Governor of North Maluku Raises the Red and White Flag Underwater
Governor of North Maluku, Mrs. Sherly Tjoanda, Raised the Red and White Flag Underwater in a Mermaid Costume
To commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia, the Governor of North Maluku, Mrs. Sherly, carried out the ceremony of raising the red and white flag underwater without using any diving equipment.
Preparations for this event took a month and involved various parties, including Indonesian Women Divers, the East Indonesia Diving Group, Basarnas, and the Provincial Government of North Maluku. The rehearsal was held on August 8, 2025, while the video recording of the ceremony was completed in one take on August 9, 2025, and uploaded on Indonesia’s Independence Day, August 17.
Although underwater flag raisings have been conducted several times before, this year was special because, for the first time, a regional leader participated in the ceremony.
“I truly love the sea, which is why I took part in this year’s flag-raising ceremony. I chose to wear a mermaid costume because I wanted to give a visual message that the sea is beautiful and must be preserved. The mermaid symbolizes the connection between humans and the ocean. My hope is that women of North Maluku in particular, and Indonesians in general, will realize that the sea must be protected, not just enjoyed,” said Mrs. Sherly.
A total of 116 divers participated in this flag-raising ceremony. According to Mrs. Sherly, independence does not only mean freedom from colonization, but also freedom from fear, trauma, and self-doubt.
“The red and white at the bottom of the sea is a symbol that we must never give up, even though everyone may experience the lowest point in their lives,” she added.
This underwater flag-raising became a historic moment as well as an inspiration about courage, love for the sea, and the importance of protecting the environment.
