Snorkeling

The experienced traveler will know that as diverse and varied as the many draws of Indonesia may be, not many of them are found in its capital of Jakarta. The featureless plain where the city smog rises over the high rise buildings doesn’t exactly scream of a summer pleasure palace. However, the experienced traveler can also tell you that the best travel discoveries are made by looking beneath the surface to find hidden gems. In the case of Jakarta, we may take that analogy literally, as it is gaining quite a reputation for what lies beneath the surface of the shallow seas which rings its islands – snorkeling adventures galore!

Several of the islands are noted for their varied treasures of hard and soft coral reef and varieties of vibrant marine life. Resorts Kul Kul Kotok Island, Sepa Island, Matahari Island and Pantara Island are special favourites among the snorkeling enthusiasts of Jakarta, boasting veritable undersea parks of vibrant coral with exotic fish and sea turtles. The Pulau Seribu or Thousand Island, Gosana Pandan Island and Semak Daun Utara Island are all among the prime favourites which offer the most magnificent underwater experiences that can be viewed without the hindrance of scuba gear. The Pramuka Island also is yet another island which is set apart from the others due to the opportunities of island cruising it offers (a perfect complement to an afternoon of diving) and the presence of “fish doctors” in its waters. These rare and quaint fish are inquisitive creatures that appear to be dressed in a white coat and prod randomly at passing fish.

Panggang Island, widely accepted as being the island whose shallows house the densest formations of colourful soft coral, merits a special mention in the recreational snorkeling. This island is famous for the rainbow fish which abound in its waters as well as the angelfish, shoals of damselfish, sea urchins and the very rare and exotic sea-lily which blooms here in a myriad of hues. Even if you’ve never been introduced to snorkeling before, picture these bright slivers of life and gentle sea turtles weaving about a garden of living coral submerged in the azure sun-warmed waters of these tropical shallows and see if you don’t race to buy an underwater camera!

Although these aforementioned hidden recreational gems prove Jakarta to be a very viable option for leisure travel, it has to be accepted that the busy Indonesian hub of trade mostly attracts visitors of business, sometimes on extended trips of commercial nature. It is customary for these visitors to find their way to the Golden Triangle, which is the elite area of the business and shopping district housing the serviced accommodation Jakarta offers. However, private Serviced Apartments Jakarta are also fast gaining vogue among the business and leisure travel community as preferable alternatives to extended hotel stays. Somerset Grand Citra is one such complex intended for business executives and their families, providing a convenient base from which to combine work trips and leisure excursions.