5D4N Dive Trip @ Mando Bunaken, North Sulawesi
The waters of Bunaken National Marine Park are extremely deep (1566 m in Manado Bay), clear (up to 35-40 m visibility), refreshing in temperature (27-29 C) and harbor some of the highest levels of biodiversity in the world. Pick any of group of interest - corals, fish, echinoderms or sponges - and the number of families, genera or species is bound to be astonishingly high.
Introduction
5D4N : Relax and Dive At Mando Bunaken, North Sulawesi, National Marine Park
Bunaken island is the place where most of the tourists stay and there are about 2500 local people living on the island. They live from tourism, fishing and building boats. There are 3 villages and both Muslims and Christians are living in harmony on the island. There is a church and a mosque in the largest village but that are about all the highlights of the village, there is not much else to do but it's definitely nice to walk through. On the island there are no cars and next to walking, light motor cycles and an occasional oxcart are the only means of transportation.
The Bunaken National Marine Park was formally established in 1991 and is among the first of Indonesia's growing system of marine parks. The park covers a total surface area of 89,065 hectares, 97% of which is overlain by sparkling clear, warm tropical water.
The remaining 3% of the park is terrestrial, including the five islands of Bunaken, Manado Tua, Mantehage, Nain and Siladen. Although each of these islands has a special character, it is the aquatic ecosystem that attracts most naturalists.
The waters of Bunaken National Marine Park are extremely deep (1566 m in Manado Bay), clear (up to 35-40 m visibility), refreshing in temperature (27-29 C) and harbor some of the highest levels of biodiversity in the world. Pick any of group of interest - corals, fish, echinoderms or sponges - and the number of families, genera or species is bound to be astonishingly high.
For example, 7 of the 8 species of giant clams that occur in the world, occur in Bunaken. The park has around 70 genera of corals; compare this to a mere 10 in Hawaii. Although the exact number of fish species is unknown, it may be slightly higher than in the Philippines, where 2,500 species, or nearly 70% of all fish species known to the Indo-western Pacific, are found.
Oceanic currents may explain, in part, why Bunaken National Marine Park is such a treasure trove of biodiversity. Northeasternly currents generally sweep through the park but abundant counter currents and gyros related to lunar cycles are believed to be a trap for free swimming larvae.
This is particularly true on the south side of the crescent-shaped Bunaken Island, lying in the heart of the park. A snorkler or diver in the vicinity of Lekuan or Fukui may spot over 33 species of butterfly fish and numerous types of groupers, damsels, wrasses and gobies. The gobies, smallish fish with bulging eyes and modified fins that allow them to attach to hard surfaces, are the most diverse but least known group of fish in the park.
Dive Site Information
Water temperature ranges from 26 to 30 degrees Celsius (79 to 86 Fahrenheit) and visibility is 15 to 35 meters. Greater or lesser visibility occurs, but is exceptional.
Currents are quite common around Bunaken are generally mild but can sometimes be strong. Because of the complex geography in combination with very deep water (over 2 kilometers), it is very difficult to predict them. When we suspect strong currents, we probably don’t dive there and look for another spot. Beginners do not have to be afraid as there are also dive sites that have as good as no current. As a standard rule, we always dive with the current. The boat follows on the surface so you don’t have to swim back to it.
Diving is possible year round. The waters around Manado are usually calm and waves rarely exceed a meter. However, in the period, roughlyDecember-February,when the west-wind blows, there can be days that the boat does not go out due to a high swell. If that is the case, we simply wait until the conditions clear up, (usually a few days). If it looks really desperate we can decide to dive the Lembeh strait, on the other side of the North Sulawesi peninsula. But in all the years we have been operating, this never happened.
Due to the relatively high water temperature, a 3 m.m. shorty is usually enough. If you get chilled easily or are sensitive to stinging hydroids, a full suit would be a better bet. Since all our dives are multilevel dives, it is almost impossible to dive without a computer. Dive tables work of course, but will limit or shorten your dive significantly. We very strongly advise you to bring one or rent your own computer.
What's Included
Onboard shower and toilet
Tanks, weights and weight belt
Water, tea and coffee
Light snack after the first dive
Soft dive gear (full foot fins, wetsuit and mask) – requested sizes subject to availability.
What's Excluded
• Equipment rental
• Marine park fee
• 4 x AA sized batteries (if required for night dive)
• Airfare (if any)
• Taxes and fuel surcharges,
• Personal expenses (includes drinks, bills and tips),
• Travel insurance (proof of insurance required),
• Visa application and fees (if applicable),
• Gratitude for the Boat Crew / Guide
Dive Trip Requirements
• Valid passport and Visa (if applicable)
• Cash in Singapore or local currency (Malaysian Ringgit; RM)
• Personal Medication
• Travel Insurance (recommended)
• Able to snorkel/swim in the sea
• Minimum of PADI Open Water Diver Certification or equivalent (for leisure diver)
Equipment needed for the excursion:
Sun cream, hat, flip flop or sandals, swimming suit, beach wear, towel, camera
How to Get There
Once in Manado it depends on what you have agreed upon with your resort. Usually they will pick you up at the airport and bring you to their boat to bring you to Bunaken. If this is not the case you can take a taxi to the harbor of Manado (Pelabuhan Manado) and take the public boat to Bunaken from there.
You will arrive in the village on Bunaken island and from there you have to find a resort. The public boat commutes once per day from Bunaken to Manado and vice versa. It leaves Bunaken to Manado every morning between 8 and 9 and returns from Manado to Bunaken between 2 and 3 in the afternoon. The crossing takes just less than an hour and the public boat goes every day except Sundays and public holidays.
The public boat brings you to the village on Bunaken island and from there you search for a resort. Another option from Manado is to charter a speedboat that will bring you to the resort of your choice on Bunaken. Negotiate the price in advance with the captain of the speedboat and be very clear about your destination on Bunaken.
It happens that they bring you to another resort on purpose because they receive a bonus from that specific resort. The tourists rate for the public boat is IDR 50.000 (approx. € 3,50) per person for a single trip Manado - Bunaken or back. To hire a speedboat, the price ranges from IDR 250.000 to IDR 600.000 (approx. € 17 to € 41) per trip depending on the time, size of the speedboat, number of people and of course your negotiation skills (Rates in early-2015).
Payment Terms
SGD 100 deposit required upon confirmation of booking of accommodation and dive trip.
Payment payable once upon confirmation of booking of accommodation and or with dive trip package/s.
Equipment Rental
Rates (SGD)/ Per Day :
Dive Torch : SGD 10
Dive Computer : SGD 15
Dive Computer - D4i : SGD 30
Camera : SGD 35
Disclaimer
Estimated rates for booking, Exact cost of dive trip booking depends on each dive itinerary and arrangement package. Invoice on the payment details will be sent to your personal email account upon booking.
Includes Boat transport, and for each pax meal - Breakfast, Lunch and transport back and forth to your hotel or resort or
hostel accomodation.
If you will like to book for the accomodation for a stay for 1 Night or more for yourself and family members or for a tour group etc. , please indicate for your accomodation booking, for the number of days/nights of stay here in North Sulawesi, and we will arrange for you.
Subjective to availability.
An invoice will be sent to you via email on the separate payment charges for accomodation stay.
Applicable to local and foreign visitors :
• The arrangement of the sequence of the itinerary is subject to change with/without prior notice.
• In the event that the venue of attraction is closed to visitors, it will be replaced with an alternative venue if possible.
• May request for travel itinerary from us via email.
• During trade fairs or the peak season, accommodation stay may not be inclusive.
All dive trip/s are subjected to the weather conditions and change in itinerary.
If the dive trip unfortunately has to postpone or cancelled, there can be a request for arrangement for another dive trip. Subjected to approval and availability of boat charters.
Cancellation Policy
Any change in trip dates after booking confirmation will be subjected to SGD 100 administrative fees per change/s.
Full fees will be charges for packages cancelled or postponed with less than 28 days notice.
If you cancel less than 28 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, full payment will be non-refundable.
If more than 28 days, 50% of the package price will be forfeited with an administrative charge of SGD 50 Payable to the dive shop.
If you cancel at least 7 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, there is no cancellation fee.
If you cancel between 3 and 6 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, there is a 50 percent cancellation fee.
If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, there is a 100 percent cancellation fee.
* The timings are as estimated proposed. Diving trip is subjected to road / traffic / tide / weather conditions on the day of trip.
Additional Information
It is wise to make a reservation for a resort on Bunaken while still abroad. Despite the fact that more resorts have been build the last few years it is very well possible that it will be very busy with tourists on the island. Especially in the high season when groups arrive, the resorts can be fully booked.
Some resorts are owned by foreigners and they can tell some nice stories about how they started here. The resorts are all build in such a way that the bungalows fit very well in the surrounding nature. In addition all resorts are located at the beach or only separated from the beach by a small path. Rates of the resort can differ quite a bit so check out their respective websites.
A recommendable resort is Bunaken Beach Resort, located on Pangalisang Beach on the Eastern side of Bunaken island. Bunaken Beach Resort is a comfortable and friendly resort with its own private beach and a beautiful sea view with mountainous mainland in the background where amazing sunrises can be enjoyed every morning.
Another recommendable resort is Cakalang Diving Resort, also located on Pangalisang Beach on the Eastern side of Bunaken island. Cakalang is a small holiday destination with just a few cottages on the beach and some rooms and they offer clean and simple accommodations, rooms with western toilet, fresh running water and tiled floors.
Confirmation will be received at time of booking.
Equipment needed for the excursion:
Sun cream, hat, flip flop or sandals, swimming suit, beach wear, towel, camera
All dive trip/s are subjected to the weather conditions and change in itinerary.
If the dive trip unfortunately has to postpone or cancelled, there can be a request for arrangement for another dive trip.
Subjected to approval and availability of boat charters.
Passport & Visa Requirements
Please check you have the required travel documents before booking your dive trip. Ensure that your passport has at least 6 months validity from your time of entry into Indonesia.
