Some of the most biodiverse marine life on our planet resides in the waters of Indonesia. Being the largest archipelagic nation in the world, with an abundance of coral reefs, deep trenches, mangrove forests, and seagrass beds, it comes as no surprise that Indonesia’s nutrient-rich waters make an ideal home for marine megafauna.

One of the best ways to see these magnificent creatures is through scuba and free-diving. From the popular bay of Manta Point to the vast and empty Banda Sea, a plethora of marine life is waiting to be explored.

Imagine drifting along a sloping reef, surrounded by colorful fish and vibrant coral heads. Suddenly, you look up and see a great white shark cruising in the blue waters. The shark is five meters long and visibly pregnant, slowly circling out and in towards the reef in a peaceful and beautiful manner. The ocean goes silent as you and your friends register this awe-inspiring sight. It's not common to encounter such creatures on shallow reef dives in Nusa Penida. Still, it's not unusual for them to migrate through deep water from Australia to the north of Indonesia to feed on the tuna that spawn there.

Imagine rolling back into the water at Manta Point and descending into the midst of a manta mating train. At least 15 mantas are swirling and gliding around you, all males following one elegant female. One by one, manta rays pass right before your eyes as they chase their female target, trying to impress her and gain her approval. It's a surreal spectacle consisting of a tornado of wings.

Imagine yourself waiting patiently on a small wooden fishing boat, situated off the shores of North Sumbawa, under a night sky filled with thousands of stars. You eagerly wait for the sunrise and for the fishing boats to discard their leftover bait. As soon as the first light hits, you jump into the water and are instantly surrounded by many hungry whale sharks. Don't worry, it's completely safe as these gentle giants are filter feeders, and so you snorkel with the peaceful animals as they move through their breakfast.

Imagine checking your air gauge as you drift over the beautiful coral reefs in the Pantar Straight in Alor. You're about to begin ascending for the safety stop when it suddenly starts to get very dark. It's as if someone has just laid a sheet over the ocean, blocking out the sunlight. As you slowly turn to look above you, expecting to see the surface of the water, you are met with the biggest mammal alive: a blue whale. Suddenly appearing out of nowhere, this majestic creature swims over you, and you cannot even begin to fathom the sheer size of this being. Everyone is struck with utter amazement and awe at this extremely lucky encounter.

Imagine floating in the central water column. The only difference between up and down is blue, and a darker shade of blue. As you drift in this oceanic limbo, dark patches in the distance gradually enter your view. In a matter of minutes, you find yourself surrounded by a school of hammerhead sharks. Perhaps hundreds of them swim past you as they make their way to their intended destination. It's just you, the endless blue, and a continuous procession of hammerhead sharks.

These are the real-life experiences of diving with marine megafauna in Indonesia.

Written by Kayli Wouters

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