Discover Indonesia
The Journal
Dive maps, trekking maps, tips and field notes from the research behind our guides. Free to read, updated through the 2027 season.
6 min readThe Wallace Line: The World's Invisible Barrier
Between Bali and Lombok runs one of the sharpest borders in nature. What the Wallace Line is, why animals don't cross it, and what lives on each side.
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Diving Indonesia
All the dive regions in these articles, in one book: the best sites by level, a season calendar, liveaboard vs. resort, and dive safety.
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8 min readThe Coral Triangle, Explained in Eight Maps
What the Coral Triangle is, why Indonesia's seas are the richest on Earth and what threatens them: reefs, currents, heat, oil and marine parks in eight maps.
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6 min readClimbing Mount Rinjani: Your Questions Answered (2026)
Climb Mount Rinjani in 2026: the 3-day Sembalun to Senaru crossing day by day, October 2026 trail status, new safety rules, getting there, permits, kit.
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8 min readWhich Indonesian Volcano Should You Climb? Bromo, Ijen, Rinjani, Agung, Merapi and Semeru Compared (2026)
Bromo, Ijen, Rinjani, Agung, Merapi or Semeru? Difficulty, days, best months and October 2026 status compared, plus how to read MAGMA alert levels.
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7 min readMount Bromo Sunrise: The Complete Guide to the Tengger Caldera (2026)
Mount Bromo explained: Penanjakan vs Seruni vs King Kong Hill, jeep or walk, getting there from Surabaya, Malang or Bali, best months, and the October 2026 status.
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7 min readKawah Ijen and the Blue Fire: The Complete Guide (2026)
Kawah Ijen explained: what the blue fire really is, the acid lake, the sulphur miners, the night hike from Paltuding, health certificates, closures and getting there.
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7 min readClimbing Mount Agung: The Expert Guide to Bali's Holy Volcano (2026)
How to climb Mount Agung in 2026: Pasar Agung vs Besakih routes, times, mandatory guides, ceremony closures, alert level, best months and a free trekking map.
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7 min readMount Merapi from Yogyakarta: The Lava Tour, the 2010 Eruption and Why You Can't Climb (2026)
Visiting Mount Merapi from Yogyakarta in 2026: why the summit is closed, the jeep lava tour stops, the 2010 eruption, museums, Ketep Pass, timing and safety.
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7 min readMount Semeru and Ranu Kumbolo: The Trek, the Closures and What to Know (2026)
Semeru trek guide: the Ranu Pani to Ranu Kumbolo trail, why the Mahameru summit is closed, the August 2026 fire closure, booking rules and how to get there.
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7 min readWhere to See the Coral Triangle: The 10 Best Places to Dive and Snorkel
Ten best places to see the Coral Triangle, from Raja Ampat and Komodo to Wakatobi, Lembeh and Nusa Penida: how to get there, when to go, level and free maps.
Read the article →8 min readLombok vs Bali: Which Island Is Right for You? (2026)
An honest Lombok vs Bali comparison: beaches, surf, the Gili Islands, diving, Rinjani vs Agung, culture, crowds, fast boats and ferries, best time and a combined route.
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7 min readKomodo on a Budget: Boats, Fees and the New Rules (2026)
How to see Komodo's dragons, Padar and the manta reefs without overspending: boat trip types, 2026 park fees and quota, safety checks and best months.
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7 min readThe Coral Triangle vs. the Great Barrier Reef: Which Is Better?
The Great Barrier Reef is the largest reef system; the Coral Triangle is the richest. Size, species, 2026 reef health and which is better to dive, compared.
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8 min readThe History of Bali: From Bronze Age Drums to Mass Tourism
Bali's history in one read: Bronze Age burials, the first kings, Majapahit, the Dutch conquest and puputan, independence, 1963, 1965 and the tourism century.
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7 min readThe Indonesian Throughflow: The Ocean Current Behind Indonesia's Best Dives
About 15 million m³ of Pacific water pass through Indonesia every second. How the Indonesian Throughflow works, and why it brings cold water and currents.
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7 min readThe 2024 Ocean Heatwave: Coral Bleaching in Indonesia and the Coral Triangle
The fourth global bleaching event on one map: Degree Heating Weeks explained, what happened on Indonesia's reefs, recovery, the 2026 El Niño, and what divers can do.
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7 min readOil Slicks Seen From Space: Pollution in the Coral Triangle
Satellite radar flagged 23,036 likely oil slicks around the Coral Triangle in 2020-2026: where they are, why most come from ships, what it means for reefs.
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6 min readReefs, Seagrass and Mangroves: How the Coral Triangle's Three Habitats Work Together
Free maps of every reef, seagrass meadow and mangrove in the Coral Triangle: how they work together, Indonesia's mangrove losses and where to see them.
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8 min readClear Water vs. Murky Water: Diving Visibility in Indonesia and the Coral Triangle
What controls underwater visibility in Indonesia, from plankton and rivers to upwelling and tides, plus the best months for clear water in each main dive region.
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7 min readIndonesia's Marine Parks: Komodo, Raja Ampat, Wakatobi and the 30% Goal (Map)
How Indonesia protects its reefs: the big marine national parks, Raja Ampat's regency MPAs, the 30% by 2045 target, what park fees fund and how divers can help.
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8 min readDiving Bali: The Best Dive Sites, From Tulamben to Nusa Penida
Bali's best dive sites on two free maps: the USAT Liberty wreck, Amed, Padang Bai, Menjangan, and Nusa Penida's mantas and mola mola, with seasons and safety.
Read the article →8 min readWhere to Dive in Indonesia: 14 Regions, Seasons and How to Choose (Map)
Indonesia's 14 main dive regions on one free map: what each is known for, when to go, what level you need, liveaboard or resort, and how to dive safely.
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8 min readDiving Komodo National Park: Currents, Mantas, Seasons and 2026 Park Rules
Komodo's best dive sites on a free map, north vs south seasons, when to see mantas, how to handle the currents, liveaboards, and the 2026 quota and fees.
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7 min readDiving Raja Ampat (2026): The Dampier Strait Site by Site, Mantas, Misool and Fees
Raja Ampat dive guide with a free Dampier Strait map: Cape Kri, Blue Magic, Manta Sandy, Misool, Wayag, 2026 entry fees, seasons, currents and getting there.
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7 min readDiving North Sulawesi: Bunaken's Walls, Bangka's Pinnacles and the Critters of Lembeh
North Sulawesi dive guide and map: Bunaken's walls, Bangka's pinnacles, Lembeh muck diving, park fee, seasons, getting there from Manado and where to stay.
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7 min readDiving Wakatobi: Indonesia's Quiet Reefs at the Edge of the Banda Sea
Diving Wakatobi National Park: a free map of Sombu, Hoga, Kaledupa, Roma, Mari Mabok and Binongko, plus seasons, flights, resorts vs liveaboards and the Bajau.
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7 min readDiving Alor: Cold Water, Clear Seas and the Pantar Strait
A free dive map of Alor: Kal's Dream, Clown Valley, The Arch, Mucky Mosque and Cave Point, plus currents, cold upwellings, season and getting there via Kupang.
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6 min readTaka Bonerate: Diving One of the World's Largest Atolls
A free dive map of Taka Bonerate National Park in the Flores Sea: Tinabo, Tarupa, Latondu, Rajuni, Jinato and Pasitallu, plus access via Selayar and seasons.
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7 min readDiving From Bali to Alor: The Lesser Sunda Islands, Island by Island
Ten dive regions from Bali to Alor on one free map: Gili turtles, Lombok's Secret Gilis, Moyo, Sangeang volcano, Komodo, Maumere and Alor, with seasons.
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7 min readDiving Papua and Maluku: Raja Ampat, Cenderawasih Bay, Triton Bay, Banda and Ambon
Nine dive regions in Indonesia's far east on one free map: Raja Ampat, Cenderawasih Bay whale sharks, Triton Bay, Banda, Ambon muck diving, Biak and Kei.
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7 min readDiving Sulawesi: Nine Regions on One Island
Sulawesi's nine dive regions on one free map: Bunaken, Lembeh, Togean, Banggai, Spermonde, Selayar, Taka Bonerate and Wakatobi, with access and seasons.
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