Spirit of Indonesia's 81st Independence Day: Underwater Flag Hoisting at Miang Island, East Kalimantan
The commemoration of the 81st Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Indonesia in East Kalimantan was held solemnly in a unique manner. The spirit of nationalism echoed not only on land but was also raised from the depths of the waters off Miang Island, amidst stretches of coral reefs and rich marine life.
The East Kalimantan Provincial Tourism Office collaborated with Yekhalis Scuba School, the Miang Island Tourism Awareness Group, and a number of journalists to carry out a ceremony to hoist the Red and White flag underwater. This action was part of the series of commemorations for Indonesia’s 81st Independence Day as well as a strategy to introduce Miang Island’s marine tourism potential to a wider stage.
The journey to this location demanded high dedication. The group had to travel hundreds of kilometres with a considerable travel time in order to carry out the mission of promoting regional tourism.
“We travelled to Miang Island, a distance of 335 km with a journey time of almost 9 hours, certainly with a clear mission and objectives, adequate planning, and a strategy that had been prepared,” said Head of the East Kalimantan Provincial Tourism Office, Muhammad Faisal, on Monday (17/8/2026).
Initially, the East Kalimantan Tourism Office planned a more spectacular procession, namely hoisting the flag in the habitat of whale sharks. Based on data from divers, there are around six to seven whale sharks that often appear in the waters of Miang Island. The presence of these giant creatures was intended to be introduced as a new icon of East Kalimantan marine tourism in addition to the Talisayan area.
However, weather factors became the main obstacle. Strong winds and high waves forced the team to change plans for safety reasons. The location was finally moved to Karang Latohan, which has an equally enchanting underwater view with various types of fish and healthy coral reefs.
“Our initial plan was to hoist the flag underwater with whale sharks in their habitat area. But the situation did not allow it, the wind was very strong and the waves were high,” explained Faisal.
Although the diving depth was adjusted from the initial plan of 10 metres to a range of 5-8 metres, the ceremony still proceeded successfully.
The atmosphere of the underwater ceremony left a deep impression. Without the marching steps of troops, the divers paid their respects amidst the blue sea and underwater currents. After the core procession, the activity continued with a diving convoy parade while carrying the Red and White flag.
For the East Kalimantan Provincial Government, the 17 August momentum is the right time to unite the message of nationalism with efforts to recover the economy through the tourism sector. Miang Island was deliberately chosen so that this destination would become better known to both domestic and international tourists.
“We want to promote water tourism on Miang Island. It is beautiful and good. We also want to convey that Miang Island has whale sharks, which have so far been more commonly known in Talisayan,” concluded Faisal.
It is hoped that this activity will have a long-term impact on the welfare of local communities who live side by side with the marine wealth of Miang Island.