Scuba Diving Bunaken, North Sulawesi
Author: Ben Stokes
Bunaken National Park is located in North Sulawesi, Indonesia. With over 8,000 hectares of coral reef, an estimated 2,000 species of fish and at least 58 different genera and sub genera of corals in the park its no surprise this region has been an attraction for divers for many years.
The reef slopes range in depth from 50 meters to over 200 meters, the deepest of which are found between the islands of Mantehage and Manado Tua, at over 1,300 meters. This is possible only because of the lack of a continental shelf, part of the reason Bunaken Island plays host to such a wealth of marine life. Nutrient rich waters are fed through oceanic channels. Upwelling brings this food source closer to the surface where many species feed. Its these ingredients that attract those wishing to dive Sulawesi. Many hard and soft corals compete on the reefs that surround the park. Colonies of animals individually referred to as ‘polyps’ are joined together by a thin layer of common tissue. They generally survive at depths between the surface of the water and 30m. All corals contain zooxanthellae, a species of algae which converts sunlight into food through photosynthesis; the excess nutrients not used by the algae are consumed by the coral, this is known as a symbiotic relationship. Reef dwelling fishes live around the coral reefs and lagoons of the park. They rely on the reef as a food source and for shelter. Most reef fishes rest during the night, whilst being active during the day. These include the butterfly fish, angel fish and gobies amongst many other families. Pelagics however are open water fish, travel long distances and are generally faster swimmers. These include trevally, tuna and sharks. Marine reptiles also inhabit the park. Estuarine crocodiles have been sighted in the mangrove areas, although sightings are very rare. Sea snakes, despite spending considerable amounts of time beneath the surface are air breathers making them reptiles and are often seen by divers, particularly in sea grass beds and mangrove areas. Of the eight species of turtle found worldwide at least five live in Indonesia, three of which make regular sightings. All in all Bunaken Marine Park supports an incredible wealth of marine life. For those wishing to experience diving in Indonesia , Bunaken is a must see destination.About the Author:
After ten years of worldwide dive travel and professional employment we
created a travel company that seeks to enter Asia's most remote and exciting
locations for experiences above and below the surface Dive Safari Asia .
For photos, video footage, destination guides and details of our tours visit
Diving Asia .
Bunaken - A Marine Paradise on Earth
By Agustian Hermanto
Bunaken Marine Park is considered one of the best places in the world for diving and snorkeling. Located just offshore the North Sulawesi capital of Manado, Bunaken offers untouched beauty of nature. It was first established as a national marine park in 1991 and it covers an area of 89,605 hectares. It is one of the most beautiful places that I have ever visited in my life.
There are a couple of ways to enjoy the diving experience at Bunaken.
* First, you can stay in Manado and take a boat in the morning to the nearby
islands to start your diving trip.
* Your second option is to actually stay in one the five islands around
Manado and enjoy the ultimate diving experience as soon as you get up from
your bed.
It does not matter which option you choose, you will be inspired by the beauty of Bunaken.
During my visit, I decided to stay in Manado because I wanted to explore the other attractions of North Sulawesi. I stayed at the Ritzy hotel, located 10 minutes walk from the harbour. The hotel is one of the upscale hotels in Manado. As soon as I arrived, I visited the mainland attractions, such as Lake Tondano, located in the Minahasa highland. Lake Tondano offers a serene environment deep in the mountains. I had the luxury of hiring a guide for all of our trips. A guide is highly recommended for various reasons, especially comfort. A guide will cost you from USD$ 40 to USD$ 60, depending on where you are going. This price usually includes the car rental, gas, and all the information that you want to know from the guide.
The next day, I went for my first Bunaken diving experience. Important to remember: Make sure you already have your diving certificate. You can also complete your diving certificate here if you want to do so. I went to Bastianos diving resort to arrange my diving itinerary. I can only say one thing of my diving experience: It was marvelous. Clear visibility up to 30 metres, warm refreshing water temperature, 3,000 types of fish and 300 types of coral. It was nothing like I had ever seen before.
Diving price here usually varies from resort to resort. One thing for certain is that you need to pay for admission to enter the marine park, whether you are diving or not. Daily admission is USD$ 5 or USD$ 15 for a full year admission. As I have mentioned before, diving package usually varies from resort to resort. There are five main islands that you can choose to visit: Bunaken, Manado Tua, Montehagen, Nain and Siladen. Each island offers different ecosystem, thus different diving experience. If you are an experienced diver, you can go for more challenging dives near Siladen Island.
Visit http://www.turisku.com for the most comprehensive Indonesia travel guide.
Agustian Hermanto is the founder of Turisku. He is dedicated to assist fellow travel junkies in experiencing the very best of Indonesia. Turisku is Indonesia most comprehensive travel guide