Internasional | Rabu, 27/05/2009 06:51 WIB

WEST SUMATRA HAS 39 WORLD CLASS DIVING SPOTS

Padang, W Sumatra, May 27 (ANTARA) - The sea waters of West Sumatra have the potential to be developed into open air diving tourism, because the sea waters of the province has at least 39 world class diving spots.
The conclusion was made after diving in those spots, and comparing them with other world class diving spots in other regions and countries, Indrawadi, a diving organizer of the Fishery and Marine Faculty of Bung Hatta University, said here on Tuesday.
According to him, the 39 diving spots were located in the sea waters of seven districts and cities including Padang, Pesisir Selatan and Padang Pariaman.
Of the 39 diving spots, five are 10 miles off the West Sumatra coast or a 30 minute trip by boat.
The five spots are Gosong sea waters of Padang City, about 11 miles from Padang beach which has a beautiful panorama with coral reefs and divers can watch turtles travelling to an isolated islands to lay eggs.
The second spot is located in the waters of Pulau Air, Padang City where a Dutch sunken shipwreck have been covered, and various coral reefs can be seen from the surface of the sea.
In the location, divers often see a group of big sharks which even attacked people, especially divers.
The third location is in the water of Pulau Pieh, Padang Pariaman district which has a steep wall under the sea which are grown by coral reefs similar to that in Bunaken of North Sulawesi.
The fourth spot is in the waters of Pulau Marak, Pesisir Selatan district which has a huge steep wall with beautiful coral reefs growing on the wall.
The fifth spot is in the waters of Pandan island, Padang City, which has a beautiful panorama and colorful coral reefs.***5***
(E002/A/H-NG/B003).
(T.SYS/A/E002/B003)