Sabang, Weh Island Diving Spot

1. 1. Iboih Beach.
150 meters of pristine white beach.  Shallow area is covered with small coral formations,  home to a variety of critters.  Honeycomb and giant morays are often seen here.  Sandy areas provide a perfect environment for learning to dive or nighttime diving.    50 meters out, the channel between Rubiah Island brings in great currents, which make learning to dive with currents an easy option.  Volcanic boulders line both sides of the channel making it a great house reef for learning or diving alone with your buddy.


1. 2. Rubiah Sea Garden.
Gentle, shallow dive site, although there can be an occasional current.     A large, sandy bottom covered in rock and coral formations, soft and hard, with a variety of reef fish.   Garden eels are usually visible and the occasional turtle comes by to say hello.  Dive site slopes down into the depth, but it’s usually dove as a shallow dive.  Perfect for night dives.


1. 3. West Rubiah.


1. 4. Arus Paleeh. 
2. Strong currents often rip along this gentle sloping dive site covered in volcanic rock and boulders.   
6. 5. East Seulako.
1. Similar to the western side of  Seulako Island.   Gentle sloping topography with coral heads and volcanic rocks in the shallows.  Sloping down to depth,  an interesting “unexploded” Japanese bomb at 20 meters (See story on web site) can also be observed.   Good place for rays.


1. 6. West Seulako.
2. The west coast of Seulako Island, heading towards Arus  Paleeh.  Gently sloping, topography of volcanic rocks and coral heads.  A variety of reef fish, the occasional pelagic, and mild currents make this a very beautiful dive site.  At the southern end, a large overhang between 12-15 meters makes for cave like conditions with an easy entry/exit, where the ceiling is covered in beautiful corals.  Great for finding the small stuff .  


1. 7. Batee Tokong.
2. Marked by a set of rocks jutting from the sea, this dive site offers a deep sloping wall covered in gorgonian sea fans that connects to  “shark plateau”  where early morning dives are often done.  Strong circular currents often offer up a variety of pelagic including white and black tip sharks, trevally, barracuda, and a variety of rays.  Highlights of this dive are a shallow wall at  12-18 meters, that a house an amazing number of different types of moray, as well as the normal small critters found at very healthy dive sites.


8. Shark Plateau.   
1. Mostly visited on early morning ‘shark dives’ and when diving Tokong a little bit deeper, this is a sandy plateau area where seeing sharks is more the norm than the rarity.    Black  and white tips are common, plus whatever pelagic may be in the area.


9. Batee Gla.
Rarely dived due to some very large circular currents, the shallows are filled with large  boulders covered in corals and own deep, some very VERY healthy gorgonians gardens


10. The Canyon.
Large,  sandy patches are followed  by a deep west wall covered in nutrient rich gorgonians that drop to the 60 meter range.    A small overhang/cave starts the wall.  Proceeding east, two large rocky outcrops ranging from 10 to 30 meters are separated by 2  canyon channels,  5 meters wide  that provide  a break from currents and offer  great places to view amazing marine life.  In the blue, dog tooth tuna, barracuda, trevally, jackfish,  and unicorn fish are common, with shark siting fairly common.  Finishing up the dive in the shallows are volcanic boulders covered in the small stuff, and one of the best places to find new table corals that are flourishing post tsunami  


1. 11. Pante Peunateung.
A deep reef covered in gorgonians, this is one of the best dive sites that Pulau Weh has to offer.  Everything can be seen here, even Orca!(see web story) More suitable for experienced divers due to depth, this is Pulau Weh at her healthiest.   Large trevally, jackfish,  and giant barracuda are often schooling in the blue or near to the reef.  In season, a great area for schools of devil rays.


12. Bak Kopra.
Not often dived due to the distance, a good place to see masive table corals on 20 meters up.  The site not so deep. on 25 meters we find the flat sandy bottom. In this site good to see macro staff, especially nudiebrach, cowrie, cutlefish, etc.


13. Batee Meuduroe.
Usually dived at full moon time when currents are strongest, this advanced dive is one of the best places to see mantas and school of milk fish. At the shallow water there is cute table coral.


1. 14. Anoe Itam.
Normally started in a sandy area covered with coral heads to 18 meters, the current then picks up offering a chance for pelagic.  A nice place, if lucky, to sight mantas


15. Sabang Wreck.
A tug boat lying close to shore, this is a great  2nd dive, combined with the volcano dive.   Lots of very healthy hard coral attached to the wreck and a nice reef close by make for a fun, shallow dive.  


1. 16. Sophie R. Wreck.
The wreck 134 meter long, the Sophie Rickmers is an impressive wreck, situated in a sheltered bay.  On May 1st, 1940 she was scuttled by her own crew, one of  5 ships confiscated by the British in the waters around Pulau Weh.   This dive is done as a decompression dive, so “experienced divers only” must be comfortable at depth and decompression procedures.  The top of the wheelhouse is at 37 meters, the decks around 45 meters and the straight bow resting on the bottom lies at over 55 meters deep. 
 
1. 17. Underwater Volcano.
Normally done in conjunction with the Sabang wreck (#15) using the same tank, this dive offers up an interesting topography and gives you 2 shorter dives for the price of one.  Abnormally warm water due to thermal activity and rising bubbles makes for a fascinating dive.  Marine life that enjoy warm waters  not often seen, like the soft shelled turtle (see story) make for a dive that one never knows what.




18. Limbo Gapang.
Closest to Gapang Beach, shallow dive suit most suitable for night dives or training.  Sandy bottomed area with coral heads and a range of tropical fish.