Explore Riau Islands

The Riau Islands is an Indonesian province comprising 1769 islands lying from the Malacca Strait to the South China Sea. The Malacca Straits is one of the oldest and busiest marine trading routes, so it is not surprising that while scuba diving the Riau Islands, divers encounter a number of wrecks, from merchant ships to World War II bombers.

Situated only a short boat ride from Singapore, the Bintan and Batam Islands are the most well-known of the Riau archipelago. Bintan’s calm shallow waters and fringing reefs are ideal for novice dive courses and those searching for macro critters while the southern reefs of Batam are nutrient-rich and home to sea turtle, stingray, and reef sharks. Divers who are more experienced can head to the Anambas Islands, where away from the protection of coastal sites are the chance to drift along walls and pinnacles among barracuda. There’s even the potential to spot whale sharks on their migratory route!

Aside from the Bintan and Batam Islands, as you travel into the archipelago the islands are mostly undeveloped and Riau Islands diving is undiscovered by most. Liveaboards across the region allow divers to explore areas that are not accessible by staying on one of the dive resorts at Bintan Island. If you want to dive the Riau Islands through reputable dive centres, there are a number on Singapore yet, the Bintan and Batam Islands are likely to be the extent of the excursion.