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Stretching south of the main island of Sulawesi in the Flores Sea, the Taka Bonerate National Park
in the Selayar Regency is predominantly a rich marine park , but it is
also habitat to a number of bird species from land birds, to coastal and
sea birds that frolic on the many sand dunes.
The Island of Selayar
is the gateway to this extensive 530,765 hectares national park, of
which 220,000 hectares form an expanse of atolls and lagoons. Taka
Bonerate is the third largest atoll region in the world after Kwajalein
in the Marshall Islands and Suvadiva in the Maldives.
Taka Bonerate, together with WAKATOBI, Ambon, Banda Islands and Raja Ampat together with Bunaken as well as Derawan in Kalimantan, are at the heart of the Coral Triangle which stretches from the Solomon Islands in the east, to the Philippines in the north, to Bali, Lombok, Komodo, Flores and the Savu Sea in the south, which forms the base of this huge triangle. Besides atolls, this national park comprises 21 islands.
The crystal clear waters offer a wide
range of reefs, from barrier reefs to fringing reefs and atolls to steep
drop-offs, as well as slopes and flat seabeds, all offering
opportunities for beginners to professional divers to test their skill
and be amazed by the wonderful beauty of this underwater sea life.
Besides the 242 species of corals, Taka Bonerate boasts 526 species of
colorful and strange reef fish as well as 112 species of macro algae.
Divers will be able to get close and
swim with dolphins, turtles, manta rays, sometimes spot sharks, or sperm
whales, and be enthralled by the giant gorgonian fans, black corals,
scorpion fish, nudibranch, tuna, trevallies, napoleon wrasse and more
that make up this unbelievable, pristine underwater paradise. You will
also find hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata), Pacific ridley turtles (Lepidochelys olivicea), and green turtles (chelonia mydas).
Indeed, Taka Bonerate is said to have one of the world’s highest marine
diversity. The Park has over 50 fantastic dive sites, a number are by
the island of Tinabo, others are near the islands of Kahabia,
Belang-Belang, and Taka Lamungan.
Best time to dive is between April to
mid-May, and October to mid-November when the soft easterly winds do not
whip up the waves. Winds are still reasonable between October through
May. But during the west monsoon winds are liable to raise waves to two
meters or higher. All ferries will stop operation when waves are
dangerously high.
The local population, who lives mostly
on and around the island of Selayar are predominantly Bugis, known for
their superb craftmanship in boat building, and the Bajau sea gypsies.
Please Click "Email" For Making Reservation !
IQRA' Tour Organizer
Makassar - South Sulawesi
Indonesia
Indonesia
E~mail: Adventure.Sulawesi@yahoo.co.uk
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