photo credit: Georg Wittberger

Untouched Paradise – Thousand Islands

Nestled in the Bay of Jakarta, The Thousand Islands or Pulau Seribu are an archipelago of nearly 130 islands dazzling and bewitching the Java Sea. Beautiful as well as bountiful, the islands are tropical with sandy beaches and at times possess scenic coral atolls strewn in a display of size and shapes.

The Thousand Islands are a true gift to earth by Mother Nature. Encompassed of beautiful reefs, this archipelago is home to an amazing marine wonderland. With colourful fishes and underwater adventures, the islands are the ideal location for diving, snorkeling, fishing and underwater discoveries.

The shimmering turquoise waters tempt divers to indulge in exploring the land beneath. With fascinating marine creatures and their aquatic wonderland, there is much to see and do at the Pulau Seribu. Some of the islands in Pulau Seribu are still undeveloped for habitation, but a couple have been developed for tourism purpose.

Those islands include Pulau Bidadari, Pulau Ayer, Sepa, Coconut, Pelangi, Bira, Pantara, Kul-kul and Pulau Putri. Within these islands, tourists and visitors alike can bask in rest and relaxation on the sandy beaches of a paradise on earth. Some of the golden palm fringed exotic locations were once home to the likes of formers kings of Indonesia as well as dignitaries such as the first President of Indonesia.

The islands can be reached within 1-2 hours by ferry or chartered boat from the Marina Ancol. Look forward to rest and relaxation mingled with tranquility and serenity at these islands when in Jakarta. With serviced apartments in the main land, such as the Somerset Grand Citra, indulge in this wondrous attraction and return to the comforts and warmth of this serviced residence in Jakarta.

Naveen Marasinghe is an e-marketing executive at eMarketingEye(Private) Ltd. eMarketingeEye is an search engine marketing company offering integrated Internet marketing solutions, specializing in serving the online travel and hospitality industry.

More information about Island vacation in Indonesia.

photo credit: mohd fahmi

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