Pulau Tabuhan is a small island in the Bali Strait located in the eastern part and is at a distance ±20 km from the center of Banyuwangi Regency. Administratively, this island falls within the area of Bangsring Village, Wongsorejo District, Banyuwangi Regency, East Java. Not far from here, there is also another island in the northern part of Bali Island, namely Menjangan Island. The area of the relatively small Tabuhan Island is 53,350 m² or about 5 hectares. Geographically, this island is located at 8°2’ 13.998” South Latitude and 114°26’36.965” East Longitude. This uninhabited island is quite frequently visited by tourists, both local and international. Like other small islands in Indonesia, Tabuhan Island also holds diverse coastal and marine natural resource potential.
History Literally, the word “Tabuhan” comes from the Using/Osing language, which means music or percussion. It is said that the sounds were caused by strong and noisy winds in the area. Initially, this island was used by Japanese soldiers to spy on their enemies. Unsurprisingly, there is also a lighthouse from the Japanese colonial era there. Until now, the building still stands strong and its authenticity is preserved by the local government as one of the historical sites. Pulau Tabuhan was first introduced to the public in 2014 during a kite surfing event. The wind speed, which is quite constant at around 20-25 knots, makes this place a location for kite surfing. In 2017, an international kite surfing event was also held here, attended by professional kiters and wind surfers from 13 countries.
Tourist Destination Most of the land on Tabuhan Island is covered with typical coastal vegetation. If the sky is clear, visitors can see Mount Ijen, Mount Raung, and Baluran National Park located in the western part of the island. In addition to the white sand and views from the land, visitors can also swim or dive in the waters of Tabuhan Island. When the calm season arrives from July to September, the current speed is not too strong, allowing visitors to see various coral reefs at a depth of 3 meters. With a seabed contour consisting of cliffs, there are various types of corals that can be found. In addition, there are thousands of fish swimming around the coral reefs.
Accessibility To reach Tabuhan Island, visitors can use several transportation alternatives to get to Bangsring Beach from Banyuwangi City. Then, visitors can use a fisherman’s boat to cross to Tabuhan Island.