The best way to get to Pulau Weh Island for Europeans or Americans is to fly to Kuala Lumpur Malaysiaâs capital and then continue to Banda Aceh Malaysiaâs capital. the Indonesian province of Aceh, which is about 32 km from the island of Pulau Weh, your final destination. You can get to the island by fast ferry or slow ferry. Short versionFly to Kuala there, fly to Banda one of two ferry options to get to Weh Island. Travel time ~45 minutes Pricing~ IDR for economy,~ IDR for the executive. Departures Banda Aceh to Pulau Weh at 800 1000 and 400 Pulau Weh in Banda Aceh at 800 230 and 500 Travel time ~90 minutesPricing~ IDR for economy,~ IDR for the Aceh to Pulau Wehat 730 1030 and 230 Weh in Banda Acehat 800 1030 and 230 Ferries only depart twice a day in each direction. So be sure to arrive on time to avoid waiting for the next departure, which may be the next day..
Bothfast and slow ferries leave from the same ferry terminal in Banda Aceh. Fast boats leave on a regular base, takes 30 min. to get to Pulau Weh, price 85 000/6,5$. Slow ferry (carries cargo and passengers) leaves twice a day at 8.30 am and 10.00 am, takes about 2 hours, price 25 000/2$$.
Spend at least one day in each of these beachesThere are many beaches around the island, however these three are the most accessible ones on the western part of the island. They are all 5-10 minutes' ride from each other by BeachLong BeachIboih BeachEach of them has a different vibe and different activities along with good quality accommodation and places to eat. Long Beach is the most relaxed and secluded. Gapang Beach is also quite laidback with some buzz related to the diving centres. Iboih Beach is the place where everything happens - and itâs especially dynamic in the late afternoon and evening. Reach Pulau Wehâs Kilometer Zero MonumentKilometer Zero is the point where the imaginary equatorial line passes and has some stunning views of the island. There is a platform where you can climb up to take pictures of the 360-degree you ride your scooter down the road from the aforementioned beaches to the Kilometer Zero viewpoint, you will enjoy some of the most breathtaking views on the island. Along the way, if you see scooters parked on the edge of the forest stretching out to the sea and there is a path, walk along it, in 10 minutes you will arrive at Sunset Beach, a secret beach from where you can enjoy a stunning sunset. You will also find paths leading to coves to explore with mask and snorkelling on Pulau Weh IslandPulau Wehâs snorkelling is second only to Pulau Wehâs diving. Take your mask and fins to Iboih Beach and get in the water. If you feel adventurous, snorkel your way Iboih Beach to the tiny Rubiah Island more on that below. You can snorkel all around the tranquil Rubiah Island and I even spotted an octopus there! Other great snorkelling spots are the rocky bays right below the islandâs viewpoint see the previous paragraph, and the bay of the Stone Park cabins, on the way from Iboih Beach to Long Beach. You can also snorkel in front of Long Beach and Gapang Beach of remember that there might be some dangerous fish in the water, including the stonefish and the lionfish. For your own safety, use your water shoes or fins. Itâs good practice to avoid touching the reef and the rocks underwater. Experience some of the best dives in the world at Pulau WehIf you love diving, Pulau Weh is the perfect place to stay. The cost of single dives here is budget-friendly compared to many other places in Asia, and there are so many exceptional dive sites. Many diving enthusiasts come here to obtain their diving certifications or to complete the divemaster course. This is the ideal destination to learn how to dive in a variety of currents. Due to the currents, you may want to consider diving with a local divemaster if youâre not a very experienced you're underwater, be ready to spot fan corals, reef sharks, turtles, rays, red lionfishes, dolphins, mantas, stone fishes, and much more. Diving in Pulau Weh remains one of my top underwater experiences, together with the dive in Apo Reef in the bat-watching at Pulau Wehâs Secret Beach at sunset Secret Beach in Weh Island is a stretch of white sand with a few trees for shade, and itâs surrounded by rocks. There are no shops or houses down there; itâs all wilderness. The beach is scattered with white rocks of various shapes - thousands of fossils and corals brought onshore by the tsunami of 2004. Secret Beach is magnificent at night too, when you can gaze at the starry sky and observe hundreds of big hermit crabs crawling on the sand in search of the perfect rock to rest upon. You can also spot huge bats in the sky over your head, totally uninterested in you, but beautiful and graceful, playing in the reach the Secret Beach also known as Sunset Beach, you need to find a path between the bushes, on the right side of the road going from Long Beach to the islandâs viewpoint. Itâs easy to spot the beginning of the trail as sunset approaches, locals leave their motorbikes on the side of the road and go down to enjoy the mystical colours of the landscape. It takes 10 minutes to hike down from the main road to Secret Connect ExperienceVisit Pulau Wehs town and marketA 30-minute ride with stunning views of the sea and the coast, the road connecting Iboih Beach to downtown Sabang is a little adventure by itself. The road crosses jungles with majestic trees, and at one big turn, youâll meet the local monkeys waiting for the fruit to snack on - or to steal! I would never stop there, they come too close and are aggressive! In fact, Weh Islandâs monkeys are more aggressive than the ones you meet in other places in Indonesia, like the Monkey Forest in Ubud. On the way to downtown Sabang, you'll find locals selling fruit, several small restaurants that you might want to stop and check out, and a few mosques. In Sabang itself, you'll find a fruit market with all the papaya and the fish that youâll ever need to be happy. The town/market vibe will please you for sure, after a few days spent on the beach. It's also a great opportunity to try the local sugary street-food dessert, âmartabakâ.Go shoppingIndonesia is famous for the production of colourful textiles painted with the batik technique. In the small shops of Iboih Beach and Gapang Beach one can find beautiful beach towels and cotton clothes brightly coloured with this is also easy to find jewellery such as bracelets and necklaces made from carved and painted wood, fabrics, shells, stones, and beads. Hike to Pulau Weh Islandâs secluded pool and waterfallYouâll spot the sign for the waterfall large and handwritten about halfway between Iboih beach and Sabang downtown. The path to the waterfall is on the right side of the road, exactly where it crosses a creek. It's about a 20-minute hike and easy enough that you can do it wearing sandals. When you reach the end of the path, the small and beautiful waterfall creates a private tip Pulau Weh has plenty of wildlife, including different kinds of big monitor lizards. Itâs always wise to be out of the jungle before sunset...Swim to Rubia IslandAnother solo traveler and I were having breakfast time sitting on the porch at Norma's bungalows and enjoying juicy papaya. We were curious about the tiny, picturesque island just in front of us, opposite the Iboih Beach. I'm not the bravest when it comes to swimming in deep water... unless I'm diving! But that morning I challenged myself and had the most satisfying swim of my life so far!It took us 20 minutes with fins and mask to get to Rubia, crossing the channel that separates the two shores, at regular speed, not too fast, not too slow. It was the best morning exercise. Once we had gotten to Rubia, we explored the islet and said hi to the people at the only restaurant. They recommended snorkelling around the rocks at the back of the island, and we spotted an octopus! We were the only two travellers on the little island. It felt really special. This is only for fit swimmers that don't mind swimming for half an hour, otherwise you can also hire a boat. It must be incredible at sunset and night!Travel Connect ExperienceSpend an evening at Iboih BeachIboih beach is the hub of the local nightlife hey, nothing too loud or crazy here on this tranquil Muslim island!!. Cafes and restaurants and a few souvenir shops. Itâs easy to connect with the locals and other visitors here. There are also dive shops and small markets, ATMs, and all you need to feel âsocialâ. Iâll share what my favourite places on Iboih Beach are in a and make new friends I canât say it too many times itâs impossible to feel lonely on Pulau Weh! The friendliness of the locals and the sense of community that can develop are really something to base your trip on. If you need some ideas on where/how to make friends on Pulau Weh here are a fewtake a snorkeling trip with a dive shopeat dinner at Normaâs at Iboih Beachvisit Monster Divers in Gapang Beach spend the afternoon at the Olala in Iboih Connect ExperienceTravel Connect Experience Gettingto Weh Island The island has sole access through ferries operating between Ulee Lheu Port in Banda Aceh and Balohan Port in Weh Island. Banda Aceh itself has daily direct flights from Medan, Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur. Since Banda Aceh airport is located far from the Ulee Lheu Port, taxi fare is quite high.Check out our complete guide to diving Pulau Weh â from transport, accommodation & food to snorkelling & diving, find out everything you need to know about staying on this backpacker beaches are crystal clear aqua blue but donât expect luxury at Pulau Weh â this is well-trodden backpacker 2 months of exploring temples, visiting villages & hiking the best volcanoes in Indonesia, we here at DIY Travel HQ were ready to celebrate the end of our trip with a few relaxing days of island bliss.* Donât forget to purchase travel insurance before any trip to Indonesia. Weâve been using World Nomads for over 10 years. Itâs the best-value provider weâve found but there are other important things to consider. Check out our post and find out which of our claims were successful or out on Pulau Weh like this Undercover fishWhat we envisioned of diving in Pulau Weh was a lot different from long & torturous journey to get there probably left us a delirious & overly checking out the things to do in Bukittinggi, it only took a total of 1,170km & 47 hours to reach the Banda Aceh ferry terminal⊠more on that in the transport section further down if youâd like to try this overland nightmare!We recommend Lonely Planetâs Indonesia Travel Guide to help you plan your across to Rubiah Island, the best spot for snorkellingHow to Get to Pulau Weh IboihPulau Weh is a little island off the very top tip of Sumatra, a 1 to hour ferry ride away from Banda Aceh, depending on if you choose to travel by fast or slow you disembark, your main destination options are the beach villages of Iboih or Gapang â backpackers head to Iboih, glampackers to choice was a no-brainer for us DIY travel cheapies Iboih it was & of course it had to be one final transport ride bemos & becaks on Pulau Weh are a total rip-off again, see the transport section but thatâs island prices for took a becak to Iboih & the jungle & ocean scenery was awesome! Now we were really looking forward to diving Pulau Weh!The driver was also happy to stop at this particular lookout spotIsland viewpoints donât get much better than this!Riding in the becak was also super fun!Forget the bemos â bargain hard & grab a becak from the ferry terminal to Iboih for 60,000 IDRThe becak drops you off at the start of Iboih village â itâs a cramped, busy space of cars, restaurants & souvenir becak will drop you off here, at the start of Iboih villagePulau Weh AccommodationHead onwards & upwards to start your Pulau Weh accommodation are a mix of budget & really budget places, ending with the most comfortable/expensive bungalows at Yuliaâs at the very end of the path â find about more about accommodation later in the first impressions of Pulau Weh were far away from the tourist beaches of Kuta & Nusa Lembongan in Bali and the Gili Islands in Lombok, we were expecting empty, sandy beaches & cute beachfront shacks. Instead, Iboih was a hot jungle accommodations were spaced apart & only 100m from the water â this would be awesome if you could jump straight into the water but the village is built-up & THERE IS NO SAND!So thereâs nowhere you can really swim or even relax by the waterâŠThereâs no real beach on Iboih but the views are niceWhat to Expect on Pulau WehBeing in the jungle, there are also trees, roots, leaves scattered everywhere, along with humidity & not all so bad, not at all, just very different from what we expected â these are the good pointsThe water is clear, calm & blue, with good conditions for snorkeling & diving Pulau WehThe local people are friendly & unobtrusive. No-one is pushy & trying to sell you things all the time, like almost everywhere else in IndonesiaItâs a Muslim village & there are signs up to cover-up when you go into the main âtownâ. Away from this small area & around your accommodation, itâs okay to walk around in beach gearPulau Weh accommodation & food is inexpensive & good valueExcellent snorkelling & diving on Pulau WehItâs busy on the weekends with local tourists & Singaporeans apparently but low-key, quiet & relaxed during the stayed for 3 days & while it didnât quite win us over, we came to accept & acknowledge its appeal, especially in regards to diving Pulau up & down the same path everyday, eating more or less the same food at the same restaurants⊠this kind of small-knit community living & routine is what many backpackers youâve been on the road for awhile & are looking for a cheap, rustic, village vibe coastal spot, Iboih on Pulau Weh could be your type of beach food stalls on Iboih beachThings to do on Pulau WehKilometer 0Kilometer 0 is the most Northerly point of Indonesia, about a 90min walk from Iboih could also get there by renting a motorbike for the day & riding around the island. Kilometer 0 is marked by a big sign â donât forget to do as the locals do & snap a selfie!Kilometer 0 â weâll spare you the selfie versionLong BeachThe best spot for swimming on the island is at Long Beach, a 4km walk north of Iboih â again, you could visit by renting a an easy walk though & good exercise after a few days beach bumming. Along the way youâll pass a durian farm 1km in from the main road which you may be able to there are fancy resorts & luxury accommodation. Thereâs also a famed Italian restaurant named âBixio CafĂ©â, right on the beach but when we were there in the low season, it was beach is nice, walk out onto the jetty & jump in from there â if you dare to brave the jellyfish. When we were there, there were just too many of them â DIY Travel HQ 0, Jellyifish of jellyfish among gorgonian fans during our dive in Batee Tokong too!Diving Pulau WehSituated at the most Northerly point in Indonesia, where the Indian Ocean meets the Andaman Sea, Pulau Weh promises world-class diving â & little-known & off the beaten track so the waters remain quite pristine & unspoiled, even in spite of the Boxing Day Tsunami in fish & friends under the seaOn Iboih, there are 2 main dive companiesRubiah Tirta DiversRubiah Tirta were the 1st dive operators on Pulau Weh. They have a huge dive shop of the seafront, which always seemed to be busy â itâs the diving hub of signed up for a couple of dives with them the day before, but on the morning, we found them extremely names werenât on any lists & everyone seemed to be running around with their heads cut off. The wetsuits we were given were old, worn & had holes in they were like this above water, what would they be like under water? Iâm sure it wouldâve been fine but we had absolutely no confidence in them & quickly cancelled our Tirta dive centreIboih Dive CenterWe then moved on to Iboih Dive Center & came across a totally different ambiance â it was quiet & were a lot of locals/workers around the shop but no we chatted with the dive master & found him very experienced, knowledgeable & trustworthy. We discussed the dive sites we were interested in & arranged a dive there on the Dive Center is new on the diving Pulau Weh scene so all their equipment, including wetsuits, are new or in excellent Dive CentrePulau Weh Dive Sites Batee TokongHeading out on the water, it was just Erik & I, the dive master & the didnât go very far from Iboih beach to reach our site. 20 minutes by boat & we were at Batee Tokong, the most popular spot for diving Pulau Fish spotted on Batee Tokong diveBatee Tokong is known for its amazing scenery & rich marine life, especially moray descended down a shallow wall & immediately we saw many different types of moray around a giant gorgonian sea Eel SwimmingThis was a highlight of the dive along with seeing many varieties of trevallies, dartfishes & water was very warm, 29 degrees Celsius, & the visibility was around current was quite strong but Iâm a newbie & it was fine â however, I donât think I know any different after diving on Komodo Island straight after getting my PADI Open Water certification on Gili Air!Swimming with turtles!Fun Dives, Courses & Prices on IboihSingle dives are offered from 21-23 Euros or 320,000-340,000 more dives you do, the cheaper it Weh is also a popular place to take PADI dive courses. The PADI Open Water certification takes 3-4 days & generally includes 4-5 are the listed online prices for the PADI Open Water certificationRubiah Tirta 268 Euros / 400,000 IDRIboih Dive Center 250 Euros / 370,000 IDR â of course, we recommend Iboih Dive Center & the fact that itâs the cheaper option makes it even some reason, all dive prices are listed in Euros â perhaps Pulau Weh receives a lot of European divers? Payment is accepted in IDR, at the current dayâs exchange was easy to find at Batee TokongSnorkeling Pulau WehIf youâre not interested in diving Pulau Weh, the best spot for snorkeling is Rubiah Island, on the other side of Iboih may be able to swim across or you can rent a boat to take you there in less than 10mins for around 100,000 IDR / $ set rental is available from many shops for around 30,000 IDR / $ not Rubiah Island but snorkelling there should be just as good â seagrass fish at Batee TokongGood snorkeling can be found on Iboih beach itself, at the very end of the village, at Yuliaâs donât need to be a guest, just walk through & down to the rocks by the best snorkelling spot is at Yuliaâs BungalowsAccommodation on IboihFor a small place, thereâs a decent choice of budget Pulau Weh accommodation at Iboih you walk up from the village, youâll find the following places to stayErickâs Green House â wifi & nice common areaFatimahâs Bungalows â couldnât see any roomsMamamia â big treehouseOlala â nice waterfront bungalow w/ balconyOong Normaâs Place â big concrete hotel roomIboih Inn â n/aYuliaâs Bungalows â mid-range/expensiveStay at a Mamamia treehouse for 70,000 IDR with private bathroom & breakfastAll had their pros & cons but the best value we found was at Mamamiaâ had our own private tree house, a huge room with a hammock, bathroom & breakfast for 70,000 IDR / $ simple bed & mosquito net at MamamiaâsMama herself is loud, talkative & likes to refer to herself in the 3rd person⊠Sheâs always sitting in the dining hut in front of her place so sheâs gonna know all your tracks đRooms can be booked out on weekends but during the quieter week, or if you plan on an extended stay, you should be able to negotiate a pretty good big room with a hammock at MamamiaâsFood on IboihDeedeeâs is the best restaurant in town â it overlooks the water & thereâs good Deedeeâs, we tasted the following dishes, all of which were deliciousChicken Tortilla Wrap â 40,000 IDR / $ Spaghetti â 35,000 IDR / $ Guacamole â 28,000 IDR / $ Aceh â 17,000 IDR / $ Wrap â 30,000 IDR / $ Restaurant has the best food & views on the islandWe enjoyed a great communal dinner at Oongâs Normaâs for 25,000 IDR / $ There were about 10 of us, everyone was staying at Oongâs except us, but thereâs no problem in joining them for dinner, just let them know a few hours at Mamamiaâs is also great, for cheaper prices than Dee Deeâ vegetable chapatti at Mamamiaâs is absolutely delicious!How to Get to Pulau WehWe reached Pulau Weh from Bukittinggi â it was a long, rough road⊠hereâs how we did itBus from Bukittinggi to Medan â 185,00 IDR / $ hoursBus from Medan to Banda Aceh â 125,000 IDR / $ hoursBecak to Banda Aceh ferry terminal â 20,000 IDR / $ ferry to Pulau Weh â 25,000 IDR / $ + 15,000 IDR / $ island tax, hoursBecak to Iboih â 60,000 IDR / $ 40minsThe 40min becak ride from the ferry terminal to Iboih was scenic & lovelyHow to Get Out of Pulau WehWe took the slow ferry back to Banda Aceh â it cost 25,000 IDR / $ but I believe the tax was less. It took around hoursThe fast ferry option costs 80,000 IDR / $ & takes 1 spent half a day visiting the tsunami sites of Banda the evening, we took a semi-deluxe bus the only option at the time from Banda Aceh to Medan â it cost 135,000 IDR / $ & took 12 slow ferry from Banda Aceh to Pulau WehDid you enjoy reading Diving Pulau Weh on a Backpackerâs Budget?Pin it and help others find it too!*** The Final Word Donât expect luxury when diving Pulau Weh, which is best suited to diving backpackers ***Do you think Pulau Weh is overrated?Visited in November 2015Disclaimer This post contains affiliate links which means that we receive a small commission if you click on a link & purchase something that weâve recommended â at no extra cost to you. This helps us to keep our site running so we can continue to provide free content. Thank you for your support!
ï»żThedry season, and probably best diving, is from April to October. Getting there The jumping off point for trips to Pulau Weh is Banda Aceh, which can be reached by air from Medan on Sumatra. It is also now possible to fly to Banda Aceh from Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. From Penang in Malaysia, there is also a ferry to Medan. U bevindt zich hier Home / How to get there To get to the Island Weh you have to take the ferry from the ferry harbour of Banda AcehUlee lheu There are several ways to travel to Banda Aceh. You can take a bus from the West or East Coast, or by air. You can fly daily from Medan several airlines. You can fly from Penang on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays Firefly of arriving from Kuala Lumpur Air Asia, Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Regardless from where you arrive, there is only one way to go to Pulau Weh by boat! Two times a day a ferry goes back and forth to Pulau Weh/Sabang, leaving from the harbour Ulee Lheu on the mainland to the harbour Balohan of the island. There are fast ferries, and a slower boat. The fast ferry takes 45 minutes, the slow boot 2 hours. If you bring your own car make sure you check the timetable! Always check before if the boat is really leaving! When you set foot on the harbor of Pulau Weh, several taxis and bus drivers will aproach you, offering you their services. That's the way things go in Asia! All of these drivers are trustworthy, you can make your own bargain. The taxi drive to our guesthouse will cost around rupiah. Try to share a taxi, with 4 persons it then will cost till rph a person A good alternative is that you contact us and we will arrange for you your transport from Balohan to Sirui. Show bigger map Divingcost about $25 per dive, including gear depending on dive center, dive site and how many dives you do. Best season for Diving Pulau Weh May to September it is dry season, comfortable temperature, rare rainfalls, cleaner water and better visibility for diving and snorkeling. The Marine Life around Pulau Weh Tiny Pulau Weh Weh Island sits just off the northwestern tip of Sumatra, across the bay from Banda Aceh, which suffered great damage in the earthquake and subsequent tsunami of 2004. Although this small island does still bear some scars from the disaster, there is still much to offer travelers. Stop first at Kilometer Zero, the furthest west point of Indonesia and where this country begins. And the scuba diving in Pulau Weh means it really is a true paradise for divers. Despite its size, there are over 30 dive centers, which means youâll have no trouble finding the right one for you. Thereâs plenty to do topside as well, with waterfalls, volcanoes, idyllic beaches and coastlines to explore, along with picturesque, small villages and nature reserves. If youâre looking for a lesser-known diving destination for your next vacation, Pulau Weh could be just the right fit. How to get there Until a few years ago, getting to Pulau Weh was not easy. It was quite isolated with little to no connection to the mainland. Nowadays, however, itâs easy to catch a flight to Banda Aceh from some of the surrounding countries and cities including Kuala Lumpur Air Asia, Jakarta Lion Air and Penang Firefly. Once you arrive in Banda Aceh, you can take a ferry to Pulau Weh. Ferries connect twice a day, so keep this in mind when booking a flight to Banda Aceh. Once you get to Pulau Weh, Iboih Beach is a great place to stay. There are a number of restaurants with lots of western and local choices. Donât forget to bring cash â there are no ATMs on Iboih Beach. Some of the dive centers accept cards, but call or email in advance and check directly with them. How is the diving in Pulau Weh? There is a whole range of diving on Pulau Weh to suit all levels of diver. Technical divers can try the Sophie Rickmers This deep dive dive requires decompression and deep training. Advanced divers, who enjoy fast-moving currents should check out Shark Plateau. If youâre looking for something a slower-paced and want to get up-close-and-personal with the marine life, then there is plenty for you to see as well. The waters surrounding Pulau Weh are teeming with marine life, large and small. When is the best time for diving in Pulau Weh? If youâre looking for maximum visibility and a huge quantity of marine life, the best time to dive in Pulau Weh is during the dry season from April through October. Dive sites are brimming with life during this time. If you travel to Pulau Weh during the wet season, remember that the waters can be extremely choppy, with some dive centers stopping their trips around this time as it can get quite dangerous. Here are our top picks for the best dive sites in Pulau Weh. The Canyon This spectacular dive site is one of the top three in Pulau Weh. It is located at the northeastern point of the island and is the closest to Kilometer Zero. Here youâll find large, sandy patches of underwater landscape and a deep wall, covered in gorgonians that drop to around 197 feet 60 m below. At the start of the wall, youâll find a cave/small overhang. As you travel the east, youâll reach two large rock formations at 33 to 98 feet depth 10 to 30 m, separated by two canyon channels. Floating through the channels is a lovely experience and provides much-needed relief from the currents and a chance to slowly observe marine life. The Canyon prominently features dogtooth tuna, trevally, jackfish, unicornfish and barracuda. It is quite common to see a number of sharks as well. When looking at the wall, keep an eye out for porcelain crab, starry puffers, scorpionfish and titan triggerfish. This dive site is best for advanced divers due to the strong currents. Underwater Volcano Divers usually visit the Underwater Volcano site alongside another site called the Sabang Wreck. Located on the eastern side of the island, the waters here are unusually warm due to the high thermal activity and rising bubbles. Marine life that enjoys the warm water, such as soft-shell crabs, is common at this site. This dive site can be on Underwater Volcano is a great site for all levels of diver. Sabang Wreck The Sabang Wreck is a tugboat lying close to the shoreline. This is the perfect choice for a second dive after visiting Underwater Volcano. Youâll find a huge variety of healthy hard and soft corals attached to the wreck, as well as a picturesque reef located nearby. This dive is perfect for newbies but all divers will enjoy it. Sophie Rickmers The Sophie Rickmers is an impressive wreck dive, stretching for approximately 440 feet 134 m in a sheltered bay away from strong currents. The cargo ship was one of five confiscated by the Dutch in May of 1940, but the German crew scuttled the vessel so as to keep it from Dutch control. This decompression dive requires a lot of experience. Open-water divers can dive this wreck, however they must have a minimum of 100-plus logged dives and be familiar with decompression procedures. The decks are located at 148 feet 45 m and the bow is at 180 feet 55 m. Limbo Gapang This great dive site is located to the east of Underwater Volcano. This shore dive can range anywhere from a shallow dive to a deep dive, depending on the dive operator you choose. Youâll never see the same thing twice at Limbo Gapang, which is teeming with marine life. If youâre planning on doing a diving courses while visiting Pulau Weh, then this is the perfect spot. Easy conditions also make for a fantastic night dive. Tropical fish abound here, so make sure to bring an underwater camera. Photos and article by guest author Torben Lonne, Editor-in-Chief at Torben Lonne / About Author Torben Lonne is a scuba instructor, dad and an ocean lover. He runs where heâs sharing his thoughts, writing about diving and are trying to make a positive difference for the environment. He says âOne of my biggest fears is that I'll not be able to show my kids what diving really is because there'll be nothing left for them to see." PulauWeh is small island, also known as Pulau Sabang, that is just a 1-hour express ferry ride from Banda Aceh, off Sumatra. So getting to Pulau Weh is easily accessible from the main land. Surrounding the island is the beautiful Andaman Sea, with its 50 shades of blue and incredible underwater life. 1. Snorkel or Dive at an Underwater VolcanoSure, you can snorkel or dive in many spots around Pulau Weh, but have you REALLY lived life if you havenât explored an active underwater volcano? Weâll let you Pria Laot can be found about halfway between Iboih and the main town of Sabang. Not heavily signposted when we visited, anyway keep your eyes peeled for small signs. You donât need to head far offshore to find the area just follow your nose towards the sulphurous scent of rotten eggs. Youâll see bubbles rising from the cracks in the coral and experience the increasing warmth of the water coming from the depths of the coral here is in pretty good nick, with a variety of colours and plenty of marine life, although itâs not quite as abundant as youâll find over at Rubiah was a nice spot to snorkel, with no other people there when we visited. Although I was constantly paranoid about a vent opening up and boiling me alive in the ocean â but thatâs just meâŠAt our last visit, there were no facilities here, so youâll need to come prepared and bring your own snorkeling gear along â or join a dive tour with one of the many dive centers based in Iboih. This is one of the most unforgettable things to do in Pulau Visit the Northernmost Point of IndonesiaIf youâre staying on Pulau Weh, itâd almost be rude not to pay a pilgrimage to Kilometer Nol, the âbeginningâ of Indonesia. Marked with an impressive monument, you can get the obligatory selfie at the top of this island youâre staying at Iboih, itâs a pleasant journey up some picturesque coastline to get there. From other areas like Pantai Sumur Tiga, itâs a bit more of a trek, but worth it as part of a day trip exploring the this is one of the most popular thing to do in Pulau Weh, there are plenty of souvenir shops and places selling snack food, but thereâs really not a heck of a lot else. If you make the journey, carry on past the monument down the hill to find a boardwalk leading through some coastal forest which takes you to some sweet coastal Walk on a Volcano â Without the Trekking!Perfect for the lazy adventurer, the Jaboi Geothermal Spot lets you walk around an active volcano â without having to hike up any mountains. Thereâs green and yellow boiling streams, steaming, sulphorous vents, and that delightful rotten egg aroma as arid environment dotted with dead and burned trees makes for an otherworldly landscape, and the journey there through forest is a beautiful to the southwest of the island to find this stinky Explore Rubiah IslandThis is one of the prime snorkelling and diving spots in Pulau Weh. Just a short boat trip weâre talking five minutes from Iboih brings you to this small island surrounded by coral gardens and teeming with multicoloured is one of the busiest spots in all of Pulau Weh, often packed with locals and people learning to dive. Itâs hard to move around without bumping heads with another if you skip the main area where the boats drop you off and take a short walk across the centre of the island to the other side, youâll find an almost deserted bay with equally spectacular marine life that you wonât have to share with the if youâre not into water activities, take a day trip to Rubiah. Not many people bother to explore the rest of this island, but itâs totally worth doing. Follow the hidden, overgrown paths that wind along the coastline and youâll discover abandoned bunkers from the war days, gorgeous bush, and lots of places to snap photos of that unbelievably clear, turquoise Bathe Under a WaterfallSumatra has no shortage of waterfalls, and Air Terjun Pria Laot is Pulau Wehâs most inland from Pantai Pria Laot pantai means beach â where the underwater volcano is â to find it; there will be plenty of signs guiding the have to ditch your scooter to head to the waterfall on foot, but itâs an easy 20 minute stroll along the river and through some lush forested areas. You need to cross over the stream in a few spots, so if you have mobility issues, bear this in one of the more famous things to do in Pulau Weh, you may not have this spot to yourself, but it is seldom crowded. Thereâs a sizeable pool underneath to cool off of the coolest things we saw when heading to the waterfall was an enormous flock of flying foxes fruit bats in the trees on the way. I think we spent more time watching them than we did at the actual waterfall â but it depends on what floats your boat!6. Hit a Beach.. or Five or SixObvs, the key attraction of heading to a tropical island is the chance to sit on a beach and soak up the sun. And there are plenty of places to do just that in Pulau Beach isnât so well set up for this, with only a tiny sandy area at the mouth of the Beach is more suitable, with a sweet little bay dotted with restaurants and Sumur Tiga lies on the other side of the island. Itâs the picture-perfect stretch of white sand â the longest on Pulau Weh. Thereâs very little to do over this side other than stay in one of the fantastic accommodations we love Freddieâs and chill out under the palm finding hidden bays is top of your list of things to do in Pulau Weh, just hire a scooter and go! The roads are good, thereâs no crazy traffic, and plenty to discover. We found a completely deserted white sand beach without a single soul not far from Iboih where my bag â with mobile phone and all â got stolen by a monkey when we werenât looking â but thatâs a story for another day.Weâre not going to spill all the secrets here okay, maybe you can twist our arms if you send us an email, but seriously â just hit the road and explore. It makes the discoveries so much more to Get to Pulau WehThere is an airport on the island, with flights arriving and departing twice a week. If you can fit your schedule around the flights, this is the most straightforward and reliable way to get fly into Banda Aceh airport, which supports both domestic and international flights. From there, grab a becak motorcycle taxi to the port and jump on either the slow or fast ferry across. If you have a tight schedule, be aware that if the seas are bad, the boats wonât go and you may be trapped on the island; this has happened to me two out of the three times Iâve visited!Of course you can drive from elsewhere in Sumatra to Banda Aceh. There are overnight buses that are relatively comfortable, or hire a driver. Just remember itâs going to be a rather long journey, particularly if you are coming from You Should Know About Pulau WehPulau Weh is part of the Aceh province â a predominantly Muslim area. As such, youâll need to dress and behave appropriately. Thereâs nothing to be afraid of, but as a responsible tourist, you should always respect the culture of the places you beaches on the island will not allow bikinis â the signage indicates this â and sometimes even men going topless is discouraged. Swim in shorts and a t-shirt where possible, or check with your accommodation; the beach in front of Freddieâs is one of the exceptions we know is hard to come by; there are no corner shops selling Bintangs here! Foreigners can purchase and consume wine and beer at a few places here and there, but should do so discreetly.| áŃá« á ĐșĐ» ŐČ | á„ĐŸÏĐŸ ŃΔááŐ¶ĐŸá©Ö λ ÖÎŒĐŸážÎž |
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