Visiting the North-east coast of Bali is an excellent opportunity to discover beautiful landscapes and seascapes that are nowhere else to be found on the island. A wide range of activities do not cease to amaze tourists and residents alike. From its natural park, mountains, valleys, clear seas and unique marine reserve, the North has a great deal to offer visitors.
Near the fishing village of Pemuteran a visit to the Atlas pearl farm is a must. In its pristine setting the secrets of south sea pearls are revealed. Visitors can do a tour and learn about the oyster breeding program, the cultivation cycle and see a demonstration of pearl seeding and harvesting. Pearls are the only precious gems created by living creatures and they are often referred to as “nature’s most precious gift”. Along the Northern shores of Bali, the natural environment has all the properties necessary for the culture of some of the best quality south sea pearls in the world.
This project started back in 1992 and it has evolved greatly since. For the past two years, Aurore Lombard and Philippe Régal have brought their expertise and vast experience in this field to improve even further the quality of the production. Aurore is a scientist and a true expert. She holds a PhD in marine biology with a specialization in the reproduction of South sea pearls and comes with over 12 years experience in research and the control of production. Her current post is complex, she has to be skilled in all areas of the company from research, control of conditions in the water, logistics etc… Most importantly for her, she has the opportunity to collaborate on a joint research project with James Cook University in Australia aiming to develop the ultimate method of reproduction through genetic selection.
Philippe Régal, Aurore’s other half, works most of his time on the pearl farm as a senior manager. Atlas is the largest employer in North Bali with over 200 local employees and security personnel. Philippe’s main challenge is to facilitate and coordinate their work, a job he does particularly well thanks to his energy and passion for pearls. With 15 years of valuable experience in the reproduction and culture of pearls in Thailand, Tahiti and now Indonesia, he is a real asset to the company. Having seen many visitors fascinated to learn the secrets of pearl culture, he would love to share his knowledge with many more people.
Visiting the pearl farm gives the unique opportunity to see and understand the whole process from the human intervention on the oyster, to the birth of the pearl and all various stages until it is finally extracted from the shell and made into a fine piece of jewelry. Upstairs, the showroom displays some of the most stunning pearls cultured in Bali’s waters. South sea pearls from Indonesia have acquired a sound reputation and they are valued and exported everywhere in the world. Only 5% of the production is for sale in the country and the rest is sold in America, Australia, Europe and recently Russia where the demand is ever growing.
Did you know that pearls are born when a mollusk or shell fish responds to injury by secreting crystals of nacre or mother of pearl? Whilst all mollusks are capable of producing a pearl, only a select few produce pearls of beauty and value. South sea pearls are the “queens of pearls”. They grow in a rare, large and solitary oyster: the Pinctada maxima. This oyster can only be found on an extremely limited number of shell beds in the tropical waters of the south seas, hence the name of the pearl. These are not to be confused with the black pearls originating in Polynesia. This area stretches around the north coast of Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines. In Indonesia, Atlas has developed the culture of south sea pearls off the shores of Bali, Lombok and Papua.
Their exceptional quality and splendor comes from the complex influence of the ocean environment and the work of men with savoir faire. When admiring the various specimens on display and the fine jewelry, check their size, roundness, color and luster. These four main attributes are used to determine the quality and so the value of a pearl. The staff on the pearl farm is always ready to teach interested visitors. In Indonesia, pearls come in three different shades: golden, silver or white and Atlas is renowned for its silver pearls with hints and blue and a lustrous finish of finest quality.
The surroundings of the farm are also truly amazing, in many ways reminiscent of a Tahitian landscape with a backdrop of mountains dropping to the sea, a thin strip of land and a lagoon of calm waters where the pearls are cultured. The view is particularly breathtaking from a boat looking back on the northern chain of mountains that come in shades of brown during the dry season and turn into lush jungle in the rainy season. The sea is always flat there, mirroring the sky in several shades of turquoise, green and the deepest blue.
The panorama from the café dominates the bay and it is simply striking. From the terrace and showroom the production area can be seen about 100m off the shore. The atmosphere is relaxed and a sense of timelessness floats in the air. Visitors can have a coffee and a tasty snack while absorbing the tranquility of the place and admiring exquisite pearls and original pieces of jewelry. A tour around the farm and its laboratory costs Rps 60 000 and reveals the long kept secrets of the pearl production. You can even select your own Atlas south sea pearl and have it custom designed into the jewel of your choice. Their staff are welcoming and know how to deliver the information professionally, answer any question and visitors gain a unique and memorable educational experience.
For amateur or professional scuba divers, special arrangements can be made with Pondok Sari dive shop or Reef Seen to dive on the pearl stations sites. This is an opportunity to look closely at the oysters at different stages of growth, to observe the staff working and, if the timing is right, witness the pearl harvest.
Another appealing feature of the farm is its genuine respect for the environment. Since pearl oysters are totally reliant on the sea environment for their survival, Atlas takes its role as an ocean custodian extremely seriously. They are committed to best environmental practices such as coral reef and mangrove rehabilitation work and shore erosion. Pearls do not generate any pollution as they feed from filtering plankton. The company has developed an extensive recycling venture with half the proceeds going to a staff loan facility. This initiative allows them to provide scholarships for the best students in the village, financially help a local orphanage and the fishing community. Further afield, Atlas supports the work of Conservation International and The Nature Conservancy in Raja Ampat, now considered to be the most bio-diverse marine habitat left on the planet. Finally, ocean patrols established by Atlas have led to the cessation of dynamite fishing and poisoning of reefs within the company’s area of influence.
The company is aware that it relies on the local community and in turn, it tries to help this community in meaningful ways. They have made possible the building and refurbishment of schools both in Bali and Papua. They provide transport from the remote islands of Raja Ampat to the Sorong mainland. They have succeeded in building a fully equipped and manned medical clinic in Alyui Bay and finally they take an important role in the training of local workers as hatchery and pearl seeding technicians, a skill previously unknown in Indonesia.
The north of Bali is rich with places to visit. The most western tip is the large Barat national park, home to many protected animals that can be seen roaming free. Dedicated park rangers can take visitors on treks, showing them the gracious Menjangan deer and explaining their rehabilitation programme for the Bali starling. An encounter with them is truly instructive and gives a sense and understanding of the threats and also the richness of the Balinese ecosystem. In Pemuteran, it is possible to snorkel and even take part in activities at the coral rehabilitation and sea turtle conservation centre. Trips to Menjangan Island, where lie some of the best scuba diving and snorkeling sites in Bali are easily arranged from many dive and boat operations along the coast. For the visitors in quest of peace and spirituality, the Melanting temple is worth a trip and feels far from the tourist crowds. The area is also home to natural hot springs, believed to have medicinal virtues, and the sunset over East Java’s towering volcanoes is magical.
Don’t miss on the experience! Atlas south sea pearl farm is worth a visit. It is well sign-posted, a few kilometers east of Pemuteran along the Northern coast, in the small fishing village of Penyabangan. It is easily accessed from the popular resort areas of Lovina (1 hour) and Pemuteran (15 minutes) and is open every day. Visits are done in English but they also provide information leaflets in several other languages.
For more information, visit the Atlas website
www.atlassouthseapearl.com.au
