The Ultimate Guide to Diving in Indonesia - by Sarah Ann Wormald (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Indonesia, the world's largest archipelago, is a true diver's paradise!

The tropical seas around Indonesia's 17,000 islands span several ecological zones and host the greatest variety of marine life and biodiversity found anywhere on this planet. These warm, crystal-clear waters are home to stunning coral reefs, deep trenches and shipwrecks--not to mention majestic creatures ranging from seahorses to fish, whales, dolphins, sharks and manta rays.

The Ultimate Guide to Diving in Indonesia is the first and only comprehensive guidebook dedicated entirely to Indonesia's unique and exciting dive sites and facilities. Seasoned dive instructor and long-time Bali resident Sarah Ann Wormald presents descriptions and photos for each major dive site, including recommendations for the best operators and services to use. Maps of each area, marine life and conservation stories, and detailed travel tips from a local expert help to guide you in planning your visit.

This updated and expanded third edition features many new photos, dive operators and dive sites that have surfaced over the past few years. Unique highlights include the burgeoning night-time blackwater diving scene, wall diving around Selayar Island and whale and dolphin watching off the coast of Alor.

Wormald covers each major region in Indonesia in detail, among them:

• Bali -- "The Island of the Gods," famous for its marine life and the USS Liberty shipwreck off Tulamben
• North Sulawesi -- Where active volcanoes tower over lush plateaus and gorgeous coral reefs
• Nusa Tenggara -- The vast region from Lombok to Timor featuring everything from submerged seamounts, walls and drop-offs to freshwater caves, slopes and sandy muck diving bays
• Maluku -- An often overlooked but unique sites that host the perfect combination of reefs and critters
• Raja Ampat and West Papua -- Quickly becoming the "mecca" for Indonesian diving, with beautiful landscapes, white sand beaches and shallow water corals which make it the postcard trip of a lifetime

Whether you are a first-timer or an experienced diver, this book has everything you need to plan and fully enjoy the magic of Indonesia's tropical diving paradise.

Review Quotes

"A successful manual--very well prepared and optically well designed!" --Aquanaut magazine

"It looks great, a quality feel and the pictures make you really want to go there and dive. The perfect resource for those wanting to visit the area and choosing the right place for them and diving it safely." --Deeper Blue blog

"The book covers popular diving areas in Indonesia including Java, Bali, Sulawesi, Nusa Tenggara, Maluku and Raja Ampat. It includes a lot of information about different dive sites, liveaboards, marine life, best times to visit, dive operators, accommodation and other useful tips. The book has also good and detailed maps and beautiful pictures below the surface which makes you to want to book a dive trip right away!" --Scuba World

"This highly informative and impressive collection of dive destinations and location details forms an invaluable tool in planning and in the diving of this area. The compact fact-packed paperback, with a protective cover, makes it an ideal and valuable traveling companion. This will be the only book I will need on my next adventure to Indonesia." --On the Edge blog

About the Author

Sarah Ann Wormald (1981-2025) was originally from the UK, where she worked as a solicitor before discovering her lifelong passion for diving. She began her underwater journey in the Red Sea and, in 2007, moved to Indonesia, where she became a dive instructor. This role allowed her to share her love of the ocean and its wonders with others. Beyond teaching, Sarah traveled extensively throughout Indonesia to dive and photograph its extraordinary marine life. Through her work and writing, she sought to promote dive operators who prioritize safety while protecting and preserving coral reefs and their inhabitants. Sarah's legacy lives on through her contributions to the diving community and her dedication to ocean conservation.