Diving

Fact Sheet about diving in Central Sulawesi

The most important facts like a list of dive operators (dive centers) and liveaboard operators, dive safety (addresses of the hyperbaric chambers), dive conditions, climate, hotels and how to get to Central Sulawesi on one page and ready to print.

On this page: diving facts about Donggala - Togian islands - Banggai islands
Look at my website about dive sites in Donggala, Banggai islands and Togean islands
Click here to look at underwater photos taken in Central- and South Sulawesi
Indonesian dive terms

How to get to Sulawesi, Indonesia

Maps of Indonesia: Collection of maps / Overview map Indonesia (keyword Indonesia)
Maps of Sulawesi: Sulawesi overview map / map of Sulawesi for zooming
Article about Sulawesi: www.indonesiaphoto.com

Dive operators in the Togian islands

How to get to the Togian islands

The Togian islands are not reached that easily. By plane from Makassar or Palu to Luwuk. For the newest information about getting there click here.

The Togian islands can also be reached by car or bus on the trans Sulawesi highway from Poso and Ampana. Please notice, that the political situation in Poso is not very good at the moment. You can also come from Gorontalo in the north through the port Marisa by chartered boat (about 5 hrs).

Climate in the Togians

A good time to visit the Togians is August and September, though it generally doesn't rain that much, so the diving season can be considered as April to October. Please notice, that Luwuk and the south coast of the peninsula receive more wind and rain during the South East monsoon, especially during June and July, so it might be rainy in Luwuk (and the Bualemo Peninsula) and fine weather in the Togians.

Gorontalo

Dive operators in Gorontalo

Miguel's diving is based in Gorontalo city, you stay at the hotel Melati in town. Also offers dive packages with diving in Gorontalo and around the Togian islands. Dive season November to April (too much waves and wind during the other months).

How to get to Gorontalo

Best reached from Manado either by daily flights or by private transport or by bus (approx. one day). There are also flights from Makassar (Udjung Pandang) to Gorontalo.

Weather averages in Gorontalo - weather map Indonesia

Banggai islands

Dive operators on the Banggai islands

Maleo cottages is a small scale, touristy operation base located in Luwuk-Banggai area, 16 kms from the town of Luwuk. Phone: (873) 761966490 / Fax: (873) 682421371. Also offers liveaboard dive cruises on the M/V Paisabatu II liveaboard around the Togian and Banggai islands.

How to get to the Banggai islands

Banggai is reached by a approx. 2 hour journey from the airport of Luwuk (car and speed boat). Pelni ships also visit Luwuk. Flights from Manado or Palu to Luwuk (3 times a week)

Climate in Banggai

Luwuk and the south coast of the peninsula receive more wind and rain during the South East monsoon, especially during June and July. Other months are fairly dry, so the best time is October to December and then March to May. In Banggai, especially in October, the waters can drop until 26° so you need a thick wetsuit, from December to April they are generally about 27 to 28°.

Weather averages in Luwuk (mainland) - weather map Indonesia

	JAN	FEB	MAR	APR	MAY	JUN	JUL	AUG	SEP	OCT	NOV	DEC
Best time to dive
Highest temperatures (°C)	31	31	30	31	30	29	29	29	30	30	31	32
Lowest temperatures (°C)	25	24	25	25	24	24	24	24	24	25	25	25
Daily hours of sunshine	6	5	5	6	6	5	5	5	8	8	7	6
Rainy days	19	23	23	24	25	21	26	20	11	10	15	21
Precipitation (mm)	145	103	239	156	132	186	126	78	82	65	95	109
Humidity (%)	77	78	79	79	78	78	77	74	74	74	76	78
Water temperatures (°C)	28	28	29	29	29	29	29	28	28	29	29	29

Donggala

Dive operators in Donggala

The Prince John Dive Resort, situated in Donggala is the only dive operator around Palu. The dive operation is run by Alex and Gaby. 12l tanks / rental equipment available / 2 small boats and 1 large / no oxygen at the resort / good maps and descriptions (in German) of the dive sites are provided by the dive shop. Excellent dive guides! Phone: 0062 457 71104 (dive shop) / Fax 0062 451 423027 (resort) handy phone: 0811 - 455147 / e-mail / can be booked through Sun and Fun in Germany and Switzerland.

Places to stay in Donggala

The Prince John Dive Resort at Tanjung Karang has several basic cottages and a small restaurant. Please notice, that electricity is only available during the night. Traveler checks (dollars) accepted, no credit cards. Nice sandy beach just outside the resort. The cottages are on top of the cliff with a nice view over the ocean. There is an other resort next door with cottages on the beach

How to get to Palu and Donggala

Bouraq offers the most extensive flight network from Palu, going to Ujung Pandang, Manado, Poso, Gorontalo (on Sulawesi), Balikpapan and Banjarmasin (Kalimantan, Borneo) and with stopover in Makassar (Ujung Pandang) to Java, Bali and Singapore etc. There are also flights with Merpati and Bali Air.

Overland journey from Palu to the north and south are possible, but the roads are quite bad. From Donggala there are sometimes boats to Kalimantan. Pelni liners (non-official site) leave from Pantoloan to Ujung Pandang.

Weather averages in Palu - weather map Indonesia

weather now in Palu	JAN	FEB	MAR	APR	MAY	JUN	JUL	AUG	SEP	OCT	NOV	DEC
Best time to travel
Highest temperatures (°C)	30	30	31	31	31	31	30	31	32	31	31	31
Lowest temperatures (°C)	24	24	24	25	25	24	24	24	24	25	25	25
Daily hours of sunshine	3	3	4	4	2	3	3	3	3	3	2	2
Rainy days	9	11	12	11	12	13	12	10	10	10	12	10
Precipitation (mm)	49	63	59	43	60	147	52	29	64	78	97	41
Humidity (%)	79	79	79	78	78	78	78	75	73	77	79	76
Water temperatures (°C)	28	28	29	29	29	30	30	29	30	30	29	28

General information about Central Sulawesi

Look at maps and information on www.sulawesi-info.com and www.north-sulawesi.com and tourism northern Sulawesi (about Siau and Sangihe) - volcanoes in Indonesia

Weather in Sulawesi: In general Indonesia has two yearly seasons of monsoon winds: the southeast monsoon (dry) and the northwest monsoon (rain). The dry season usually runs from May through September and the rainy season from November through March. Exception are the Moluccas (Maluku) where seasons are reversed. Map with weather in Indonesia

Dive conditions in Southern Sulawesi

Dive safety

Phone DAN (Divers Alert Network) outside Australia +61-8-8212 9242

Hyperbaric chambers (or recompression chamber) in Manado:

Manado: At the Malalayang Hospital (chamber for 3 to 4 persons) Phone: 0812-4302970 / Dr Glen Hawkins HP +61 407700701 / Dr Sosiawati HP 0812 467 2923 / Dr Hanry Takasenseran HP 0813 4000 0840

Kalimantan: Rumah Sakit Pertamina Balikpapan, Jl Jendral Sudirman Nr 1, email: aspb@rspb.co.id, Tel:+62542 734020, 734020, 734024. Contact person: Dr Lukman Hatta, Sp.PD, Sp.KL (Internist).
The Borneo Divers have the only professional recompression chamber located on Sipadan island (Borneo - Malaysia)

Makassar: Rumah Sakit Umum Wahidin Sudirohusodo. Contact person: Pak Daniel Address: Jl. Perintis Kemerdekaan Km. 11, Tamalanrea Kampus UNHAS Indonesia TEL:++ 62 - 0411 (584677) , 584675 . Said to be for 3 to 4 persons.

For more information about hyperbaric chambers look at the Indonesia page or the dive safety page.

More Information about scuba diving in south-east Asia