We Know Because We Go! | Book with a 5-Star Team,| Trusted by 10,000+ Divers
We Know Because We Go! | Book with a 5-Star Team,| Trusted by 10,000+ Divers
Manado and Bunaken offer exceptional biodiversity, crystal-clear waters, and vibrant coral reefs. With diverse marine life, dramatic walls, and rich underwater ecosystems, they provide some of Southeast Asia’s best diving experiences.
Average flight time from LAX
24
Scuba Dive Level
All Levels
Visibility
66 to 115 feet (20 to 35 meters)
Average Water Temperature
84
Wall Diving
Macro Critters
The diving in Manado is spread between several dive regions, including mainland Manado, Bunaken National Park, and Bangka Island. Each has distinctly different diving, keeping divers dreaming of getting back in the water no matter how long their trip.
The islands around Bunaken offer some of the best coral reef diving in Southeast Asia, with large numbers of schooling fish racing by on most dives. Some of the best critter diving in the world is nearby in Lembeh Strait.
Manado is the capital city in North Sulawesi, where the area's domestic and international airport is located (MDC). Whether you plan on diving around Manado, Bunaken, or Lembeh, you'll have to fly into Manado.
Bunaken is primarily wall diving. Some walls have a visible bottom below recreational dive limits while others have no visible bottom. There are almost always currents, creating anything from a very mild drift dive to undiveable and dangerous conditions. Because of this, there are dives to suit divers of all skill levels. Manado also offers some great diving, although visibility is less than out at Bunaken and photographers will tend towards macro. Bangka Island is close and offers incredible pinnacle dives full of soft coral. Again, these dives are very dependent on currents.
Bunaken - Lots of butterflyfish, triggerfish and the most fun, turtles. The shallows are filled with small fish rising in and out of the coral that will make you want more than a 3-minute safety stop. Bangka is also very fishy and every reef can be dived wide-angle or macro depending on your interests.
Manado - A focus on reefs and macro for shrimps, crabs, cephalopods, nudibranchs and other abundant critters in the reefs and sand.
Check out this article on shooting wide-angle photography whilst diving Bunaken Marine Park.
Bunaken's best dive sites for fish are Manado Dua, Barracuda Point, Sachiko, Mandolin, and Likuan I.
Most people fly to Manado through Singapore on a 3.5-hour flight, with Scoot operating direct flights on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. You can also get a direct flight from Jakarta on Garuda, Batik, or Citilink. Note that flights from Bali transit Jakarta. Resorts will usually pick you up at the Manado airport. Two hours after you get your bags, you should be at the resort.
There are a lot of great dive resorts in Manado (Sam Ratulangi International Airport – MDC) & Bunaken. For diving, we recommend visiting more than one area on your trip. If you’re diving Manado and Bunaken, save a few days to explore the famous Lembeh Strait. Along the way, if you have time, consider stopping at Bangka Island or Gangga Island to round out the underwater offerings of the area. Many people say the combination of these dive spots is unparalleled, and visitors often return frequently.y.
Diving is good all year round, but the best diving season is from March to October during the dry season.
Manado and North Sulawesi are filled with topside activities for the adventurous diver looking for some culture. The Minahasa and local island people are genuinely friendly, making interactions with locals an opportunity to learn, share and enjoy new experiences. Touring the Minahasa highlands and beautiful countryside is a nice day trip. The area has a history of clove and flower growing with beautiful villages and scenery. Farmers create terraces up the sides of Mahawu Volcano, which offers breathtaking views of Manado, the Bunaken National Park and a volcanic crater that is still steaming. Make sure to tour the Tomohon Market, but we forewarned that there is food of all sorts on display. Lunch at Gardenia restaurant (also a mountain resort) offers a sampling of many local Minahasan dishes. Other activities include touring Tangkoko National Park, White Water Rafting and more.
If you have the time, stop by the Tangkoko Nature Reserve - a conservation area for endangered species (about 70 kilometers from Manado). Bring your binoculars and watch tarsiers, black macaque monkeys, maleo birds, and cuscus in their natural habitat.
