Skip to main content

Abang Island near Batam : Rare Coral Reefs in Crystal Clear Waters


Overview
Beautiful underwater gardens featuring fascinating coral reefs decorated with various shapes, sizes, and colors of many sea creatures, that is the view that awaits snorkelers and divers under the crystal clear waters of Abang Island, south of Batam in the province of the Riau Archipelago.

Abang Island is surrounded by many other small islands, most of which are conservation areas for coral reefs, while the main island of Abang only measures around 10 square kilometers. With relatively shallow waters –around 15 to 18 meters deep- this fascinating underwater wonder is a perfect spot for both diving and snorkeling. Its beauty is often compared to that of the waters around Komodo Island National Park, Bunaken, and Raja Ampat, since COREMAP (Coral Reef Rehabilitation and Management Programs) itself  has also designated the area as site for a special underwater coral reef observation center.

Above the surface, the landscape of Abang Island is still pristine with hills dominated by granite rocks. Most of the shores are still decorated with beautiful mangrove forests.

The most fascinating feature of the waters of Abang Island is the existence of a rare species of coral known as Blue Coral which only lives in clear waters with excellent water quality. Among some of the fish species that find shelter under its calm waves are Selar, Lencing, Red Snapper, Red Sand Fish, Blow Fish, Pinang, and many others.

Abang Island is inhabited by approximately 400 people in 100 families. Combined with its neighbouring islands, the total number  of inhabitants can reach 1.200 persons in 300 households. The settlements at the western part of the island are denser compared to the north. Most of their houses are located around the beach and constructed following the coastline. Over the years, the people of Abang Island have constantly been taught awareness of the importance to preserve the coral reefs both as tourism assets as well as their significance for the global environment. In turn, they can also benefit from tourism activities next to their daily activity as fishermen or traders. This has ultimately led to the well maintained beauty of Abang Island. 

Get There
Abang Island is located south from Batam or about 50 Km from Muka-Kuning, Batam Island. To reach the island, it takes approximately 1.5 hours drive from Batam to the Barelang Bridge. From there, the journey continues by boat along the River Burdus until you reach Abang Island which is about 12 Km away using motorized boats, which the locals call Bot Pompong.

To Do
There are three locations that you must visit when you make a trip to Abang Island, they are Abang Island (Pulau Abang besar), Ranuh Island, and Pengalap Island. To reach these spots you can take fast boats from Galang Baru Island.
The main activities here are obviously diving and snorkeling. Feast your eyes on the beauty of a world that lies beyond the surface with all the colorful sea creatures and some of the rarest coral reefs. There are 9 dive sites in the area, and all of them are relatively safe since aside from being surrounded by small islands they also do not directly face the open ocean.
Besides diving and snorkeling, there are also several spots which are favorites among fishing enthusiasts.

To Stay
Some of the houses in the fishing villages on Abang Island are available as your accommodation options. Prices vary,  mostly depending on your bargaining skills. Staying on the island will surely make a complete experience, but if convenience and modern facilities are features you seek, then it is better to find hotels or inns on Batam. For a list of hotels in Batam you can refer to our find a hotel in Batam.

To Eat
With all the diving and snorkeling that you will do, seafood is obviously the main highlight when it comes to dining. Smoked crabs, boiled shells, and various kinds of fish can be found in several warungs or food stalls on Abang.

Tips
For the perfect diving experience, the best time to come to Abang Island is from March to August, and from September to November. In these months, the currents are known to be the calmest.

Indonesia Travel
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF THE KERIS

The most famous pusaka or heirloom for Javanese people is Keris (dagger). In the ancient time, a man is not considered as a real man if he has no keris. The keris is highly valued, treated and respected with special care. This pusaka is usually inherited from fore fathers. According to Javanese ancient tradition, especially in the court families, a father was obliged to give to his adult son at least a keris. In general, keris is divided to two important parts, the blade (Wilah) and the scabbard (Warangka), to protect the blade. The process of the making of the blade in the old days may last one year only for one keris. The keris maker is called an Empu. Only the respectable Empus could make a high quality keris, physically and spiritually. Empu has to do some spiritual deeds to prepare a keris, like fasting, not sleeping for several days and nights, meditation, etc. In Principle, a keris is a personal sacred weapon, it is made by an Empu, in accordance with the wish of the consum
8 comments
Read more

Traditional House of West Sumatra (Rumah Gadang)

West Sumatra is one of the provinces in Indonesia which is located in the middle of Sumatra Island by making Padang as its capital. As the name implies, West Sumatra is located along the west coast of Sumatra Island. The Mentawai Islands and other islands in the Indian Ocean are still in its territory. This province is inhabited by Minangkabau tribe community as the original tribe and also tribe. The Minangkabau tribe itself - or commonly called Orang Minang, is a sub tribe of Malay that has unique culture and characteristics. In addition to good at trade, smart cooking, and love to wander, Minang people also have a cultural icon that is well known around the world. The cultural icon is Rumah Gadang, which is now the official building of Rumah Sumatera. Traditional House of West Sumatra Well, on the occasion of this article, we will cover the West Sumatra traditional house, ranging from history, architectural style, image, structure, and philosophical values contained in i
9 comments
Read more

Customs Cloth Lampung Province

Lampung is the southernmost province on the island of Sumatra. Its location adjacent to Java Island made Lampung in the past became one of the transmigration destination of Java's population. This causes the inhabitants of this province to be very heterogeneous. There are many tribes who live in this province, among them the tribe of Java, Sundanese, Bali, and Lampung own tribe. Custom Clothes Lampung Despite having a population of heterogeneous tribes, the indigenous culture of Lampung itself is still sustainable. One of the cultural heritage that we can still often see is the traditional clothes of Lampung. Traditional clothing Lampung Lampung is a cultural heritage that is very distinctive and has a high artistic value. Traditional clothing is often used by the bride as a symbol of cultural greatness Lampung. This outfit is also sometimes used in dance performances in the Lampung area, such as dance worship, dance bedana, and so forth. Custom Clothes Mal
1 comment
Read more