| Destinations
/ South
East Asia / Sulawesi Dive Sites
 Bunaken
- Bangka - Lembeh
BUNAKEN
: One of the worlds most beautiful coral environments, with
an almost unbelievable variety of teeming sea life, superb
visibility and spectacular scenery. Bunaken is one of the
chief attractions of North Sulawesi for divers.
The
Bunaken Sea National Marine Park covers a total surface
area of 89,065 hectares, 97% of which is covered 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.
Examples
of the many Bunaken dive sites include:
Lekuan 1,2 & 3
The 'Lekuans' are considered by some to be amongst the top
dive sites of Manado. Lekuan 1 has a sandy slope at 30-40m
which is often used as a hang-out for reef sharks, then
leading onto a steep wall. There are outcrops of coral covered
with anthias and many schooling fish including snapper,
fusiliers and pyramid butterfly fish. You can regularly
spot turtle here. This site gives you a chance to dive with
dense populations of bigger reef fish (with numerous macro
species in the shallows too).
Tanjung Paser
This is a deep wall dropping from the surface to 30m, where
visibility is normally around 20m and one can see huge fans
and lots of dark green hard coral covered in shoals of anthias.
Many grouper move around this area - particularly striking
are the red ones living in the dark green coral. Eagle rays
and turtles can occasionally be seen here and the chromis-covered
acropora comes nearly to the surface.
Barracuda Point
Yes- the name says it all - barracuda, and if they're there,
a lot of them (sometimes 100+)! Not only barracuda but big
tuna and jacks too. However they're not always around and
this reef isn't the most spectacular. The wall/slope has
not much to offer but dead coral and sand. It's definitely
not a spot for beginners as there can be strong currents,
both upwards and downward! That's why Barracuda's like it
so much here! We think this site is worth the risk of one
dive during your stay, on the hope of seeing a big school.
BANGKA
ISLAND : Located to the North of Lembeh. Here, the underwater
topography consists of pinnacles and a white sandy bottom.
Interesting and unusual marine life such as the comet fish,
flying gurnard etc. have found their way to these reefs.
Abundant hard and soft corals cover the pinnacles ranging
from as shallow as 5m to 35 meters. You will also find a
variety of unusual decorator crabs roaming the reef during
night dives. There can be strong currents and surge at shallower
depths. Highlights include big table corals, often with
sharks resting under them, an abundance of green and purple
soft corals and a multitude of fish, including schools of
jacks, dogtooth tuna, barracudas, midnight blue triggerfish
and manta rays.
LEMBEH
STRAIT :
A haven for "muck" divers. The waters of The Lembeh
strait are a divers dream, loaded with photographic subject
of rare and bizarre nature - some of the best macro and
critter-life you'll find anywhere in the world.
Sea
horses, nudibranch, sand eels, mantis shrimp, pigmy sea
horses, frog fish, leaf fish, ghost pipe fish, octopus are
just a few of the colorful and unique undersea treasures.
These are just a few part of the fish you will find in lembeh
strait :) Come and join us to see all of them !
Examples
of the many dive sites in Lembeh include:
Police Pier - Depth 3m - 25m
Muck dive consisting of a gradual sandy slope that runs
from the shallows. The bottom is covered with patches of
sponges and rubble that conceal thorny seahorses and frogfish.
These creatures blend in well with their habitat so you'll
need an expert dive guide to find them !
Nudi
Falls - Depth 3m - 28m
Is a beautiful miniwall that gives way to a sand and rubble
slope. This site is well known for it's variety of nudibranchs,
comet fish and pygmy seahorses.
Hairball
one - Depth 3m - 30m
A true "Muck" site that is home to some of our
most unusual critters. There are no corals, only black sand,
algae and an occasional patch of sponges. Some of the critters
found here grow skin filaments to blend in with the algae,
often seen are the frogfish, Ambon scorpion fish, snake
eels, devilfish, dragonettes and even the flamboyant cuttlefish.
Mawali
Wreck - Propeller 30m, Length 70m
Is a wreck named for the near-by village on Lembeh. A Japanese
WWII ship that was scuttled lies on its port side in 100'
of water; it's about 250' long, intact and heavily overgrown.
The highlight of the dive is its many large lionfish that
suspend themselves around the masts. Also seen are many
kinds of nudibranchs huge scorpion fish and a banded sea
snake often puts in an appearance.
|
Independent
