Saronde Island Dive Resort is an eco-luxury retreat in Gorontalo, Sulawesi, featuring six private beachfront villas, world-class diving with whale sharks, vibrant coral reefs, and island-hopping excursions. Guests enjoy beachfront dining, yoga, and personalized service in a serene, sustainable paradise.
How To Get There
The closest airport to Saronde Island Dive Resort is Jalaluddin Airport (GTO) in Gorontalo. Airport transfers are available for a surcharge, with an approximate transfer time of 45–60 minutes to the resort. The nearest town or city is also about 60 minutes away, making the resort a secluded tropical getaway.
Dive Overview
Saronde Island Dive Resort offers an exceptional diving experience in North Gorontalo, Sulawesi. The resort provides access to pristine dive sites, including the nearby Doku Kayu islands, known for their white sandy beaches and vibrant marine life. Diving enthusiasts can expect to encounter a diverse array of marine species, from macro critters like nudibranchs and pygmy seahorses to larger pelagic species such as rays and various shark species.
[Read More: Sulawesi Dive Travel Guide]
Accommodation Overview
Saronde Island Dive Resort features private Balinese-style villas designed to blend seamlessly with the tropical island and beachfront setting. Built with eco-conscious materials, the resort offers six exclusive villas, each providing privacy, comfort, and direct access to the pristine white sandy beaches.
Room features include:
-
Ocean or island views
- En-suite bathroom with hot & cold water shower
- Air-conditioning
- Comfortable king-size or twin beds with high-quality linens
- Outdoor seating area or veranda
- Mosquito nets and ceiling fans
- Eco-friendly design and beachfront location
- Daily housekeeping service
- Access to all resort facilities and diving excursions
Food & Drinks
Saronde Island Dive Resort offers a mix of Indonesian and Western cuisine. Breakfast is served à la carte, while lunch and dinner are offered buffet-style. The resort caters to specific dietary requirements with prior notice and offers full-board and all-inclusive options for a seamless dining experience.
Dive Information
Saronde Island offers access to some of North Gorontalo’s most pristine dive sites, with vibrant coral gardens, steep drop-offs, and crystal-clear waters. Divers can encounter an incredible variety of marine life, including whale sharks, reef sharks, rays, turtles, and schools of colorful reef fish. The reefs are also home to macro species such as nudibranchs, pygmy seahorses, and ornate ghost pipefish, making it a paradise for underwater photographers and macro enthusiasts.
Nearby dive sites around the Doku Kayu islands and surrounding islets feature thriving marine ecosystems, from shallow coral slopes to deeper walls, suitable for both beginners and experienced divers. Drift dives, wall dives, and gentle currents provide opportunities to explore the rich biodiversity at a relaxed pace, ensuring unforgettable encounters with both small critters and large pelagics alike.
Dive Center Information
Saronde Island Dive Resort's dive center is Blue Bay Divers, a PADI 5-Star Dive Center known for its personalized service and extensive experience in the region. Each of the six private Balinese-style villas features its own dedicated "Dive Center," a private area equipped for storing and preparing diving and snorkeling gear. After each dive, the staff will clean and prepare your equipment for the next day, ensuring a seamless diving experience
Dive Center Features
- Private Dive Centers: Each villa includes a dedicated space for your diving and snorkeling gear, with staff assistance for cleaning and preparation.
- Diverse Dive Sites: Access to a variety of dive sites within a short distance, including nearby islands such as Mohinggito and Bogisa, featuring stunning coral reefs, steep walls, sandy slopes, and rubble patches.
- Specialized Dive Trips: Signature excursions like the "Critter Hunt" day trip, offering encounters with rare marine life such as hairy frogfish and Ambon scorpionfish.
- Well-Equipped Dive Boats: The resort is equipped with four boats, including:
- ENJOY: Large and fast, with panoramic windows, a sunbathing area on the roof, a small drinks bar, and a toilet on board.
- NEMO: Medium size and flexible, used for diving or check-in/out.
- KIKIO: A small speedboat ready for short island hopping or snorkel trips.
- HAPPY: Medium size boat for diving and check-in/out .
- Comprehensive Facilities: Spacious gear storage areas, dedicated rinse tanks for dive gear, wetsuits, and underwater cameras. Rental equipment is available, including masks, fins, wetsuits, BCDs, regulators, and dive computers. Nitrox is available for certified divers. Daily dive briefings and support from experienced multilingual instructors and dive guides are provided. Classroom space is available for dive courses from beginner to Divemaster. A flexible dive schedule includes house reef and boat dives .
