The Coral Triangle

By Wira Praja

As the largest archipelagic country in the world, Indonesia consists of more than 17,000 islands. These islands have approximately 81,000 kilometers of coastline where you can find many beautiful beaches spread all around Indonesia. With its tropical climate all year round, Indonesia surely is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Who does not know Bali? It is one of the most visited islands in Indonesia, not only by locals, but also foreigners. If you find Bali is too crowded for your holiday, just find Wakatobi, Komodo Island, Ambon, Sumba, Derawan, or Raja Ampat on your map and be amazed. Imagine drinking fresh coconut water while lying down on the beach and watching the sunset to make your soul at peace. Their white, powder-like sand will make your feet not want to go anywhere else. But do not stop there, as you should explore what lies beneath them – their underwater life.

Named the Coral Triangle, it is one of the largest, most diverse, and most important reef systems in the world. According to the WWF, it contains around 76 percent of the world’s coral species. Stretching from the Philippines up in the north to Papua New Guinea in the east, most of this triangle area is located in Indonesia, with its epicenter at Bird’s Head on Papua Island, where you can find the famous Raja Ampat islands. Scuba diving in this triangle will give you a surreal experience as you can find more than 3,000 species of fish with different sizes playing around you, colorful corals covering the bottoms of the ocean, and crystal-clear visibility. Exploring Indonesia’s marine life could be addictive as you cannot stop at one place and will ask for more. Once you try scuba diving in one of Indonesia’s diving sites, you will go the extra mile to discover more. No wonder many scuba divers all around the world go on pilgrimage to Indonesia every year to enjoy this experience. You should pay a visit!

The Author

Wira Praja is an orthopaedic surgeon from Jakarta, Indonesia. He is currently doing his fellowship training at Chonnam National University Hospital for foot and ankle surgery. Scuba diving is one of his hobbies.