Weh Island : An Underwater Paradise on Kilometer Zero

Bathed in the water of the Andaman sea, Weh Island stretches 15 kilometer long on the northern tip of Sumatra. Its terrain hilly and its shores adorned by lush coral reefs. Weh is surrounded by four islets, namely, Klah, Rubiah, Seulako and Rondo. Of the four, Rubiah is the one famous as a diving spot featuring corals view. Weh has diverse marine natural wonder with challenging water flow and numerous dive sites. It has various and pristine underwater beauty : Sand, volcanic rock niches, underwater craters.


Divers are invited for encounters with whale sharks, manta ray's and mola-mola hospitality. Among the species gracing Weh water are Chaetodon Xanthocephalus, C. gardnery, Scarus enneacanthus, S. scaber, Halichoeres cosmetus, Stethojulis albovittaus and Pogonoperca oceallata. The island's center is Sabang, the Kilometer Zero city, because it marks the westernmost point of the Indonesian archipelago. Air based travels can go through Banda Aceh, continued with sea trip to Weh. The Rubiah marine park can be reached from Iboih or Gapang Beach.

The Andaman sea lies over dynamic tectonic plates. In 2004 an earthquake and tsunami thrashed mangrove forests in Iboih, leaving underwater wrecks on its beach. Weh's pristine marine parks are attraction for underwater beauty seekers. There are dozens of dive sites, but the most famous are located in Gapang, Rubiah and Iboih. Experienced to guide the underwater adventures.

Dive Sites

• Gapang : Located on the western part of the Weh Area, Gapang Beach is very close to the archipelago's Kilometer Zero. With the clear water and white sand, the water is terrific site for snorkeling and swimming. The place, whose name is taken from Gapang trees that grow in the area, features an assortment of fish in the coral reefs. The underwater is easy to navigate and mesmerizing with greets from scorpion fish, lion fish, leaf fish and blue spotted fantail rays.
• Rubiah Marine Park : Which is located on Sabang Bay - Some 23.5 kilometers off Sabang, is the home for various sea creatures. Its water is calm and clear to spot octopus, giant clams, angel fish, schools of parrot fish, lion fish and scorpion fish. There is sloping recession that hosts black spotted and honeycomb moray eels. The park's northern side is dominated by hard corals, while the southern part is dominated by soft corals. Large rocks hosting small corals also create passages in teh bottom of the sea
• Batee Tokong : About 10 minutes away from Iboih, this dive site is often visited by divers. On the northern side, a high plateau is home for blacktip, whitetip, gray and silvertip sharks. Divers can also meet with moray eels, including the rare margined fimbriated and yellow eels. Gorgonian fan corals also cover a steep slope up to 40 meters deep.
• Batee Gla : In its deep waters, the area has a formation of alleys made up of large rocks, a memorable view for many divers. Batee Gla is also one of favorite dive sites with its variety of species : sea turtles, mantis shrimps and moray eels. The spot also offers the sight of corals blanketing the wreck of Sophie Rikmers, with moray eels and groupers being regular passers. Stranded on the bottom of Pria Laot Bay, the ship was a cargo steam ship made in Germany one of five similiar ships confiscated by the British on May 1, 1940.
• Arus Balee : The dive site with a 5 meter long cave, 16 meter deep is great for beginners. The name of the spot means strong current between Rubiah island and Seulako. Divers are advised to swim close to bottom during strong currents. Besides fusillier, snapper and moray eels. The dive site is often visited by sharks and barracudas. At the depths of between 5 and 20 meters, colorful nudibranchs decorate the coral niches
• Pantee Aneuk Seuke : Also called The Canyon for its beautiful rocks, cliffs and underwater caves filled with corals. The marine life boast napoleon wrasses, reef sharks and manta rays. The underwater ravine structures are made of rocks and rocky alleys. The ravine begins at depth of 13 meters to 30 meters and continues with a slope down to 40 meters deep. At the depth of 24 meters there is a terrain covered with various sea fans and hard also soft corals. Pantee Penaueng also has terraced slope which gives it its name. Barracudas and trevally often pass near its ravine at the 70 meter depth.
• Kapal Karam ( Shipwreck ) : Not far from Sabang port there is a wreck of tugboat" Buhila ", which serves as home for numerous species. At the depths of between 5 and 14 meters, fish pace to and fro. Although rarely, nudibranchs can also spotted hear. Near Laot Pria Bay, daring divers can seek to see hot bubbles from underwater volcano. Amidst the sandy bottom, there are cracks spewing sulfuric bubbles.
• Batee Meuduro : Located on the southern side of Weh, it is one of the main sites for diving. With a strong current, divers can drift and swim down to 10 meters deep between corals. There are also submerged reefs breaking the current here. Lodging, cafes and restaurant of ranging rates are available. A culinary park in Gampong Kuta Barat is a great place to palate the Sabang style Aceh food. Fishing enthusiast are invited to come to waters around Rondo island. On the tip of Weh, there is the Kilometer Zero Monument - the western starting point for the total length of Indonesia from Sabang to Marauke in the east.

How To Get There :

• By Plane : Sabang has a small airfield, but currently reserved only for military uses. 
• By Boat  :
• Fast Ferry (~1 hour, Rp 60,000-economy 70,000-business 80,000-VIP) leave at 9.30am and 4pm from Banda Aceh and 8.30am and 4pm from Sabang Pulau Weh. For the moment the fast ferry called "Pulo Rondo" only run once a day depart from Ulee Lheue pier (Banda Aceh) at 9.30 am to Balohan (Pulau Weh)and from Balohan (Pulau Weh) at 4.00 pm. Until further notice. Motorcycles and cars are not allowed on the fast ferry but bicycles can be shipped for 50,000 IDR
• Slow Ferry (~2.5 hrs,Rp 18,000-economy 26,000-business 32.000-executive) Leaves Banda Aceh at 2pm and from Pulau Weh at 8.00am. Sometimes there are two trips/day with an extra trip at 11am. .   

Eat, Sleep and Other's :

• Iboih : Backpacker style beach huts with hammocks on the balconies from RP 50,000 per night (longstay) up to RP 150,000 (short stay) depending on the location and features of the bungalow (and your negotiating ability). Shared bathrooms (squat toilets) are the norm, but more and more bungalows with private western toilets. Walk east along the road from the village and you'll find the newer, more expensive upmarket bungalows with air-conditioning (starting around RP 300,000). Walk west past the village and up along the path into the jungle to find the budget accommodations. From the village you find the following in this order.
• Erick's Green House. : Is a higher standard very close to the sandy beach. Erick speaks good English, is very together and in a fountain of information. As many of the rooms are attached to one building, there is a community feel to this place ( Rp. 60,000 - Rp. 100,000 )
• Olala :. started with two bungalows right on the water, but has since built a few more. If you're lucky enough to get one of the original shacks, you can watch the fish from the hammock on the balcony. ( Rp. 100,000 )  
• Oong (Norma's place) : Norma is the default location for return visitors. Expect a communal atmosphere with home cooked meals. Norma is an institution ( RP. 50,000-100,000 )
• Yulia's Bungalows and Restaurant : At the very end of the path sits Yulia's. This place seems more professionally run, i.e. less of a family atmosphere. The views from the bungalows, their spacious positioning, and immediate access to one of the better snorkeling spots more than make up for the higher price long walk. As a bonus, the shared bathrooms have clean western toilets and showers. ( Rp. 90,000-150,000)
• Sabang : Although not much of a tourist destination in itself, there are a few guest houses and "resorts" if you want to be someplace closer to town life. There are a few in the residential areas of town, but the more interesting ones are on the seaward side of town
• Gapang : There is less accommodation available right on Gapang beach. This means that the prices are higher, and it is somewhat more exclusive. There is a largish upscale resort close to the entrance to the beach, which offers some of the best accommodation on Gapang (glass windows, hot showers, a/c). Don't be scared away though, you can always haggle and the beach has more to do than Iboih for a non-diver.
• Sumur Tiga : The newest accommodations with higher standard are to find on the east coast of Pulau Weh Island
• Fredies Santai Sumur Tiga : with nice Bungalows (Fan)in traditional Style, hot and cold water shower (no bath), drinking water tank in the room and Restaurant with good food and drinks.
• Casa Nemo : also with nice Bungalows (Fan) in traditional Style, hot and cold water shower (and bath), drinking water tank in the room, good views from the hammock and seats on the veranda. Diving provided
• Rasa Seni Hotel Resort Anoi Itam, the newest and most comfortable accommodation on Pulau Weh, with air conditioning, hot and cold water shower and studios also with bathtub and mini bar. Restaurant with international food and Asian specialties. Very good dive spots in front of the Resort in Anoi Itam Bay 
• There are no nightclubs or bars on Pulau Weh, if you like to party this is the wrong place to go. Alcohol is generally forbidden in the entire Aceh province, however some places may have it available. Beer (Rp. 25,000 ) and banana brandy (RP. 80,000 ) makes up the selection of the local poison. Popular places for a sundowner at Iboih includes Ozone Restaurant and Olala. Oong's, Iboih Inn and Yulia's all have beer in the fridge for sale, if you prefer drinking at home. At Sumur Tiga, Freddies has a menu of drinks inside the four-course meal restaurant. You can even get wine here. Casa Nemo serves beer. 
• Before 2014 ATMs were only in the city of Sabang, which is about 40 minutes from Gapang and Iboh beaches. Now, another 2 have been set up in Iboih beach. Still, they only work when the electricity is on which is not as often as you would imagine, so it's still wise to bring plenty of cash from Banda Aceh. Iboih Inn and Rubiah Tirta dive center accepts credit cards at a 3% charge.