Sangeang is an island just off the coast of Sumbawa that Wicked has regularly visited with the Jaya on our longer exploratory and charter trips from Batam and Bali. Cutting a stunning silhouette into the surrounding landscape, Sangeang has masses to offer for divers and explorers alike.
The island is a volcanic island, one that is still very much active. The last eruption was in 1989 and the island was evacuated. Between its first recorded eruption in 1512 and 1989 it erupted 17 times. There are 2 peaks - Doro Api which peaks at 1949m and Doro Mantoi at 1495m. The island is sparsely populated.
The island has a rugged, craggy appearance punctuated along the coastline with a series of black sand beaches, where water buffalo roam. Even from afar it has the look of adventure.
The underwater appearance is breathtaking. The black sand leaks from the surface to the reefs, showcasing the kaleidoscope of colours from the corals, sponges and tunicates. From muck diving, to walls, slopes and pinnacles, it really does have it all.
The firm favourite with everyone is ‘Bubble Reef’, so called due to the bubbles of volcanic gases which escape from the sandy substrate in the shallow waters. Huge portions of the dive can be whiled away, playing in the bubbles, covering the exit holes and watching where they pop out from next. There are also areas where the sand is hot enough to boil an egg even just under the surface of the sand.
If this unique occurrence wasn’t enough, the marine life will blow your socks off. On one dive at Bubble Reef we spotted a blue ribbon eel, a robust ghostpipefish, an ornate ghostpipefish, a scorpion leaf fish, a juvenile painted frogfish and five bargabanti pygmy seahorses. Schooling fusilier danced, bumphead parrotfish roamed and huge dogtooth tuna also patrolled the reef.
If it weren’t for its active volcano status, Sangaeng would no doubt be on the verge of development, as it has so much to offer and is in easy reach of Flores and the Komodo National Park. However, right now we’re happy that we get to share its natural and pristine beauty with some of our lucky guests.
We visit Sangeang (and many other amazing places) on our expeditions. There are plenty more places left to explore :)
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