Scuba Dive Site @ Padang And Pulau Weh - Sumatra
For lovers of the sun and sea, Sumatra has much to offer. Pulau Weh at the northern tip of the island offers spectacular scuba diving. The west coast of Sumatra is a popular surfing destination. Those who prefer resorts can head to Bintan Island in the Riau Archipelago, which is near Singapore.
Introduction
Diving in Sumatra doesn’t really come out on top of the list for Indonesian diving destinations but it has treasures to behold, and offers a more personal experience as dive sites are less crowded. Up at the northwest tip of Sumatra, Pulau Weh is the highlight. Accessed via Banda Aceh, Pulau Weh is located in the Andaman Sea and can be dived year-round with warm water temperature averaging at 84°F (29°C). This small volcanic island is a tropical paradise with white sand beaches, stunning scenery and crystal clear water.
Pulau Weh is an ideal destination for those who want to chill out and relax without the hustle and bustle of tourist towns. When you are not diving, soak up the sun on the beach, swim and snorkel in the sea, watch the sky turn red at sunset and enjoy this idyllic island destination. Blessed with great visibility that sometimes extends to 131ft (40m), diving at Pulau Weh consists of wall dives, coral gardens and boulders. At the outer reefs, there are also several exciting drift dives to experience. Being a volcanic area, there is also a black sandy reef called Anoi Hitam. Notably, there is a custom on the island not to dive from 7pm on a Thursday to 2pm on a Friday.
Another dive destination in Sumatra is Padang. Originally discovered by the surfing community, it is also possible to dive there year-round in warm waters. Visibility is about 50ft (15m) closer to land but further out, there are some beautiful pinnacles in the open sea to visit. Macro dives are plentiful here and underwater conditions are typically easy and calm, suitable for new divers.
Dive Site Information
Daily Temperatures/ Suitable Period of Timing to Visit these Dive Sites :
Diving is suitable in Sumatra all year long but there might be periodic rainstorms or monsoon.
Best Dive Sites :
Pantee Peunateung – A sloping reef to around 25 meters / 82 feet before a vertical drop off. Stunning topography and at the deeper levels the wall is covered with colourful gorgonian sea fans, sharks patrol the blue and eagle rays pass overhead. The shallower slope is a great spot for critter hunting among the rocks including moray eels, octopus, shrimps and lobsters but don’t forget to keep looking out to the open ocean or you’ll miss the huge schools of jacks, trevally, triggerfish and fusiliers. This site is action packed. Arus Balee – This pinnacle site is bursting with colour and teeming with fish. Vibrant reef fish swarm over the corals as black tip reef sharks cruise by. Other common sighting here include giant groupers, giant trevally, tuna and seasonal schooling mobula rays. For those who like macro life, ribbon eels are frequent sightings as are spider crabs on the gorgonians and moray eels which are often accompanied by a couple of cleaner shrimp working away. From big to small, you’ll find it here.
Batee Tokong – This is a firm favourite for many divers and for good reason. The site features a pinnacle, wall and sloping reef and the marine life is just as diverse – and even more abundant. A deep plateau is a must for those who want to see sharks, the slope is where you’ll find groupers and trevallies swimming as well as lionfish, numerous species of moray eels, ribbon eels and an array of critters amongst the gorgonian sea fans. If you like diversity then this site should be on your list.
Top Dive sites in Pulau Weh: Sophie Rickmers (Wreck) – Built in 1920 as a cargo steam ship, the Sophie Rickmers was scuttled by her own German crew in 1940 to avoid being captured by the Dutch. Laying upright and in tact she sits at around 55 meters / 180 feet with the wheelhouse just below 30 meters / 100 feet, so you’ll need your PADI Deep Diver Specialty or TecRec certification to dive it.
This incredible wreck is now completely encrusted in coral, surrounded by schooling fish and visited by marble rays, giant grouper, giant trevallies and when you inspect closely a whole host of macro life. The Canyon – If you like interesting topographies then this is a dive site not to be missed.
The Canyon features a cave, swim through archway, wall, slope and of course – lots of fish. The abundance of gorgonian sea fans are a highlight here along with schooling barracuda, Napoleon wrasse and passing reef sharks, eagle and manta rays.
What's there to see?
A highlight at Pulau Weh is its variety of moray eels. From giant morays, fimbriated morays, snowflake morays and blackcheek morays, they are everywhere. At coral gardens, look out for seahorses, nudibranch, ghost pipefish and bluespotted ribbontail rays.
Pulau Weh is also well known for its larger inhabitants such as reef sharks, manta and eagle rays, tuna, jacks, trevallies, barracuda, bumphead parrotfish and Napoleon wrasse.
Night dives at Pulau Weh are rewarding, revealing many types of crab and shrimp. At dive sites with walls and boulders, you can often spot whitetip sharks and large reef dwelling stingrays.
At Padang, find scorpionfish, leaf fish and pipefish camouflaged in the reef. Out at the pinnacles, there are groupers, sea turtles and schools of barracuda and trevally patrolling the area. Sandy bottoms around Padang often reveal hiding stingrays. At the Riau Archipelago, take slow and easy dives around Bintan Island to comb through the pristine coral reef for a myriad of small critters like gobies, octopus and shrimp.
What's Included
What's Included
Onboard shower and toilet
Tanks, weights and weight belt
Water, tea and coffee
Light snack after the first dive
Soft dive gear (full foot fins, wetsuit and mask) – requested sizes subject to availability.
What's Excluded
• Equipment rental
• Marine park fee
• 4 x AA sized batteries (if required for night dive)
• Airfare (if any)
• Taxes and fuel surcharges,
• Personal expenses (includes drinks, bills and tips),
• Travel insurance (proof of insurance required),
• Visa application and fees (if applicable),
• Gratitude for the Boat Crew / Guide
Dive Trip Requirements
• Valid passport and Visa (if applicable)
• Cash in Singapore or local currency (Malaysian Ringgit; RM)
• Personal Medication
• Travel Insurance (recommended)
• Able to snorkel/swim in the sea
• Minimum of PADI Open Water Diver Certification or equivalent (for leisure diver)
Equipment needed for the excursion:
Sun cream, hat, flip flop or sandals, swimming suit, beach wear, towel, camera
How to Get There
Fly to Kualanamu International Airport in Medan or to Sultan Iskandar Muda International Airport in Banda Aceh via airlines like AirAsia, Malaysia Airlines, Firefly and local Indonesian airlines. From Banda Aceh airport it is 30 minutes by taxi to Ulee Lheue Jetty and then 45 minutes by speedboat to the island (or 1 hour 30 minutes using a slower public boat). Once on the island motorbike taxis are available. To reach the Riau Archipelago for destinations like Bintan Island, take a ferry from Johor in Malaysia or from Singapore.
Payment Terms
SGD 100 deposit required upon confirmation of booking of accommodation and dive trip.
Payment payable once upon confirmation of booking of
accommodation and or with dive trip package/s.
Equipment Rental
Rates (SGD)/ Per Day :
Dive Torch : SGD 10
Dive Computer : SGD 15
Dive Computer - D4i : SGD 30
Camera : SGD 35
Disclaimer
Estimated rates for booking, Exact cost of dive trip booking depends on each dive itinerary and arrangement package. Invoice on the payment details will be sent to your personal email account upon booking.
Includes Boat transport, and for each pax meal - Breakfast, Lunch and transport back and forth to your hotel or resort or hostel accomodation.
If you will like to book for the accomodation for a stay for 1 Night or more for yourself and family members or for a tour group etc. , please indicate for your accomodation booking, for the number of days/nights
of stay here in Singapore, and we will arrange for you.
Subjective to availability.
An invoice will be sent to you via email on the separate payment charges for accomodation stay.
Applicable to local and foreign visitors :
• The arrangement of the sequence of the itinerary is subject to change with/without prior notice.
• In the event that the venue of attraction is closed to visitors, it will be replaced with an alternative venue if possible.
• May request for travel itinerary from us via email.
• During trade fairs or the peak season, accommodation stay may not be inclusive.
All dive trip/s are subjected to the weather conditions and change in itinerary.
If the dive trip unfortunately has to postpone or cancelled, there can be a request for arrangement for another dive trip. Subjected to approval and availability of boat charters.
Cancellation Policy
Any change in trip dates after booking confirmation will be subjected to SGD 100 administrative fees per change/s.
Full fees will be charges for packages cancelled or postponed with less than 28 days notice.
If you cancel less than 28 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, full payment will be non-refundable.
If more than 28 days, 50% of the package price will be forfeited with an administrative charge of SGD 50 Payable to the dive shop.
If you cancel at least 7 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, there is no cancellation fee.
If you cancel between 3 and 6 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, there is a 50 percent cancellation fee.
If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, there is a 100 percent cancellation fee.
* The timings are as estimated proposed. Diving trip is subjected to road / traffic / tide / weather conditions on the day of trip.
Additional Information
Confirmation will be received at time of booking.
All dive trip/s are subjected to the weather conditions and change in itinerary.
If the dive trip unfortunately has to postpone or cancelled, there can be a request for arrangement for another dive trip.
Subjected to approval and availability of boat charters.
Passport & Visa Requirements
Please check you have the required travel documents before booking your dive trip. Ensure that your passport has at least 6 months validity from your time of entry into Indonesia.
