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The Marine World
Indonesia lies in the middle of the large marine Indo-Pacific
basin. This region extends from the Indian Ocean waters off East
Africa all the way to the Hawaiian and Marquesas Islands in the
East South Pacific. The central area, the waters around the Indonesian
and Philippine Islands, is the lest well-known, and much scientific
work still needs to be done. In tropical waters, where the temperature
and salinity are right, corals seem to "blossom" into
gardens, with an amazing variety of forms and colours.
Growing corals form reefs, functioning as homes for whole communities
of marine life, they also provide nourishment and nurseries for
thousands of fish, shellfish, sponges, crayfish and marine plants,
while protecting shorelines and creating islands in the process.
Whether scuba diving {snorkeling) or deep-diving with breathing
equipment, or exploring a reef it is an unforgettable experience.
Indonesia's smaller islands are often surrounded by reefs, and many
are inaccessible and still undeveloped as far as marine tourism
is concerned. The single exception is Pulau Putri in the Thousand
Islands, northwest of Jakarta.
Other good places : Pulau Peucang and Panaitan off Java's westernmost
peninsula in the Ujung Kulon Reserve; coral reefs off the Tangkoko
Batuangus Reserve in North Sulawesi; Pulau Kasa near Ambon in Maluku,
off the Bali Barat Reserve, in Bali.
The Riau archipelago also offers some excitement to divers of a
different kind: coral reefs are here combined with the interest
of exploring sunken ships and wrecks from World War II.
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