Banda Islands lie in the middle of nowhere in the wide open and deep Banda sea. Banda Islands are a group of total ten volcanic islands and part of Maluku Province. Banda Islands are also known as Spice Island, due to their production of world’s only source of spices nutmeg and mace in the middle of 19th century ago.

But nowadays has lost their name as spice Island. The Banda Islands offer stunning tropical scenery and some of the globe’s most pristine, biologically diverse coral reefs. This mass of Banda Islands rise through lapping shores of Sulawesi Island to the west, Alor Island to the South and Papua Island to the east.

The seas around Banda Island are site of the famous Maluku sea gardens with their bright corals and colourful fish darting through the crystal clear waters. It is considered to be one of the finest diving paradise in the world. Big pelagic fish and tiny mandarin fish are abundant in Banda waters,due to the nutrient rich waters seems to effect the size of creatures dwelling among the coral.

Highlight among reef walls are the presence of large marine Life, like reef fish, sharks, turtles, ray, lobsters. Interesting diving sites around Banda Islands are Sonegat, Lontor Island, Batu Belanda, Hatta Island, Keraka/crabs Island, Sjahrir Island, Gunung api and Ai Island. Ai Island is the best diving site. Both north west and south west of Ai Island are ringed with flawless coral walls. Banda Islands can be reached by plane or by boat

Author Anto Kasan – EzineArticles Expert Author

photo credit: jon hanson

Diving at Flores Island in Indonesia

Flores Island is Right Place For Adventurous Travelers and Real Paradise For All Divers

The word Flores is firstly given by Portuguese who reached the island about 15 th century ago. The word itself means Flowers. Actually it is to describe for beautiful coral formations that shimmer in crystal sea. The Flores archipelago itself is endless in diversity.

Starting in the west lies Komodo Island where the biggest Lizard in the world can be seen. It is also known as Komodo Dragon.

photo credit: Eric Kilby

The sea around also offers excellent coral reefs to explore, where home for reef sharks and tropical fish. The highlight island’s attraction are the three colored lakes (blue, green and black) of Kelimutu volcano at east of Komodo island, marine life and Komodo Dragons.

Labuan Bajo is perfect location to explore untouched coral in Komodo National Park. Maumere offers the opportunity to explore great marine life and have around forty different diving sites in the Marine Garden of the Bay of Maumere.

Maumere Bay has black sand and inhabit at least at least 1200 species of fishes. After the earthquake in 1992 reefs were impacted. Nowadays the reefs have regenerated nicely and still world class dive sites. Outstanding walls covered in sea fans, soft corals and invertebrate covered overhangs along with some pristine hard coral gardens.

The corals of Flores sea are amongst the oldest in the world and are still in pristine condition. The coral Flowers preserved in stone. In Wai Terang, just off the coast of Flores Mainland. Here you will find Japanese world war 2 freighter wrecks, which now is covered with soft and hard corals and harbouring small fish life.

Author: Anto Kasan – EzineArticles Expert Author

Find more information before your travel to Indonesia here

photo credit: jon hanson

photo credit: NeilsPhotography

Selayar Island is Maybe One of the Few Remaining Exotic Diving Paradises in the World

Selayar Island lies in the flores sea between Sulawesi Island and Flores Island. A mountain range runs along the eastern side of the island rising to about 600 meter and dropping to over 2500 meter below the surface. There is a chance to see everything that the tropical under water world has to offer at Selayar Island. The Selayar Island is a narrow Island which is rising 4000 meter from the Banda sea. The interesting highlight diving site is about 3,000 meter long house reef consist of pristine coral slopes and walls are thickly covered with hard and soft corals,where drift diving can be done.

Marine Life can be sighted here include reef fish, turtles, barracudas, reef shark, pelagic fish, etc. Just southeast of the Island is largest coral atoll/Taka Bonerate Atoll in this area. The atolls rise abruptly from a deep oceanic trench and offer an amazing wall diving. Here has variety of coral growth and sea grass on this atolls, fringing and barrier reef. The reefs that surround east side of Selayar Island are mostly steep walls that are full of overhangs and small caves.

Since 2000 this area has been put under protection by Indonesia Government as marine park to preserve island’s natural resources on land and in the surrounding sea. Selayar Island can be reached either by boat from Bira cape, which lies at the southeastern tip of South Sulawesi Province and about 5 hour drive from Makassar/ capital of South Sulawesi Province or by plane. Interesting. So Come here and discover it yourself.

Author: Anto Kasan – EzineArticles Expert Author

More inspiration about diving during island vacation here.

photo credit: NeilsPhotography

No longer the lanzagrotty which it has often been referred to in the past this destination has become one of the most attractive amongst the Canary Islands, offering undisturbed volcanic landscapes speckled with white buildings and some of the most prolific diving experiences available within 5 hours of the UK.

Puerto del Carmen for Lanzarote diving offers a plethora of experiences, many of the dive schools dive here frequently to seek out the somewhat mythical seahorses visible beneath the waters surface. Many of the divers visiting Lanzarote come out to complete their PADI Open Water course or their advanced course in anticipation for further dives in the UK or as a preliminary destination before larger destinations such as the Red Sea or the Great Barrier Reef.

The setting for Lanzarote diving is pristine, year-round sunshine and an incredibly relaxed atmosphere, the island being predominantly populated by watersports lovers, everything from windsurfing to diving. The volcanic landscape, historically used by NASA to test their moon buggies brings the years first grape harvest in mid august, starting the rest of the European countries wine seasons.

Recently the island has been propelled into the spotlight as a result of Hollywood film sets utilizing the landscape to create stories of jail breaks as part of the story of Henri “Papillon” Charriäre, who was condemned to life on Devil’s Island, off French Guiana, for a crime he did not commit and staged countless failed escape attempts before finally making it to freedom.

Similarly Penelope Cruz spent time here in June 2008 filming a film relating to the islands premier artists, Cäsar Manrique. Manrique being the reason the island has held its authenticity through the denial of high rise buildings and ensuring each building keeps to the white and green/blue colour scheme.

The blue water and sky offer a clarity against the white buildings which is rarely achieved in holiday destinations, Lanzarote diving allows you to see not only the bold colours above the water but those beneath also. Lanzarote diving in my opinion should be the premier reasoning for visiting the island, the plethora of marine life available is magical, the year-round climate ensures that the Lanzarote diving is always pleasurable whether it’s a last minute booking in February or the summer holiday you have been dreaming of all year long.

To find out more about how you can take part in lanzarote diving or other destinations such as The Red Sea and South Africa visit http://www.activediving.co.uk and quote: ART Author: Emma Parker (23/08/08) That’s all for now on Lanzarote divin.

Author: Emma Parker.