In December I started to put together a plan for a dive trip to the Manado area, I have dived this area a few times before on a live-aboard with stays in dive resorts (KBR & Minahasa) before and after.
I really liked the itinerary starting in Lembeh Straits, going north to the volcanic islands and finally round to the Manado side and Bunaken. The variety of the different sites and types of dives made the trip more interesting than just a stay in a single location. However there was no live-aboard available this time, so my plan had to change I decided to make the trip a three dive centre one, with the places as spread out in the Manado area as I could make them.
After talking with some friends, one of which was kind enough to send me some of his trip reports, I had the choices narrowed down to:
1. Lembeh either Kasawari or KBR
2. Gangga Island
3. Minahasa Lagoon
The criteria were quite simple, I wanted somewhere comfortable with good food and a good diving operation. I had ruled out Lembeh Resort not because it didnt match these but because I have a stiff leg and so dont have a great love of stairs. Gangga was new to me, and chosen because of a friends recommendation and finally Minahasa, because Id enjoyed my previous stay there.
After checking out each internet site I sent enquiries directly to each resort within 3 days all except KBR had replied with information and prices (January is low season for the resorts following Christmas/New Year so as a single diver I benefited from the low occupancy rates). After a week with no reply from KBR I sent them another request, again this went unanswered so my choice of place to stay in Lembeh was made easy.
Flights were booked with Silk Air over the internet, a quick and easy process. My dive equipment lives in Phuket so the itinerary was finalised as a return Phuket Singapore Manado. The outgoing flight from Phuket does not get to Singapore early enough for a direct connection, so in that direction an overnight stay was needed. I chose to leave the airport and stay in a local hotel.
So off we go on the trip...
The trip from Phuket to Singapore was uneventful, I like the level of service given by SA, as a diver my baggage allowance had been increased to 30Kg, excluding my carry on laptop (in a backpack) and my housing and strobes (in a small camera bag) the case and dive bag weighed in at 38Kg. No mention of this was made by the check-in staff and they even gave me a nice smile when handing me the boarding passes. As my stopover was less than 18 hours I was able to check the bags straight through, avoiding the hassle of luggage in Singapore.
I really like Singapore airport, when I reached immigration after a short look around the shops there was only one person waiting in line in front of me. Despite the very small line they still opened another desk! In the morning I arrived a little early at the airport worth it to have a look around the shops, have a nice breakfast and do some free internet surfing.
Arrival in Manado, and my first nice surprise. Despite being fairly far back on the plane I was first to reach the visa on arrival desk this meant I actually got through immigration and into the baggage hall before anyone else on the plane. Bags were out early and the Kasawari rep. was waiting just outside with my name on a big sign.
Kasawari* is close to Bitung and located to one side of a small fishing village, for those who know Lembeh its just in front of Jahir.
* Ill rate the 3 dive centres against each later in the report.
The resort is only a few years old, and like many in the area has been designed primarily with diving in mind. The resort, camera facilities, equipment area and rinse tanks are all set out just about as well as you can achieve and the resort has a well built and solid feel to it. The standard diving is arranged with 3 day dives and a choice of 4th evening or night dive each day. They do offer a pool, spa and land day trips but this is primarily a dive resort.
For those who dont know this area, Lembeh Strait is a muck diving destination. This means most sites dont have nice coral, big fish or visibility for wide angle. However, living on the black sand and assorted pieces of rubbish (garbage) is an amazing array of interesting and rare animals in a concentration seen in only a few places on the planet. BE WARNED diving here is very addictive.
Day 1: Nudi Retreat, Nudi Falls & Aer Prang.
Three great sites with all sorts of Nudis and Critters, of special note a nice Rhinopias at Aer Prang
Day 2: Police Pier, Panta Parigi, TK3.
Some nice HQ Shrimp at police pier, dismembering a sea star.
Day 3: Makawidy, Aer Prang, TK1
Strange Rhinopias at Makawidy.
Day 4: Aer Prang, Makawidy, Jahir
Its not unusual to dive the same site many times you never see quite the same range of critters each time.
The second Rhinopias at Aer Prang.
Day 5: Angels Window, Nudi Retreat, TK1
A frogfish trying to turn himself inside out. He learned not to try and eat Dragonets!
Day 6: Nudi Falls, TK3, TK2 - My best day in Lembeh, so three pics for this one
My first Cruenta
Two Flamboyant Cuttle Fish (small ones)
And a stripy octopus (it could not do Elvis, so cant be a mimic)
Day 7 (Last Day): Kapal Indah, Batu Sandar, TK3
This guy sums up my feelings leaving Lembeh, remember the warning Diving here is addictive.
Off to Gangga next The resort is on an island, so transfer is first by car, and then a 20 min boat ride.
Gangga is more of a real resort, much bigger (60 spaces) with white sand beaches, spa and big pool. The diving centre is well equipped but feels more like an additional service than the focus for the whole resort. The camera room is good, but small for what could be up to 30 divers. Diving is arranged with two morning dives, and afternoon dive and the option of an evening/night dive for number 4.
Diving in this area is generally slope/wall dives with the best sites (in my opinion) being around neighbouring Bangka Island or on the mainland. Visibility is better than Lembeh, opening up the possibility of wide angle. Still being in Lembeh mode I tended to still go for the small stuff. As these sites are more Open Ocean they can be affected by waves and current.
Day 1: Batu Tiga, Sabina Timur, Lakehe
About time I put one of these in lots of leaf fish around.
Day 2: Pulisan, Paradise Jetty skip afternoon
Day 3: Efratha, Sempini, Lihaga
At first I didnt see the shrimp the guide was pointing to
Day 4: Busa Bora, Rainbow, HBO - best day at Gangga so 3 pics
Day 5: Batu Tiga, Sahoung skip afternoon
If only you could get underneath these Pegasus fish.
See Part 2 Next.....
I really liked the itinerary starting in Lembeh Straits, going north to the volcanic islands and finally round to the Manado side and Bunaken. The variety of the different sites and types of dives made the trip more interesting than just a stay in a single location. However there was no live-aboard available this time, so my plan had to change I decided to make the trip a three dive centre one, with the places as spread out in the Manado area as I could make them.
After talking with some friends, one of which was kind enough to send me some of his trip reports, I had the choices narrowed down to:
1. Lembeh either Kasawari or KBR
2. Gangga Island
3. Minahasa Lagoon
The criteria were quite simple, I wanted somewhere comfortable with good food and a good diving operation. I had ruled out Lembeh Resort not because it didnt match these but because I have a stiff leg and so dont have a great love of stairs. Gangga was new to me, and chosen because of a friends recommendation and finally Minahasa, because Id enjoyed my previous stay there.
After checking out each internet site I sent enquiries directly to each resort within 3 days all except KBR had replied with information and prices (January is low season for the resorts following Christmas/New Year so as a single diver I benefited from the low occupancy rates). After a week with no reply from KBR I sent them another request, again this went unanswered so my choice of place to stay in Lembeh was made easy.
Flights were booked with Silk Air over the internet, a quick and easy process. My dive equipment lives in Phuket so the itinerary was finalised as a return Phuket Singapore Manado. The outgoing flight from Phuket does not get to Singapore early enough for a direct connection, so in that direction an overnight stay was needed. I chose to leave the airport and stay in a local hotel.
So off we go on the trip...
The trip from Phuket to Singapore was uneventful, I like the level of service given by SA, as a diver my baggage allowance had been increased to 30Kg, excluding my carry on laptop (in a backpack) and my housing and strobes (in a small camera bag) the case and dive bag weighed in at 38Kg. No mention of this was made by the check-in staff and they even gave me a nice smile when handing me the boarding passes. As my stopover was less than 18 hours I was able to check the bags straight through, avoiding the hassle of luggage in Singapore.
I really like Singapore airport, when I reached immigration after a short look around the shops there was only one person waiting in line in front of me. Despite the very small line they still opened another desk! In the morning I arrived a little early at the airport worth it to have a look around the shops, have a nice breakfast and do some free internet surfing.
Arrival in Manado, and my first nice surprise. Despite being fairly far back on the plane I was first to reach the visa on arrival desk this meant I actually got through immigration and into the baggage hall before anyone else on the plane. Bags were out early and the Kasawari rep. was waiting just outside with my name on a big sign.
Kasawari* is close to Bitung and located to one side of a small fishing village, for those who know Lembeh its just in front of Jahir.
* Ill rate the 3 dive centres against each later in the report.
The resort is only a few years old, and like many in the area has been designed primarily with diving in mind. The resort, camera facilities, equipment area and rinse tanks are all set out just about as well as you can achieve and the resort has a well built and solid feel to it. The standard diving is arranged with 3 day dives and a choice of 4th evening or night dive each day. They do offer a pool, spa and land day trips but this is primarily a dive resort.
For those who dont know this area, Lembeh Strait is a muck diving destination. This means most sites dont have nice coral, big fish or visibility for wide angle. However, living on the black sand and assorted pieces of rubbish (garbage) is an amazing array of interesting and rare animals in a concentration seen in only a few places on the planet. BE WARNED diving here is very addictive.
Day 1: Nudi Retreat, Nudi Falls & Aer Prang.
Three great sites with all sorts of Nudis and Critters, of special note a nice Rhinopias at Aer Prang
Day 2: Police Pier, Panta Parigi, TK3.
Some nice HQ Shrimp at police pier, dismembering a sea star.
Day 3: Makawidy, Aer Prang, TK1
Strange Rhinopias at Makawidy.
Day 4: Aer Prang, Makawidy, Jahir
Its not unusual to dive the same site many times you never see quite the same range of critters each time.
The second Rhinopias at Aer Prang.
Day 5: Angels Window, Nudi Retreat, TK1
A frogfish trying to turn himself inside out. He learned not to try and eat Dragonets!
Day 6: Nudi Falls, TK3, TK2 - My best day in Lembeh, so three pics for this one
My first Cruenta
Two Flamboyant Cuttle Fish (small ones)
And a stripy octopus (it could not do Elvis, so cant be a mimic)
Day 7 (Last Day): Kapal Indah, Batu Sandar, TK3
This guy sums up my feelings leaving Lembeh, remember the warning Diving here is addictive.
Off to Gangga next The resort is on an island, so transfer is first by car, and then a 20 min boat ride.
Gangga is more of a real resort, much bigger (60 spaces) with white sand beaches, spa and big pool. The diving centre is well equipped but feels more like an additional service than the focus for the whole resort. The camera room is good, but small for what could be up to 30 divers. Diving is arranged with two morning dives, and afternoon dive and the option of an evening/night dive for number 4.
Diving in this area is generally slope/wall dives with the best sites (in my opinion) being around neighbouring Bangka Island or on the mainland. Visibility is better than Lembeh, opening up the possibility of wide angle. Still being in Lembeh mode I tended to still go for the small stuff. As these sites are more Open Ocean they can be affected by waves and current.
Day 1: Batu Tiga, Sabina Timur, Lakehe
About time I put one of these in lots of leaf fish around.
Day 2: Pulisan, Paradise Jetty skip afternoon
Day 3: Efratha, Sempini, Lihaga
At first I didnt see the shrimp the guide was pointing to
Day 4: Busa Bora, Rainbow, HBO - best day at Gangga so 3 pics
Day 5: Batu Tiga, Sahoung skip afternoon
If only you could get underneath these Pegasus fish.
See Part 2 Next.....