Sulawesi Deluxe – Bangka & Bunaken – Boutique Resorts
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Discover the most beautiful dive sites on Bangka & Bunaken
Enjoy a wonderful two-week diving holiday in Indonesia that offers the perfect balance of comfort, adventure and relaxation. This dive trip combines a stay at two luxury boutique resorts. You will stay at the Coral Eye Marine Outpost and the Siladen & Spa Resort. Here, as a diver, you can enjoy not only fantastic diving but also exceptional comfort, quality food, spa treatments and, of course, the carefree luxury you deserve. In addition, some exciting land excursions are also planned during the trip to explore the fenomenal nature and culture above the surface.
Dive into the diversity of Sulawesi
You diving holiday starts at Bangka Island, where the unique volcanic black sandy bottom provides the backdrop for the vibrant and diverse marine life and corals found here. You’ll find a variety of both hard and soft coral. Macro diving enthusiasts will be delighted to hear that marine animals such as pygmy seahorses, ghost whistle fish and angler fish are frequently found around Bangka Island.
After your stay in Bangka, you will head to Bunaken National Park, a true paradise known for its breathtaking drop-offs and abundance of sea turtles. With more than 90 different types of coral and more than 390 species of fish, Bunaken National Park is one of the most bio-diverse areas in the world, giving you the chance to spot large schools of tropical fish alongside the occasional shark.
Luxury stay at the beach
Your home base during this dive trip begins on Bangka at the Coral Eye resort, The location is not only beautiful, it combines the grandeur of a luxury resort with the personal touch and intimacy of a boutique hotel. fter your stay on Bangka you will transfer to Bunaken where you will stay at the Siladen Resort & Spa. This resort is a dream location with bungalows right on the beach. The staff knows your name and creates a personal atmosphere, perfect for beach lunches and dinners. Enjoy delicious cocktails and the restaurant’s excellent cuisine, with the option to dine on the beach.
Best travel time for a diving vacation to Sulawesi:
The best time to dive in Sulawesi is between April and (early) November. This period is considered the “dry season” with the least amount of rainfall and the calmest seas. Visibility is also at it’s best during this time, allowing divers to fully appreciate the vibrant coral and varied marine life the area is known for.
Average Temperatures
Wetsuit advice for Bunaken & Bangka
A 3 mm wetsuit is recommended. Water temperatures in Bunaken and Bangka range from about 28-29°C throughout the year.
What will you experience on this diving holiday to Indonesia?
View itinerary here
Day 1 & 2 | The journey to Bangka Island via Manado, Sulawesi
Today your journey starts to Manado in Sulawesi. From Europe, you go either via Singapore or via Jakarta to Manado, the capital of North Sulawesi. The trip takes about 20 to 25 hours, depending on the route and airline. Many airlines, including Garuda Indonesia & Singapore Airlines, offer good flights to Manado. If desired, we will arrange a hotel at the first stop ( e.g. Singapore) so you can continue your journey the next day rested.
On Day 2 you will arrive in Manado. You will be picked up at the airport by Coral Eye and taken to Bangka Island. It’s about an hour drive to the coast and then another 30 minutes by boat. After you have checked in, the rest of the day is all about settling in and relaxing after the long journey.
Day 3 to 5 | Diving around Bangka Island
The next 3 days are completely dedicated to diving around Bangka Island. You have a dive package of 8 dives, consisting of 6 boat dives and 2 shore dives (including 1 night dive).
In the archipelago of Bangka, you can diversify your diving skills across more than 30 outstanding dive sites, ranging from volcanic sands and breathtaking pinnacles to vibrant coastal reefs and mysterious mangrove areas. Each of these habitats can be reached within 5 to 40 minutes by boat from the resort. Right outside the door of Coral Eye is also a beautiful reef, ideal for a fascinating ( guided) night dive.
The volcanic sands, with their characteristic black sandy bottoms dotted with coral, are a paradise for lovers of unique marine life, similar to Lembeh Straits. The pinnacles, richly covered with soft corals, form spectacular diving sites, although they are known for their sometimes strong currents. The coastal reef is characterized by robust hard coral on sandy bottoms and high biodiversity, ideal for lovers of colorful coral gardens.
The mangrove areas, influenced by tidal and river currents, are home to a rich variety of life such as sponges and small fish. These zones are crucial to the marine ecosystem, and the adjacent seagrass provides essential nutrition for dugongs.
Day 6 | Land excursion to Tangkoko National Reserve
Today you have an excursion to The Tangkoko National Reserve in North Sulawesi. A biodiversity-rich area with ancient volcanoes and tropical rainforest. The park is famous for its small primates, the Tarsius, and the social, endemic black macaque. In addition, the reserve is home to the endangered Maleo bird, known for its large eggs, and the nocturnal Kuskus, a marsupial.
This 8,870-hectare reserve not only provides conservation opportunities but also encourages eco-tourism. You’ll enjoy an educational walk with experienced guides who will give you insight into the need for conservation. Tangkoko is therefore an essential place for scientific studies and nature lovers.
Day 7 | Transfer to Siladen & Spa Resort
The stay on Bangka at the Coral Eye resort is over. At your leisure, after breakfast, you check out. By boat you will then be taken to Pulau Siladen. Along the way, you will make two more dives.
Once you arrive on Pulau Siladen, a small tropical island with a whopping 600-meter sandy beach, you will check in at the Siladen Resort & Spa and the rest of the day is at leisure.
Good to know: there are several activities you can book here, such as a cooking class, yoga session or spa treatment to enrich your vacation.
Day 8 to 10 | Diving in Bunaken National Park
The next three days are again completely devoted to diving. All dives in the Bunaken Marine Park are conducted from a boat because of the unpredictable and often strong currents that make shore diving here unsafe.
You have a total of 6 dives in your dive package. Good for two tank dives daily in the morning. Optionally, you can book one more tank dive in the afternoon. Twilight and night dives are available upon request.
Bunaken is known for its vertical walls, extensive biodiversity and especially its macro life. Divers can spot pygmy seahorses, graceful ghost pipefish, hairy squat lobsters and blue-ringed octopuses among other creatures. Although larger pelagic species such as napoleon fish, tuna and giant groupers occasionally visit, the park’s waters are also home to whitetip reef sharks and blacktip reef sharks, and white-spotted eagle rays often appear.
One of the highlights of the Bunaken Marine Park is its healthy turtle population, especially around Bunaken Island, where it is not uncommon to see numerous turtles during a dive, including green, hawksbill, loggerhead, warana and leatherback turtles.
Visibility in the park is generally excellent, averaging about 30 meters on the walls and can easily exceed 40 meters on a clear day. They closely monitor tidal excursions and weather, as these can significantly affect visibility.
In mainland North Sulawesi, the seabed consists mainly of mud or white sand. This area is ideal for muck diving at black sand sites, where divers can spot unique marine life that has adapted to harsh conditions. There are also beautiful coral reefs at white sand sites and an accessible wreck covered in sponges.
Day 11 | Land excursion: Minahasa Highlands Tour
From Siladen Resort today you will take the boat to the mainland for a day excursion. The first stop is the fantastic traditional market where, depending on personal taste, you will be surprised by the local version of a Western supermarket! You will then travel to the village of Woloan to see how local Minahasa houses are built.
You will then have lunch at the region’s largest lake, Lake Tondano. Enjoy the traditional and delicious fish dishes, fried or grilled. Bring a sweater as it may be chilly.
After lunch, visit the village of Polutan, a pottery industry for making ceramics a short distance away. On the way back you will pass Lake Linow, which shows breathtaking color changes due to its sulfur content. You’ll also stop along the way to look at handicrafts in Tinoor – traditional hats and bamboo handicrafts are just a few examples.
Day 12 | Relax, souvenir shopping, packing
Today is already the last full day of your vacation. You have the entire day at leisure. Relax by the pool, read a book in one of the hammocks, pack your bags, enjoy a last massage…. How you organize your day is entirely up to you.
If you would like to do something else, you can consider the 3-hour dolphin tour offered by the resort, or the half-day tour to the center of Manado where you can buy some nice souvenirs for the home front. Looking for another adventure? Then this is the time to go on the the White Water Rafting – Wet and Wild Tour or do the Mt. Mahawu Volcano Trekking.
Day 13 & 14 | Time to go home
Your amazing dive holiday in North Sulawesi really comes to an end today. The resort will transfer you to Manado airport, where you will board the plane back home.
Not ready to go home yet? Then consider extending your stay with another region of Indonesia, such as Bali or Raja Ampat. Both easily accessible from Manado.
The accommodations
The stay and surroundings
Coral Eye Marine Outpost
Coral Eye is a unique Boutique Resort on the island of Bangka in North Sulawesi, Indonesia. Originally established as a marine research outpost, Coral Eye today is a melting pot of passionate travelers, diving enthusiasts, underwater photographers and marine biologists.
Designed to be guest-centered, Coral Eye creates a unique environment that promotes social interaction and communication among divers. One way they do this is by centering the dining table where everyone sits down for meals.
In 2022, Coral Eye partnered with the Siladen Resort and Spa to take the resort to the next level of guest comfort. While retaining Coral Eye’s original mission and unique features, the new partnership adds a touch of luxury with 7 new villas and an upgrade to the existing rooms and general guest services.
You are staying at Coral Eye on full board. Breakfast includes freshly baked bread, croissants, homemade tropical jams and preserves, eggs prepared to your liking, cereal, homemade muffins, seasonal fruit boards, fresh juices, tea and moka coffee. For lunch and dinner, they prepare a wide range of dishes using fresh, locally sourced ingredients that combine European traditions with Indonesian flavors. They source all their fish directly from Bangka Island fishermen to ensure freshness, quality and sustainability.
On-site you will also find the spa. Here you can book various massages. All products for the treatments are natural and homemade by the spa therapist. Guests can choose from a variety of scented oils or 100% natural, locally made coconut oil for the massages.
Diving is done directly from the resort, the dive shop is located on the grounds of Coral Eye and the boats depart from there.
Coral Eye has garden & beach villas as well as rooms (superior rooms) in the main building. Standard included in this trip is a stay in a garden villa. Of course, it is possible to upgrade to the beach villas or downgrade to the Superior Rooms.
The Garden & Beach villas are similar in facilities and size. Only the location (garden view or sea view) is different. The spacious detached villas are about 100 m2 and have a double bed, both an indoor and outdoor lounge, a large closet and an open-air bathroom. Villas are equipped with a minibar, water dispenser, and complimentary coffee and tea are offered.
The Superior rooms are spacious and comfortable rooms with a private bathroom and the choice of two extra-wide single beds or a double bed. Located on the second floor of the main building. Guests staying in our main building have access to the shared balcony overlooking the sea.
There is also one Superior Sea View room that is a bit smaller and located on the second floor of the dive shop.
Siladen Resort & Spa
Siladen Resort & Spa is an exclusive boutique dive resort located on Pulau Siladen, a lush tropical island in the heart of the Bunaken National Marine Park. Established in 2003, the resort is known for providing outstanding comfort in seclusion to international guests in Sulawesi, with a focus on diving enthusiasts and nature lovers.
The resort features a 600-meter-long white sandy beach and an adjacent reef. Guests can enjoy breathtaking sunsets year-round, overlooking the volcano Manado Tua, providing a tranquil tropical paradise experience.
You’ll stay at Siladen on full board, and that’s no punishment. The gourmet fusion dishes served by the restaurant are influenced by European, Mediterranean and Asian cuisines. The restaurant, traditionally built with local materials, offers both indoor and outdoor dining overlooking the beach and pool. Regular BBQs on the beach during the dry season and private beach dinners are also available upon request.
On the beach you will find a tree house. This is the perfect place for lounging, yoga classes and presentations are also held here. The treehouse was built by the traditional timber builders of Woloan, a village known for its unique architectural style.
Siladen Resort & Spa also has a beautiful saltwater pool, with comfortable beds and close to the bar. Of course, you will also find the dive shop on-site and the camera room, ideal if you dive with a (large) camera.
Three different types of villas are available at the Siladen Resort. The price calculation for this travel proposal assumes a Garden Bungalow, but you can also upgrade your stay to a Beach Bungalow or a Luxury Bungalow. For families or two couples, for example, it is possible to book a Beach or Garden Bungalow with two bedrooms.
The 3 Luxury Villas are located right on the beach. These new 74m² villas have two separate areas, a bedroom and a living room of 20m² each. They also feature a spacious 24sqm terrace, beautiful wooden floors, and a king-size four-poster bed.
The 6 Beach View Villas of 64m² overlook the beach. They have luxurious private open-air bathrooms with all necessary amenities and a comfortable king-size four-poster bed.
The 12 Garden View Villas are each 48m² in size. They are set in peaceful, tropically landscaped gardens just steps from the beach. The Garden Villas have a small private terrace.
Each villa features individual air conditioning, 100% cotton sheets with light comforter, safe, minibar, 23-inch flat-screen HD television with international channels, telephone (no IDD), tea and coffee making facilities, a luxurious private open-air bathroom with all necessary amenities, including a hairdryer.
Travel costs
What is included
This dive holiday to North Sulawesi is available from €2845 per person based on two people in a Garden Bungalow. The diving trip can be expanded as desired. A number of things are included by default in this travel package.
Prices are subject to price changes, increases or changing exchange rates. Flights are always based on the cheapest possible booking class.
Want to know more about this luxury diving vacation to Indonesia? Get in touch with us!
Included in this diving trip, from €2845, - p.p.
- 5 Nights in a Garden Villa at Coral Eye
- 6 Nights in a Garden Villa at Siladen Resort & Spa
- Accommodation on full board basis
- Coral Eye dive package: 6 boat dives & 2 shore dives
- Two boat dives during the transfer from Coral Eye to Siladen
- Siladen dive package: 6 boat dives
- Transfer: Manado Airport - Coral Eye
- Transfer: Coral Eye - Siladen Resort
- Transfer: Siladen Resort - Manado Airport
- Land excursion: Tangkoko National Reserve
- Land tour: Minahasa Highland Tour
- VZR, Calamity Fund & Administration fee
Excluding
- Flight to Manado
- Bunaken Marine Park Fee IDR 150,000
- from €1100,- p.p.
- approx. €9 one-time fee
Optional
- Nitrox
- Diving equipment with dive computer
- €6 per tank
- approx. €27 per day
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Frequently asked questions about this diving vacation
Diving in North Sulawesi general information
Coral eye: Lace & Boat Diving. Expect soft coral, nudibranchs, pygmy seahorses, angler fish, among others. Beautiful night dive on the house reef!
Siladen: Boat Diving. Beautiful dives along walls including many turtles and fish. Opportunities for black water diving.
Both resorts average between 10 and 20 minutes of boating.
You can make a maximum of 4 dives per day. In the morning 2, in the afternoon 1 and then another night dive.
Yes definitely, at Coral Eye is a fantastic house reef where you can spot lots of unusual critters and Siladen offers Black Water diving!
At Coral Eye yes, at Siladen no.
Yes, both resorts offer PADI courses and at Siladen you can also take SSI courses – including the SSI Freediving course.
Yes, in both cases on-site
Diving equipment
Yes, and use of these is free but they are limited in availability.
IDR 450,000 per day for complete equipment including a computer. This amounts to about €27 per day.
Activities, Excursions and Wellness
This vacation is also perfect for snorkelers!
Coral Eye: Guests can enjoy excellent snorkeling from the beach at Coral Eye on our house reef for free. Alternatively, resort guests can join our boats in the morning and/or afternoon to snorkel at various sites with a snorkeling guide (maximum 4 guests per guide). Snorkeling by boat costs 25 euros per session (70 minutes). Fins and masks can be rented at the Dive Center.
Siladen: All reefs around the islands of the Bunaken National Marine Park are suitable for snorkeling, as they rise to a depth of only 3 meters. Guests can enjoy excellent snorkeling from the beach on Siladen, near the old jetty, just a few minutes’ walk from the resort entrance. Alternatively, resort guests can join our boats in the morning and/or afternoon to snorkel in the Bunaken Marine Park with a snorkeling guide (maximum 4 guests per guide). Snorkeling by boat costs 25 euros per session. Fins and masks can be rented at the Dive Center.
Coral Eye: spa, snorkeling, kayaks
Siladen: Weekly yoga class, snorkeling, spa, kayaks, sups.
Coral Eye: Entertainment on the beach
Siladen: Swimming pool
Babysitting service can be provided for parents with children; however, this must be recorded in advance. On the ground, that no longer works.
Yes definitely, both resorts have a spa.
Coral Eye: Tangkoko National Park Tour, this park is known for the smallest primate in the world, the Tarsius, and also the Black Crested Macaque, is quite close to Bangka Island. In addition, they also offer a Minahasa Island Tour for those who want to learn more about the culture of North Sulawesi. But for this trip, you already do that tour from Siladen.
Siladen: Dolphin tours where you go by boat to look for dolphins. After spotting dolphins, you will go snorkeling with turtles. So in addition, they have the Minahasa Island Tour for those who want to learn more about North Sulawesi.
Accommodation / Resort
Yes, in the common areas.
Of course. At both resorts you will stay on a Full Board basis. The restaurants serve a variety of Mediterranean and Indonesian cuisine, and fish, meat and vegetarian dishes are always available. They take special diets into account and kindly ask you to indicate in advance if there are any special diets or food allergies so that they can offer the best possible options.
Coral Eye: No
Siladen: Yes – salt water
Yes, this is possible at both resorts if indicated in advance (while booking the trip so there is enough time to arrange this).
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