Sumatra Diving
Discover Sumatra’s untouched coral reefs, white sand beaches and remote tropical islands far from the tourist trail. You’ll be rewarded with exciting drift dives, Tec and shallow wrecks, plus underwater landscapes covered in Indonesia’s typically diverse reef life.
Info
We don't currently have any dive centers or liveaboards in Sumatra, but that might change. In the meantime, take a look at other dive experiences nearby in Indonesia.
Diving in Sumatra
Sumatra is a huge island in Indonesia with some diverse diving options available. Whilst not as well-known for diving as some of Indonesia's other tourist destinations it shouldn't be overlooked as a dive destination with some great dive areas to explore.
Arrive in Banda Aceh on the Northern tip of Sumatra, which is the gateway to Palau Weh and take a speedboat to admire the strength of the ocean with sharks or head to the less-travelled areas of Padang and Bangka Belitung to marvel at the untouched coral reefs. Adventure into this part of Indonesia and you’ll discover a more intimate experience. Often, Sumatra diving offers sites where the only man-made bubbles are your own.
All year round it is possible to step off white-sanded beaches and plunge into the ocean from your charming dive resort. Some daily trips and dive courses from dive centers are available but it’s important to remember these remote tropical islands are often hard to contact before arrival. Scuba diving in Sumatra really is diving off the beaten track.
Explore the diverse topography of Pulau Weh’s underwater labyrinth and observe countless species of moray eel or experience Indonesian drift diving at its best in the crystal clear waters of Bangka Belitung. Whether you head to Bangka Belitung, Padang or Pulau Weh you are sure to find yourself in some ripping currents which make Sumatra diving that much more thrilling.
Best places to dive
When you visit Sumatra you’ll learn that Pulau Weh’s dive sites are ventured into much more often than those of Padang and Bangka Belitung and hence are the most acclaimed.
In Pulau Weh, inspect the impressive Sophie Rickmers wreck sitting at the bottom of the Andaman sea. At 55-metres deep this dive is preferred by technical divers or certified, deep divers. Less experienced divers can visit Sabang Wreck, which lies close to the shoreline. Encrusted on the wreck you’ll find a variety of thriving hard and soft corals to gaze at.
Witness some of Indonesia’s best drift diving at Cepor Cepor, Bangka Belitung. Find yourself drifting along a channel between two granite islands, surrounded by fish feeding on zooplankton carried in by the currents. For drift diving in Pulau Weh, head to Arus Balle. Enjoy the view as you drift around a pinnacle with sharks and schooling mobula rays.
