KILOMETER NOL REPUBLIK INDONESIA, SABANG-NANGGROE ACEH DARUSSALAM
DARI SISI SEBELAH KIRI TUGU KILOMETER NOL REPUBLIK INDONESIA TERLIHAT PEMANDANGAN KE ARAH SAMUDERA HINDIA, DARI KEJAUHAN TERLIHAT PULAU BREUEH.
SABANG-PULAU RUBIAH DAN KEINDAHANNYA
A very friendly, accepting and laid back atmosphere welcomes everyone to Rubiah Tirta Divers (RTD). With a well balanced mix of Indonesian and International staff, helpers, hangers-on, old friends and new customers, it's no surprise that so many people keep returning again and again, whilst others never leave.
A Bit of History in the Making the story starts back in 1970 when Mr. Dodent was living and working on Rubiah Island with an English company trying to promote Pulau Weh and Aceh as a tourist location in order to protect the stunning marine environments in the area.
Since that time Mr.Dodent has been campaigning tirelessly and ceaselessly to protect these coral reef systems, helping to establish the Marine Park Status around Iboih and fighting destructive fishing practices such as dynamite, cyanide and shark fin fishing!
Now, having a string of qualifications and certificates in environmental awareness and protection (from over 6 different Indonesian Agencies and International NGOs), Mr. Dodent has also been awarded a special prize (in 1997) by the Indonesian Government in recognition of his efforts.
Working and diving from a liveaboard yatch and sailing around the East Coast of Thailand, the Maldives, Malaysia and Singapore was the start of Mr. D's diving career. His work-mates had no trouble in convincing him of Pulau Weh's obvious potential as an Asian diving Mecca and the necessity of caring for the reef.
He set about saving up and acquiring official diving qualifications, a compressor and 3 sets of second hand equipment, Mr. Dodent was ready for the Grand opening of RTD four years later in 1989. Starting initially as a diving club for Indonesian commercial divers, Mr. D also continued promoting Pulau Weh as a tourist location and the first adventurous travelers started trickling in.Slowly but surely the development of tourism on Pulau Weh can be largely attributed to the condition of the reef and the desire of one man to make his 'dreams' come true!
The photo on the top is a replica of the original sailing vessel that was used by the famous Arab traveler "Sinbad the Sailor". The replica retraced the route that Sinbad had traveled from Arabia to China. The special re-enactment journey was sponsored by the Sultan of Oman (Qabois bin Said) and the crew set sail on 19 April, 1981. According to arab traders in the 10th Century, Pulau Weh was an important shiping and trading post and was known as the "Island of Gold". Following the tradition of his predecesors, Sinbad had also visited Pulau Weh on his way through the Malacca Strait.
Mr Dodent is shown holding up a special medallion that he received from the replica voyage during their stay on Pulau Weh. Mr Dodent also handled all local logistics for the crew of the Sinbad Voyage.Big Boat Assalamu
We just spoil ourselves relaxing and soaking up the rays on Assalamu's sun deck, or sitting and talking with friends on the roof of the cabin as the sun sets behind us on the way home from the day trips. Assalamu always provides us with pure luxury!! After 12 years of constantly getting sprayed with sea water in the cramped and noisy local fishing boats RTD is still the only dive shop on the island that has invested in a much larger boat (H.M.S. Assalamu) for the safety and comfort of our customers and staff. Assalamu's size enables us to be more flexible with weather conditions as she can handle stronger elements so much better than the smaller fishing boats, which is ideal for the day trips to the outer islands and dive site.
Exploration RTD
Specifically with day trips (camping dive-safaris in the pipeline) in mind, Assalamu is also fully equipted with fish finders, depth sounders and GPS systems. This has allowed us to do many exploration dive trips around these waters. Being one of the first people to dive a new site has a definite attraction and fascination all of its own as you really do enter the unknown. Also this technology allows us to locate new and unfamiliar sites with pinpoint accuracy, checks to see where the big fish are before dive and enables us to avoid adverse weather conditions.
Underwater Crew
All our guides (Indonesian and International) are trained to PADI Dive Master level and have excellent experience of the local dive sites, conditions (above and below the waters) and the habits and homes of all the surrounding marine species. We aim to provide each buddy team with their own guide and keep an absolute maximum of two buddy teams per Dive Master. All dives are planned and conducted according to the PADI dive tables/wheels and all guides have computers as an extra safety backup!!
Enviromentally Friendly
Our complete commitment to environmental protection has always been given the highest priority. Long before RTD was even opened, the owner, Mr. Dodent was campaigning for the cause and eventually succeeded in persuading the government to create a national marine reserve in the area!! (See the section on background history). In keeping with this, RTD has sent members of our staff for special environmental protection training with 'Reef Check' and we are active participants in their ongoing global survey.
We also organize regular beach clean-ups with staff, customers, locals and tourists (participants have free use of SCUBA or snorkeling equipment for the event).
We also organize regular beach clean-ups with staff, customers, locals and tourists (participants have free use of SCUBA or snorkeling equipment for the event).
Furthermore we provide water re-fills, 20 liter Aqua-Gallon bottles (that can be delivered to your bungalow!), used battery collection and help with the local waste disposal.
Emergency Readiness
At RTD we take safety very seriously. We have the largest oxygen supply of any dive center on the island (with 6, 8. & 48 liter O2 Tanks), with staff fully trained in oxygen delivery. In the unlikely event of an emergency evacuation, this enables us to take any patient all the way to a hospital center (for transfer to ambulance) in Banda Aceh by boat with plenty of oxygen to spare.
The owner Mr. Dodent has very close, personal contacts with the senior staff at the nearest recompression chamber (in Lhokseumawe, which is half way between Banda Aceh and Medan). Considering there are only five recompression chambers in the whole of Indonesia we are very lucky to be so close to such facilities.
We also keep comprehensive first aid supplies on the boat and in the dive center and have radio and handphone connections to the local hospitals and the mainland.
PULAU WEH is a truly breathtaking example of a tropical island paradise. Unquestionably an island of outstanding natural beauty,it hosts a range of stunning sceneries both above and below the waves.Volcanic mountains are covered with dense primary rainforests (inhabited by many indigenous species).
Beaches all around the island are lined with a wonderful mixture of tall palms and massive hardwood trees. Crystal clear waters around the island are filled with beautiful coral gardens, and host an incredible range of marine life (numbering 600 fish species in this location alone), making the island a nature lovers dream location.
Needless to say the pace of life is so laid-back it has almost come to a standstill, the local people are undoubtedly some of the most welcoming, friendly and sincere people you will ever meet. Sounds too fantastic to be true, come and see the dream for yourself!
Needless to say the pace of life is so laid-back it has almost come to a standstill, the local people are undoubtedly some of the most welcoming, friendly and sincere people you will ever meet. Sounds too fantastic to be true, come and see the dream for yourself!
So combine quality diving and snorkeling with extremely competitive prices,attractions above the waves, good food and accommodation, one of the lowest costs of living in the world and you can start to see the potential for dreams to come true.
Not surprisingly then, so many of our friends have found themselves staying much longer than they originally planned, then returning again and again for more of the Pulau Weh experience. Visitors leaving with tears streaming down their cheeks are by no means an uncommon sight and understandably many can't help falling in love with the place.
Wonderful Waters
The marine extravaganza; Whale Sharks, Manta Rays, Requiem Sharks, Turtles, Dolphins, Dogtooth Tuna, Octopus, many schools of fish and great Barracudas, blankets of hard and soft corals, fields of gorgonian fans, walls, canyons and caves, all with BIODIVERSITY at its best. Plus shipwrecks and stunning landscapes, these are just a handful of reasons why Pulau Weh is one of the best kept secrets in Southeast Asia for divers, snorkellers and hammock swingers alike.
SO WHY ARE THE WATERS AROUND PULAU WEH SO GOOD?
A series of different factors combine to produce these outstanding Dive Sites.
- The geographical location. The Indo pacific region hosts by far the most bio-diverse reefs in the world. Indonesia is at the very heart of this region, hosting an estimated 3000 species compared to 2500 in the Phillipines, 1300 in the Austrailian Great Barrier Reef and 800 in the Red Sea! Marine biologists measure diversity by measuring the number of species of damselfish found in any one location. This shows specifically how the diversity decreases as you travel further away from the Indonesian Archipelago; ie. Indonesia has 132 species of damsel, New Guinea 103, the Great Barrier 97, Vanuatu 78, Fiji 58, and Easter Island only three!
- Deep water drop offs. Being a volcanic island, Pulau Weh is surrounded by deep waters, (the bay between Iboih beach and Sabang bottoms out at around 600 meters). Having such deep waters so close to the shallow reefs gives easy access for the deep water pelagic species to come into the reef to feed.
- Currents. The currents around this island bring lots of nutrients onto the reefs, making ideal habitats for filter feeding corals and fish, thus creating habitats for other species that feed off these filter feeders themselves.
- Volcanic terrain. Technically Pulau Weh is still an active volcano (although there is no chance of an actual eruption), so the underwater landscapes consist of volcanic rocks that have since been reshaped by subsequent activity. The end product under water is a great series of brilliant diving landscapes including walls, drop offs, swim throughs, hot springs, channels, canyons, lava flows, pinnacles as well as sheltered bays and sandy beaches.
- Wreck Dives. If all that isn't enough, there are two excellent shipwrecks that are in good condition and easily accessible.
Dense primary rainforests blanket the volcanic slopes around most of the island, their misty canopies host an impressive array of tropical wildlife. Beautifully coloured Butterflies are always seen diligently wondering from flower to flower. Troops of monkeys' march through the treetops, feeding on the abundance of local fruits. Two-meters long monitor lizards and huge wild boars are amongst the local inhabitants.
For bird lovers, there are several varieties of Birds of Paradise, Parakeets, Swallows, flying Lizards, etc. in the trees, Herons and Kingfishers hang out at the water's edge whilst huge Sea Eagles and Fruit Bats sore high in the skies above.
Around Ibioh beach, the jungle literally meets the sea as it comes right down to the waters edge, so all of these natural wonders can be experienced whilst swinging away the afternoon in your hammock! What's more, you get a spectacular sea view of crystal clear turquoise waters at the same time.
The dive sites around Pulau Weh stock a whole range of types of diving regarding landscapes, themes, depths, wrecks as well as abundant marine life, offering something for everyone from beginners to the most experienced divers!
Abundance and variety are the two words that best describe the reef fish of Pulau Weh, countless species of Damsels, Butterflies, Angels, Parrot, and Trigger fish plus the endless schools of Fusiliers, colour changing Cuttle fish and Squid. Trumpet and Pipefish, Leaf and Razor fish occupy the shallows with Box, Trunk, Puffers and Porcupines, not forgetting the spectacular and poisonous Lion, Scorpion and Stonefish. 
The reefs themselves are literally lined with ground floor residents; the bottom dwellers include crabs, crustaceans, shape and colour-changing octopus, shrimps (Cleaners, Mantis, Gobies, Hingeback etc.) and fields of anemones. Too many Moray Eels, 100s of beautiful Nudibranchs, Sea Cucumbers, Ribbon Eels, Ascidians, Flat Worms, Stingrays, Lobsters etc. again the list is literally inexhaustible! 
Schools of giant Barracuda, Dolphins, Pilot Whales, Sailfish and Marlins are but some of the open ocean hunters occupying these waters. Also Dogtooth Tuna, Jacks, Trevallies, Rainbow Runners and Mackerel flash dart in and out of the reef trying to snap up tasty morsels and send the reef fish running for cover! The free swimming Pelagic species find these reefs easily accessible hunting grounds as they are directly adjacent to deep ocean waters!
For the real marine life enthusiasts the sheer abundance of life here provides a really good opportunity for seeing some of the much rarer species. Frog fish, Ghost-pipe fish, Sea-horses, Golden and Zebra morays, many very unusual Nudibranchs and various Juvenile varieties all occur in these waters.
The most talked about sites tend to be Batee Tokong, The Canyon and Pantee Peunateung, between them offering a great variety of coral covered sceneries, abundent marine life, and challenging conditions that attract the BIG FISH.
Gapang Beach (1,2)
Gapang Beach also has some lovely shallow soft corals, hard corals over a rocky drop off, 3-4 resident turtles and attracts manta rays (often out of season) all of which provide a good option for a relaxing Beach dive or endless snorkeling.
SeaGarden (4)
More sheltered spots that provide excellent snorkeling as well as diving include Ibioh and Gapang beaches, Rubiah Sea garden and Selako Island and most of the East Coast beaches. All these locations have their own unique character, differing arrays of corals, conditions and marine life.
Iboih Beach (5)
Ibioh Beach makes an excellent option for a beach dive with plenty of corals and marine life in every direction. Ibioh and Rubiah Island (a 400m swim from Ibioh Beach) supplies a wide range off snorkeling locations, each with their own kinds of corals, fish and marine life resulting in an almost inexhaustible supply of snorkeling options.
Wreck Diving
For the real explorers there are two excellent and very different wreck dives. Both boats are upright, intact and in good condition and are close to the coast in very calm waters.
Bu Hila - Fragrant Rice (18)
Encrusted with corals and algae, surrounded by reef fish the Bu Hila, an old tug boat provides a very pleasant and easy wreck dive in shallow (14m) quiet conditions. This wreck is filled with gold and glass fish, different crabs and shrimps are literally crawling all over it, lobsters and scorpion fish live under the stern whilst the rare twin spot lion fish and ghost pipe fish often hang around the bow. The “Bu Hila” makes a brilliant night dive, or for a day dive we stop at underwater hot springs on the way home for a super-heated natural jaccuzi.Pria Laot Wreck - The Sophia Richmond (20)
A true challenge from the other end of the wreck diving spectrum, the Sophia Richmond is strictly for experienced divers only. A massive (90m) cargo vessel lies upright on a sloping bottom between 55-65m with the wheel house at 38m. We dive it using very conservative Canadian Navy Decompression tables and personal computers combined. Safety in our utmost priority; we accept only very experience or highly trained divers and provide detailed safety procedures, extended in depth briefings and insist on a strict conduct during the dive. We also use a fool-proof system lines and hang-tanks for the decompression stops as a typical 20 minute 54m profile requires 45-60 minutes of decompression stops.For those who take up the challenge, this wreck provides an often unique and unforgettable experience, huge cargo holds and the wheel house are easily and safely visited plenty of corals, clams and fish now inhabit this cargo freighter along with occasional seahorses and eagle rays. The location is also a prime feeding ground (during the annual plankton bloom) for whale sharks and manta rays which have been seen several times during the deco stops. Being circled by a mother and baby whale sharks throughout the deco stop last year was a truely magical and awesome experience!
Nice DiveSpots
Batee Tokong - Rock Centre (9)
The underwater market place is Battee Tokong every fish turns up to feed, hangout and see what’s going on etc. the main wall drops from above the surface to 22m and leads into the shark plateau a large sloping plane, blanketed with a stunning array of gorgonian sea fans and green tree corals. The resident black tips, masses of morays and lion fish, endless varieties and quantities of reef fish are often complimented with turtles, Napoleon wrasse, eagle, mantas and devil rays all making Tokong the one for fish lovers.Batee Tokong means centeral rock and is located about 10 munites boat ride from the dive shop.
Pantee Aneuk Seukee - The Canyon (12)
Swimming between the coral lined walls of the Canyon amongst schools of reef fish for the first time always proves to be a truly memorable occasion and is not only lined with many different coral and lost to several other cracks, channels, swim throughs and a magnificent wall make it a serious fish magnet. The Canyon is the large pinnacle (which as its name suggests is spilt into two halves by the Canyon itself. A prime site for big fish resident napoleon wrasse and giant sweetlips, and groups of schooling barracuda are often joined by manta and eagle rays, sharks, families of bumphead parrotfish, plus giant morays and turtles.Getting to the Canyon takes about 25 minutes by boat, the sites’ real name is ‘Pantee Aneuk Seuke’ which means reef of the young trees....
Pantee Peunateung - Padi field reef (13)
Another favorite with a series of huge walls and vertical drop offs into deep-water landscapes all covered with enormous gorgonian sea fans mixed with green tree corals creating an incredible spectacle. This area proves to be a prime location for shark spotting black and white tip sharks are regularly seen effortlessly cruising around the walls, Hammerhead, Silver tip, Grey reef and Sand sharks have all also been seen here, albeit less frequently. Otherwise giant sting rays, eagle rays, bumphead parrots and Manta Rays (in season) make common appearances. Then the intermediate depths are covered with lava rocks and volcanic formations, channels, fish bowls, swim through, “Pyramids” etc, supporting a dense reef comprising hard corals, reef fish, turtles, morays etc. During the plankton bloom we can often guarantee manta rays in the shallows. Pantee Peunateung means padi- field reef, and takes about 35 minutes to reach by boat. Day Trip
Relaxing on the sun deck of the dive boat, taking in the impressive views of Pulau Weh and surrounding islands from the sea, all you can eat lunches, tea, coffee, home-made doughnuts and fresh fruits, sun bathing, snorkeling, dolphins, pilot whales, marlin, sailfish and sea eagles in the skies, the day trips have it all!
This year we’ve been running day trips to the outer islands at least once or twice a week (in the busy season) and have seen either dolphins or pilot whales almost every single time!
Batee Meuduro - Spliky Rock (16)
Arguably the best corals in Pulau Weh are found in the shallows of Batee Meduron. Large areas blanketed by table and finger corals, full of reef fish often cause reef divers to extend their safety stops for over ½ hour. This pinnicle drops off into deep water with often spectacular 50m visibility is another prime site for BIG FISH, 3m thesher sharks are often sighted, eagle, manta and devil rays, monster barracuda, napoleon, giant trevallys, reef sharks all contribute to some truly spectacular diving.
Pulau Rondo - Rondo Island
A wondrous array of limestone pinnacles rise mysteriously and majestically out of the waters south of Pulau Rondo and provide excellent choices of dive sites. An unparalleled intensity of colour is created by whole landscapes of blue, white, green and yellow soft corals, spiraling walls of slinky surgeon fish, plenty of rainbow runners colourful fusilers plus reef sharks, residential bumpheads and turtles, a regular feeding ground for dolphins, with brilliant snorkeling for the surface interval, Pulau Rondo is the jewel of the day trips.
Pulau Beras - Rice Island
Massive deserted sand beaches, jungle covered volcanic mountains, smaller islands and pinnacles also surround this virtually uninhabited sister island of Pulau Weh. Whilst diving here we witness a colourful myrid of sponges and ascidians which bring the rocky formations alive and host a wide variety of reef fish, many of which cannot be found on Pulau Weh. Finally the boat trip around the island during sunset is a truly memorable experience.
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Terumbu karang Laut Pulau Rubiah - CORAL REEF at Rubiah Island
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