Karimunjawa, Marine national park in Jepara, Indonesia.
Karimunjawa is an archipelago in the Java Sea, its islands surrounded by coral reefs, mangrove forests, and beaches with clear water. The group extends across a wide marine area north of the Jepara coast, with both uninhabited and inhabited islands.
Traders stopped here along spice routes in the 16th and 17th centuries, when ships sailed between Java and Borneo. The British later used some of the remote islands as a place of exile for prisoners.
In several small fishing hamlets around the islands, crews still prepare traditional wooden boats for multi-day voyages. Local households prepare sambal ikan and dried anchovies using recipes handed down through generations.
Ferries from Jepara bring travelers to the main island, with crossings taking several hours depending on the type of vessel. The dry season between April and October provides calmer seas and better conditions for snorkeling and diving.
Some of the reefs sit close enough to the surface that swimmers can see turtles and rays while snorkeling at an easy depth. In a few spots around the archipelago, you can find black coral, which usually grows in deeper waters elsewhere.
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