Under the Dutch colonial government, Donggala was the most important town and port in Central Sulawesi. When the main harbor was ruined, ships had to use the harbor in Palu, on the other side of the bay. Since then, Palu became the regional capital and Donggala, found 34km north of Palu, turned into a quiet town that people pass through on the way to Tanjung Karang.
It has been known as a great dive destination since the 90`s. It is easily accessible from Palu, only taking about an hour by car. A fantastic resort is located in Tanjung Karang, which has faithfully served divers ever since its construction.
The dive spots in Donggala surround Tanjung Karang (Coral Cape) and are actually minutes away from the aforementioned resort. Tanjung Karang is a favorite spot for its all-access house reefs. If you’re looking for something more adventurous, there are several spots to be explored by speedboat from the dive centre near the resort.
There are more than 20 dive spots around Donggala. Other than coral reefs, there is also a shipwreck, said to be from a 1957 Permesta rebellion uprising, which lies 40m deep at one of the sites. There are of course many unique marine biota in the area too, including: various nudibranch, scorpion fish, leaf fish, pegasus, anthias gathering in flocks on the tips of achroporas, and also white tip sharks from time to time.
