Sail Wakatobi participants start enjoying underwater beauty

Antara News,  by Otniel Tamindael, Wed, August 10 2011

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Jakarta(ANTARA News) - Several crew members of yachts arriving in Wakatobi on Tuesdayto participate in Sail Wakatobi-Belitung (SWB-2011), have started enjoying themagnificent diving facilities in the waters at Hoga island.

Theparticipants of international yacht rally and race who set sail from Darwin,Australia, on July 23, 2011 have started entering Wakatobi waters since Tuesdayto participate in the much awaited Sail Wakatobi-Belitung 2001.

WakatobiCulture and Tourism Office spokesman Tawakal said that eight of the yachts,participating in the international yacht rally and yacht race, arrived inWakatobi on Tuesday and many would follow.

"Atpresent the crews of the yachts are swimming and diving in the waters at Hogaisland to enjoy underwater natural beauty of various coral reefs and marinebiota around the island," Tawakal said in Wakatobi on Tuesday.

Allparticipants of the SWB-2011 as well as divers from around the world willundeniably have a great opportunity to go diving in the superb diving sites andthe most pristine reefs at Wakatobi Diving Resort.

Thereforethe Wakatobi district administration and local coral reef youths will guideSail Wakatobi-Belitong participants when they all arrive at the location.

Accordingto Tawakal, the eight yachts which have arrived in Wakatobi waters entered theIndonesian archipelago through Kupang in East Nusa Tenggara.

He admittedthat the Sail Wakatobi-Beliton participants tried to arrive in Wakatobi muchearlier because they wanted to enjoy the underwater natural beauty and thehospitality of Wakatobi people as much as possible.

Wakatobidistrict head Hugua has ever said at least 1.3 million hectares of Wakatobi arepart of Wakatobi National Marine Park with Karang Mari Mabo, Onemobaa, PulauHioga, and Pantai Patuno diving sites.

Thereforethe Wakatobi Coral Reef Youths will guide the SWB-2011 participants whereverthey want to go diving at the center of the world`s coral reefs triangle inWakatobi.

"Divers,tourists, and guests will have an excellent diving holiday and enjoy everymoment of it to see the colorful and magnificent underwater life because thearea is tremendously rich in marine heritage," Hugua said.

Wakatobi isone of the protected marine national parks in Indonesia.

Accordingto Hugua, Sail Wakatobi-Belitong participants and tourists divers at WakatobiDiving Resort would experience a highly enjoyable moment that they would neverforget.

In the WakatobiDiving Resort there are a lot of beautiful diving sites with incrediblycolorful marine diversity which could be reached easily.

Known forits built-in Beach and a house reef just twenty meters from the dive center,Wakatobi attracts many professional divers from around the world who want to godiving there.

TheWakatobi Diving Resort is surrounded by stunning and pristine drop-offs, wallsand slopes to ridges, caverns, caves and sea-mounts.

"Hereat Wakatobi, the beauty of the marine life is waiting to be discovered andexplored by the Sail Wakatobi-Belitung participants," Hugua said.

Besides,Wakatobi Diving Resort is also offering premier and luxurious accommodationwith modern comforts to tourist divers and guests in Bungalows, GardenBungalows, Beach Bungalows, and Cliff Villas.

There arestill many beautiful diving sites with pristine reefs, stunning colorful coralsand tropical marine life that are in remote sites and not accessible from theWakatobi Diving Resort that are waiting to be explored and discovered bySWB-2011 participants.

WakatobiDiving Resort also offers a very comprehensive diving package holiday fortourists and Sail Wakatobi-Belitung participants to have an opportunity toexplore its underwater marine life.

Meanwhile,Tawakal said the official ceremony for all participant of the SWB-2011international marine event would be conducted by Wakatobi district governmenton Tuesday night, August 23, to mark its peak event.

"Ihave been informed that 25 yachts have anchored in Saumlaki and will arrive inWakatobi on August 23 at the latest," Tawakal said, adding that SailWakatobi-Belitong peak event, to last for a week until August 29, would beopened by President Susilo Bambang Yudoyono on August 23.

Accordingto him, the Wakatobi district government has prepared various culturalattractions to enliven the Wakatobi-Belitong international marine event.

"Variousattractions that have been prepared are among others

massunderwater wedding, traditional sports festival, traditional art and culturalfestival, and diving activities at Wakatobi waters.

One ofcultural performance to entertain the participant of the international marineevent is Bangka Mbule-mbule, a ritual tradition of Bajo ethnic community inWakatobi.

BangkaMbule-mbule cultural attraction is usually performed to ask for the Creator tobestow the local fishermen with blessing, and to save them from perils whenthey go fishing at open sea.

Tawakalsaid that the peak event of Sail Wakatobi-Balitung would be marked with bigparties because the committee had make every effort to greet the participantsof the sail as well as possible to make their visit pleasant.

Editor: Priyambodo RH

South Korean diver missing in Bali

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Sun, 09/05/2010 4:57 PM

Search workers were still looking for a South Korean tourist who went missing when he dived in Tanjung Benoa, Bali, on Saturday.

Denpasar Search and Rescue head of operation I Gde Ketut Ardana told Antara news agency that the South Korean, identified only as Kim (30), went missing during a diving activity with a local instructor on Saturday afternoon.

The instructor, Beruntung, told the police that he thought that the South Korean was tagging along behind him for around 20 minutes before he realized the tourist was gone.

Ardana said that the joint search would continue for the next seven days.

Raja Ampat West Papua’s pristine water

J. Adiguna, The Jakarta Post, Raja Ampat, west Papua | Sun, 05/23/2010 11:08 AM

Colorful fish swim around coral reef in the Mansuar water.: JP/J. Adiguna

The clear blue water seemed flawless as I sat on the deck of the ferry.

As we saw shadows of green hills amid the abundant fresh blue water covering the horizon, mama Albertina Thesia and her company of singers began to sing a traditional Papua song — a song of joy to see the big island, Waigeo.

“We are glad to be home”, she said, glowing sparks showed in her eyes. Stephen Hindom, her partner, tapped a tranquilizing rhythm of Tifa, a traditional Papuan percussion.

Together with a group of family and singers, they are about to join their relative in Wasai, the capital of Raja Ampat regency, celebrating the seventh anniversary of Raja Ampat as an autonomous regency. “We’ll be performing at the opening ceremony tomorrow,” she said proudly.

While the fascination remained, suddenly groups of small boats, decorated with palm leaves, popped out from a near cove, moving closer to our ferry. They were welcoming us.

A woman from Salawati Island takes the starch from a sago palm for a celebration.: JP/J. Adiguna

Young brown-skinned and curly haired people with happy faces waved their hands cheerfully. They shouted the local greeting. Their eyes gazed at the ferry, looking for familiar faces.

Another cheerful rhythm of Tifa and Tambur, big traditional Papuan drums, echoed through the small islands in front of us. At the end of a wooden pier on the beach, stood a big brown bearded old man, wearing a traditional costume. He danced, stamped leaves in his hand while his legs moved to the the music. He was accompanied by groups of women young and old, wearing traditional cloth.

Welcome to Raja Ampat, heart of the Golden Triangle of the world!

Legend has it that the area was founded by four kings who were grown from eggs laid by a megapode bird. Later, the four kings settled in four large islands, which make up Raja Ampat regency: Waigeo, Salawati, Batanta and Misool.

Raja Ampat means four kings in Indonesian and its legend spreads beyond the indigenous people. The international community acknowledge Raja Ampat as the greatest repository of tropical marine life on earth. With its richness in marine life diversity, it’s known as the world’s “capital of coral and fish”.

More than 600 small islands with various shapes located in the north, west and south of Papua’s bird’s head peninsula gives Raja Ampat a geographical shelter from ocean waves.

Countless species of wildlife, including birds, fish and coral are found in this area which scientists are still studying its geographical advantage on nearby coral reefs including the Philippines, eastern Indonesia and the territory eastward to the Solomon Island.

In 1993, the Indonesian government declared Raja Ampat as a marine protected area (MPA) in the effort to protect this rich area that covers more than 60,000 square kilometers. A decade later, Raja Ampat became an autonomous regency under the province of West Papua. It makes it easier for the government and other organizations to implement the conservation and rehabilitation programs.

With more than 40,000 people living separately on 35 islands (mainly on the four big islands), reaching Raja Ampat is a challenge. A remote island surrounded by fresh blue water with a few harbors make a small boat and kayak ideal transportation for its people. Wasai, the capital of Raja Ampat, can be reached with a ferry from Sorong, the capital of West Papua province.

The area nearby Kabui offers breathtaking scenery.: JP/J.Adiguna

Entering Wasai from the harbor, you will find clear evidence of how the government has tried to improve and provide proper infrastructure in this remote place. There are small shacks and houses, but at least they have roads, a small health clinic, a government center, communication facilities and a market.

Cozy accommodation is easy to find as there are a few cottages which offer varied services from Rp 100,000 (US$10) to Rp 400.000 per night. Mostly, these are located near Wasai Beach. As an alternative, many houses are modified into homestays where you can experience the warmth and kindness of the people.

Local authorities have developed training for the people to prepare their home as homestays for. As long as you don’t mind bathing outside and sharing your private space with others, there is no problem. If anything, it provided more value and memories to our adventurous journey.

As for the food, you need not worry as long as you can eat seafood. The unique Papuan cooking style has an unforgettable delicious taste. If you have a chance, you should try “sagu bia”. It is made from sago cooked with a local clam called bia.

It is mixed with local herbs and salt and pepper, and is placed in a banana leaf and left roasted on hot stone. The spicy and gummy taste from the sago, mixed with the strong taste of the clam is worth a try. Locals say it can increase the libido.

For diving enthusiasts, there are some resorts to visit and dozens of cruises that offer services. The price varies between ¤5,000 (US$6,200) per person for a 10-day dive package to Rp 25,000,000 ($2,700) for five people for a three-day dive package.

You’ll be promised wonderful sights and marine life such as the spotted wobbegong, fimbriated moray, goliath grouper, manta ray and the sperm whale, reported to have been seen swimming around the water of Ayau Island, north of Waigeo.

Tourists enjoy the calm water in the Kabui Bay.: JP/J.Adiguna

Don’t miss the opportunity to visit small islands nearby with kayaks or small boats, especially in Kabui Bay or the small cove surrounding Gam area. You can learn moer about the legend of how King Waikew of Waigeo Island found seven eggs laid by a megapode bird. Four hatched and turned into four handsome princes who later ruled the four big islands. Another egg hatched and became a woman who was washed away and stranded in Biak, Papua. Another hatched and became a ghost

that protected the sea and the last one didn’t hatch and turned into a big stone

in Mayalibit bay.

As we float through the narrow strait between the mangrove jungle in a hidden bay, we feel the water become warmer. Sometimes we spot big brown-headed eagles fly above us.

We can also see red coral or big sea anemones, which grow only 2 meters below the clear water which is filled with orange ocellaris clownfish. Just beware of crocodiles when you do it. They are known to inhabit the mangroves.

Most people in Raja Ampat live as fishermen. They developed the tradition, which follows the harmony of nature. Indigenous people called themselves the Maya tribe. Years of influence from nearby islands mean the people of Raja Ampat have mixed ancestry with Maya and Biak as the majority.

There are many Melanisas as well as a few people life in southern Raja Ampat around Misool, descended from inter-island traders from Maluku and Sulawesi.

Uniquely they together adopt the same fishing technique called bacigi bwhich is fishing using string with no bait at the hook. Another technique ia called molo which is free diving, armed with a traditional spear gun called kalawai. The fishermen usually dive for 10-15 minutes in the water.

The declaration of Raja Ampat as a protected area recognizes the tradition of Raja Ampat people who had been preserving the marine biodiversity.

The help from natural conservation organizations such as Conservation International, The Natural Conservancy, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and many others, together with the Indonesian and local government, are needed to preserve the environment.

There are many challenges to overcome. Great reserves of nickel and ore located in Waigeo, illegal fishing, the increasing po-pulation and the construction of modern infrastructure threaten the environment.

— Photos by J. Adiguna

Wakatobi: A paradise for divers

Arief Suhardiman, The Jakarta Post, Wakatobi, Southeast Sulawesi | Sat, 04/24/2010 9:56 AM

“Wow... it’s beautiful,” said a passenger sitting beside me as he was watching a vast expanse of blue sea and green terrain from the plane window upon its landing at Matahora Airport, Wakatobi, Southeast Sulawesi.

Heaven underneath: A diver observes coral reefs at Waha, Wakatobi archipelago, Southeast Sulawesi.

Its gorgeous beach covered with white sand was clearly in sight, enhancing the magnificence of Wakatobi archipelago.

Passengers seated in the middle also tried to peek from nearby windows for a better view of the panorama outside. Nearly all those boarding the plane with a capacity of 30 people were amazed as it touched down at the airport located in Wanci, Wangi-wangi Island.

Wakatobi is an acronym of the names of major islands composing this island group: Wangi-wangi, Kaledupa, Tomia and Binongko. The other name is Tukang Besi as the islands’ population is famous for its blacksmiths, who used to supply the domestic and war equipment for the Buton kingdom.

As part of the Heart of the World Coral Triangle Center, Wakatobi is believed to have become a magnet for divers from all over the globe. Marine expert Jacques Cousteau even described Wakatobi as the finest diving site in the world.

Wakatobi has at least 100 diamond-class dive sites. Situated between Banda and Flores seas, the island group has the most beautiful coral ridges in the world’s coral triangle. The coral ridges found in Kaledupa are even the longest in the world, extending along 48 kilometers.

“Top dive sites are mostly located in Tomia,” said Jupri from the Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Ministry. “There we can see various species of fish and coral reefs,” he added. Jupri has worked in the Wakatobi National Park for three years now.

Ragged-finned firefish (Pterois antenatta)

Wakatobi’s varied and unique marine resources with its enchanting underwater panoramas make this archipelago a submarine paradise lying in the Heart of The World Coral Triangle Center, a zone with the highest diversity of coral reefs and other biota covering the Philippines, Indonesia and Solomon Islands.

The underwater biodiversity of Wakatobi is claimed to be higher than that of the Caribbean and Egypt, currently known as the world’s top diving centers. Around 90 percent of the globe’s 850 coral species or 750 species are found in Wakatobi. The Caribbean, famous for its marine tourism, only has 50 species and the Red Sea, Egypt, 300 species.

At last, my dreams of diving in Wakatobi waters came true, after skin diving in Raja Ampat, Papua, two years ago, and later in Tulamben, Bali and Bunaken, North Sulawesi.

At midday, with seven other divers, I began my first dive on Hoga Island. It took about 45 minutes to reach this island from Wang-wangi by speedboat. Hoga has been the center of Operation Wallacea — a series of biological and conservation management research programmes — activities since 1995. Several students, mostly from Britain, have been conducting research in the area of Wakatobi National Park.

On this site we were diving along a slope of between 60 and 70 degrees. We had 30-meter visibility thanks to the clear seawater. Coral reef density was not so high and the number of fish species not so large either.

However, we could still observe gorgonian fans about 2.5-meters wide on coral along with giant barrel sponges.

There were also leaf corals, presenting attractive formations at a depth of 12 meters. Small fish such as cardinal and damsel fish were swimming around them, while hundreds of yellowback fusiliers were moving in a group near the surface.

The 45-minute dive failed to satisfy my curiosity as I hadn’t yet encountered anything that matched my expectations. I really wished to relish truly amazing views, those of the underwater paradise.

By afternoon we returned to Wangi-wangi and then on to Waha to join other divers. It was cloudy with a rather strong current in Waha. With the urge to watch submarine splendor, we began our dive in front of Waha’s drop-off.

A few moments after descending, a fantastic sight appeared before us. An extensive stretch of stunning coral reefs aroused our admiration.

Painted rock lobster sits in coral

We let ourselves drift along while enjoying the wall diving. A group of purple and bright yellow fish were swimming along the coral wall, followed by some batfish and butterflyfish in a marching formation.

Before dark, I decided to dive 25 meters deep. At 10-meter visibility, I kept drifting right before the wall, directing my torch at the coral while trying to identify the various biota. I was staring at black and white snappers and moorish idol. But as the current grew stronger, I couldn’t stay much longer.

Time went by so fast and we wound up our dive. On the surface, we could hear the call to dusk prayer. The sky was getting dark, golden yellowish on the horizon.

“This is great” said a diver, with which his peer concurred. “We’ve got to come back here tomorrow,” I proposed.

We returned to Waha the next morning. It had been raining hard that morning, which worried me a little. But fortunately the rain soon subsided and it was bright again. I enjoyed every bit of this last dive. On this site, Wakatobi proved its reputation as one of best dive sites in the world besides Raja Ampat in Papua.

As soon as I peered down underwater, a splendid sight emerged right before my eyes, more gorgeous than any artist could ever paint.

Dazzling, fresh and varied coral reefs in bluish seawater were teeming with colorful small fish moving around amid the striking natural surroundings.

Round and oval corals with very elegant textures, were growing along with soft corals.

Diving 18 meters deep, I saw a painted rock lobster hiding in its nest resembling a small cave. Some 1.5 meters from the first lobster, a second could be found snug in its hole, as if watching me taking the pictures of the other while gesturing with its antennae.

Slowly, I went further to a depth of 25 meters. After a little while, I noticed some ragged-finned fire fish, locally called lepu, swimming upside down under coral, and pixy hawkfish hiding in sponge.

After admiring the biota, I tried to again descend to 35 meters deep, where I could see a yellow trumpet fish swimming peacefully near a pink sea fan. In a few moments I ascended slowly to get back to the near-surface biodiversity.

The 40-meter visibility and the wide variety of observable undersea biota made me wish I could extend my diving experience.

Sadly, time was limited even though there were many more dive sites to visit. But this may well prompt me to go there again some day.

There’s still much more to explore. Ben, a British student who had to go home after two weeks’ of surveying on Hoga Island with several peers agreed.

“I’ll be back in July,” said the marine biology student aboard the boat that would take him to the site for another dive in the paradise of Wakatobi.