Mentawai Islands

The Mentawai Islands are an archipelago of four large islands (Siberut, Sipura, North and South Pagai) and dozens of small ones, located in the Indian Ocean southwest of Sumatra. This is one of the most remote and least explored dive destinations in Indonesia, where tropical forests meet white sand beaches and pristine coral reefs lie beneath the surface. The Mentawai underwater world differs from the rest of Indonesia — the influence of the Indian Ocean is evident here. Reefs are bordered by strong oceanic currents that attract large pelagics: sharks, tuna, and rays. Shallow coral gardens abound with colorful reef fish. On land, the indigenous Mentawai people have preserved ancient traditions and way of life. The region is also known as one of the world’s best surfing destinations, and its underwater potential is only beginning to be revealed.