Indonesia is the largest archipelago nation in the world. With over 17,000 islands, Indonesia’s total coastlines span a staggering 80,000 kilometers. The territorial waters cover about 3.1 million square kilometers.

     Rich tropical vegetation greets the visitor to this country. Emerald canopies where the jungle still reigns, are interspersed with rice fields of jade and gold where man has stamped his claim. This beauty spills into the seas, encircling islands with rainbow-hued coral reef where a myriad of marine creatures play. Java, the most populated island in Indonesia, is well known because of Borobudur – the world’s largest Buddhist stupa or because of “Java Man” – the million-year-old fossil remains of Pithecanthropus Erectus.

     But not much has been known about the unique diving in the waters west of the island. There are three main islands which are the remains of the mighty Krakatau, a volcano famous for its spectacular eruption of 1883. There is an underseascape of volcanic rocks, so fissured and slabbed that some look like ancient ruins. Jacks, fusiliers, Moorish Idols, sharks and turtles are drawn by the presence of giant gorgonians and hard coral.

     Further to the west is Ujung Kulon National Park, another prime dive base. Rocks that look like underwater mountains rising to pierce the sea surface are patrolled by barracudas, bumpheads, parrot-fishes and turtles. The marine areas of Ujung Kulon support some of the richest fish fauna in the archipelago. Both deep water and reef species are well represented here.

     Tanjung Lesung, located strategically in Southwest corner of West Java, is a perfect point for divers to start the exploration of Krakatau and Ujung Kulon National Park underwater world. A boat equipped with GPS and Depth Sounder is ready at Tanjung Lesung Beach Club to take you to one of the sites within one hour.

     For your comfortable accommodation in Tanjung Lesung Beach Resort, there is Tanjung Lesung Resort Hotel which faces the Sunda Strait with views to Krakatau and Panaitan Island in Ujung Kulon National Park. More modest budget accommodation is available at Tanjung Lesung Sailing Club.