Bunaken National Marine Park is famous for its sheer walls, staggering biodiversity, and clear, warm water. Most visitors day trip from the mainland. But staying inside the park changes the experience entirely. Bunaken Cha Cha Nature Resort sits on the secluded east coast of Bunaken Island itself, putting the region's best dive sites within minutes of your villa.
The location is the first thing you notice. The resort faces the Bunaken Timor wall, one of the park's most celebrated sites. From the water's edge, you swim 30 metres and you are on it: a vertical drop covered in sea fans, sponges, and schools of fusiliers. Turtles graze the shallows. Reef sharks patrol the blue. Night dives happen right offshore, not after a long boat ride back from the mainland. A Bunaken Cha Cha Nature Resort stay means more bottom time and less transit time.
The property itself is small and personal. 6 villas step down a forested hillside to a private beach. The buildings use local materials - wood, bamboo, palm thatch - and blend into the surrounding tropical growth. This is not a polished international hotel. It is a family run operation, started by an Irish-Italian husband and Japanese wife who built much of it by hand. The atmosphere reflects that: relaxed, attentive, and genuinely welcoming.
Diving at Bunaken Cha Cha Nature Resort operates with qualified divemasters only, no trainees leading groups. The resort enforces a strict no-touch policy for marine life, which matters in a park this fragile and heavily visited. The dive schedule follows the rhythm of the park. Breakfast finishes around 8 am. The boat departs at 8:30 am for 2 morning dives. You return by 12:15 pm for lunch. Afternoon and night dives are available for those who want more. The house reef is always open for unguided shore diving.
The resort's location on the quieter eastern shore brings another advantage: peace. Central Bunaken has several noisy churches and more boat traffic. Bunaken Cha Cha Nature Resort sits away from that, on a stretch of coastline that was completely undeveloped until the resort was built. You hear waves, birds, and the occasional splash of a dugong surfacing. Pilot whales and dolphins pass through the channel. The sun rises over the sea in front of your villa. It is a genuine hideaway.
Snorkelling here is as good as the diving. Forbes Travel once ranked Bunaken among the top 10 snorkelling spots in the world. The house reef delivers angelfish, butterflyfish, parrotfish, turtles, and Napoleon wrasse within metres of the beach. For those who want to explore further, the resort runs half-day boat snorkelling trips to other sites in the park, accompanied by a guide who knows where to find the unusual stuff.
Dining at Bunaken Cha Cha Nature Resort is full board, with meals served in an open air restaurant overlooking the ocean. The kitchen blends Indonesian and international dishes, using locally sourced ingredients where possible. Vegetarian and vegan options are available. Afternoon tea includes homemade snacks. The bar stocks beers, wines, spirits, and soft drinks for sunset drinks on the terrace.
Bunaken Cha Cha Nature Resort does not pretend to be something it is not. The villas are comfortable but rustic. Air conditioning runs on a generator schedule, available from 10 am to 1 pm and 4 pm to 9 pm. There is WiFi, but speeds reflect the remote location. The trade-offs are worth it. You stay inside the marine park, wake up steps from a world class wall, and spend your surface intervals watching dolphins from a private beach. For divers who value location over luxury, this is the best base on Bunaken Island.
The 6 villas at Bunaken Cha Cha Nature Resort sit on a forested hillside facing east across the Sulawesi Sea. Each one looks directly onto the water. From your terrace, you watch the sunrise over the marine park, the same stretch of reef where you will dive later in the morning. The resort was the first on Bunaken Island to offer hot water showers, a small luxury that matters after a week of salt water and tropical humidity.
Ocean Beach Villa (1 unit):
This standalone villa sits just metres from the water's edge, on the resort's small private beach. Total area is 80 sqm. You fall asleep to the sound of waves and wake to an uninterrupted view of the sea.
The villa includes: One king bed (extra bed available) - Air conditioning and ceiling fan - Ensuite bathroom with hot water shower - Work desk with complimentary WiFi - Sofa area - Coffee, tea, and drinking water - International multi sockets with USB charging - Private terrace with chairs, sofa, and cushions - Bathroom amenities
Ocean View Villas (5 units):
Set slightly higher on the hillside, these 72 sqm villas look across the tropical garden to the ocean and outlying islands. At night, the terrace offers clear views of the Milky Way and the glow of fireflies moving through the forest.
Each villa includes: One king bed (extra bed available) - Air conditioning and ceiling fan - Ensuite bathroom with hot water shower - Work desk with complimentary WiFi - Sofa area - Coffee, tea, and drinking water - International multi sockets with USB charging - Private terrace with chairs, sofa, and cushions - Bathroom amenities
All villas can accommodate a third person on an extra bed. Bunaken Cha Cha Nature Resort does not offer televisions, minibars, or room service. The villas are comfortable but rustic, built from local materials and maintained with care. The focus stays on what is outside your door: a private beach, a house reef teeming with life, and the open sea. For scuba divers who value location and tranquillity over polished luxury, this accommodation suits perfectly.
Important Note on Air Conditioning:
The resort runs on generator power. Air conditioning is available on a scheduled basis: 10 am to 1 pm and 4 pm to 9 pm daily. This is standard for remote island accommodation in Bunaken. The schedule works well with the dive day: you return from morning dives around 12:15 pm, cool down during the lunch hour AC window, then rest before afternoon activities. Ceiling fans run continuously and provide sufficient airflow during off hours.
The marine biodiversity here ranks among the highest on earth: over 380 coral species and more than 2,000 species of reef fish. When you dive with Bunaken Cha Cha Nature Resort, you access all of it. The resort's location on Bunaken Island's east coast puts you within minutes of the park's most famous walls. The house reef itself is Bunaken Timor, a vertical drop covered in sea fans, whip corals, and sponges. Turtles are common. Reef sharks patrol the blue. Schools of barracuda and jackfish stream past.
Beyond the house reef, the dive boat visits sites like Lekuan, Fukui Point, and Celah Celah, each offering different wall profiles, swim-throughs, and current conditions. The resort's divemasters know the park intimately and rotate sites based on weather, current, and guest experience levels. If you want muck diving or critter hunting, they can arrange that too. The range covers wall dives, drift dives, night dives, and macro-focused searching.
Bunaken Cha Cha Nature Resort keeps its diving operation small and personal. The boat carries no more than 8 guests. The guides know your name, your gear preferences, and your air consumption by day 2. The house reef is always there, before breakfast, between meals, or under a torch at night. For divers who want world class walls without the crowds, this setup works beautifully.
Daily Dive Schedule:
A typical day at Bunaken Cha Cha Nature Resort follows a relaxed but productive rhythm:
* 8:30 am: Dive boat departs after breakfast.
* Morning: 2 guided dives at different sites. Surface interval between dives includes complimentary snacks, tea, and water on board.
* 12:15 pm: Return to the resort for lunch.
* 2:30 pm or 3 pm: Afternoon dive departure (optional, third dive of the day).
* 5:30 pm: Night dive departure (optional, book in advance).
Boat journey times range from 1 to 30 minutes, depending on the site. Most are short.
Dive Type Options:
* 2 morning dives - Included in standard diving packages. The core of the day.
* Afternoon dives - Optional third dive, available on request.
* Night dives - Depart at 5:30 pm. A different world emerges: sleeping parrotfish, hunting cuttlefish, and bioluminescence.
* Unlimited house reef diving - Available anytime from the beach in front of the resort. No guide required (buddy system applies). Torch rental available for night snorkelling or diving.
* Snorkelling trips - Half-day boat tours (4 hours) departing at 8:30 am, returning at 12:15 pm. Guided by an experienced snorkel guide. Towels and refreshments provided.
Resort Diving Facilities:
The dive operation at Bunaken Cha Cha Nature Resort uses a traditional wooden hull boat (built 2004, 13 metres long) with twin 40 HP Yamaha engines. Maximum 8 divers per boat, with 2 divemasters and 3 additional boat crew.
The boat includes: Shaded kit-up area - Sundeck - Rinse tank - Complimentary drinking water, biscuits, tea, and coffee on board - Oxygen on board - First aid kit - Life jackets and buoyancy rings - Mobile telephone for emergency contact
The resort enforces 2 important policies: only qualified divemasters lead dives (no trainees), and a strict 'look but don't touch' rule protects the fragile marine environment. These standards set Bunaken Cha Cha Nature Resort apart from some local competitors.
Safety and Emergency:
The nearest recompression chamber is at Malalayang Hospital in Manado, approximately 35 km (1.5 hours) from Bunaken Island. The nearest medical facility is also at Malalayang Hospital. The dive boats carry oxygen, first aid equipment, and emergency communication. Divemaster to guest ratio is 1 to 4. Bunaken Cha Cha Nature Resort strongly recommends that all divers carry their own dive insurance policy; DAN is the preferred provider.
Important Seasonal Note:
Between January and March, windy conditions can make the sea surface quite rough. If you have limited mobility or are prone to seasickness, consider visiting outside these months. The diving itself remains excellent, but the crossing can be uncomfortable.
Most guests come to Bunaken Cha Cha Nature Resort for the diving. But the resort's location on Bunaken Island's secluded east coast offers plenty of other ways to spend your time between dives. The setting itself is the main attraction: a house reef that Forbes Travel once ranked among the top 10 snorkelling spots in the world, and uninterrupted views across the marine park. The beach is small but private, shared only with other guests. Sun beds are available for lounging.
Snorkelling:
The house reef starts just metres from the water's edge. At low tide, you walk a few steps. At high tide, a short swim. There is no schedule. Grab your mask, snorkel, and fins whenever you like: before breakfast, between dives, or at sunset. The reef holds angelfish, butterflyfish, parrotfish, turtles, jackfish, and napoleon wrasse. Torches are available for rent if you want to try night snorkelling, when the reef reveals a completely different set of creatures.
For those who want to explore further, the resort runs a half-day boat snorkelling trip (4 hours, departing at 8:30 am, returning at 12:15 pm). An experienced guide accompanies the group, pointing out marine life you might otherwise miss. Dolphins sometimes appear during the crossing. Towels and refreshments are provided. The boat also has a floating pontoon moored off the house reef, with sun and shaded areas for your comfort and safety.
Walking and Island Exploration:
If you want to stretch your legs, a 2 hour walk leads down the coast to the central village on Bunaken Island. The path passes through local settlements, coconut groves, and forest. It is a good way to see the quieter side of the island. Wear sturdy shoes and carry water.
Clubhouse and Relaxation:
Back at the resort, the clubhouse offers a few quiet diversions. A small library provides books for borrowing. Board games include chess, Othello, and cards. A TV and music centre are available for guest use. The clubhouse is also where you find the international telephone and internet access (chargeable).
Massage:
Massage services can be arranged on request. After a week of wall diving and current work, a proper massage helps. Enquire at reception.
Tour Desk:
The resort can arrange tours to Manado and other parts of North Sulawesi through a local partner. Speak to the staff about options: volcano treks, highland tours, or city visits.
Bunaken Cha Cha Nature Resort offers the following amenities: Restaurant and bar - Clubhouse with TV, music centre, library, and board games - Small private beach area with sun beds - Floating pontoon on the house reef (sun and shaded areas) - Massage service - Manado tour desk (external partner) - Laundry service - International telephone - Internet access (chargeable, speeds reflect remote location) - Complimentary drinking water, tea, and coffee
Bunaken Cha Cha Nature Resort is an adult-focused property. Children under 6 years of age are not permitted. Older children are welcome but the environment is quiet and nature oriented, not designed for young kids. The overall atmosphere is relaxed, personal, and distinctly unhurried. Guests spend their days diving, snorkelling, reading on the beach, or walking the island. Evenings are for sunset drinks, good food, and conversation under the stars. It is a hideaway, not a activity centre.
The open air restaurant at Bunaken Cha Cha Nature Resort sits raised above the beach, facing east across the Sulawesi Sea. You eat breakfast looking at the same water you will dive an hour later. Lunch and dinner come with views of the marine park and the outlying islands. The setting is informal, comfortable, and distinctly unhurried.
The kitchen blends Asian, homemade Italian, and Japanese cuisines. Agnes, the resort's chef, receives regular praise from guests for her daily specials. The menu is fixed - 3 courses served at lunch and dinner - but the rotation keeps things interesting. Local Indonesian dishes appear alongside pasta, fresh fish, and Japanese-inspired preparations.
Seafood is conscientiously selected. The resort serves only pelagic fish (tuna, trevally, mackerel) and avoids reef fish and barracuda. This policy supports sustainable fishing practices and protects the marine environment you came to enjoy.
Vegetarian options are available and surprisingly varied. The kitchen uses fresh local vegetables, fruits, and herbs to create simple, flavourful plant-based dishes. If you have allergies or dietary restrictions, inform the resort well in advance of your arrival. The staff will make every reasonable effort to accommodate you.
Complimentary breakfast includes toast, fresh fruit, coffee, and tea. A rotating choice of hot items adds variety: pancakes, omelettes, or Manadonese porridge (a local rice porridge with savoury toppings). Breakfast is served in the restaurant before the dive boat departs at 8:30 am.
Every 10 days or so, the resort hosts a barbecue on the beach. Weather permitting, this is a relaxed evening of grilled seafood, meats, and vegetables, eaten with your feet in the sand as the sun sets over the marine park. It is worth timing your stay to catch one.
The bar stocks a selection of wines, beers, spirits, and soft drinks. Afternoon tea includes homemade snacks, a nice touch between dives. The bar is open throughout the day and evening. Sunset drinks on the restaurant terrace are a ritual for many guests.
"
Sam provided excellent assistance and useful information about marine life in Bunaken. The equipment was in excellent condition. The dive boat captain provided fruits and beverages during surface time. Sam made sure that I saw all the exotic species found in the area. The service all-around was excellent. Since I chose your area for diving, I felt that I had quality time under and above the water. Best resort staff who were always smiling and cheerful." -
Nathan Kizhanatham, India, 14 June 2012 ...
"
I spent my Christmas holiday with them and they provided a cozy, homely atmosphere The food was good, fresh and always sufficient. They manage to create a very personal atmostphere, as if you're guests into their home rather than a guest in a hotel, which I really appreciated." -
Michel Engering, Netherlands, 13 February 2008 ...
