Have you ever noticed the world-class scuba diving in Bunaken Marine Park? Have you any idea where it is and which sites are best to explore? Keep reading to discover more about the phenomenal dive sites of Bunaken!
Overview of Scuba Diving Bunaken
Bunaken National Park is a marine protected area in North Sulawesi, Indonesia, a province of Indonesia. Indonesia is world-famous for its incredible reefs and marine life. It is often mentioned as being home to the very best scuba diving in the world — and Bunaken indeed lives up to the leading reputation.
Bunaken Island provides crystal clear, tropical waters and many marine species, including resident dolphin pods and migrating whales. It is home to a large resident population of green turtles and sharks aren’t a unique perspective for macro underwater photographers and those who prefer to search for critters. There are many species of tiny crustaceans, nudibranch, frogfish, and other aquatic treasures. Are you currently a wreck enthusiast? There is one of these too!
Diving Bunaken
The dive sites in Bunaken are usually wall dives or slopes, and at some places, the walls plummet to the seafloor which places 2 km beneath you. It’s this exceptional topography that makes Bunaken a unique place to dip.
Bunaken Marine Park’s protected place means it provides reasonable year-round requirements and is suitable for all divers levels from beginners through to experienced professionals. Here are a few of our favorite dive sites, which should not be overlooked when diving Bunaken Marine Park.
1. Lekuan II
This vertical wall dip can be found along the south-east of Bunaken island, and it’s one of Bunaken’s most well-known sites. Both macro and large bass fans will be happy here as the wall is home to various creatures. The enormous green sea turtles remaining ledges, white tip reef sharks are usually seen in the wall’s temples. Watch out into the blue for predators searching as schools of fusiliers stream.
2. Ron’s Point
Ron’s Point is situated on the southwest corner of Bunaken Island. It includes a sloping reef operating out into a large plateau for advanced divers, which sits in about 35-40 meters.
Ron’s Point dive site is the perfect spot to view pelagic species such as sharks and eagle rays as they pass. For less experienced sailors, the incline attracts all manner of marine life and also the shallows are exploding with tropical sea fish weaving in and outside of their corals.
3. Sachiko
This dive site provides a sloping topography that is littered with cable corals. Frequently, fish sightings here include Napoleon wrasse, batfish, moray eels, jacks, and smaller species colleges. Be aware of green turtles — and if your guide is searching for creatures for you, continue looking out into the blue for other passing pelagics.
4. Pangalingan
Situated on the south side of Manado Tua, Pangalingan is an exhilarating dive for those who enjoy drifts. This vibrant dip site provides an opportunity to see education snappers, fusiliers, and other reef fish while gliding over the immaculate slopes with little swimming demanded. The currents that run through this website bring with them nutrients that attract abundant marine life — you never know what you might see here, so expect the unexpected!
5. Siladen Wall
Siladen Island is the tiny island in the Bunaken Marine Park, with a colorful and lively coral wall. Here is a timeless Bunaken dive site that allows anglers to place larger species and a plethora of creatures. Keep an eye out for cuttlefish, turtles, nudibranch, and ribbons of education fusiliers passing by in the blue.
6. Manado (Molas) Wreck
While the Molas wreck lies just outside of the marine park’s boundaries, to the east of the city of Manado, it surely warrants a mention. There are numerous theories concerning where the wreck came out and how it came to sink, but it is thought that it met its demise around the time of WWII. The impact sits in the base of a slope at around 40 meters. The shallower parts of the effects offer some penetration chances. Still, the real highlight here is that the marine life that’s attracted to the impact and the adjacent slope. This is a good site for intermediate fans for seeing pipefish, nudibranch, and a plethora of different critters.
These are only a tiny number of those websites which we visit when diving in Bunaken. There are lots of dive sites, and all offer unique opportunities for seeing several of Indonesia’s most revered marine life. Before you go, please discover more about Bunaken by visiting Wonderful Indonesia.
