Jakarta Sports and Activities

Surfing: The Indonesian archipelago is one of the world’s top surfing destinations. The best time to surf is from April to September with the best waves generally found on islands facing south and southwest, including Sumatra, Java, Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa, Flores and Sumba. Some well known surfing beaches, such as Ulu Watu on Bali, tend to get overcrowded, but organised trips to isolated areas are widely available. Surf camps such as those at Lagundri Bay (Nias) or Cempi Bay (Sumbawa) offer basic accommodation and simple food. Windsurfing is particularly popular on Bintan Island and Sanur and Nusa Dua beaches on Bali.

Diving: There are approximately 80,000km (50,000 miles) of coastline, reputed to contain 15 per cent of the world’s coral reefs. In spite of the obvious opportunities, Indonesia’s diving industry is still relatively young, though the number of companies offering courses and excursions is rising rapidly.

On Java island, the best diving is on the west coast, where three volcanic islands mark the remains of the Krakatau volcano (which last erupted in 1883). Bali’s tourist stronghold in the Kuta, Nusa Dua and Suar triangle offers easy and moderate diving, with easily accessible reefs. Tours to more remote (and less busy) areas are available. On the northern tip of Sulawesi island, the Taman Nasional Laut Bunaken Manado Tua is a national marine reserve with particularly steep coral walls; international air connections to the island facilitate access. Further north, the lesser-known Sanggihe-Talaud and Togian islands are reached by live-aboard dive boats. In the south, Take Bone Rate is the world’s third largest atoll while the Tukang Besi islands have featured extensively in the films by the French underwater explorer Jacques Cousteau.

Nusa Tenggara’s most popular sites are the three Gili islands near Lombok, whose calm shallow waters are ideal for beginners. Maluku consists of approximately 1000 islands and has only recently been discovered as a top diving destination. Southeast of Ambon, the Bandana islands are accessible by air and offer a number of sites suitable for beginners and experienced divers. The major resort in the Sumatra and Riau islands is Bintan, easily accessible from Singapore. The clearest and most colourful dive sites are in Pulau Sikuai off the Padang coast (western Sumatra) and Pulau Weh off Banda Aceh (northern Sumatra). Irian Jaya also offers good diving around the famous Mapia Atoll (where dolphins and killer whales can sometimes be spotted) and the waters of Cenderawasih Bay off the western end of Bird’s Head peninsula.

Climbing: The island of Sumatra is perhaps the best location. Gunung Padang, near the island’s capital, Padang, is a small black basalt cliff reached via a river-paddling trip followed by a trek through rainforest. Further inland, Bukittinggi offers challenging cliffs overlooking rice paddies. The dramatic canyon r