Indonesia offers great diving potential within region<\/p>\n
Pariama Hutasoit, Contributor, Tulamben, north Bali<\/p>\n
In the eyes of a professional diver, Indonesia is pure heaven for
\ndiving and other marine sports.<\/p>\n
\"The country, with its thousands of islands, has extraordinary
\nmarine assets and underwater potential,\" said vice president of
\nsales, marketing and distribution for PADI Asia-Pacific Region
\nClaus C. Nimb. PADI is one of the world's largest dive training
\ninstitutions, with dive centers worldwide.<\/p>\n
\"It is incredible that Indonesia has abundant potential for
\ndiving, but has yet to develop it,\" Nimb said.<\/p>\n
As compared with Thailand, he said, Indonesia is far richer.
\n\"Thailand has only 21,000 kilometers of coast, yet the country's
\ndiving industry has developed as one of the world's dive
\ncenters,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Similarly, Malaysia is now concentrating on its marine sports
\nand diving industry in the formerly disputed islands of Sipadan
\nand Ligitan, Sabah.<\/p>\n
\"Thailand's diving industry is five times the size of
\nIndonesia's. Malaysia is also fast developing its marine tourism,
\nincluding diving,\" Nimb said.<\/p>\n
In Thailand, PADI Asia-Pacific has issued 45,000 to 50,000
\nprofessional diving certificates, excluding those obtained by
\nforeign tourists in that country. In Indonesia, on the other
\nhand, only 18,000 certificates are issued annually, comparable
\nwith the total issued at just one diving destination, Phuket,
\nThailand, he said.<\/p>\n
Around 75 percent of the 18,000 certificates were issued in
\nBali and Lombok islands. According to the respected magazine
\nRodale's Scuba Diving, Bali ranks as the fourth-best diving site
\nin the world.<\/p>\n
Malaysia, Nimb said, developed its diving industry from
\nscratch. Citing an example, he said 10 years ago there were only
\na few dive operators in Sipadan and Ligitan islands in Sabah,
\nMalaysia's foremost diving centers. \"At present, there are so
\nmany professional dive operators on these two islands,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The story behind the success in developing dive sites in Sabah
\nlies mostly in supporting facilities, including cultural and
\nnatural attractions, plus well-equipped infrastructure.<\/p>\n
Bali, he said, already possessed a rich culture and
\ntraditions, in addition to its excellent natural resources.<\/p>\n
\"This would represent value-added potential for a diving
\ncenter anywhere in the world,\" he explained. There are always
\noccasions when divers are not able to dive due to the weather or
\nfor other reasons.<\/p>\n
\"We are passionate to train more people as professional divers
\nand dive instructors here in Bali and Lombok ,\" Nimb said.<\/p>\n
In addition to Bali and Lombok islands, Indonesia still has
\nmany beautiful dive sites, such as Tulamben in north Bali,
\nWakatobi, Southeast Sulawesi and Togian island, Central Sulawesi.<\/p>\n
Other dive sites in eastern Indonesia are Komodo island in
\nWest Nusa Tenggara; Riung, Flores and Alor island, East Nusa
\nTenggara; Padaido near Biak and Raja Empat, both in Papua.<\/p>\n
According to Nimb, Indonesia will reap tremendous profit if
\nthe country develops and manages its diving industry in a proper
\nway. Growth in the diving industry is set to average 40 percent
\nper year.<\/p>\n
Every year, PADI Asia-Pacific issues around 200,000 diving
\ncertificates for divers in the region, and 1 million certificates
\nworldwide. The company's Asia-Pacific region has about 15,000
\nmembers including divers, instructors and resorts.<\/p>\n
Other international dive training institutions, such as ADS,
\nNAUI and CMAS also issue diving certificates. It is estimated
\nthat there are 18 million active and professional divers around
\nthe world.<\/p>\n
Financially, most divers are likely to spend a lot of money at
\neach diving destination. PADI reckons that each diver spends
\nabout US$2,500 per trip.<\/p>\n
Cipto Aji Gunawan from Aquapro dive center, Bali, said that
\neach diver in Bali would spend about $100 per day, with average
\nstays of four days to five days per trip.<\/p>\n
Promotional activities and campaigning must be started
\naggressively. \"The construction of basic infrastructure is also
\nnecessary,\" Cipto added.<\/p>\n
Nimb, however, realized that Indonesia, including Bali and
\nLombok, now faces difficult times.<\/p>\n
\"The ongoing economic crisis, plus unfavorable social and
\npolitical conditions, have hampered the domestic diving
\nindustry.\"<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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