Indonesia Diving, Raja Ampat Island "The incradible reef and fish"

No doubt about it, the Raja Ampat is definitely the richest place for fish, that I have ever been. Dr G.R.Allen"

I was like a five-year-old, seeing a reef for the very first time. I was awestruck, held by the incredible power of this richest reef. We must, with all available resources, preserve the beauty of Raja Ampat. This may be the last frontier. Michael Aw

"I love the people, I love the diving, It's super!! I've never been for a second time to the same dive destination but now I'm thinking about going back for the third time!! Should I say more?" Peter van Dalen (Taken from www.iriandive.com)
Raja Ampat Island is the most western district of the Indonesian province of Papua. Raja Ampat consists of an area surrounding four major island off the western coast of Birds Head Panisula of New Guinea Island. The western half of which is Indonesia and the eastern half, Papua New Guinea. The province was called Irian Jaya, and its a cluster of over 1500 small Islands.
Raja Ampat is the most bio-diverse location in the world more than 3000 species of fishes and over 300 species of corals have been identified here, in a single one and half hour dive you can identified more than 282 fish species and more than 400 species. Till this very day the area is virtually unexplored and unknown due to its size. This area as there are still many remnants of WW II.
The Roughest seas and decreased visibility in the Raja Ampat area are from mid-June until the end of August. During the rest of the year, the sea is mostly very smooth whit good visibility.

Dive sites in Raja Ampat Island:
Kri Island: Kri has several sites and Cape Kri is one of the fishiest. The fish numbers and variety are truly amazing. The site is current dependent. Generally it's a steep slope with beautiful coral growth, lots of reef and schooling fishes, including the giant Queensland Grouper.

Sardine Reef: Sardine Reef has really giant clams at 10m (33ft) but it's all about non-stop fishes here. There's a resident school of bumphead parrotfish in the shallows, colorful soft corals and plenty of critters.

Kaboei Bay Rock Islands: The bay is a labyrinth of rock islands. Visibility isn't great but this is a great place for macro and finding odd nudibranches, mollusks and the pictured dragonet. Bat caves and skeletons are found on some of the islands.

The Passage: This is a drift dive through a narrow channel near Waigeo. Look for archerfish among the mangroves, orange cup corals, seahorses, and percula clownfish.

Fam Island: Several sites near Fam have stunning coral growth. Sponges and soft corals add color and fishes keep it going. Sites include walls, sloping reefs, and muddy bays.

Misool: Misool is awash in fish life and huge sea fans. Caverns and boulders mark several sites. The schooling fishes seem endless and pygmy seahorses live in less than 10m (33ft). Some sites are current dependent.

At a Glance Irian Diving
Reef type: Vertical walls, Lagoon channels, caves, platform reefs, etc.
Access: By boat from base camps.
Visibility: Very good, 20-45 meters.
Current: Moderate, excellent for drift diving.
Coral: Excellent " abundant & divers.
Fish: Variety & abundance guaranteed.
Highlights: Snorkeling with dolphins near the Wai base camp (5m); White-tip sharks under P47B wing; finding new wrecks untouched/complete.

Getting There
It is easiest to fly through to Sorong via Jakarta or via Singapore. Merpati, Pelita and Lion/Wings Airlines operate daily flights from Jakarta to Sorong (with stopovers in Ujung Pandang/Makassar and/or Manado), whereas Silk Air operates regularly from Singapore to Manado. Daily flights to and from Sorong by Airlines Merpati, Lion/Wings or Pelita.

Where to Stay
Raja Ampat Island have several accommodations whit traditional design, and there many boat you can rent for a stay. If you using dive operator they will arrange for your base came.

Moving Around

Raja Ampat islands have a very diverse topography with steep mountain shores and deserted white sand beaches. Explore the land on foot. Use a boat to move from one dive site to another dive site.

Dining GuideThere are several restaurants and cafes throughout Sorong. Try their specialties: traditional irian foods!

Souvenir Tips

There are many traditional souvenirs made from wood. Other Things to See or DoYou can visit gorgeous waterfalls, ancient burial sites, bat caves and stunning waterways breathtaking limestone landscapes and Manta ray spotting and bird watching.

Travel Tips
To enter Papua itself, you need a surat jalan (Travel Permit) which is issued by the local police. Please bring: 3 Passport Photos, 3 Copies of the photo page of your passport and 3 Copies of the passport page with the Indonesian Visa.
Guide Book : Diving Indonesia (a guide to the world's greatest diving), Periplus Action Guide, Kal Muller.
More Information about Irian Jaya Dive, contact: Sorong, Indonesia Office: Papua Diving. Phone: +62 (411) 401 660, Fax:

+62 (951) 325 274. www.Iriandiving.com

Diving Experience in Celebes

Bunaken is one of the most spectacular spots for diving and admiring marine life. Other places nearby are also ranked among the favorites by locals and international tourists Located near Sulawesi or Celebes, Indonesia, Bunaken, Manado Tua, Siladen Island, Lembeh Strait are perfect destinations for amateur and professional divers.

Getting There
Where to StayInns and hotels in Manado, or in Sulawesi Dive Quest on Bunaken island Liang beach, a small beach resort.
Moving AroundExplore the land on foot. Use a boat to move from one place to another.

Dining Guide
Various restaurants and cafes throughout Manado and the islands. Try their specialties: seafood and food made of coconuts!

Souvenir Tips
Sea-related products, such as items made of seashells, corals, etc.

Other Things to See or Do

Diving, swimming, snorkeling.
Walking around on the beach.
Sampling the tempting seafood cuisine.
Ornitologists and amateur bird-watchers might find visiting Tangkoko Dua Sudara Nature Reserve entertaining.

Travel Tips
Bring along your bathing suit, if you plan to swim. You can rent diving suits and equipments in Manado area, though. So no need to bring your own, unless you're a pro.

Join a tour if you'll be diving for the first time.
For more information about diving in Manado, you can visit the Odyssea Divers' About Manado page.From some major cities in Indonesia, such as Jakarta, join a flight to Manado (in North Sulawesi). To save the hassle, you can join special tours provided by a travel agent of your choice.

Amazing Diving in Banda Islands

The Banda Islands are one of Indonesias top destinations for divers. Both experts and beginners will enjoy themselves here, as the diving ranges from the shallow lagoon between Banda Neira and Gunung Api to the vertical walls of Hatta Island, the most easterly in the group. The Bandas offer stunning tropical scenery, a remarkable history, friendly villages, and some of the globe's most pristine, biologically diverse coral reefs. Scuba is new here, but the pioneering divers didn't have to work hard for their thrills. The undersea world around Ambon and the nearby island of Saparua have top-rate dive sites. Highlights among reef walls here are the presence of large marine life - sharks, enormous turtles, schools of Napoleon Wrasse, giant groupers, tuna, rays, and huge lobsters - neighbors to generous schools of reef fish.
The Banda Islands, about 132 kilometers southeast of Ambon, consists of three larger islands and seven smaller ones, perched on the rim of Indonesia's deepest sea, the Banda Sea. Near the island Manuk, the water reaches a depth of more than 6,500 meters. Of the three biggest islands Banda, Banda-Neira and Gunung Api, the first two are covered with nutmeg trees and other vegetation. The third however, is entirely bare and highly volcanic. The seas around Banda are the site of the famous Maluku sea gardens with their bright corals and colorful fish darting through the crystal- clear waters and makes it suited to dive, snorkel or even just sightseeing.

The Banda Islands Dive Sites :
Sonegat : The nearest site for a decent dive is just five minutes by boat from the hotels. It is in the sonegat-sea arm- between Banda Neira and Gunung Api, just offshore from a little seaside house owned by Des Alwi, the Bandas most famous son. The drop off here is steep and the wall extends down 25 meters to a grey, sandy bottom. There were few fish around, but a good sized dogtooth tuna cruised by and some beautiful blue girdled and emperor angelfish.

Keraka Island: Pulau Keraka or Crab Island is just a few minutes further out, and protects the north entrance of the Neira " Gunung Api sea passage. A nice sandy stretch on the north coast is perfect for picnic. At the south shore, there are some 18 meters down a mini-wall covered with hundreds of large blue-and-yellow tunicates. To the east shore, you may see at 10 meters a good assortment of reef fish and a school of half meter long barracudas.

Sjahrir Island and Batu Kapal: Sjahrir Island or formerly known as Pisang Island (Banana Island) and Batu Kapal (Boat Stone) are just 20 minutes by boat from the hotels on Banda Neira. These two sites combine well for a morning dive, a picnic on the beach, and an afternoon dive.

Gunung Api: In May 1988, the explosion from this mountain has killed of most of the off-shore coral formations around Gunung Api, but amazingly spared many sponges. Some corals are beginning to to grow back, but by and large the seascape remains bleak. There are no walls off Gunung Api. The bottom slopes gradually to 30-35 meters.

Lontar Island: The outer edge of Lontar Island, which represents part of the rim of a sunken caldera, offers several good dive sites.
Batu Belanda: On this site, you will find many barrel and tube sponges and small caves and cracks. The fish were varied and plentiful: a school of snappers, large emperor and blue-girdled angelfish, wrasses, a large pinnate bat-fish and numerous bannerfish

Ai Island: Together with Hatta Island, this island offers Bandas best diving. Both the north coast and the south "west of Ai are ringed with flawless coral walls, which are rugged and full of caves, the kind of habitat that harbors fish.

Hatta Island: Hatta Island is about 25 km by sea from Banda Neira. Skaru atoll, a barely submerged reef a few hundred meters off the southern point of Hatta. On a coral outcrop, watch the passing parade of Unicornfish, Fusiliersm Jack Fish and Rainbow Runners, often seen Whitetip Sharks (almost 2 meters) and Dogtoothed Tuna, Napolean Wrasse, and Hawksbill Turtles.

Getting There
To Ambon :usually fly from Denpasar Bali via Ujung Pandang. To Banda Islands :fly from Ambon by small plane/Merpati Airlines. Or you could try this one :Flying from Ujung Pandang to Ambon. Then you'd have to wait for the ferry (once every two weeks), and stay at the Bandas for 17 days until the ferry returned.

Where to Stay
There are plenty of small, very inexpensive places to stay around Bandas that you can choose to stay with varied price and facilities



Moving Around
Many days can be spent around these lush islands. Spices are still grown here and the local people still make traditional food and snacks using these once very rare and sought after spices. Short walks to see the forts left behind by the Dutch, visits plantations of nutmeg. The trek up Gunung Api will surely leave a lasting impression with amazing panoramic views if the islands surrounding Banda Niera.

Dining Guide
There are only a few small restaurants with varied of Indonesian foods.


Souvenir Tips
Try to buy some local souvenirs here or traditional foods and snacks.

Other Things to See or Do
For non divers need not worry about boredom, beside snorkeling in the lagoon right off Banda Neira, there are tennis courts and go on a short pleasure trip around Banda Neira. For those who bring their children, they can swim in calm waters or watch the sharks, fish and turtles in two enclosures in the lagoon.

Travel Tips

• Diving is possible all year round, but the monsoon may restrict your choice of dive sites from July to September.
• Diving is usually comfortable, with good visibility and calm waters, but some of the dive sites are subject to conditions that make them suitable for experienced divers only.
• Don't forget to equipped yourself with diving equipments, surf board and snorkel, Try to hire equipment from larger firms as these tend to be more reliable, but remember the responsibility of checking the equipment is ultimately yours.
• Bring a bathing suit and extra clothings.

Amed Beach-Bali

Amed Beach East Bali is everything you dreamed it would be a rare and special paradise of outstanding exotic beauty, vibrant culture and friendly people. Here you can finally find peace and quiet, enjoy great food and take advantage of comfortable and inexpensive accommodation. From the beach, Amed offers an excellent site for training dives. It has a flat bottom lagoon for instruction and a coral reef only 5 minutes swim away.
This location is highly recommended for introductory dives. By boat, Amed has a nice wall dive just a few minutes away. It is a fun, easy dive for everyone. Snorkeling and diving off the black-sand beaches here is exceptional, the variety and numbers of fish on display are among the best on Bali and the water temperature is a constant 28 degrees. Schools of cardinal fish, triggerfish, black snappers, pyramid butterflies, banner fish, and damselfish can be seen on the sand slopes, while table corals, big fan gorgonians, and magnificent stag horn Acropora and Dendronephthya trees, dense growths of sponges, crinoids, and sea fans are commonly found within 20 meters of shore.
Cemuluk, on a protected bay, is an ideal place to begin snorkeling. Four kilometres further south along the coast is Banyuning, where there's a small wreck and some of the most beautiful coral gardens to be seen anywhere in the Lesser Sundas. The water is a little deeper here and sometimes there is a slight swell, so this area suits people with experience.

Getting There
Just 30min NE from Amlapura.By public transport: From Denpasar, Batubulan Terminal, take a bus(medium size) to Amlapura, for 2 hours. Then change to a bemo to Amed, for 30min. The bemo will stops at the village, but the driver may take you to Jemeluk Beach.

Where to Stay
Amed is actually the name of just one village and not the place to base yourself; the villages to the south are more attractive. There are dozens of places to stay along this coast, from non-star hotel to star hotel.

Moving Around
You're free to explore Amed beach on foot.

Dining Guide
You can find food stalls (warung) whose sell snacks and nasi campur. The best restaurant in the area is the Baliku, approximately one kilometer south of the Blue Moon. And in the Lipah area serves good Indonesian food.

Souvenir Tips
Sea-related products, such as items made of seashells, corals, etc.
Other Things to See or Do
You can visit the fish market early in the morning when the tuna come in, And you can also enjoy the views surroundings Amed village.

Travel Tips
Most hotel staff can also arrange sailing or fishing trips so you can catch your own dinner. Your hotel will most probably have snorkeling gear for hire.
If you're on the Amed coast and want to dive, steer clear of the dive operators and check the prices at the other operators. Just make sure you take a look at the dive operator's equipment to make sure it's up to snuff before you decide to dive with them.

Velo’v, "Onthel" ala Lyon

Oleh: Prasetyo Eko
Di kaki bukit Fourvière, Lyon, Perancis, yang di puncaknya berdiri sebuah basilika indah, Notre-Dame de Fourvière, berjejer rapi sekitar 20 sepeda yang terpasang pada sebuah stasiun atau rak parkir. Di salah satu ujung tempat parkir terdapat satu kotak mirip mesin anjungan tunai mandiri.
Seorang perempuan memasukkan sebuah kartu dan mulai memencet sejumlah tombol di mesin tersebut. Setelah itu, dia menghampiri salah satu sepeda, menariknya keluar dari rak, lantas menggenjot sepeda itu melaju di jalur sepeda yang telah disediakan.
Perempuan tersebut merupakan salah satu dari ribuan warga Lyon yang sedang menggunakan jasa Velo’v, salah satu moda transportasi kota Lyon, selain tramway, metro, dan bus, yang murah, sehat, dan hemat energi. Velo’v merupakan penyewaan sepeda otomatis ala Lyon yang menjadi salah satu cerita sukses pengembangan kota ini.
"Lyon ingin mengembangkan diri menjadi kota hijau yang ramah lingkungan, sehat, dan hemat energi. Salah satunya adalah dengan program Velo’v," kata Endra Atmawidjaja, mahasiswa Indonesia yang sedang belajar tentang urbanisme di Universitas Lumiere, Lyon.
Selain buat pejalan kaki, kota Lyon juga merupakan salah satu surga bagi para pengguna sepeda. Jalur khusus bagi sepeda tersedia di jalan-jalan kota. Menyusuri bagian kota tua Lyon yang dipenuhi bangunan kuno dan ditetapkan PBB sebagai salah satu situs warisan dunia memang lebih nyaman menggunakan sepeda.
Hal ini sudah pasti berbeda jauh dengan Jakarta yang, jangankan jalur sepeda, trotoar yang menjadi hak pejalan kaki saja secara sewenang-wenang dikuasai pengendara sepeda motor, dipenuhi warung, bengkel, dan lainnya. Meskipun pada beberapa tahun terakhir mulai muncul pencinta sepeda, seperti komunitas bike to work, tuntutan mereka untuk memiliki jalur sendiri di Jakarta layaknya busway masih menjadi impian.
Sejak diluncurkan tahun 2005, Velo’v telah menjadi cerita sukses. Pada Juni 2006, setidaknya terdapat 22.000 kali penyewaan per hari yang dilakukan oleh lebih dari 52.000 orang yang terdaftar sebagai pemakai. Velo’v sendiri merupakan sepeda yang didesain secara ergonomis agar nyaman dipakai, memiliki tiga tingkat kecepatan, serta keranjang untuk menaruh barang pengguna di atas roda depan.

Stasiun parkir
Selain di Fourvière, ada ratusan tempat lain di Lyon yang memiliki stasiun Velo’v, seperti di Gerland. Stasiun biasanya didirikan di tempat yang ramai dikunjungi warga.
Mulai awal tahun 2007, sepeda, yang pada awalnya hanya 1.500 unit, dan stasiun parkir direncanakan ditingkatkan jumlahnya. Sepeda akan ditambah menjadi 4.000 dan lebih dari 400 stasiun di seluruh penjuru kota. Diharapkan, dalam setiap jarak 300 meter akan ada satu stasiun Velo’v.
Velo’v memiliki sistem yang sederhana dan murah, yaitu menggunakan kartu prabayar. Untuk mendapatkannya, hanya dibutuhkan 1 euro atau Rp 12.000 untuk kartu dengan masa pakai selama satu pekan atau 5 euro untuk kartu dengan masa pakai satu tahun. Adapun untuk sewa sepeda, peminat hanya mengeluarkan sekitar 1 euro per satu jam dengan 30 menit pertama gratis.
Namun, untuk dapat menyewa Velo’v, pengguna harus memenuhi batas nilai kartu kredit minimum sebagai jaminan. Dalam praktiknya, menurut The Guardian, penggunaan Velo’v lebih banyak gratis karena sekitar 90 persen pengguna hanya melakukan perjalanan kurang dari 30 menit.

Canggih
Meskipun tak beda dengan sepeda biasa, mengandalkan tenaga manusia untuk menggerakkannya, sebenarnya sepeda Velo’v memiliki teknologi yang cukup canggih, yakni adanya komponen elektronik untuk identifikasi dan statistik yang rinci mengenai penggunaan sepeda tersebut.
Setiap kali sepeda dipasang di tempat parkirnya, sistem akan mengecek keseluruhan fisik sepeda, termasuk tekanan ban, lampu, dan rem, serta mengumpulkan data seperti jarak dan waktu pemakaian. Seandainya ada salah satu komponen rusak, sistem tidak akan mengizinkan sepeda tersebut disewakan sehingga pengguna tidak mungkin mengalami rem blong.
Untuk pembangunan Velo’v pihak kota bekerja sama dengan JC Decaux, sebuah perusahaan periklanan. Perusahaan ini menginvestasikan dan mengoperasikan Velo’v dengan imbalan mendapatkan hak untuk menjual lahan iklan di sejumlah moda transportasi lainnya. Tidak disebutkan berapa dana yang dibutuhkan untuk investasi Velo’v.
Kesuksesan Velo’v membuat sejumlah kota tertarik untuk mengaplikasikannya. Yang paling bersemangat adalah Amsterdam, yang disebut-sebut sebagai ibu kota sepeda dunia. Dengan sistem transportasi yang semrawut, jangan berharap ada Velo’v di Jakarta.

Sumber: Kompas, Kamis, 26 Juli 2007.