North Sulawesi: 3 Distinct Destinations in 1 Trip

Explore Bunaken, Bangka & Lembeh in One Seamless Journey

Think of it as a North Sulawesi greatest hits dive holiday. In a little over a week, you can drift along Bunaken’s famous walls, surround yourself with Bangka’s soft coral gardens, and finish with world‑class muck diving in Lembeh Strait – all joined together by relaxed boat transfers that feel more like mini‑day trips than travel days.

If you want to experience as much of North Sulawesi as possible without spending hours in airports or on long road transfers, Passport to Paradise is the perfect way to travel. This unique journey connects three distinct dive regions with scenic boat transfers between  three beautiful resorts, turning travel days into part of the adventure. Sit back and enjoy the ride, or jump in for a swim, snorkel, kayak, or even a dive along the way.

Whether you dive, snorkel, or freedive, you'll discover the very best of North Sulawesi. Explore the dramatic walls and thriving reefs of Bunaken Marine Park, where shallow coral gardens provide incredible opportunities to snorkel alongside sea turtles. Continue to Bangka Island, renowned for its vibrant soft corals and colorful reefs, before finishing in the Lembeh Strait, the world's premier muck diving destination, famous for its extraordinary critters and some of the most unusual marine life on the planet.

For a limited time, when you book this North Sulawesi package with Bluewater Travel you’ll also receive a resort spending voucher worth 10% of your booking value. It’s an easy way to treat yourself while you’re already on the trip.

Guests typically use their voucher for extra boat dives, nitrox, spa treatments, cocktails at sunset, or a special land tour – but you can also put it towards gift shop purchases, photo courses, image critiques, and camera rentals (photo center products are excluded). It’s entirely up to you how you spend it.

Instead of flying in and out of different islands or sitting in cars for hours, this trip links three North Sulawesi dive areas by boat. You’ll stay in comfortable oceanfront resorts, and your travel days become extra dive days.

Most itineraries follow a simple flow:

1. Arrive in Manado – You’ll be met at the airport and driven to Murex Manado to settle in, shake off the jet lag, and start diving Bunaken Marine Park and Manado Bay.
2. Boat transfer to Murex Bangka – After a few days, you’ll cruise by dive boat to Bangka Island with up to two dives along the way. Your gear is handled for you, so you just enjoy the ride, the views, and the diving.
3. Boat transfer to Lembeh Resort – Next, you’ll move on to Lembeh Strait by boat, again with dives en route. This is where the macro and muck diving really starts to shine.
4. Departure from Manado – At the end of your stay, you’ll transfer back to Manado for your flight home, usually with one last relaxed breakfast looking over the water.

Throughout the trip you have one continuous dive team looking after you, so your guides get to know your experience level, air consumption, and what you most want to see. It feels like a liveaboard in terms of easy logistics and dive frequency, but you sleep in spacious rooms and can spread out around the resorts between dives.

There are lots of ways to dive Indonesia, but this North Sulawesi dive package has become a favorite with our guests who want variety without hassle. Here’s what makes the Passport to Paradise route stand out:

• Three iconic dive destinations in one trip
• Three exceptional oceanfront resorts
• Scenic boat transfers between resorts (with dives included)
• Fully customizable itineraries
• All-inclusive resort stays
• Perfect for divers, snorkelers, freedivers and non-divers
• Fully equipped for underwater photographers
  

Bunaken Marine Park: Spectacular walls, healthy coral gardens, turtles and abundant reef life. Read our dive travel guide here

You’ll wake up a short boat ride from some of Indonesia’s most famous wall dives. Expect lazy drifts along vertical drop‑offs, turtles cruising by at eye level, and big views that are ideal for wide‑angle photography. The shallow tops of the reef are perfect for long safety stops and relaxed snorkel sessions.

Bangka Island: Colourful reefs, soft corals and outstanding fish diversity.  Read our dive travel guide here

Around Bangka you’ll find the kind of soft coral gardens that many divers picture when they think of Indonesia. Sloping reefs and small pinnacles are covered in color, with schools of anthias and fusiliers hanging in the blue. It’s a great place to mix gentle drift dives with slower macro hunting in the sheltered bays.

Lembeh Strait: The world's most famous muck diving destination, home to countless rare and unusual critters. Read our dive travel guide here

Lembeh is all about rare and unusual marine life. Instead of big reefs, you’ll be diving black sand slopes and jetties where every patch of rubble seems to hide another octopus, frogfish, seahorse, or nudibranch. It’s a macro lover’s paradise, and many photographers say it’s the best muck diving anywhere in the world.

Most guests on this trip are certified divers, but you don’t have to be. The three resorts are set up for scuba diving, snorkeling, and freediving, and there are opportunities for courses if you’d like to improve your skills while you’re here.

• Certified divers can focus on guided boat dives and house reef dives, with nitrox available for those who are certified.
• Snorkelers can join many of the boat trips and enjoy shallow coral gardens, especially around Bunaken and Bangka.
• Freedivers can arrange dedicated sessions and coaching in suitable locations and conditions.
• New divers can complete PADI Open Water or advanced training at the resorts if planned in advance.

If you’re part of a mixed group with divers and non‑divers, we can suggest an itinerary that keeps everyone happy both on the boat and on land.

• 12-nights & 22 guided boat dives from $4,200 per person
• 15-nights & 28 guided boat dives from $5,190 per person 

These sample Passports to Paradise are a good starting point, but we regularly tweak them for our guests. Some divers prefer more time in Lembeh for macro photography, while others want extra days in Bangka or Bunaken for wide‑angle reef diving. Let us know what you enjoy most and we’ll shape the itinerary around you.

• Diving or Snorkeling per your chosen itinerary
• Accommodation
• Boat transfers between resorts with 2 air dives along the way
• Unlimited unguided house reef dives
• Breakfast, lunch & dinner
• Morning & afternoon snacks
• Free flow mineral water
• Free flow brewed coffee & tea
• Welcome drink & fruit platter
• Airport escort service on arrival
• Round-trip airport transfers
  

Prices are per person, based on double occupancy. Subject to availability. Valid for new bookings only.

North Sulawesi is an easy place to fall in love with, even when you’re not in the water. If you’d like to build in a rest day or two, we can arrange trips to the highlands, local markets, and nearby villages so you can sample the food and get a feel for the region’s culture.

Nature lovers often add a visit to Tangkoko Nature Reserve to look for crested black macaques, tiny tarsiers, hornbills, and other endemic species in the forest. For something a bit more active, you can trek Mahawu Volcano, go white‑water rafting, or even try tandem paragliding when the conditions allow.

Tell us what kind of topside experiences you enjoy and we’ll suggest a few options that fit smoothly around your dive schedule, whether that’s wildlife and birding, local culture, or a dose of pure adventure.

Murex Manado Resort

Murex Manado sits right on the waterfront, surrounded by tropical gardens and views across to Manado Tua volcano and Bunaken Island. It’s a relaxed, friendly place where it doesn’t take long before the staff know your name, your coffee order, and how you like to set up your diving day.

Murex Bangka Resort

On Bangka, your bungalow is just steps from a palm‑fringed white sand beach and clear turquoise water. Between dives you can nap in a hammock, wander along the shoreline, hop in for a quick snorkel on the house reef, or sit back with a cold drink and watch the sun drop into the sea.

Lembeh Resort

Lembeh Resort is tucked into a private cove on Lembeh Island, surrounded by lush gardens and plenty of birdlife. It feels quiet and secluded, but you’re only a short boat ride from some of the best muck dive sites in the strait. The cottages are spacious and comfortable, the food is excellent, and the team is used to looking after divers and underwater photographers who are spending long, full days in the water.

Who is this trip best suited for?

This North Sulawesi Passport to Paradise trip is ideal for certified divers who want variety without juggling multiple domestic flights or complex transfers. It’s especially popular with underwater photographers, couples or small groups who prefer resort comfort over a liveaboard, and anyone who wants to experience Bunaken, Bangka, and Lembeh Strait in a single itinerary.

What level of dive experience do I need?

Most sites are suitable for Open Water or Advanced Open Water divers with good buoyancy control. Bunaken and Bangka have some sites where current can pick up, and Lembeh’s muck diving is more about slow, careful diving and good awareness of your surroundings. If you’re newer to diving, we can tailor the dive sites, add a private guide, or build in a course at the start of your stay.

When is the best time of year to go?

North Sulawesi is a year‑round dive destination, and we regularly send guests there in every season. Conditions do vary slightly through the year, so when you contact us we’ll look at your dates and recommend the best way to split your time between Bunaken, Bangka, and Lembeh based on recent conditions and what you most want to see.

Is this better than doing a liveaboard?

It depends what you’re looking for. Many divers like this trip because it feels a bit like a liveaboard in terms of easy logistics and frequent dives, but you still have spacious rooms, swimming pools, and more freedom in how you spend your evenings and surface intervals. If you’re not sure which option is best for you, we’re happy to talk through both.

Can non‑divers or snorkelers join?

Yes. Non‑divers are welcome at all three resorts and can enjoy the pools, beaches, spa treatments, and land tours. Snorkelers can join many of the boat trips, particularly around Bunaken and Bangka where the shallow reefs are excellent. Just let us know who is diving and who isn’t so we can match the plan to your group.

Is nitrox available?

Nitrox is available at the resorts for certified divers, and many photographers and guests doing three dives a day choose to use it. If you’re not yet certified, we can help you arrange a Nitrox course at the beginning of your trip so you can take advantage of it.

How does the 10% resort spending voucher work?

When you book this Passport to Paradise package through Bluewater Travel, the resort will apply a spending credit worth 10% of your booking value to your room. You can then use it on site for extra dives, nitrox, spa treatments, drinks, selected tours, and certain photo‑related services (photo center products are excluded). We’ll confirm the exact details with you in writing before you travel so there are no surprises.

How do I start planning or get a custom quote?

Just send us a quick message using the form below or

directly. Tell us your preferred dates, how many nights you’re thinking about, how many divers and non‑divers are in your group, and whether you have any special interests such as macro photography or land‑based wildlife. One of our travel advisors who knows North Sulawesi well will get back to you, usually within a few hours.