Taka Bonerate National Sea Park as Celebes Mainstay Tourism

Taka Bonerate Fish

Taka Bonerate National Sea Park is located in Kabupaten Selayar, South Sulawesi. This area is famous well known as the third of the largest atoll in the world after Kwajifein in Marshal Island and Suvadiva in Maldives Island. The large about 220.000 hectare, with reef spread as long as that area about 500 square km. This national sea park is a mainstay of Celebes Tourism and Indonesia Tourism caused of the beautiful scenery.

The topography is very interesting and unique which the atoll content of black rock and huge reef, formed be an island and between black rocks contain of small hill strait. Moreover, in the flat surface contain of fish pools closed by the reef. There are some plantations there but coconut (Cocos nucifera), Sea Pandan (Pandanus sp.), casuarinas, and almond tree (Terminalia catappa) dominate it.

Talking about reef, this area has been identified has 261 reef species from 17 family’s e.g. Pocillopora eydouxi, Montipora danae, Acropora palifera, Porites cylindrical, Pavona clavus, and Fungia concinna. Almost all of them are barrier reef and fringing reef with beautiful scenery. About 295 fish species found here, more of them are rockfish, 244 mollusk species, and some turtles make this area become their habitats. In fact there are 15 islands in Taka Bonerate that could be visited to diving, snorkeling, and others tourism activities. The best visiting time between April to June and from October to December yearly caused at the time the wave not so high.

Selayar as the place of Taka Bonerate National Sea Park could be get by ferry (small ship) from Bulukumba seaport about 2 hours and then continue to Benteng about 1.5 hours. From Benteng the traveling will be continuing to the Rajuni Island as a part of Taka Bonerate National Sea Park in 5 hours.

Picture source: http://www.dephut.go.id