BUNAKEN

Bunaken is part of the Bunaken National Marine Park, which has some of the highest levels of marine biodiversity in the world.[citation needed] Scuba diving attracts many visitors to the island. Bunaken is located at the north of the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia. It belongs administratively to the municipality of Manado.
The Bunaken National Marine Park was formally established in 1991 and is among the first of Indonesia's growing system of marine parks. The park covers a total surface area of 890.65 km², 97% of which is overlain by sparkling clear, warm tropical water. The remaining 3% of the park is terrestrial, including the five islands of Bunaken, Manado Tua, Mantehage, Nain and Siladen. Although each of these islands has a special character, it is the aquatic ecosystem that attracts most naturalists.
The waters of Bunaken National Marine Park are extremely deep (1566 m in Manado Bay), clear (up to 35-40 m visibility), refreshing in temperature (27 to 29 °C) Pick any of group of interest - corals, fish, echinoderms or sponges - and the number of families, genera or species is bound to be astonishingly high. For example, 7 of the 8 species of giant clams that occur in the world, occur in Bunaken. The park has around 70 genera of corals; compare this to a mere 10 in Hawaii. Although the exact number of fish species is unknown, it may be slightly higher than in the Philippines, where 2,500 species, or nearly 70% of all fish species known to the Indo-western Pacific, are found.

Oceanic currents may explain, in part, why Bunaken National Marine Park is such a treasure trove of biodiversity. Northeasternly currents generally sweep through the park but abundant counter currents and gyros related to lunar cycles are believed to be a trap for free swimming larvae. This is particularly true on the south side of the crescent-shaped Bunaken Island, lying in the heart of the park. A snorkler or diver in the vicinity of Lekuan or Fukui may spot over 33 species of butterfly fish and numerous types of groupers, damsels, wrasses and gobies. The gobies, smallish fish with bulging eyes and modified fins that allow them to attach to hard surfaces, are the most diverse but least known group of fish in the park.
Biologists believe that the abundance of hard corals is crucial in maintaining the high levels of diversity in the park. Hard corals are the architects of the reefs, without them, numerous marine organisms would be homeless and hungry. Many species of fish are closely associated with particular types of corals (folious, branching, massives, etc.) for shelter and egg-laying. Others, like the enormous Bumphead Parrotfish, Balbometopon muricatum, are "coralivores" and depend on hard corals for their sustenance. Bony mouth parts fused into an impressive "beak" allow these gregarious fish to crunch corals like roasted peanuts.
Some 20,000 people live on the natural resources of Bunaken National Marine Park. Although there are inevitable conflicts between resource protection and use by people, the Indonesian government is taking a fairly unusual and pragmatic approach to park management. The idea is to promote wise resource use while preventing overexploitation. Local communities, government officials, dive resort operators, local nature groups, tourists and scientists have played an active role in developing exclusive zones for diving, wood collection, fishing and other forms of utilization. Bunaken Marine Park has become an important example of how Sulawesi, and the rest of Indonesia, can work to protect its natural resources.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bunaken

KARIMUNJAWA ISLAND

A. Profile
A.1 IntroductionThe natural panorama, under water beauty, various sea organisms, mangrove forests, all are still be natural and pure, so that Karimunjawa now becoming a sea national park. The Karimunjawa islands is administratively part of Jepara regency, located approximately 45 miles northwest direction from Jepara city. Totally, this area covers 107,226 ha, with 100,105 ha is sea part, and the reminder is land. The average temperature in this area is about 26 until 30 degrees Celcius, with minimum temperature is 22 Celcius and maximum is 34 Celcius. The fascination of Karimunjawa is its flora and fauna. It can be seen from five species of flora ecosystem, those are; coral reef ecosystem, forest of mangrove, coastal forest, field-ponder and lowland forest. On the other side, there are many kinds of fauna, like long tail monkey, deer, and also aquatic fauna which is consisting of 242 decorative fish types and 133 kinds of aquatic biota and there are also 2 types of turtles which live in National Park ecosystem of Karimunjawa islands.

A.2 Nyamplungan LegendAccording to folklore, the word Karimun comes from 2 words that is "kremun-kremun" means not so clear. The legend of Karimun is related to Sunan Nyamplungan story. Sunan Nyamplungan was the name Sunan Muria's son. His name was Amir Hasan. He was very spoiled by his mother, and because of it, he tended to be naughty. By his father, he was entrusted to his uncle, Sunan Kudus.After some time being under Sunan Kudus's upbringing, he became an obedient young man. The he was sent back to his parent. But he became naughty again here. So Sunan Muria asked him to go somewhere which was seen "kremun-kremun" (not so clear) from the top of Muria mountain. At last, he decided to go to the place where his father asked. He was accompanied by two guards and two seeds of Nyamplung fruit with him. He also brought mustaka (part of the top of mosque) which is now still residing in complex of Sunan Nyamplungan grave. The place where Amir Hasan resided was crowded by Nyamplung tree, and called as dukuh Nyamplung.

A.3 Local CommunityThe people who lived in Karimunjawa come from some tribes having a unique traditional house. The tribes lived in Karimunjawa are Java, Bugis Makassar, and Madura. Java tribe community dominantly lived in dukuh Karimun, dukuh Legon Lele, dukuh Nyamplungan, and dukuh Mrican. Almost of them are farmers and doing some activities in home industry scope, like brick and coconut oil. Bugis Makassar tribe community dominantly lived in Kemujan island, dukuh Batu Lawang, dukuh Legon Gede, and dukuh Tlogo. This tribe is well known as good sailormans, so the dominant profession in this tribe is fisherman. People in this community are well known for their weaving sarong goods. Almost the same as Bugis Makassar, people in Madura tribe community dominantly are fishermans. Besides, they are good to make some foods, like dried-fish.

B. Tourism Facilities
B.1 Tourism InterestsWith its beautiful nature which relatively pure, Karimunjawa becomes an interested place that offering maritime tourism object and natural adventure. Besides, local community lived in Karimunjawa with their unique traditions and culture, bring some fascinations to this place. Maritime objects offer various tourism activities and water sports. Some are below.- DivingThis activity can be done in northern and western part of Karimunjawa island, eastern part Menjangan Besar island, around of Menjangan Kecil island, southern and western part of Geleang, western part of Bengkoang island, western part of Parang island, eastern part Kembar island, around of Katang island, northern and eastern part of Krakal Kecil island , and western part of Kumbang island.- SnorklingThis activity can be done in Menjangan Besar and Menjangan Kecil island, western part of Bengkoang island, around of Kembar island, and northern and eastern part of Krakal Kecil island.- FishingTourists can do this activity in around of Menjangan Besar and Menjangan Kecil island, Menyawakan island, Kemujan island, Parang island, around of Kembar island, and western part of Bengkoang island.- SwimmingLocations used by swimming activity are eastern and southern part of Karimunjawa island, southern and western part of Menjangan Kecil island, western of Tengah island, around of Parang island, Kembar island, and Kumbang island.- SunbathingAlmost all the coasts in Karimunjawa island have white sands with long coast line. This situation made a lot of Karimunjawa coasts are right places for sunbathing, watching the sunset, or sunrise.- Roaming the SeaFor anyone who can not swim and dive, using glass bottom boat can be a good reason to roam the sea in Karimunjawa. The tourists are able to see the under water scenery. It's really fantastic for whom like fishing, snorkling, and diving.- Watching Under Water AquariumMenjangan Besar island have a location where an under water aquarium resides. Here, the tourists can see beauty of aquatic faunas, the life of sharks, and others.
With its pure various vegetations and geological conditon, Karimunjawa is a challenge for natural adventure. Locations available for this activity are Karimunjawa island, Kemujan island, and Parang island. In Kemujan island, there is a location named Batu Lawang which giving the beauty of Karimunjawa island scenery to visitors. Besides of its nature, the local community also makes added value to this tourism objects. Various cultural attractions are available in Karimunjawa, such as reog (lumping horse), pencak silat, rebana, and Javanese gamelan (Javanese traditional music). Also available some attractions regularly held by local community, like turtles releasing ceremony, boats releasing ceremony, and khoul sunan Nyamplungan (1st Suro ritual). The Nyamplungan legend makes this place as a pilgrimage destination object.

B.2 SouvenirsTraveling without buying souvenirs is like having dinner without Brandy. That is the words we may hear from the tourists. Karimunjawa is full of souvenirs made by local society. Most of souvenirs are made from rareness wood, like Dewadaru wood, Setigi wood, and Kalimasada wood. You can find keris (Javanese weapon) and tasbih (prayer beads) in each island of Karimunjawa archipelago. For woodcrafts, below are places for ordering.- Al Badri Woodcraft Center, Legon Cikmas village- Labiki, Kapuran street, Karimunjawa island.

B.4 Supporting Facilities
B.4.1 Transportation Facilities
- SeaKarimunjawa can be reached from Semarang via Tanjung Mas harbor, and from Jepara via Kartini harbor.- From Semarang (Tanjung Mas harbor)KMC Kartini I, departure; Saturday, at 9.00 and Monday, at 7.00. - From Jepara (Kartini harbor)departure; Monday, at 10.00. If using KMP Muria,departure; Saturday, at 9.00 and Wednesday, at 9.00.And reversed route from Karimunjawa, - Sunday, at 14.00 and Tuesday, at 9.00. - If using KMP Muria,departure every Monday and Thursday, at 9.00.For detailed information, please contact addresses below.- KMC Kartini ITransportation and Telecomunication Department of Central Java ProvincePamularsih #28 Street, SemarangPhone (+62-24)7602952Fax (+62-24)7622536- KMP MuriaPT ASDP JeparaKolonel Sugiono #290 Street, JeparaPhone (+62-291)591048Tariffs (per 2006) are below.- Semarang-KarimunjawaBusiness Class, Rp 108,000.00Executive Class, Rp 128,000.00- Jepara-KarimunjawaKelas Business Class, Rp 63,000.00Executive Class, Rp 83,000.00- AirTourists who prefer to go by plane, they must leave from Ahmad Yani airport, Semarang. The journey takes around 30 minutes long. The plane is able to transport 2 - 8 passengers. The plane is chartered.B.4.2 Telecomunication FacilitiesPT Telkom as national telecomunication company in Indonesia has built telecomunication networks in Karimunjawa, so international telecommunication services are available.

Karimunjawa Islands: North Java, Indonesia

Finding new places in Indonesia that I have yet to visit is a real buzz. For instance, in yesterday's JP I read about the Karimunjawa islands and although I had spent some time in Semarang, I had never heard of them!.

From what I have read it seems to be a delightful place to visit albeit expensive. I would be more interested in sleeping on the beach, snorkelling all day and fishing. At night, light a small fire on the beach and cook the fish!!. Evi Mariani visited there and she seemed to like it. But as I said, I would not stay in the hotel and not because of the hotel costs. Heck, you have a stretch of golden beach to kip out on:

Karimunjawa Ocean Park, the home of shipwrecks, a diverse range of sea life and scenic uninhabited islands, is just three hours from Semarang, Central Java.

But not many people visit the park's islands because of the slow pace of development in the area although for some this is just the sort of thing that attracts them.

"Some divers come here to go treasure hunting. There was a time when locals often found Chinese antiques at the bottom of the sea here" Joice V.E., owner of a small dive shop on the main island Karimunjawa said.

These days she says, it is much harder to find Chinese plates and bowls in the ocean although that doesn't stop people from looking.

The Karimunjawa Islands are located on the busy trade route that runs from the Malacca Strait to the sea ports along the northern coast of Java. Local legend has it that a number of fully loaded Chinese trading ships sunk in the waters many years ago.
Besides these old wooden sailing ships, more recent vessels have also met their ends in the Java Sea. The most well-known wreck is that of the Indonor, an iron Dutch ship.

"For sea life, I usually take divers to nearby Geleang Island where they can see coral, clown fish and parrot fish" said Joice who runs the business with her husband, Iwan Sulaeman.

"But for the most diverse sea life I take them to Seruni Island which is two and a half hours away from the main island. There you can see many kinds of molluscs and even manta rays" she said.

Of the 27 islands that form the Karimunjawa Islands only five are inhabited.

Karimunjawa Island itself is a relatively new area. The first people to arrive on the island were Buton people who came from Southeast Sulawesi in the 1950s. They were followed by Bugis people from South Sulawesi and were later joined by Madurese from East Java. People from Central Java were the last to find the island.

In 1988 the area was declared a National Marine Park all fishing using dynamite and poison was prohibited, a measure that helped rehabilitate the damaged coral reefs.

Most of Kariminjawa's residents earn their livings from fishing and subsistence farming. With the development of the tourism industry, given a boost when a Swedish investor built the up-market Kura Kura Resort on nearby Pulau Meyawaka in 1995, some residents have entered the tourism sector. Guest houses and hostels have opened in the area along with a few souvenir shops.

Overall however the growth of the industry has proven to be slow. Besides diving and snorkelling there are few other things for visitors to do, good food is difficult to find - even simple grilled fish with sambal is rare. The nightlife consists of sitting on the beach with a beer which some people might regard as infinitely preferable to standing in a loud, crowded nightclub swilling overpriced cocktails but is not to everyone's taste.

But for those who simply love the ocean and prize serenity the islands are an ideal hideaway. Boats complete with weathered boatmen are available for hire to ferry you around.

Prices for boat hire, accommodation and meals are in the moderate price range although are slightly more expensive than one might expect. A room with bathroom and air-con which runs only at night because there is no electricity during the day costs around Rp 150,000, while a similar room in Yogyakarta would set you back about Rp 100,000. Divers are advised to bring their own equipment although several dive shops including Joice's lease diving equipment.

It's also important to bring sufficient cash as there are no ATMs or banks on the islands.

"Many travellers run out of money here so I sometimes I have to go with to Semarang or Jepara where they withdraw the money to pay their bills" Joice said.

Transportation to and from Java is sometimes problematic too although there have been some improvements made since the Kura Kura Resort opened in 1999.

Kura Kura Resort, located on Menyawakan Island, which is a one hour boat ride form Karimunjawa Island, is the most up-market facility in the area. It is owned by Swede Soren Lax and his Indonesian wife and covers half of the island.

Boasting vast white sand beaches, turquoise water and swaying coconut trees the resort is the perfect getaway for romantic couples, bookish singles and water sports loving groups of friends.

The resort has about 20 bungalows, deluxe and VIP, all facing west and overlooking a white sandy beach and crimson sunsets over the vast blue sky. In addition to the bungalows the management has built five luxury villas with private plunge pools.
The deluxe room rate is US$55 a night, VIP $66, while a villa will set you back $235.

Unless you bring food and kitchenware from home you'll have to eat at the resort's restaurant. A standard menu including appetizer and desert, is offered at $12. The food, Western and Indonesian, is generally delicious and is of a starred-hotel standard.

With water sports its main attraction the resort provides a wide range of equipment. A diving instructor is available, along with a diving shop, snorkelling equipment, speed boats, experienced boatmen, sea kayaks and paddle boats.

Those who are not water people will appreciate the resort's tranquil environment. Communications on the island are rather restricted - as of April 2006 only one cell phone provide was available on the island, Telkomsel, along with a limited number of satellite TV channels.

Visitors are advised to consider the season before they travel to the islands as December through January is the rainy season in Karimunjawa. In general a trip to Karimunjawa and Kura Kura Resort needs to be carefully planned - don't just hop on a plane or train thinking you can get there without any hassle. But it's certainly worth it.

Karimunjawa is a 27 island archipelago in the Java sea and around 85km from the mainland town of Jepara. Reefs are primarily fringing and patch with good coral growth and marine life. Five of these islands are domestically inhabited and together with 22 others form four major zones; Zone I is the core sanctuary area and is out of bounds to all, Zone 2 is the wilderness area open to limited tourism, Zone 3 is the utilization area, Zone 4 is the buffer zone. There are also wrecks here at the islands of Batu Kunci, Karang Kapal, Karang Ketel, and Batulawang.

The Dive Sites
The islands of Menyawakan have been declared a national marine park and are protected. Diving varies from fringing reefs, atolls and wrecks, a good variety of species can be found including some rarer ones such as Crocodile fish and Leafy Scorpion fish. Drift diving is popular here as currents are often strong. There is also a small wreck to be found.

The Mitra is an Indonesian freighter that was grounded on the reef by her captain in an effort to salvage the cargo. It failed and she sunk, now she is home to the inhabitants of the ocean. The Biblis is one of the few remaining wrecks in Asia with its bronze propeller in tact. Some big groupers patrol the coral encrusted structure and penetration is possible. Although probably the most famous wreck is that of the Indonur, a Dutch steamship that went down in 1963 after the captain mistook a fire on the beach for the lights of Semarang and hit the reef. With huge steel plates and riveted steam boilers playing home to all manner of reef fish this does make a great dive.

There are a number of submerged reefs around the islands such as Karang Kapal, Torpedo Reef and Ezdir Reef. They all offer good coral growth and plenty of visitors such as bumphead parrotfish, jacks and the odd whitetip shark. Hawksbill point on Menyawakan island offers the opportunity to get closeup with these graceful marine turtles. Two islands of Krakal Kecil and Krakal Besar 20 minutes away offer a chance to see whale sharks if they are passing through.

Karimunjawa, Indonesia Page
Other names: Karimoendjawa,Karimundjawa,Karimoendjowo
World:Indonesia Latitude -5.8667 Longitude 110.4333 Altitude (feet) 131
Lat (DMS) 5° 52' 0S Long (DMS) 110° 25' 60E Altitude (meters) 39
Time zone (est) UTC+7

Nearby Cities and Towns
West North East South
Pasisir (128.5 nm)
Tanjakan (121.8 nm)
Ketapang (121.1 nm) Tanjung-batuhitam (210.1 nm)
Kualajelai (174.0 nm)
Matua (174.0 nm)
Tanjungselaka (171.0 nm)
Sungaipinang (174.8 nm)
Segintong (192.2 nm) Tambak (130.5 nm) Sigedang (79.7 nm)
Pecakaran (75.9 nm)
Celong (68.8 nm)
Tawanglaut (66.4 nm)
Pidadakulon (63.0 nm)
Jepara (44.9 nm)
Margokerto (39.8 nm)
Seweru (40.8 nm)
Metawar (43.8 nm)
Margorejo (47.2 nm)

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KARIMUN JAWA ISLANDS
Karimunjawa is and island chain stretching in a northwesternly direction 83 km from Jepara. Central Java. This archipelago is a cluster of 27 island in the java sea. The reefs are a mixture of fringing, barrier, and patch with bottom depths ranging from 15 to 40 meters.

Five of these islands are domestically inhabited and together with 22 others from the four major zones; Zone I is the core sanctuary area and is out of bounds to all, Zone 2 is the wilderness area open to limited tourism, Zone 3 is the utilization area, Zone 4 is the buffer zone.

For visitor to the Park, expect a very pleasant welcome by the information staff, and an exciting range of flora and fauna to discover both above and below the water.The reefs harboring 35 types of hard corals, sponges, gorgonian, soft and red corals and an amazing 240 plus variety of fish.

A special bonus for the interpid is wreck diving at the island of Batu Kunci, Karang Kapal, Karang Ketel, and Batulawang. Best time for weather is April to November with the rainy season peaking between December and February.

Up to this date Karimunjawa has 12 dive sites. Most of the diving is done on the fringing reefs around the islands, as well as submerged reefs, and shipwrecks. The sites are all to the west of the main island

Facilities
The dive resorts is situated on the uninhabited island of Menyawakan, measuring 19 hectares, in the Karimun Jawa archipelago. By speed boat transfer from Jepara to the resort about two and a half hours one-way or from Semarang about 3 hours. With 5 VIP bungalows and 5 two room deluxe cottages, 15 rooms in all, and the resort is very luxurious.