The Riau Archipelago


The wrecks which dot the Riau waters, so close to Singapore, are strictly World War II vintage, but they still have an air of mystery. Many were sunk by the Japanese in 1941.
Riau is easily accessible by boat from Singapore, from Pekanbaru in SUMATRA or from Pontianak in West Kalimantan. Good beaches and coral can be found near Bintan island, but for divers and coral enthusiasts lor historians, archaelogists or anthropologists, for that matter there are also endless opportunities to explore the whole Riau archipelago.

The islands are small and close to one another, and the wrecks are usually in shallow waters. Island hopping is easy and inexpensive. Boats in Tanjung Pinang are easily available.