© Siladen Resort
Bunaken National Park, located directly at the centre of the coral triangle. Created in 1991, Bunaken National Park covers a total surface area of 89,065 hectares, 97% of which is clear, warm tropical water. The remaining area of the park is terrestrial, including the five islands of Bunaken, Manado Tua, Mantehage, Nain and Siladen.
WHY WE LOVE DIVING BUNAKEN
Amazing variety of fish and world class reefs
Some of the highest biodiversity in the world
The thrill of drift diving
BUNAKEN GALLERY
Diving Bunaken
A very rich coral ecosystem covers most of Bunaken National Park, dominated by fringing reef and barrier reef corals. There are about 390 species of coral recorded as well as many fish, mollusc, reptile and marine mammal species. A distinct feature is a 25-50 metre vertical coral wall which is inhabited by 13 coral species. The Park is also abundant in different species of fish, marine mammals and reptiles, birds, molluscs and mangrove species.
The waters of Bunaken National Marine Park are extremely deep (1566m in Manado Bay), clear, refreshing in temperature and are home to some of the highest levels of biodiversity in the world. Whether you love corals, fish, echinoderms or sponges – the number of species is astonishingly high. Stunning walls and hard corals. Look out for reef sharks, schooling fish, sea snakes, passing eagle rays, sting rays, abundant critters and macro life, resident dolphin and pilot whale pods alongside the boat, occasional dugongs, seasonal sperm whale sightings, vibrant and colourful corals.
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Manado Bay offers a mix of black and white sand muck and reef diving which is home to some of Indonesia’s rarest and most unique critters including mimic octopus, squid, flamboyant cuttlefish, sea horses and numerous crustacean, nudibranch and frogfish species. For macro underwater photographers Manado Bay dive sites are treasure troves full of opportunities.
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Around the tip of Northern Sulawesi is Bangka giving you an explosion of colour and kaleidoscopic soft corals. Bangka dive sites are a sensory overload where the pristine reefs are teeming with life. Pelagics and critters, Bangka has it all! Unique species include resident dugongs, dolphins and pilot whales, several species of pygmy seahorse, harlequin and tiger shrimps, blue ring, mimic, reef and wonderpus octopus, ghost pipefish, Ambon scorpionfish, frogfishes, turtles, reef sharks, eagle rays, tuna, great barracuda, schooling fish including snappers, fusiliers, cardinals and mackerel.
WEATHER
Winter average of 26°C / 79°F
Summer average of 32°C / 90°F
WEATHER ADVICE
Rainy season November to March
GETTING HERE
Flights from LONDON
17 hours
TIME DIFFERENCE
GMT + 7 hours
Deep Thought
The colours of the corals here are simply amazing!
--John
WATER TEMPERATURES
27° to 30°C / 81 to 86°F average
VISIBILITY
20 to 35 / 65 to 115ft