Immeriswas
Contributor
Miguels diving in Gorontalo was the last but definatly not least stopover on our Indonesia trip 24. Beiing manly a transit place for tourist from and to the Togian islands, we were more or less the only western tourist in town and the only diving guest at Miguels. Rantje the American Head of the place never minimized the Service due to the fact that we were only two, on three days only one paying guest. One dive I had two guides with me, to find at that special muck site even more critters. Never had such service before !
The spaciuos dive boat reaches all sites in maximum 40 minutes and you choose between 2 or 3 tank dive days. On the long trip lunch is provided on board.
Mainly wall diving with some slopes and a few Muck sites. The current was none to mild and the visibility around 20 to 25m. After Buka Buka were we had outstanding 30+ the second best of the four visited location.
Very healthy reefs with hard and soft Corall and huge sponges, with the special dali sponges. Their surface really reminds a bit at the famous painter
Not much of big fish beside the whale shark.
That place unfortunatly is a tourist spot, where sometimes two duzend and more local tourist are snorkling with the juvenile whale sharks.
There is even a transparent little boat, in which paying guest a towed next to the whale shark and filmed from a drone above.
The Fish are stationary because of the feeding from some local fishermen ( beeing paid for as well)
After the descriptions of fellow divers, who went there from Saronde on a day trip and were totally disappointed, we canceled the idea.
But on the last day, on the way home after the second dive the captain called a friend in the village at the whale shark Spot and: all tourist already left but two shark still lingering arround.
So we simply were lucky to have them for arround one hour on ourself.
The diving was the best in Gorontalo. whereas accomodationwise Saronde was far above.
In Gorontalo is no beach side accomodation, so we stayed at Yulia hotel, which was very reasonable costwise and in a good condition.
The staff was very friendly and helpfull.
As a resume I would say, that there are more impressive places for diving in Indonesia than this four spots, but in combination the variation of what you can see, was really good.
Would I revisit one of them? Maybe Gorontalo, which is not such a great detour from Manado.
Below is the Link to some picture
The spaciuos dive boat reaches all sites in maximum 40 minutes and you choose between 2 or 3 tank dive days. On the long trip lunch is provided on board.
Mainly wall diving with some slopes and a few Muck sites. The current was none to mild and the visibility around 20 to 25m. After Buka Buka were we had outstanding 30+ the second best of the four visited location.
Very healthy reefs with hard and soft Corall and huge sponges, with the special dali sponges. Their surface really reminds a bit at the famous painter
Not much of big fish beside the whale shark.
That place unfortunatly is a tourist spot, where sometimes two duzend and more local tourist are snorkling with the juvenile whale sharks.
There is even a transparent little boat, in which paying guest a towed next to the whale shark and filmed from a drone above.
The Fish are stationary because of the feeding from some local fishermen ( beeing paid for as well)
After the descriptions of fellow divers, who went there from Saronde on a day trip and were totally disappointed, we canceled the idea.
But on the last day, on the way home after the second dive the captain called a friend in the village at the whale shark Spot and: all tourist already left but two shark still lingering arround.
So we simply were lucky to have them for arround one hour on ourself.
The diving was the best in Gorontalo. whereas accomodationwise Saronde was far above.
In Gorontalo is no beach side accomodation, so we stayed at Yulia hotel, which was very reasonable costwise and in a good condition.
The staff was very friendly and helpfull.
As a resume I would say, that there are more impressive places for diving in Indonesia than this four spots, but in combination the variation of what you can see, was really good.
Would I revisit one of them? Maybe Gorontalo, which is not such a great detour from Manado.
Below is the Link to some picture
