Thursday, 15 October 2009
Karimunjawa
The Karimunjawa archipelago is situated in the Java Sea, 45 nautical miles away
from Jepara Regency and 60 Nautical miles from Semarang, the capital city of Central
Java Province. Karimunjawa is known for its amazing fringing coral reefs, diving
sites, and sandy beaches. The reefs are a combination of fringing, barrier, and
patch with bottom depths ranging from 15 to 40 meters.
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Karimunjawa archipelago consists of 27 islands scattered along the Java Sea.
Five of them, namely Karimunjawa, Kemujan, Parang, Nyamuk and Genting, are inhabited.
The area is 111,625 acres in width, consists of 7,033 acres of land and 104,592
acres of water; Most of the islands are untouched and beautiful, where visitors
can indulge in diving, fishing and sunbathing.
Some islands are formed by coral reefs and covered with a sand layer. The coast
is mostly overgrown with mangrove and other marine plants. The ecosystems, consists
of five types: coral reef, sea grass and seaweed, mangrove forest, coastal forest
and low land tropical rain forest, offering maritime tourism object and natural
adventure. Due to its unique and natural marine life, the islands are conserved
and declared as a National Marine Park. |
The most interesting tourism object in these islands is the marine area, there
are more than 30 dive sites across Karimunjawa Marine National Park. There are
shallow dive sites with weak or even without currents for beginners, as well as
the deep ones with strong currents for more advanced divers suitable for all levels
of divers, from beginners to experienced ones. Interested divers can also explore
several shipwrecks of old merchant ships at various depths.
The most famous marine tourism area in the archipelago is Menyawakan Island;
it is a good place
for snorkeling, ringed by a beautiful coral reef like the other
islands in Karimun Jawa. The water around this resort island is so clean and
the reef is clearly visible from the surface. Visitors may find an awesome experience
snorkeling around the island floating and following the current around to see
abundant of colorful coral reef, coral fishes and other underwater species live
here. The shallow and clear water around the islands allows visitors to watch
under water living from the surface using glass bottomed boat. Or visitors may
just spend the time by doing other water-sports such as fishing, sailing, windsurfing,
water-skiing, and jet skiing around the island.
Another interesting activity here is feed and play with white tip shark at the
conservation pond in Menjangan Kecil Island, there is a shark breeding site where
0.5 to 2 meters young sharks swim around freely. Another breeding site is in
the Floating Cottage; a wooden Cottage that floats on a breeding area of white
sharks. While on the white sandy beaches of Menjangan Besar Island and Cemara
Kecil visitors can find perfect locations forsunbathing.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit the islands is from April through November. It can also
be visited from December through March, but due to the rainy season, visitors
may experience stronger winds and bigger waves. The most comfortable time to
visit the Karimunjawa is from April to July and September to November because
of the calm water and wind.
How to Get There
From Jakarta, Karimunjawa can be reached by domestic flights served by Garuda
Airways, Mandala Airlines, Lion Air, Sriwijaya Air and Batavia Air to Semarang.
And then from Semarang there are two options to reach Karimunjawa; using plane
or speed boat. Visitors may use chartered flight from Ahmad Yani Airport or KMC
KARTINI I speed boat from Tanjung Mas Harbor. Approximately it needs 3 hours
sailing from Semarang to Karimunjawa by boat.
Beside the two options above there is public ferry KMP Muria departs from Kartini
Harbor Jepara. It needs 5 - 6 hours to reach Karimunjawa from Jepara by KMP Muria,
while transportation between the islands is served by local fishermen’s boats,
which can be hired anytime.
Boat Schedules to Karimunjawa:
KMC KARTINI I
Semarang to Karimunjawa
-Saturday:
Semarang – Karimunjawa (08.30 WIB)
-Monday:
(in the first and third week of the month)
Semarang (07:00 WIB) – Jepara (09:30 WIB) – Karimunjawa
Karimunjawa to Semarang
- Sunday:
Karimunjawa – Semarang 14.00 WIB
- Tuesday:
(in the first and third week of the month)
Karimunjawa (11:00 WIB) – Jepara – Semarang
KMP MURIA
Jepara to Karimunjawa
- Wednesday:
Jepara – Karimunjawa (08:30 WIB)
- Saturday:
Jepara – Karimunjawa (08:30 WIB)
Karimunjawa to Jepara
- Thursday:
Karimunjawa – Jepara (08:30 WIB)
- Monday:
Karimunjawa – Jepara (08:30 WIB)
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