Tasik Manado

Why North Sulawesi is a Top Diving Spot

North Sulawesi’s location in the heart of the Coral Triangle makes it one of the most biodiverse marine environments on the planet. The waters around Bunaken, Lembeh, and other nearby islands are rich with coral species, schooling fish, and other marine creatures. With excellent visibility and temperate waters year-round, this region is a premier diving destination, though certain seasons bring even more marine life closer to shore.

North Sulawesi’s Marine Biodiversity

The waters surrounding North Sulawesi teem with marine life. From colourful coral gardens to species-rich muck diving sites, North Sulawesi offers it all. Divers can encounter everything from tiny nudibranchs to large pelagic species like whale sharks and dolphins. The region’s varied underwater landscapes provide something for every diver, whether they seek macro life or larger marine species. Turtles are abundant, come in all sizes and are usually happy to be filmed and photographed.

Bunaken off Manado

Accessibility and Dive Sites in Bunaken
Bunaken is easily accessible, just a short hour-long boat ride from Manado across largely glass off waters. Water temperatures hover around 28°C (82°F) year-round. Tasik Divers Indonesia runs regular trips to Bunaken, offering easy access to the top dive sites. Popular sites include Lekuan Wall, known for its spectacular coral formations and marine life, and Fukui Point, where larger species like tuna and giant trevallies are often seen along with many other wonderful sites, each with their own unique facets.

Exploring Bunaken: One of the World’s Best Diving Spots

Bunaken National Park, located off the coast of Manado, North Sulawesi, is one of the premier diving destinations worldwide. The park was established in 1991and is renowned for its rich marine biodiversity and stunning variety of underwater landscapes. Every dive offers a different experience, from deep walls and dramatic drop-offs to coral slopes and beautiful reef tops. Spanning over 89,000 hectares of crystal-clear water.

Bunaken offers a diverse array of dive sites, all within one destination. Strong currents in certain areas make Bunaken a great spot for drift diving, where divers can gently glide along the underwater terrain. Popular sightings include parrotfish, triggerfish, turtles, and reef sharks. However, many sites offer calm conditions, perfect for enjoying the reef at a relaxed pace and capturing stunning photographs.

Bunaken’s waters are home to an extraordinary variety of marine species. Divers can expect to see over 70% of all fish species found in the Indo-Western Pacific Ocean. The reefs are teeming with small critters, like pygmy seahorses and nudibranchs, as well as larger creatures, including rays, barracudas, and sharks. Lucky divers might even spot dolphins or the occasional dugong grazing in the seagrass beds near the islands.

Located Approximately 30 minutes’ drive from the modern, bustling city of Manado, Tasik Ria Resort, Spa & Diving offers a great getaway for all who want more than just a dive holiday.

With its palm fringed seascape, established gardens, spa, pools and glorious sunsets, we offer a family run resort with great emphasis on comfort and good value. With hospitality experience spanning over 20 years, our warmth and attentive nature has become a great reflection of the people from North Sulawesi, also called “The land of the smiling people”.

We pride ourselves in our flexibility and adaptability towards our guests’ needs.