Tab Buntuleng (Liukang Lowe)
Bira
Tanjung (‘cape’) Bira. Is nestled at the southeastern tip of Sulawesi, just above Selayar. It is a six-hour drive from Makassar, but a worthwhile journey. Tanjung Bira is a very dry peninsula with no rivers and the coast here is stunning, with soft, white, sandy beaches and clear, shallow waters that transition into a deep turquoise as the sea deepens.
Around Bira itselt the diving is done on healthy fringing reefs, but around Kambing Island (a massive, uninhabited rocky outcrop rising out of the ocean between Bira and Selayar Island), coral covers a wall that drops to 60 meters, rich in marine life and home to myriad species. Strong currents can pick up unexpectedly at Palau Kambing. But this is the place to spot whitetips, blacktips, on the wall and nurse sharks in the coral garden at around 15 meters. Giant trevalies as well as schools of mackerel, tuna and even bumphead parrotfish are also spotted here.
Shark Freeding is another exceptional site, where, at around 30 meters, you can encounter a shiver if circling sharks. If you’re lucky you might also see manta rays, marble rays, turtles, barracuda, hammerheads, and even Mola mola here. But once again, be wary of the current.
When the evening comes and the sky is tinged with red and orange, prepare for a truly remarkable night dive with scorpionfish, cuttlefish and octopus in the coral gardens. On a night dive close to Pantai kecil to the south of Bira harboy, you also have a great chance of seeing Spanies dancers, lionfish, sleeping, turtles, cuttlefish and octopus. Beware of the cone snail ( Conus geographus )when it is hunting for fish and mollusks; this bottom dweller shoots extremely poisonous darts at its prey, which canparalyze and kill fish and even humans.
Pas Island is an attractive dive for many, including beginners. The coral garden is stunning, with waters busy with life and colour. White a maximum depth of around 20 meters, corals cover the sandy sea floor and fish including damsels, angelfish, cardinals, groupers, triggerfish, surgeonfish, boxfish, puffers create a vibrant underwater community.
Getting There
Best Season : August – November
Fly to Makassar
Airport : Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport
Coutinue by land :
Drive about four hours
Dive Site name : Tab Buntuleng (Liukang Lowe) (1)
Area : Bira
Average depth : 15m
Maximum depth : 25m
Visibility : 15m
Min temperature : 27c
Max temperature : 29c
Bottom contour : Slope
Bottom composition : Coral reef, Rock, Sand
Current : Long shore
Marine life : Trevallies, Snapper, Fusilier, Sweetlips, Butterfly, Cardinal, Angel, Grouper, Damselfish, Anthias, Batfish, Wrasse, Parrot, Surgeon, Trigger, Box, Puffer, Porcupine, Flounder, Gobies, Moray eels, Eels, Frogfish, Leaf fish, Scorpion, Flathead, Blennies, Dragonet, Octopus, Shrimp, Crab, Nudibranch, Flatworm, Shell, Snake, Turtle, Ray, Shark
Coral reef : Average
Type of reef : Patch
Type of diving : Boat, Drift
Highlights : Cuttlefish, Eagle ray, Whale shark (occasionally), Manta ray (occasionally)
Caution : –
Recommended for : All divers
Dive Site Classification : 0-2
Dive Site name : Shark Point (Likuang Loe) (2)
Area : Bira
Average depth : 15m
Maximum depth : 30m
Visibillity : 15m
Min temperature : 27c
Max temperature : 29c
Bottom contour : Drop off
Bottom composition : Coral reef, Vegetation, Rock
Current : Long shore
Marine life : Trevallies, Snapper, Fusilier, Sweetlips, Butterfly, Cardinal, Angel, Grouper, Damselfish, Anthias, Batfish, Wrasse, Parrot, Surgeon, Trigger, Box, Puffer, Porcupine, Flounder, Gobies, Moray eels, Frogfish, Leaf fish, Scorpion, Flathead, Blennies, Dragonet, Octopus, Shrimp, Crab, Nudibranch, Flatworm, Shell, Snake, Turtle, Ray, Shark
Coral reef : Good
Type of reef : Fringing
Type of diving : Boat, Droft
Highlights : Scooling two-spotted, snapper, Tuna; Many blacktip and whitetip reef shark, Abundant anthias, Large formation of healthy lettuce coral
Cautiom : –
Recommended for : All divers
Dive Site Classification : 1-2
Dive Site name : House Reef (3)
Area : Bira
Average depth : 15m
Maximum depth : 25m
Visibility : 15m
Min temperature : 24c
Max temperature : 29c
Bottom contour : Slope
Bottom composition : Coral reef, Rock, Sand
Current : Long shore
Marine life : Trevallies, Snapper, Fusilier, Sweetlips, Butterfly, Cardinal, Angel, Grouper, Damselfish, Anthias, Batfish, Wrasse, Parrot, Surgeon, Trigger, Box, Puffer, Porcupine, Flounder, Gobies, Moray eels, Eels, Frogfish, Leaf fish, Scorpion, Flathead, Blennies, Dragonet, Octopus, Shrimp, Crab, Nudibranch, Flatworm, Shell, Snake, Turtle, Ray, Shark
Coral reef : Average
Type of reef : Patch
Type of diving : Boat
Highlights : Tuna, Mackerel, Cuttlefish, Whale shark (occasionally), Devil ray (occasionally)
Caution : –
Recommended for : All divers
Dive Site Classification : 1-2
Dive Site name : Stingray Bay (4)
Area : Bira
Average depth : 15m
Maximum depth : 20m
Visibility : 15m
Min temperature : 26c
Max temperature : 29c
Bottom contour : Slope
Bottom composition : Coral reef, Rubble, Sand, Rock
Current : Surge
Marine life : Trevallies, Snapper, Fusilier, Sweetlips, Butterfly, Cardinal, Angel, Grouper, Damselfish, Anthias, Batfish, Wrasse, Parrot, Surgeon, Trigger, Box, Puffer, Porcupine, Flounder, Gobies, Moray eels, Eels, Frogfish, Leaf fish, Scorpion, Flathead, Blennies, Dragonet, Octopus, Shrimp, Crab, Nudibranch, Flatworm, Shell, Snake, Turtle, Ray, Shark
Coral reef : Average
Type of reef : Patch
Type of diving : Boat
Highlights : Tuna, Spanish mackerel, Many blue-spotted stingrsys, Manta ray (occasionally), Whale shark (occasionally)
Caution :-
Recommended for : All divers
Dive Site Classification : 1-2
Dive Site name : Fish Market (5)
Area : Bira
Average depth : 15m
Maximum depth : 25m
Visibility : 15m
Min temperature : 26c
Max temperature : 29c
Bottom contour : Slope
Bottom composition : Coral reef, Rock, Sand
Current : Long shore
Marine life : Jack, Trevallies, Snapper, Fusilier, Barracuda, Sweetlips, Butterfly, Cardinal, Angel, Grouper, Damselfish, Anthias, Batfish, Wrasse, Parrot, Surgeon, Trigger, Box, Puffer, Porcupine, Flounder, Gobies, Moray eels, Eels, Frogfish, Leaf fish, Scorpion, Flathead, Blennies, Dragonet, Octopus, Shrimp, Crab, Nudibranch, Flatworm, Shell, Snake, Turtle, Ray, Shark
Coral reef : Good
Type of reef : Submerged
Type of diving : Boat, Drift
Highlights : Schooling mackerel/surgeonfish/snapper/fusilier/jack, Tun, Barracuda, Many reef sharks, Sea Mount covered with colorful hard and soft corals
Caution : Possible strong current
Recommended for : Experienced divers
Dive Site Classification : 1-3
Dive Site name : Cape Bira (6)
Area : Bira
Average depth : 20m
Maximum depth : 40m
Visibility : 15m
Min temperature : 26c
Max temperature : 29c
Bottom contour : Drop off, Slope
Bottom composition : Coral reef, Rock, Sand, Rubble
Current : Long shore
Marine life : Jack, Trevallies, Snapper, Fusilier, Sweetlips, Butterfly, Cardinal, Angel, Grouper, Damselfish, Anthias, Batfish, Wrasse, Parrot, Surgeon, Trigger, Box, Puffer, Porcupine, Flounder, Gobies, Moray eels, Frogfish, Leaf fish, Scorpion, Flathead, Blennies, Dragonet, Octopus, Shrimp, Crab, Nudibranch, Flatworm, Shell, Snake, Turtle, Ray, Shark
Coral reef : Average
Type of reef : Fringing
Type of diving : Boat, Drift
Highlights : Tuna, Whitetip reef shark, Dogtooth tuna, Napoleon wrase, Spanish mackerel, Eagle ray, Giant grouper
Caution : Possible strong current, Deep dive
Recommended for : Experienced divers
Dive Site Classification : 2-3
Dive Site name : Pangngala (7)
Area : Bira
Average depth : 20m
Maximum depth : 30m
Visibility : 15m
Min temperature : 27c
Max temperature : 29c
Bottom contour : Slope
Bottom composition : Coral reef, Rock, Sand
Current : Long shore
Marine life : Trevallies, Snapper, Fusilier, Sweetlips, Butterfly, Cardinal, Angel, Grouper, Damselfish, Anthias, Batfish, Wrasse, Parrot, Surgeon, Trigger, Box, Puffer, Porcupine, Flounder, Gobies, Moray eels, Leaf fish, Scorpion, Flathead, Blennies, Dragonet, Octopus, Shrimp, Crab, Nudibranch, Flatworm, Shell, Snake, Turtle, Ray, Shark
Coral reef : Average
Type of reef : Fringing
Type of diving : Boat
Highlights : Tuna, Mackerel, Manta ray (occasionally)
Caution :-
Recommended for : All divers
Dive Site Classification : 2-3
Dive Site name : Harbour (8)
Area : Bira
Average depyh : 15m
Maximum depth : 25m
Visibility : 15m
Min temperature : 27c
Max temperature : 29c
Bottom contour : Slope
Bottom composition : Coral reef, Rock, Sand
Current : Long shore
Marine life : Trevallies, Snapper, Fusilier, Sweetlips, Butterfly, Cardinal, Angel, Grouper, Damselfish, Anthias, Batfish, Wrasse, Parrot, Surgeon, Trigger, Box, Puffer, Porcupine, Flounder, Gobies, Moray eels, Leaf fish, Scorpion, Flathead, Blennies, Dragonet, Octopus, Shrimp, Crab, Nudibranch, Flatworm, Shell, Snake, Turtle, Ray, Shark
Coral reef : Average
Type of reef : Patch
Type of diving : Boat, Wreck
Highlights : In the shallow, wreck of a ferry which sank in around 2003
Caution : –
Recommended for : All divers
Dive Site Classification : 1-2
Dive Site name : Panrang Luhu (9)
Area : Bira
Average depth : 15m
Maximum depth : 25m
Visibility : 15m
Min temperature : 27c
Max temperature : 29c
Bottom contour : Slope
Bottom composition : Coral reef, Rock, Sand
Current : Long shore
Marine life : Trevallies, Snapper, Fusilier, Sweetlips, Butterfly, Cardinal, Angel, Grouper, Damselfish, Anthias, Batfish, Wrasse, Parrot, Surgeon, Trigger, Box, Puffer, Porcupine, Flounder, Gobies, Moray eels, Leaf fish, Scorpion, Flathead, Blennies, Dragonet, Octopus, Shrimp, Crab, Nudibranch, Flatworm, Shell, Snake, Turtle, Ray, Shark
Coral reef : Average
Type of reef : Fringing
Type of diving : Boat
Highlights : Tuna, Mackerel
Caution :-
Recommended for : All divers
Dive Site Classification : 1-2
Dive Site name : Bala Balaya (10)
Area : Bira
Average depth : 15m
Maximum depth : 25m
Visibility : 15m
Min temperature : 26c
Max temperature : 29c
Bottom contour : Drop off, Slope
Bottom composition : Coral reef, Rock, Sand
Current : Long shore
Marine life : Trevallies, Snapper, Fusilier, Sweetlips, Butterfly, Cardinal, Angel, Grouper, Damselfish, Anthias, Batfish, Wrasse, Parrot, Surgeon, Trigger, Box, Puffer, Porcupine, Flounder, Gobies, Moray eels, Eels, Leaf fish, Scorpion, Flathead, Blennies, Dragonet, Octopus, Shrimp, Crab, Nudibranch, Flatworm, Shell, Snake, Turtle, Ray, Shark
Coral reef : Average
Type of reef : Fringing
Type of diving : Boat
Highlights : –
Caution : –
Recommended for : All divers
Dive Site Classification : 1-2
Dive Site name : Marumasa (11)
Area : Bira
Average depth : 20m
Maximum depth : 35m
Visibility : 15m
Min temperature : 26c
Max temperature : 29c
Bottom contour : Drop of, Slope
Bottom composition : Coral reef, Rock, Sand
Current : Long shore
Marine life : Trevallies, Snapper, Fusilier, Sweetlips, Butterfly, Cardinal, Angel, Grouper, Damselfish, Anthias, Batfish, Wrasse, Parrot, Surgeon, Trigger, Box, Puffer, Porcupine, Flounder, Gobies, Moray eels, Leaf fish, Scorpion, Flathead, Blennies, Dragonet, Octopus, Shrimp, Crab, Nudibranch, Flatworm, Shell, Snake, Turtle, Ray, Shark
Coral reef : Average
Type of reef : Fringing
Type of diving : Boat, Drift
Highlights : Tuna, Giant grouper, Manta ray (occasionally)
Caution :-
Recommended for : All divers
Dive Site Classification : 2-3
Dive Site name : Kasuso (12)
Area : Bira
Average depth : 15m
Maximum depth : 30m
Visibility : 20m
Min temperature : 26c
Max temperature : 29c
Bottom contour : Steep Slope
Bottom composition : Coral reef, Rock, Sand
Current : Long shore
Marine life : Trevallies, Snapper, Fusilier, Sweetlips, Butterfly, Cardinal, Angel, Grouper, Damselfish, Anthias, Batfish, Wrasse, Parrot, Surgeon, Trigger, Box, Puffer, Porcupine, Flounder, Gobies, Moray eels, Leaf fish, Scorpion, Flathead, Blennies, Dragonet, Octopus, Shrimp, Crab, Nudibranch, Flatworm, Shell, Snake, Turtle, Ray, Shark
Coral reef : Average
Type of reef : Submerged
Type of diving : Boat
Highlights : Manta ray (occasionally), Underwater Pinnacle
Caution : –
Recommended for : All divers
Dive Site Classification : 1-2
Dive Site name : John Point (13)
Area : Bira
Average depth : 20m
Maximum depth : 40m
Visibility : 15m
Min temperature : 26c
Max temperature : 29c
Bottom contour : Drop off, Slope
Bottom composition : Coral reef, Rock
Current : Long shore
Marine life : Jack, Trevallies, Snapper, Fusilier, Barracuda, Sweetlips, Butterfly, Cardinal, Angel, Grouper, Damselfish, Anthias, Batfish, Wrasse, Parrot, Surgeon, Trigger, Box, Puffer, Porcupine, Flounder, Gobies, Moray eels, Eels, Leaf fish, Scorpion, Flathead, Blennies, Dragonet, Octopus, Shrimp, Crab, Nudibranch, Flatworm, Shell, Snake, Turtle, Ray, Shark
Coral reef : Average
Type of reef : Fringing
Type of diving : Boat, Deep, Drift
Highlights : Mackerel, Tuna, Black-blotched stingray, Many whitetip reef sharks
Caution : Possible strong current
Recommended for : All divers
Dive Site Classification : 2-3
Dive Site name : Mola-Mola Point (14)
Area : Bira
Average depth : 20m
Maximum depth : 30m
Visibility : 15m
Min temperature : 26c
Max temperature : 29c
Bottom contour : Slope
Bottom composition : Coral reef, Rock
Current : Long shore
Marine life : Trevallies, Snapper, Fusilier, Sweetlips, Butterfly, Cardinal, Angel, Grouper, Damselfish, Anthias, Batfish, Wrasse, Parrot, Surgeon, Trigger, Box, Puffer, Porcupine, Flounder, Gobies, Moray eels, Eels, Leaf fish, Scorpion, Flathead, Blennies, Dragonet, Octopus, Shrimp, Crab, Nudibranch, Flatworm, Shell, Snake, Turtle, Ray, Shark
Coral reef : Average
Type of reef : Fringing
Type of diving : Boat, Deep, Drift
Highlights : Tuna, Spanis mackerel, Cuttlefish, Mola mola, Manta ray, Thresher shark (occasionally)
Caution : –
Recommended for : All divers
Dive Site Classification : 2-3
Dive Site name : Shark Point (Kambing) (15)
Area : Bira
Average depth : 20m
Maximum depth : 40m
Visibility : 15m
Min temperature : 26c
Max temperature : 29c
Bottom contour : Drop off
Bottom composition : Coral reef, Rock
Current : Long shore
Marine life : Trevallies, Snapper, Fusilier, Sweetlips, Butterfly, Cardinal, Angel, Grouper, Damselfish, Anthias, Batfish, Wrasse, Parrot, Surgeon, Trigger, Box, Puffer, Porcupine, Flounder, Gobies, Moray eels, Frogfish, Leaf fish, Scorpion, Flathead, Blennies, Dragonet, Octopus, Shrimp, Crab, Nudibranch, Flatworm, Shell, Snake, Turtle, Ray, Shark
Coral reef : Average
Type of reef : Fringing
Type of diving : Boat, Deep, Drift
Highlights : Tuna, Spanish mackerel, Whitetip reef shark, Giant grouper, Great hammerhead (occasionally)
Caution :-
Recommended for : All divers
Dive Site Classification : 2-3
Dive Site name : Pulau Pasi (16)
Area : Bira
Average depth : 15m
Maximum depth : 20m
Visibility : 15m
Min temperature : 26c
Max temperature : 29c
Bottom contour : Slope
Bottom composition : Coral reef, Rock, Sand
Current : Long shore
Marine life : Trevallies, Snapper, Fusilier, Sweetlips, Butterfly, Cardinal, Angel, Grouper, Damselfish, Anthias, Batfish, Wrasse, Parrot, Surgeon, Trigger, Box, Puffer, Porcupine, Flounder, Gobies, Moray eels, Leaf fish, Scorpion, Flathead, Blennies, Dragonet, Octopus, Shrimp, Crab, Nudibranch, Flatworm, Shell, Snake, Turtle, Ray, Shark
Coral reef : Average
Type of reef : Patch, Fringing
Type of diving : Boat, Drift
Highlights : Tuna, Spanish Mackerel
Caution :-
Recommended for : All divers
Dive Site Classification : 0-2
Dive Site name : Pulau Pasi Drop Off (17)
Area : Bira
Average depth : 20m
Maximum depth : 40m
Visibility : 15m
Min temperature : 26c
Max temperature : 29c
Bottom contour : Drop off
Bottom composition : Coral reef, Rock
Current : Long shore
Marine life : Trevallies, Snapper, Fusilier, Sweetlips, Butterfly, Cardinal, Angel, Grouper, Damselfish, Anthias, Batfish, Wrasse, Parrot, Surgeon, Trigger, Box, Puffer, Porcupine, Flounder, Gobies, Moray eels, Scorpion, Flathead, Blennies, Dragonet, Octopus, Shrimp, Crab, Nudibranch, Flatworm, Shell, Snake, Turtle, Ray, Shark
Coral reef : Average
Type of reef : Fringing
Type of diving : Boat, Drift
Highlights : Tuna, Spanish mackerel, Many reef sharks, Large sea snakes seen often
Caution : Possible strong current
Recommended for : Experienced divers
Dive Site Classification : 2-3
