There is a beautiful crater lake encompassed by green hill. Satonda Island. Sumbawa Island. Sumbawa Cruise. Sumbawa liveaboard. Tailor made holiday Sumbawa. Bespoke Indonesia Holiday.

Sumbawa Island

Sumbawa, an often-overlooked island in eastern Indonesia, has been a magnet for surfers seeking world-class surf conditions. However, the island’s appeal goes beyond just the waves. With its stunning beaches, rich marine life, warm clear waters, and friendly inhabitants, Sumbawa is the epitome of an ideal tropical paradise. Unlike its more touristy neighbours, Bali and Lombok, Sumbawa retains a more rustic charm, perfect for travellers seeking an off-the-beaten-path experience.

A massive fish with a triangular fin white dots all over his its body is swimming gently beneath a girl who is swimming calmly looking at the fish. Whale sharks. Whale sharks diving. Whale sharks Indonesia. Liveaboard Indonesia. Whaleshark diving Indonesia. Whaleshark diving Sumbawa. Luxury Liveaboard Indonesia. Liveaboard diving trip. Bespoke Indonesia Holiday.

Sumbawa Diving

Often overshadowed by its neighbours’ popularity—Bali, Lombok, and Komodo—Sumbawa is a hidden gem that is often missed by divers. Sometimes seen merely as a brief stop during liveaboard trips. Contrary to this belief, Sumbawa offers a plethora of pristine, breathtaking diving sites. The ocean encircling the island boasts rich and colourful walls teeming with diverse marine life and pristine coral reefs. Moreover, with fewer tourists compared to other diving destinations, you’ll likely have the finest dive sites all to yourself.

For the best diving experience, don’t miss out on exploring the islands of Moyo, Satonda, and Sangeang while in Sumbawa. The island provides top-notch dive sites encompassing everything from spectacular macro dives to breathtaking coral reefs teeming with marine life like mantas, sharks, mobulas, turtles, and tuna. Sumbawa liveaboard trip offers diverse experiences, including diving with whaleshark, kayaking on a caldera, and exploring turquoise waterfalls, among other highlights.

How to get to Sumbawa

Visitors arriving from overseas will not have access to a direct flight to Sumbawa. Technically, you have to land at an Indonesian airport that serves international flights before proceeding to Sumbawa. As of now, only Praya, Lombok (LOP), offers direct flight to Sumbawa Besar SWQ. This non-stop flight lasts approximately 40 minutes over a distance of 49 miles (79 km).

Currently, Lombok (LOP) only facilitates direct international flights to and from Singapore and Malaysia. Alternatively, travellers can fly via Bali, Jakarta, or Surabaya. Among these options, flying from Bali is the most convenient, lasting around 30-40 minutes with up to 5 daily departures.

If you are joining a liveaboard trip, make sure to confirm the embarkation and disembarkation points before booking your flights.

When is the best time to visit Sumbawa?

Scuba diving season in Sumbawa is year-round, with the best conditions typically occurring from April to November. May to September is considered the prime season due to calm seas and dry, sunny weather. Diving is still possible during the wet season from December to March, but heavy rainfall can impact visibility underwater.

DESIGNING PERSONALIZED HOLIDAYS THROUGHOUT INDONESIA