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82301
Tue, 09/29/2009 - 17:38
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https://www.oananews.org//node/82301
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News Feature: FINEST BANDA DIVE SITES AWAIT SAIL 2010 PARTICIPANTS By Otniel Tamindael
Jakarta, Sept 29 (ANTARA) - Seemingly insignificant in the middle of nowhere in the Banda Sea, the Banda Islands are steeped in history and blessed with some of the finest dive sites awaiting the international participants of Sail Banda 2010.
Christoffel Rittiauw who makes his long-time home in Banda Neira says central to the spice trade of old, and former home to exiled freedom fighters, Banda Islands are now enjoying a growing reputation for what goes on below the surface.
Rittiauw says the participants of Sail Banda 2010 will undoubtedly feel at home in Banda, one of Indonesia's top destinations for divers.
According to him, both experts and beginners will enjoy themselves in Banda as the diving ranges from the shallow lagoon between Banda Neira and Gunung Api island to the vertical walls of Hatta Island.
Located about 132 kilometers southeast of the provincial city of Ambon, Banda Islands are made up of three larger islands and seven smaller ones perched on the rim of Indonesia's deepest Banda Sea.
Of the three biggest islands Banda, Banda-Neira and Gunung Api, the first two are covered with nutmeg trees and other vegetation, and the third however, is entirely bare and highly volcanic.
The seas around Banda Islands are the site of the famous Maluku sea gardens with their bright corals and colorful fish darting through the crystal- clear waters and makes it suited to dive, snorkel or even just sightseeing.
Banda offers a lot of dive sites such as Sonegat between Banda Neira and Gunung Api Island, just offshore from a little seaside house owned by the Banda's most famous son, Des Alwi.
In addition to Sonegat, the waters around the islands of Karaka, Sjahrir, Gunung Api, Lontar, Batu Belanda, Ai, and Hatta are well for a morning dive, a picnic on the beach, and an afternoon dive.
Foreign tourists such as Denise Nielsen and Larry Tackett who went diving in Banda commented that some of the creatures worthy of special mention that characterize diving in the Banda Sea are the preponderance of dogtooth tuna and mobula rays.
"At most sites you'll see enormous schools of fusiliers and thousands of redtooth trigger fish. At the other end of the size scale, there are prolific mandarin fish and the native Ambon scorpion fish," according to Denise and Larry.
They say diving is usually comfortable, with mild currents, good visibility and calm waters, but some of the dive sites are subject to stronger currents that make them suitable for experienced divers only.
"Looking down over the wall from the shallows, we watch the most impressive of fish displays. Masking the deep blue water, ribbons of redtooth triggers swim above waves of rainbow runners who mingle with masses of lined snappers," they say.
The mystique of these far flung but historically important islands of Banda will always captivate both domestic and foreign tourists, especially Sail Banda 2010 participants.
No wonder, Vice President-elect Boediono's recent visit to Maluku was of strategic significance for the promotion of Sail Banda 2010, Maluku Culture and Tourism Office head Florance Sahusilawane said.
"Boediono's visit to the spice islands in Maluku is a sign that the gong for the promotion of Sail Banda 2010 has been sounded, because it is the vice president-elect who will spearhead the campaign to promote the international sail event," Sahusilawane said.
She said Boediono's presence in Banda Neira from Saturday to Monday (Sept 26-28) was an indication that the security conditions in Maluku were conducive for the international event which will follow the Sail Bunaken 2009 which took place in August this year in Manado, North Sulawesi.
"The preparedness of the people of Banda to receive Boediono indicates that they are also ready to host Sail Banda 2010," Sahusilawane said, adding that the event was to be organized as an international marine expedition.
She said the idea to hold the international event was being designed by adopting the past period of "hongitochten", punitive expeditions conducted by the Dutch to suppress uprisings in Seram, particularly in the clove-rich peninsula of Hoamoal and nearby islands with traditional boats.
Therefore, Sahusilawane called on villages across Maluku which have typical traditional boats to take part in and liven up Sail Banda 2010.
She said the promotion of Sail Banda 2010 would not be very difficult because the Banda islands were already known worldwide as the "spice islands", while UNESCO had named the islands one of the world's heritages.
Maluku Governor Karel Albert Ralahalu said recently that some 150 sail boats from a number of countries had been registered to take part in Sail Banda 2010.
"I met Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik in Jakarta recently and he said about 150 sail boats have signed up for the international maritime event in Maluku next year," the governor said.
Meanwhile, Maluku provincial administration's communication and information spokesman, Bakrie Lumbessy says member of Sail Banda 2010 international committee from various maritime countries are expected to survey three locations in Maluku for consideration as the event's venue in the near future.
He says the three locations to be surveyed are Lucipara islands in the Banda Sea, Banda Islands, and a diving site in Southwest Maluku district.
"The international committee of Sail Banda 2010 will soon visit Maluku to survey the three locations in the province," Lumbessy says, adding that the committee has successfully organized the Sail Bunaken event in North Sulawesi which was participated in by hundreds of sail boats and yachts from various countries last August.
According to Lumbessy, all the three locations for the Sail Banda 2010 offer undersea panoramas featuring many coral reefs and ornamental fish.
He says Sail Banda 2010 is scheduled to run from July 27 to August 28, 2010 and to be participated in by hundreds of sail boats and yachts from various countries around the world.
The Banda Sea which is known to have the deepest basin in the world also had areas abounding in colorful coral reefs and ornamental fish on which visitors could feast their eyes.
***5***
Christoffel Rittiauw who makes his long-time home in Banda Neira says central to the spice trade of old, and former home to exiled freedom fighters, Banda Islands are now enjoying a growing reputation for what goes on below the surface.
Rittiauw says the participants of Sail Banda 2010 will undoubtedly feel at home in Banda, one of Indonesia's top destinations for divers.
According to him, both experts and beginners will enjoy themselves in Banda as the diving ranges from the shallow lagoon between Banda Neira and Gunung Api island to the vertical walls of Hatta Island.
Located about 132 kilometers southeast of the provincial city of Ambon, Banda Islands are made up of three larger islands and seven smaller ones perched on the rim of Indonesia's deepest Banda Sea.
Of the three biggest islands Banda, Banda-Neira and Gunung Api, the first two are covered with nutmeg trees and other vegetation, and the third however, is entirely bare and highly volcanic.
The seas around Banda Islands are the site of the famous Maluku sea gardens with their bright corals and colorful fish darting through the crystal- clear waters and makes it suited to dive, snorkel or even just sightseeing.
Banda offers a lot of dive sites such as Sonegat between Banda Neira and Gunung Api Island, just offshore from a little seaside house owned by the Banda's most famous son, Des Alwi.
In addition to Sonegat, the waters around the islands of Karaka, Sjahrir, Gunung Api, Lontar, Batu Belanda, Ai, and Hatta are well for a morning dive, a picnic on the beach, and an afternoon dive.
Foreign tourists such as Denise Nielsen and Larry Tackett who went diving in Banda commented that some of the creatures worthy of special mention that characterize diving in the Banda Sea are the preponderance of dogtooth tuna and mobula rays.
"At most sites you'll see enormous schools of fusiliers and thousands of redtooth trigger fish. At the other end of the size scale, there are prolific mandarin fish and the native Ambon scorpion fish," according to Denise and Larry.
They say diving is usually comfortable, with mild currents, good visibility and calm waters, but some of the dive sites are subject to stronger currents that make them suitable for experienced divers only.
"Looking down over the wall from the shallows, we watch the most impressive of fish displays. Masking the deep blue water, ribbons of redtooth triggers swim above waves of rainbow runners who mingle with masses of lined snappers," they say.
The mystique of these far flung but historically important islands of Banda will always captivate both domestic and foreign tourists, especially Sail Banda 2010 participants.
No wonder, Vice President-elect Boediono's recent visit to Maluku was of strategic significance for the promotion of Sail Banda 2010, Maluku Culture and Tourism Office head Florance Sahusilawane said.
"Boediono's visit to the spice islands in Maluku is a sign that the gong for the promotion of Sail Banda 2010 has been sounded, because it is the vice president-elect who will spearhead the campaign to promote the international sail event," Sahusilawane said.
She said Boediono's presence in Banda Neira from Saturday to Monday (Sept 26-28) was an indication that the security conditions in Maluku were conducive for the international event which will follow the Sail Bunaken 2009 which took place in August this year in Manado, North Sulawesi.
"The preparedness of the people of Banda to receive Boediono indicates that they are also ready to host Sail Banda 2010," Sahusilawane said, adding that the event was to be organized as an international marine expedition.
She said the idea to hold the international event was being designed by adopting the past period of "hongitochten", punitive expeditions conducted by the Dutch to suppress uprisings in Seram, particularly in the clove-rich peninsula of Hoamoal and nearby islands with traditional boats.
Therefore, Sahusilawane called on villages across Maluku which have typical traditional boats to take part in and liven up Sail Banda 2010.
She said the promotion of Sail Banda 2010 would not be very difficult because the Banda islands were already known worldwide as the "spice islands", while UNESCO had named the islands one of the world's heritages.
Maluku Governor Karel Albert Ralahalu said recently that some 150 sail boats from a number of countries had been registered to take part in Sail Banda 2010.
"I met Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik in Jakarta recently and he said about 150 sail boats have signed up for the international maritime event in Maluku next year," the governor said.
Meanwhile, Maluku provincial administration's communication and information spokesman, Bakrie Lumbessy says member of Sail Banda 2010 international committee from various maritime countries are expected to survey three locations in Maluku for consideration as the event's venue in the near future.
He says the three locations to be surveyed are Lucipara islands in the Banda Sea, Banda Islands, and a diving site in Southwest Maluku district.
"The international committee of Sail Banda 2010 will soon visit Maluku to survey the three locations in the province," Lumbessy says, adding that the committee has successfully organized the Sail Bunaken event in North Sulawesi which was participated in by hundreds of sail boats and yachts from various countries last August.
According to Lumbessy, all the three locations for the Sail Banda 2010 offer undersea panoramas featuring many coral reefs and ornamental fish.
He says Sail Banda 2010 is scheduled to run from July 27 to August 28, 2010 and to be participated in by hundreds of sail boats and yachts from various countries around the world.
The Banda Sea which is known to have the deepest basin in the world also had areas abounding in colorful coral reefs and ornamental fish on which visitors could feast their eyes.
***5***
