Bunaken overated?

[hallboy]

The first was caught around COmoroans islands ocean Close to Madagascar, wasn'it?

 

[hapadiver]

Yup. Very smart, Hallboy. You should check out that book--excellent! Read it while on the Togeans just before Bunaken.

 

[bluemi]

It would be interesting to know with whom the people who were disappointed about Bunaken dived with. In my experience the dive operator can make a big difference. It's sometimes interesting to see how different the comments of people are who were on Bunaken at the same time. In the end you find out that they have dived completely different spots, depending on the dive operation they have been with.

 

[pelan-pelan]

Well said bluemi. Exactly so. And also my experience, confirmed by others, is that there is actually an improvement in the fish etc over the last two years - quite noticeable. So someone who was there 2 years ago (not long in marine terms) may not have the right impression.

Bunaken and Manado are increasingly dive destinations. At this stage it is important to clarify who are the best dive operations and who are "cowboys". People like Christiane at Froggies, Roel and Juud at lumbablumbadiving, Murex, Simone at Thalassa have been there for well over 10 years and are committed to the Marine Reserve and its environment. Did you know that the association of dive centres out there actually contributes to education funding for local children? They don't make any publicity of it. They know that educating today's youngsters is the way to protect the envronment - long after they've gone.

By the way - lumbalumba and Thalassa will be at next month's London International Dive Show.

 

[bluemi]

Absolutely agreed, pelan-pelan. The increase of coral cover in the Bunaken National Park has been confirmed by several recent studies - one of the very few locations in the world where this has been the case!

To be fair one should mention other dive operators that are doing a good job and that care about the reefs as well. www.divenorthsulawesi.com gives a good overview. Unfortunately there are others, the "cowboys" as you said, who don't want to join the NSWA, either because they are not willing to spend money and time for conservation or because they simply can't (or don't want to) fulfill NSWA's strict guidelines regarding safety and environment. As a diver one should consider this before booking at one of the resorts.

 

[hallboy]

Absolutely agreed, pelan-pelan. The increase of coral cover in the Bunaken National Park has been confirmed by several recent studies - one of the very few locations in the world where this has been the case!

To be fair one should mention other dive operators that are doing a good job and that care about the reefs as well. www.divenorthsulawesi.com gives a good overview. Unfortunately there are others, the "cowboys" as you said, who don't want to join the NSWA, either because they are not willing to spend money and time for conservation or because they simply can't (or don't want to) fulfill NSWA's strict guidelines regarding safety and environment. As a diver one should consider this before booking at one of the resorts.

You can add Celebes divers wich have a small lab of biology on theire Siladen small resort and recieve frequently biologist from Genoa or Marshall islands

 

[bluemi]

Yes, sure - good people. On www.divenorthsulawesi.com Celebes Divers is listed as member of NSWA.