Students from UGM’s Community Service Program (KKN-PPM) in the Banggai Islands have initiated the establishment of a diving center to strengthen local marine tourism.
The diving center was realized through close collaboration between UGM students, the local government, and community members, who were actively involved from the planning to the implementation stages.
In addition to building the Diving Center in Luk Panenteng, the students also opened an access road to O’ang Basal in Sambulangan Village.
The inauguration ceremony of the Diving Center was led by the Vice Regent of the Banggai Islands, Serfi Kambey, accompanied by officials from the Tourism Office, village authorities, tourism actors, and UGM students.
The enthusiastic participation of the community reflected the strong expectations for the advancement of local tourism. In his remarks, Kambey emphasized the importance of utilizing natural resources wisely for the welfare of the community.
“We want marine tourism to grow without compromising environmental sustainability so that future generations can benefit from it,” he said in a statement on Wednesday (Aug. 13).
The construction of the Luk Panenteng Diving Center began in 2018 as part of a broader strategy to enhance the marine tourism appeal of the Banggai Islands. The facility is equipped with storage space for diving equipment, a basic training area, and a small pier for tourist boats.
With this infrastructure, new employment opportunities are expected to emerge for local dive guides, diving instructors, and marine tourism operators. The UGM students also contributed to developing diving training programs and tourism promotion to ensure the facility can be utilized optimally.
O’ang Basal is a karst geological formation with a diameter of approximately 45 meters and a depth of over 50 meters, offering a unique tourism potential that combines natural beauty with scientific research.
It is directly connected to the sea and is now more easily accessible thanks to the newly constructed road. With this improved access, tourists and researchers can visit the site safely and comfortably.
UGM students also assisted in mapping its geotourism potential and preparing educational materials for visitors to support sustainable, conservation-based tourism.
UGM Rector, Professor Ova Emilia, emphasized that tourism development in the Banggai Islands serves as an exemplary case of community-based empowerment that unites the strengths of multiple stakeholders.
According to her, the Community-Based Diving Center provides an inspiring model for other coastal regions in Indonesia, as it integrates cross-sector collaboration, higher education, and local communities.
“Beyond supporting marine tourism and ecotourism, this diving center also serves as a living laboratory for research, education, and innovation in conservation-based tourism villages, further positioning Banggai Islands as a hub for sustainable tourism development in Eastern Indonesia,” she said.
The synergy created through the inauguration of these two facilities demonstrates that environmental preservation and economic development can progress hand in hand. The active involvement of UGM students in accompanying the community underscores that locally driven development can be realized inclusively.
The Banggai Islands thus strengthen their position not only as a beautiful marine tourism destination but also as a symbol of shared commitment to sustainability.
Author: Triya Andriyani
Photographs: UGM KKN-PPM Team Banggai Islands