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Chinese Town

3.6 — based on 20 community signals
4.1 12 species 16 contributors

Chinese Town is a year-round dive destination in Indonesia with 12 recorded species and active community documentation.

⭐ Best for intermediate divers.

updated 4 months ago
BleachingRiskPhotoFriendly

At a glance

Activity
dive

Map

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Chinese Town location map © Google · Map data © Google, contributors
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Conditions today

Conditions

Open-Meteo
Wind
4.1 kn
Wave
0.44 m
Water
29.4°C
N E S W
Wind direction (7d)
Primary: ENE (48%)
Now: SSE (152°)
Tide (7 days)
range: 1.08m

Next: Low at 01:00 (+0.46m)

+1.1 m0 m+0.0 m
▼ 01:00 · +0.46m ▲ 05:00 · +0.64m ▼ 12:00 · +0m ▲ 20:00 · +0.78m
Sat 19Sun 20Mon 21Tue 22Wed 23Thu 24Fri 25
UV8.65 · very high Air PM2.59 · good 05:44 17:50
Day Wind Wave UV Rain
09-19 9.4 0.56 9 1mm
09-20 8 0.52 9 1mm
09-21 8.7 0.38 9 6mm
09-22 9 0.42 9 1mm
09-23 9.2 0.5 9 4mm
09-24 7.8 0.56 9 3mm
09-25 5.7 0.34 9 1mm
⚠ Coral bleaching: Warning — heat stress
DHW: 0.6°C-weeks · NOAA Coral Reef Watch

About this spot

Chinese Town sits in Indonesia as a dive spot welcoming visitors throughout the year. The site has attracted enough diver interest to generate 12 documented species observations and 3 community videos, signaling a location worth exploring for those researching Indonesian dive options. The area falls outside Marine Protected Area status, which can affect local conservation efforts and regulations. Divers should confirm current access requirements and any local guidelines before planning a trip. Specific details on depth, visibility, water temperature, and difficulty remain unreported in available records. This makes pre-dive research and communication with local operators essential. The coral bleaching warning flag suggests monitoring current conditions before committing to travel. Community video documentation and species records indicate active diver participation. Use these resources to assess site conditions, marine life encounters, and current underwater landscape before booking.

📖 Guide: Diving in Indonesia: 323 Sites, Mantas to Micro-critters

Trip essentials

Everything you need before you pack — checklist, sun, logistics.

Trip checklist

  • 🛂 Visa-free or visa-on-arrival
  • 📜 C-card + dive insurance (DAN)
  • 📔 Dive logbook
  • 🧴 Reef-safe sunscreen SPF 50+
  • 🔌 Plug type C/F · 230V adapter
  • 💊 Seasickness meds + ear drops
  • 📱 Offline maps + emergency contact

Quick facts

  • 🌓 Moon First quarter · 47%
  • GPS
Sustainability disclosures
🌍 CO2 footprint LHR ↔ 12174km · ~2800kg · €50

From your departure country

United States
Origin score: 54/100
  • Visa: Visa on arrival · 30 days max
  • Flight: 12h · direct
  • Jet-lag: 12h east · 8 days recovery

FAQ

When is the best time to dive Chinese Town?

Chinese Town operates year-round, so dive timing can flex with your schedule. Check recent community videos and local reports closer to your travel dates to confirm current conditions and sea state.

What depth and difficulty level is Chinese Town?

Specific depth and difficulty ratings are not documented in available records. Contact local dive operators in Indonesia for detailed briefings on site requirements and skill recommendations before diving.

What marine life can I expect to see?

Twelve species have been documented at Chinese Town. Review the species observation records and community videos to see what divers have encountered, but bring binoculars and a camera for your own discoveries.

Do I need permits or certifications to dive here?

Chinese Town is not within a Marine Protected Area, but local Indonesian regulations may still apply. Verify entry requirements and any mandatory certifications with operators or local authorities before your trip.

Recently spotted by divers

iNaturalist →

See this spot in action

YouTube videos — click to play.

The tribe that evolved to stay underwater longer – BBC REEL

BBC Global
💬 3 top comments
  • My family are of the same tribe, and I grew up watching my uncles dive for food. They would be diving for hours with only a homemade harpoon as a tool. My cousins and I would dive for sea urchins and hunt eels as a pastime but also to bring food to the table. When there wasn't enough money to buy food, the sea always provided it.

    @Kvmilla · 👍 3300
  • The mother and child moment while the boy is just playing in the water and mom is looking for food is such a beautiful scene 😢

    @Mimi-Me0ow · 👍 1400
  • 3:28 its crazy how she "pluck" her kitchen ingredients from the sea with casual "mom suit"😂

    @jonpaul3868 · 👍 608

‪Superhuman Filipino diver from the Badjao tribe ;BBC

Panda Classic TV
💬 3 top comments
  • Imagine being a diver with all the gear and this chaps suddenly appears walking on the bottom of the sea waving like he's on a morning stroll LOL😁

    @sean.5468 · 👍 3500
  • 2.5 mins inside water. Not still but moving, running, working! Amazing. A different person really.

    @Photogrammetrist1 · 👍 1600
  • Others called him superhuman. For him, it's just his way of living 😎

    @jaypeefernandez4462 · 👍 1100

Scuba Diving . Scuba Diver . Pulau Weh . Aceh . Indonesia . Sabang Beach . Underwater Volcano

Eizlan Yusof Channel
💬 2 top comments
  • Terbaik bang

    @kanofishing · 👍 1
  • Nice

    @homeworkpictureshq · 👍 1
wind peaks Dec-Jan-Feb, calmest Nov-Jun-May.

5-year monthly climate

60 samples
0 5 10 15 20 25 JFMAMJJASOND
p25–p75 range Median Wind (kn) Air (°C)
Visibility (month-by-month)
Best: May (100/100) Worst: Jan (0/100) Now: Sep (95/100) NOAA MODIS Aqua · 5y mean

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