Indonesia consists more than 17,000 islands and becomes the largest archipelago in the world with at least 80,000 kilometers of coastline. The special conditions of this strategic zone are the reasons for the fish population to be extremely abundant here.
About 4000 different species are found in the Indonesian waters (over 25% of the planet's fish species), in comparison to the 1000 found in the Red or the 400 from the Caribbean
Apart from this, invertebrates proliferate throughout the hundreds of patch reefs, sheer walls and barriers reefs Colourful nudi branch, pipe fishes and seahorses roam amongst the chrynoids, gorgonias and soft corals, a whole rainbow hue covering the entire extension of the reef walls. Big fish pop up every now and then, offering superb sights of big tunas, shoal or barracudas, manta rays and sharks galore.
Another "rarity" also to be found there is the dugong, an impressive marine herbivorous relative of the manatees, unique survivor of the syrenid order It is also possible to spot several species of cetaceans, from tiny porpoises to the huge Sperm whale, still united with ancestral procedures by local tribes for subsistence, under the exemption of the International Whaling Commission.
Banggai Islands in Central Sulawesi
The Banggai islands are situated in the western part of central Sulawesi and border between Banda sea at South and Molluca sea at north, has numerous large reefs that support a very rich marine life : vertical dropp off covered with hard and soft coral, a lot of reef shark and turtles, schools of jackfish, tunas and of course many coral reefs fishes. Biodiversity is extremely high the endemic ornamental fish " Banggai Cardinal Fish " (Pterapogon kaudermi) lives there.
These island are protected from those winds by the main coast of Sulawesi. From October to April, when winds mostly come from north west, you will find one cruise operator will running to this area. The cruise will go through to the south of the archipelago, where are the best reefs and islands for diving until Salue islands. If tides and weathers conditions are good, the cruise will sail until to the submerged reefs of Boto straits and to Taliabu island at west coast.
Weather in Banggai
Luwuk and the south coast of the peninsula receive more wind and rain during the South East monsoon, especially during June and July. Other months are fairly dry.
How to get there
Banggai is reached by an approximately 2 hour journey from the airport of Luwuk (car and speed boat)
Sumber :http://www.indonesiadiving.com
