BUNAKEN NATIONAL MARINE PARK

The Bunaken National Marine Park (BNMP) was formally established in 1991 and is among the first of Indonesia’s growing system of marine parks. It was one of the first underwater photography attractions in the area. Scuba divers from all over the globe flocked to Indonesia a decade ago for a glimpse of the coral triangle. The park covers a total surface area of 89,065 hectares, 97% of which is overlain 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.

The waters are extremely deep (1566m in Manado Bay), clear (up to 35-40m visibility), refreshing in temperature (27-29 C) and harbour some of the highest levels of biodiversity in the world. Pick any of group of interest – corals, fish, echinoderms or sponges – and the number of families, genera or species is bound to be astonishingly high. For example, 7 of the 8 species of giant clams that occur in the world, occur in Bunaken. The park has around 70 genera of corals; compare this to a mere 10 in Hawaii. Although the exact number of fish species is unknown, it may be slightly higher than in the Philippines, where 2,500 species, or nearly 70% of all fish species known to the Indo-western Pacific, are found. The National Marine Park is where the Indian and Pacific Oceans meet. It covers a total area of over 890 square kilometres, hosts 390 different species of corals, is a center of marine global biodiversity and ranks among the top diving destinations in the world. It offers unforgettable diving and snorkelling.

The Marine Park is known for its rich macro life and is mostly characterized by wall dives rich in hard and soft corals. Pelagics such as reef sharks (black tip, white tip), eagle rays, barracudas, tuna, napoleon wrasses and turtles are also a common sight. There are over 50 dives sites within easy reach of the Resort. All dive sites around the 5 islands of the Marine Park are wall dives whereas dive sites alongside the coast of North Sulawesi are mostly dark sandy slopes with corals.

SILADEN RESORT

Built in 2001 Siladen Resort & Spa is exclusively located on Pulau Siladen, a lush tropical island in the heart of the Marine Park, a protected ocean area known worldwide for the richness of its waters and epicentre of global marine biodiversity. Since the first guest in 2003, the international resort offers guests the most attractive, exquisite and secluded comfort in Sulawesi.

GETTING THERE

First thing is you need to get to Manado international airport MDC.  It has regular international flight service to/from Singapore operated by Silkair on Mon,Wed,Fri,Sat. It’s also connected to Jakarta, Denpasar-Bali and Makassar by Garuda Indonesia or Lionair, both offering daily flights, 7 days a week. If you need to buy tickets for domestic flight, check on www.nusatrip.com

BEST TIME TO GO

Diving is possible all year around, best time is from April to September. Water normally around 27° to 29° During the year the average water temperature is 28 Celsius. Visibility mostly very good (25 -30m) in summer, decreasing in winter by the action of waves and rain. Low visibility approximately 20m, average 30m occasionally up to 40m.
Average tide excursion is between 1.5 m and 3m. As currents change in intensity according to the tides, to ensure safe and comfortable diving to all guests, all dives are drift dives.

3mm full length wetsuits are recommend. The use of gloves or knives is not allowed in the Bunaken National Marine Park.