Ditte and the Sea

The Real Vacation of a Danish Diving Instructor
Caoralia Liveaboard became an introduction to the diving world of Ditte Spanggaard, a Danish diving instructor working aboard the luxurious Pinisi sailing boat built in Bira, Bulukumba Regency, South Sulawesi Province in 2019. According to its official description, the name “Carolia” is inspired by the word “coral” and the Latin suffix “-ia,” expressing the idea of a “Nation of Corals.” Ditte seems to work in a place perfectly suited to her expertise. She appears not to work in order to go on vacation, but rather to vacation together with guests who have worked hard to afford a journey aboard Coralia.

Together with Coralia, Ditte has been exploring diving destinations and marine tourism routes across eastern Indonesia, including Raja Ampat, Komodo National Park, Banda Islands, Alor, and Cenderawasih Bay.

“Last year, I worked in Una-Una in the Togean Islands of Central Sulawesi,” Ditte explained. It was an extraordinary underwater destination. “So, I want to come back to Indonesia,” the Danish woman continued.

Based on her personal experience, Una-Una occupies the top place among her favorite diving destinations, followed by Raja Ampat, the Banda Islands, Alor, and even Timor-Leste, although it is not part of Indonesia.

As a diving instructor working aboard a ship, does Ditte spend more of her life at sea than on land?
For a moment, she paused in thought. “I don’t know,” she answered.
“Her life is on the boat. It is understandable that her vacation time at Cosmos Bungalow in Bira is relatively short,” the writer thought. A moment later, she smiled warmly and said honestly, “Every two months on the boat, one month off. That’s the cycle.”

“I like Indonesia, the people, and working in Indonesia,” Ditte added.
Her presence in Bira was part of her life journey to experience natural beauty different from anything she had seen before. She also admired local culture. Unfortunately, she did not have the opportunity to visit Kajang during her stay in Bulukumba.
The indigenous Ammatoa Kajang Indigenous Community live in harmony with nature: walking barefoot, wearing black clothing, and protecting their customary forest without electricity or excessive modernization. In their tradition, anyone who cuts down one tree must plant two trees in return.

According to Imam Shamsi Ali, a prominent figure from Kajang now known in New York City, the Kajang people’s commitment to environmental conservation has drawn international attention. They are recognized as guardians of tropical forests and as an inspiration showing how humanity and nature can live in harmony rather than in conflict.

What else makes people want to explore the world?
“I could travel the world for food,” Ditte said. “I love trying different kinds of food.”
Among Indonesian dishes, her favorite is Gado-Gado. Since she was visiting South Sulawesi, the writer suggested she try Coto Makassar—a traditional beef soup with thick spiced broth and roasted peanuts from Makassar. Ditte seemed interested in trying it.

As for Denmark, anyone familiar with the country would certainly know The Little Mermaid, the most famous statue in Copenhagen. Ditte also briefly explained the idea of a “half flat,” a small beautiful house in the Danish countryside. She then mentioned a unique tower in Copenhagen surrounded by larger buildings. Since there was no more time to ask further questions, the tower she referred to was perhaps The Round Tower, or Rundetårn, an iconic 17th-century structure famous for its panoramic 360-degree view of Copenhagen and its spiral ramp leading all the way to the top.

The car from Bulukumba to Makassar was scheduled to depart exactly at nine in the morning. Aris Irfan, Manager of Cahaya Bone from Kalla Travel, invited Ditte to get ready.As a memory, we took a photograph together and promised to preserve this simple yet meaningful conversation in writing—a remembrance of a brief but pleasant friendship.

Ditte tried to make the most of her limited time on land by visiting famous places that were not included in Coralia Liveaboard’s itinerary. Perhaps this was her real vacation before returning once again to the diving world—a world that many people would consider a dream holiday in itself.

Zulkarnain Patwa
Bulukumba, Wednesday, May 13, 2026