Diving in Sumatra

Pantee Peunateung – A sloping reef to around 25 meters / 82 feet before a vertical drop off. Stunning topography and at the deeper levels the wall is covered with colourful gorgonian sea fans, sharks patrol the blue and eagle rays pass overhead. The shallower slope is a great spot for critter hunting among the rocks including moray eels, octopus, shrimps and lobsters but don’t forget to keep looking out to the open ocean or you’ll miss the huge schools of jacks, trevally, triggerfish and fusiliers. This site is action packed. Arus Balee – This pinnacle site is bursting with colour and teeming with fish. Vibrant reef fish swarm over the corals as black tip reef sharks cruise by. Other common sighting here include giant groupers, giant trevally, tuna and seasonal schooling mobula rays. For those who like macro life, ribbon eels are frequent sightings as are spider crabs on the gorgonians and moray eels which are often accompanied by a couple of cleaner shrimp working away. From big to small, you’ll find it here. Batee Tokong – This is a firm favourite for many divers and for good reason. The site features a pinnacle, wall and sloping reef and the marine life is just as diverse – and even more abundant. A deep plateau is a must for those who want to see sharks, the slope is where you’ll find groupers and trevallies swimming as well as lionfish, numerous species of moray eels, ribbon eels and an array of critters amongst the gorgonian sea fans. If you like diversity then this site should be on your list. Top Dive sites in Pulau Weh: Sophie Rickmers (Wreck) – Built in 1920 as a cargo steam ship, the Sophie Rickmers was scuttled by her own German crew in 1940 to avoid being captured by the Dutch. Laying upright and in tact she sits at around 55 meters / 180 feet with the wheelhouse just below 30 meters / 100 feet, so you’ll need your PADI Deep Diver Specialty or TecRec certification to dive it. This incredible wreck is now completely encrusted in coral, surrounded by schooling fish and visited by marble rays, giant grouper, giant trevallies and when you inspect closely a whole host of macro life. The Canyon – If you like interesting topographies then this is a dive site not to be missed. The Canyon features a cave, swim through archway, wall, slope and of course – lots of fish. The abundance of gorgonian sea fans are a highlight here along with schooling barracuda, Napoleon wrasse and passing reef sharks, eagle and manta rays.