesting yellow margined triggerfish in the shallows.
10. Batee Gla (Slippery Rock)
With rocks forming a ridge from its surface and gradually sloping down to more than 40 m deep, the rugged rocky formation itself offers a spectacular view. Combined with the usual current that sweeps past, divers enjoys the thrill of ¡°floating¡± over an under water mountain ridge. The shallow end is an ideal location for see bumphead parrotfish and huge number of garden eel.
11. Lhong Angen and Pantee Gua
A diving locations situated off the shores and a nearby underwater pinnacle on the west side of Pulau Weh. Albeit being less frequented dive sites, these sites are often chosen as an alternative when sea conditions elsewhere are not favourable.
12. Limbo Gapang
Just one or two minutes by boat straight out from Gapang Beach. You¡¯ll find an abundance of nudibranchs, flatworms and mushroom corals on this underwater hill with it¡¯s top at 7m. The turtles from Gapang Beach sometimes visit this area, which in fact is still an extension of the Batee Dua Rocks on the house reef.
13. Sumur Tiga
A perfect place for relaxed drifting over the shallow panoramic coral gardens off Sumur Tiga beach. Suitable for snorkeling and casual diving, an ideal place for beginners. Visitors will get the additional treat of getting to see dolphins on their way to this site. A truly fantastic experience.
14. Anoi Hitam
A relatively new dive site, surrounded by sweetlips and is well known for the incredible density of all kinds of Acropora hard corals in the shallows.
15. Batee Meuduro
One of the more popular dive sites in Pulau weh, but the distance may be a problem for some as this site is situated some 70 minutes away on the south side of Pulau Weh. With good visibility and strong currents, this site attract lots of pelagics; tuna, mackerel, huge schools of barracuda¡¯s, napoleon wrasse, manta and eagle rays, lots of different sharks, amongst which even the amazing thresher sharks!
16. Wreck of "Sophie Rickmers"
"Sophie Rickmers" was built in Germany in 1920 and has been lying on the sea bed of Pria Laot Bay in Pulau Weh since May 10, 1940. Today this huge wreck is the home of giant groupers, giant morays and jacks. . Most special fish to try and remember to notice, is probably the black-spot angelfish (Genicanthus melanospilos). Usually rare to find because of it¡¯s preference for deeper waters, it¡¯s fairly abundant on this wreck, if you just don¡¯t forget to look for it
17. Little Wreck & Underwater volcano
Another popular attraction in Pulau Weh is the wreck of a small tugboat, located near the harbour of Sabang. Now the home for an amazing array of marine life, notably, pipe fishes, seahorses, nudibranchs, twinspot lionfish and ghost pipefish, this wreck is a sure attraction for divers. This usual dive is combined with a stop at the underwater volcano. It is a truly fascinating experience to dive in curtains of bubbles streaming out of the sea floor. This spot is certainly the most exciting underwater volcano you can discover in Indonesia.The shallow end of the plateau is covered with huge table corals, a perfect hiding place for an amazing amount of marine life, notably, lobsters, stone fish, sleeping baby sharks and more.
Our Dive Boat
Our dive boat - is the only custom-built dive boat on the island and is fully equipped with an onboard toilet, large sundeck on the roof (entry platform at stern) and other features to make our diving expeditions fun and easy.Is also fitted with tank racks for 30 tanks, which enables divers to complete
2 dives in the morning and 1 or more dives after our lunch break on board or on one of Pulau Weh¡¯s idyllic, deserted
beaches.