Riung 17 Islands Marine Park

Riung's 17 Islands Marine Park on Flores' north coast is one of Indonesia's most pristine and least-visited marine protected areas, where dugongs graze on vast undisturbed seagrass meadows between islands draped in nesting frigatebirds. The coral gardens here are in exceptional condition, blanketed with hard coral cover that exceeds 80 percent at several sites, supported by the near-complete absence of fishing pressure inside the park boundary. Underwater topography ranges from gentle coral slopes ideal for beginners to exposed outer channels that flush with oceanic currents carrying hammerheads and eagle rays.