Covering N. Sulawesi

[billt4sf]

My wife and I plan to spend a year in Bali starting May 2016 to use it as a base to dive Indo and maybe PNG.

My question now is how to cover all the dive areas in N. Sulawesi. Of course we will never be able to get to each dive SITE but would we be able to cover the main dive areas (which I think are Manado, Bunaken, Bangka and Lembeh) by staying at either both Two Fish resorts (one in Lembeh and one in Bunaken) or both Murex resorts (one in Manado and one in Bangka)?

Does this cover it? (as far as it may be "covered")? We prefer relatively easy dive sites: not too much current and not more than 100 feet. Bangka sounded like it might challenge us (pinnacles = currents).

We actually hope to be repeat offenders at whichever resorts we end up liking.


Second part of the question: Why is it that there is such a great price difference between the Murex pricing (around $2500 per week for two people) compared to Two Fish (around $1500 per week for two people)? Is it only that Two Fish does not have A/C?


Thanks,

Bill & Emily

 

[Wingy]

Personally I dont find it necessary to have aircon in Indo but you may feel differently. To be honest id love to know the reason Murex have suddenly become so expensive, im just speculating but I wonder if it has anything to do with the publicity of the mining and Bangkas uncertain future. I loved my stay at Bangka Murex in the days of no power except for a few hours a day and no wifi, however...at the prices now Id be happy to look at other options. A little annoying going from paying in Rupiah and being one of three people on the island to USD although I understand their need to stay in business. Ive also dived with Froggies who have Bunaken and Lembeh ops and have enjoyed staying with them and would do so again. I havent heard any complaints about two fish. Have fun.

 

[pughio83]

Can highly recommend twofish resorts. Have stayed at all four. Lembeh is great and twofish offer great package prices and the staff are great. Haven't stayed at murex but I think if if you want to do all the best sites in Sulawesi North then I think Bangka should be part of that. Have seen good reports from there and I don't think the diving is crazy hard there. Lembeh for muck, bunaken for walls and Bangka for pinnacles but still has the macro. Maybe speak to twofish and see if they can do special rates for longer stays or multi centre stays. Don't forget to dive Bali as well, macro is great and good diving over at Penida.

 

[highdesert]

Bangka sounded like it might challenge us (pinnacles = currents).

Just curious ... having dived these sites, in almost no current, I'm curious how you arrived at 'pinnacles=currents'.

 

[billt4sf]

Just curious ... having dived these sites, in almost no current, I'm curious how you arrived at 'pinnacles=currents'.

I might be wrong. But I got it from their website and from the idea that anything out in the deep ocean (as opposed to close to shore, relatively shallow) is subject to currents. Sometimes, not all the time.

- Bill

 

[Luko]

To be honest id love to know the reason Murex have suddenly become so expensive, im just speculating but I wonder if it has anything to do with the publicity of the mining and Bangkas uncertain future. I loved my stay at Bangka Murex in the days of no power except for a few hours a day and no wifi, however...at the prices now Id be happy to look at other options.

I'd think it's absolutely nothing to do with the mining, the owners have been very active against on lobbying against the mining activity. All Murex prices have increased severely within a year, incl. Murex Manado, I would assume it's simply a change of marketing management and client targeting, it seems they tend to align a "Murex brand" on the N/America market, for me it's a big mistake since most of their Bangka clients are Europeans and Ozzies who are not looking for the same features : I have discussed this with Murex management and warned them on this aspect, they would simply lose their core markets.

---------- Post added September 19th, 2015 at 10:20 AM ----------

Just curious ... having dived these sites, in almost no current, I'm curious how you arrived at 'pinnacles=currents'.

I probably dived Sahaung pinnacles 15 times, you are right there are times where you can dive them with NO current... Alas, it's when the current picks up that the corals are blooming their full orange color and when the fish mass is impressive.Now when you are talking about Batu Pendeta the other BIG pinnacle site, and less often dived, rest assured there will be current any time of the day!!!!

 

[Manneca]

I'm at Two Fish Bunaken as I write this. The first three days I was here we had horrendous currents, including an upcurrent that had most people hanging on for dear life. I've been in upcurrents, but this one was frightening. There are getting a little better now as the moon moves from new to first quarter. I love Two Fish, but this trip is changing my mind. The food has been dreadful, unless you love fish and more fish and more fish. I've been here six days and we've had fish for five meals (of 12). One day the only protein was boiled eggs. We've had no non carb veggies for lunch (other than a "salad" which today was cucumbers and pineapple) for the last couple of days. Today I got back from the afternoon dive to find no water. The tank was empty and they were filling it. The dive guides are terrific. But I'm really put off by a whole lot of things. There were a lot of miscommunications when we arrived and Two Fish has its own way of doing things. Last time, I thought it was great, but no so much this time.

 

[Wingy]

Luko agreed

 

[Mike Veitch]

unless you love fish and more fish and more fish.

I prefer mine in the water rather than on a plate I really don't get the fact that so many resorts constantly serve fish.. seems rather weird to me.. But, I suppose that is a topic for another thread

 

[billt4sf]

I'd think it's absolutely nothing to do with the mining, the owners have been very active against on lobbying against the mining activity. All Murex prices have increased severely within a year, incl. Murex Manado, I would assume it's simply a change of marketing management and client targeting, it seems they tend to align a "Murex brand" on the N/America market, for me it's a big mistake since most of their Bangka clients are Europeans and Ozzies who are not looking for the same features : I have discussed this with Murex management and warned them on this aspect, they would simply lose their core markets.

And Luko, haven't you been there like 6 times??@!?

- Bill

---------- Post added September 19th, 2015 at 08:44 AM ----------

My question now is how to cover all the dive areas in N. Sulawesi. Of course we will never be able to get to each dive SITE but would we be able to cover the main dive areas (which I think are Manado, Bunaken, Bangka and Lembeh) by staying at either both Two Fish resorts (one in Lembeh and one in Bunaken) or both Murex resorts (one in Manado and one in Bangka)?

Does this cover it?

I am still hoping to get some sort of definitive response about whether attending both Murex resorts *OR* both Two Fish resorts will cover N. Sulawesi?

Thanks,

Bill