Jakarta day/weekend dive trips and operators

[dkr82]

I'm currently living in Jakarta and having just completed my rescue course back in Australia over xmas/new years, I'm keen to make more of my weekends than just aimlessly wandering another mall.. Looking to get some general info on the best dive operators in town that run day and weekend trips and which sites these generally get out to. Thousand islands seems to be in striking distance for day trips, but a few other websites list some other locations that I've got little idea about. And Santa brought me a nauticam housing, strobe and macro wet lens for my Sony RX100II this christmas, so good photo trips/sites are a big plus to help me get used to my camera rig before heading back to Bali and doing Tulamben and eventually Komodo/RA.

I dived Bali in December (Padang Bai and Nusa Penida) with Bali Scuba, which seemed to be a decent dive shop, and that's the level of professionalism I'm looking for here in the big durian. Any help pointing me in the right (general) direction would be greatly appreciated..

Cheers,

Dylan

 

[Kevrumbo]

M/V Cecelia Ann Liveaboard out of Anyer Marina:
Java sea charters

Jakarta Diveshop:
Kristal Klear Dive Shop in Jakarta, Indonesia- - Dive Courses, Dive Trips, Dive Adventures

 

[Wisnu]

the biggest three DC in Jakarta
Seapearl in grogol - they are distributor for Scubapro and Nauticam
Bubble dive center - best pool in Indonesia
Ody dive in menteng
and many more - you can check local diving community website www.forumselam.com

 

[matts1w]

Diving out of Jakarta without getting on a plane is pretty much a bust. The best trip I have found is the Cecelia Ann boat to Krakatau. Get a bunch of friends together and charter the boat. It is BEAUTIFUL out there. Both times I have gone we have had a blast. The diving? The rock formations are pretty cool. The marine life can be ok, and the vis not so great. It is a little more remote so not as beat up as other areas around Jakarta. But really, the diving is not the reason to go see Krakatau. Above water it is incredible.

I ALSO love the 1000 Islands; Tiger Island being my favorite. It is a great escape to be lazy in the sun, read a book, kayak, swim, maybe snorkel around a little, and drink a fe cocktails. The diving? I don't bother to bring my gear anymore unless I am teaching a class. It is just fine for training, and if you want to learn your camera before a big trip then I would say go for it. You can shoot the clown fish, some of those black/purple nudibranchs you see everywhere, maybe a stingray in the shallows... there was a big turtle that lived on the backside of Kotok; I hope she is still there. Anyway, Kristal Klear/Divemasters organize trips almost every weekend. Just know the vis will be subpar and the place is pretty much fished out. To be positive, the area has improved a bit in the last five years, and Kotok Island does a good job catering to divers. Again, above water, the 1000 Islands are an incredible escape to nature from J-Town.

I guess I should also mention that none of these trips are cheap. If they were I would be in the 1000 Islands at least once a month. For the most part, they are really almost the same as a trip to Bali or Lombok minus the airfare. Of course the airplane makes the difference, as a weekend in Bali does not make a good dive trip thanks to the 18 hour no fly rule. It is a real catch-22, and if you figure out anything better please let me know.

Anyway, hope that helps.

 

[dkr82]

Thanks very much for the replies all.. The Cecelia Ann trips to the Sunda Straits and Krakatau look great, but I've only been here a few months and certainly wouldn't have enough dive buddies to charter it (I'm currently on a grand total of 0 dive buddies). Matts1w, if you're ever looking to do the same and need someone to make up numbers, PM me by all means..

I tried to book something out to Pramuka Island last weekend with Ody dive, but they canned it on account of the weather (which was looking beautiful IMHO...) Maybe they only had one booking and couldn't be bothered, I don't know.. 2 suggestions there for Kristal Klear for weekend trips, so maybe I'll get in touch with them. The costs I've been looking at for a trip with Ody, 1 day/2dives is 1.2M IDR, which is doable for me, but as you say Matts1w, flights to bali and back are only another 1.2M with pretty much the same daily dive costs, and I have friends living in Sanur, so maybe that's just a better option.

I'm going to be looking at a trip to Bali once every month or 2 for a long weekend, fly out on friday, dive sat/sun days and fly back monday afternoon. But would really like to dive a couple of times a month, hence my search for a local day trip.

---------- Post added January 28th, 2014 at 07:45 PM ----------

you can check local diving community website www.forumselam.com

If only I knew enough Bahasa Indonesia to make use of what must be a very useful resource..

 

[matts1w]

This time of year most of the dive shops shut it down to the 1000 Islands. Hell, did you read about the local ferry this week? Sank in a sudden storm and 16 people are feared lost. Very, very sad.

The weather is just too unpredictable and you have to cross some BIG water before reaching sheltered areas in 1000 Islands. And no one wants to spend 2 million to hang out on an island in the rain all weekend. They will start picking up in late March/April as rainy season starts to taper.

Like I said, unless I am teaching a class, I am pretty much over diving out of Jakarta. Still, if something comes up, I will absolutely shoot you a message.

Best,
Matt

 

[Wisnu]

-
If only I knew enough Bahasa Indonesia to make use of what must be a very useful resource..

you can post under subtopic english corner

 

[dkr82]

Thanks. I had a quick look, but missed the english area.

Matt, I didn't hear about the ferry at all. Tragic, but not uncommon from what I understand. I've just had a look on google maps and I didn't know the islands were that far out into the Java Sea..

I may ping you about training at some stage.. Have been looking at the Padi Tec40, but also reading up on the TDI advanced nitrox and deco procedures course.

 

[gekodivebali]

Bali is definitely worth the effort for 3 day week ends. There are other destinations that would offer great diving, just one flight away...