Top 5 Diving Destinations in Indonesia

There are over 17,000 Indonesian islands, which support some of the most biodiverse coral reefs on the planet. After visiting my fair share of them over the past couple of years, I'm convinced that Indonesia has some of the best diving in the world! From mantas to molas, stunning reefs and tiny macro creatures, there’s always something new to find and photograph. But if you’re heading out this way and not sure which area to visit, I’ve made a list the top 5 Indonesian islands I would recommend for underwater photographers. 

Manta Rays at the Manta Ridge Dive Site in Raja Ampat, Indonesia.

1. Alor Island

Of all the places I’ve visited, Alor was my absolute favourite. Perhaps because I’d never heard of this place before, and I was so pleasantly surprised and shocked that I’d never even heard of it! Here, we swam along dramatic reef drop-offs, came across pilot whales, a thresher shark and my first (and only) ever Mola Mola! Alor really had it all, the strong currents meant the reefs were absolutely spectacular (the most colourful I’d EVER seen) and the macro life was also fantastic.

One night, we swam with a whole school of moon jellies, and during the peak season, you can also see schooling hammerhead sharks. If you’re after a mix of wide-angle and macro photography and looking to avoid the crowds, Alor could be just the place for you. It's my favourite dive destination in Indonesia so far, very remote but definitely worth the journey! 

Just a snapshot of the incredible diversity we witnessed in Alor. The strong currents meant that there were so many colours and species, with pristine visibility on every dive!

Swimming with moon jellies at night in Alor! (Don't worry, these were the non-stinging kind). We swam with them for so long that my torch died and I eventually had to use the lights from the boat.

Note: Alor's dive sites are deep with strong currents. They are mostly intermediate – advanced sites, so it’s recommended to have at least 50+ logged dives and your Advanced Open Water before visiting.

Best Time to Visit: Dry Season: April – November / Hammerheads: October – November.

We have just released a new Underwater Photography trip to Alor in November 2027, and I couldn't be more excited! (I'm hoping for hammerheads, obviously). Check out some more trip details here.

2. Komodo National Park

Komodo is a famous in destination in Indonesia, known for its strong currents and thrilling drift dives. If you’re after an adventurous trip, and you love manta rays, turtles sharks and giant trevally, then this destination is definitely for you! We also had some great night dives here, spotting both the Pikachu Nudibranch and the Red Spot Night Octopus in one dive.

The Red-Spot Night Octopus remains almost invisible to many of its predators at night. It uses specialised cells like chromatophores, iridophores, and leucophores to change colours and texture instantly. This means they camouflage expertly and are nearly undetectable to animals like sharks that see in black and white.

Now, if the fabulous diving hasn’t convinced you, then did I mention there is also this great hike with an incredibly lookout on Padar Island?! It's also the only place in the world where you can see the legendary Komodo Dragons in the wild (after learning about them in Grade 5, my inner child was so glad to finally tick this species off my bucket list)!

Komodo's famous lookout: A 20-30 minute trek up Padar Island.

The famous and (very cute) Komodo Dragon! Would recommend packing a wildlife lens if you have one.

Note: Komodo's strong currents means that most dive sites are intermediate – advanced, so it’s recommended to have 50+ logged dives before visiting to get the most out of your experience!

The stunning reefs of Komodo National Park.

Best Time to Visit: Dry season / Peak visibility: April – November.

We are heading to Komodo for an underwater photography/videography liveaboard in July 2027! As per usual, I'll be guiding this trip and we will learn about marine conservation in the area as well as work on your underwater photo/video skills together. There are only 4 spots left for this one, so don't miss out! You can check out the trip details here.

3. Raja Ampat

Raja Ampat is on almost every diver’s bucket list, and it makes complete sense! Located in the heart of the Coral Triangle, Raja boasts the highest recorded marine biodiversity, with more fish and coral species than anywhere else on the planet.

Raja Ampat Islands captured from above with my mini drone.

One thing I really noticed about Raja Ampat was the sheer number of Pygmy seahorses. We probably saw 1-3 every single day which made one very happy Tiani. My dive buddies eventually got sick of seeing them but honestly I could NEVER because they are the cutest animals EVER. 

A Denise’s Pygmy Seahorse (I found this one myself!) in Raja Ampat.

Tiani in action on the Pygmy Seahorse hunt! Thanks to my dive buddy Alex for this one.

For underwater photographers, Raja Ampat is a dream. Wide angle shooters will love the corals and schooling jacks at Cape Kri, not to mention the manta action Manta Sandy and Manta Ridge (we had SIX mantas circling us at the cleaning station). Macro lovers can spend hours hunting for cephalopods, nudibranchs, and countless other tiny critters along the way.

So many mantas! This was one of my favourite dives at Manta Ridge.

Note: Raja Ampat has many intermediate dives with strong currents and deep water, therefore it is recommended to have at least 30 logged dives before visiting.

Best Time to Visit: For Dry Season / Peak visibility & Manta Ray Action: October – April

4. Amed, Bali

Amed, located on the North East of mainland Bali, is the cutest little diving town perfect for divers of all experience levels. The famous USAT Liberty Wreck in Tulamben is one of the world's most accessible wreck dives, and is located just a short swim from the shore! In fact, my favourite part about Amed is how accessible (and affordable) all the diving is. Most of the dives are located right off the shore, so you can very easily rent your own gear and dive on your own. I would always recommend a local guide to find you new species you might not otherwise see! We saw octopus, ghost pipefish and nudibranchs of all kinds (including Shaun the Sheep)! 

These incredible coral reefs are located right off the beach in Amed!

Shaun the Sheep Nudibranch spotted just off the beach in Amed, Bali.

Best Time to Visit: Dry Season: April – November.

5. Lembeh Strait

Truth be told, I’ve never actually been to the Lembeh Strait. But I’ve heard wonderful things and seen so many fantastic photographs that I couldn’t help but to put this one in here. If your idea of the perfect dive involves spending one hour photographing one tiny creature in the sand, then Lembeh is the perfect place for you. It’s known as the birthplace of muck diving, and the black volcanic sand is home to many extremely rare (and adorably cute) creatures, including frogfish, mimic octopus, flamboyant cuttlefish, and of course, SO MANY nudibranchs! 

Juvenile Painted Frogfish! So much cuteness.♡

Best Time to Visit: Dry Season: April – October.

6. Timor-Leste

Okay, so this one is a bonus destination since it’s not technically in Indonesia (but it’s right next door and I couldn’t resist). Timor-Leste has some of the most incredible diving I’ve ever done! The macro life here is phenomenal, but what makes Timor truly special is the annual Blue Whale migration through the Ombai straight. We saw a blue whales, their calves and even sperm whales out on our ocean safari days!

A Blue Whale on its migration through the Ombai Straight.

Best Time to Visit: Dry Season: May – November. For Blue Whales: September – December.

We are heading back to Timor Leste for the annual blue whale migration! This year our trip is full but we have a few spots open for November 2027! Check out some more info here.

Summary

Very few countries can compare to Indonesia's incredible marine biodiversity. Whether you're into exciting drift dives (Komodo), exploring untouched reefs (Raja), discovering hidden gems (Alor), muck diving (Lembo), or epic shore dives and wrecks (Amed), every destination has so much to offer.

It's no surprise that many divers return to Indonesia again and again, exploring a new destination every trip. In my humble opinion, each has something unique to offer, and it's worth visiting all of them!

If you have any questions at all, be sure to reach out!

Best fishes,

Tiani Oceani 𓇼

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