North Sulawesi and alternatives

[Liberty01]

Hi!
I went diving around Bunaken in1995, when I was very inexperienced and macro was not an issue yet (as were more than five other divers on the same reef...), but awesome walls and sharks and barracudas.
I was told, that some company got a licence for mining in the middle of Bunaken National Park, and there are plenty of resorts today.
I think about going back before the place will be ruined. But is it still worth it?
I thought about going to the Togians, but Central Sualwesi seems to be off limit for safety reasons.
How about other sites in North Sulawesi like Bangka or Lembeh? Do you have to stay in the dive resort or are there other options?
Thank you.
Liberty

 

[TSandM]

Of course, I don't know what Bunaken was like ten years ago, but I can say that the walls were riots of color and fascinating macro life, and the shallow reefs were packed with fish, large and small. The only divers we saw were the ones on our boat, so I don't think it's gotten that crowded or overdived yet.

Lembeh is totally different diving -- shallow dives over grey sand/silt, which is packed with weird and wonderful lifeforms, much of it very cleverly camouflaged. Every dive is a treasure hunt, and for us, they all paid off. I enjoyed it very much, and in fact, were I to go back to only one side of the island, it would be Lembeh again.

We stayed at Tasik Ria for the Bunaken dives, and Kungkungen Bay Resort for the Lembeh dives. I don't know if you have to stay at a resort, but it made things very pleasant.

 

[pelan-pelan]

Lots of posts here. Have no fear - it's not ruined. We first went in '98. And have visited regularly ever since. 2 years' ago we were commenting that, if anything, things were improving. We're back again in the summer.

As for resorts - none of this all-inclusive nonsense. Still many simple, Indonesian resorts with now some more up-market players, (but not mega-international blots).

Who did you dive with in 95? Was it Froggies with Christiane Muller, or perhaps Roel and Juud Dikkers of lumbalumba?

Diving, the walls of Bunaken are still there, Manado-side is now finding more and more critter macro stuff - so is a good base for both, or for what is still some of the weirdest stuff go over to Lembeh and muck-dive there.

Manado itself - well that has grown as a city. Much reclamation in front of the town, but it is still a bustling, dusty, noisy and friendly place. Up in the highlands, Tomohon is virtually untouched.

Yes you will see changes, but don't be scared about finding it wrecked and commercialised - no way.

 

[neptun43]

Hi,
Since 5 years I have visited Bunaken and the area around Bunaken every year. If you want to read about my experience you can find an English version of my German website "Bunaken-Sulawesi: Diving, Snorkelling and Travelling". Especially Backpackers may find not only tips for good and cheap accommodations and Dive Centers on Bunaken National Park but also reports about my trips to Minahasa Highland, the near-by volcanoes, to Tangkoko Nationalpark and the Togian Islands with many photos/uw-photos.

 

[jfcl01]

very nice...thank you