The sprawling fingers of Sulawesi give this island over 6,000 km of coastline, against which laps warm water rich in marine life. The dramatic topography continues offshore, with abyssal trenches and sheer drop-offs right up against the shoreline. Once you've dived here - usually at a dive resort on Bunaken Island or in the Lembeh Strait - you will understand the enthusiasm of frequent visitors, many of who claim that there is nowhere else on earth that offers such diverse and exciting underwater experiences.
Given the enormous number and variety of dive sites so near to the shore, Sulawesi is quite possibly one of the best resort diving destinations in the world. There is a huge choice of highly affordable accommodations to stay in and only a few liveaboards.
Just to the east of Manado is the magical muck dive wonderland of the Lembeh Strait, with its seemingly endless promises of discovery of rare and unusual critters. If you've ever watched a National Geographic documentary on some strange underwater creature and wondered where it was filmed, well the chances are high that it was filmed here!
The world-famous island of Bunaken, off the north east tip of Sulawesi, is often quoted among the world's top 10 dive destinations and is a mecca for scuba divers of all levels. Here, strong currents bring nutrient-rich water from the ocean depths close to shore, creating one of the most beautiful coral environments in the world. Very few places in the world offer such biodiversity and that means there is something for everyone; it is the stuff of photographers' dreams.
Indonesia is a volcanic country and this area seems to sport more than its fair share. The nutrient-rich land that volcanoes produce is evidenced by the lush verdant hillsides and the stunning quantities of fresh fruit and vegetables in the local cuisine. Most tourists come to Lembeh and Manado for the scuba diving packages, but for those who fancy a few days off or something a little different during their vacation, there is plenty to do to experience this intriguing part of the country.
With 2 quite distinct world-class resort destinations sitting on its doorstep, North Sulawesi will keep most ardent scuba divers happy. You can explore the waters around this celebrated island from the comfort of one of our selected dive resorts. The highlights depend on what you're interested in. Bunaken offers schools of fish and healthy coral walls, whereas the Lembeh Strait is the world's capital for muck diving par excellence and there is literally nowhere better for bizarre critters.
Of course you can opt to visit either of these destinations, but the ultimate North Sulawesi scuba diving resort holiday would involve a combination of these 2 very distinct experiences since the beautiful coral walls of Bunaken complement the amazing muck diving in Lembeh. Stays of 5+ days are ideal for one location or 8-10 days to visit both destinations. Sulawesi dive packages normally include full board accommodation, diving and airport transfers.
Customer rating: Excellent!
Customer rating: Excellent!
Customer rating: Very good!
Customer rating: Very good!
Customer rating: Very good!
Customer rating: Be first to rate!
It's also possible to visit these destinations on a liveaboard tour, if you prefer.
We had a great time diving in both Bunaken and Lembeh. Thank you so much for making our holiday wonderful! Pip [Dive The World sales staff] was very responsive in getting us the information we requested and booking our entire trip for us. Communication was very clear and came quickly, allowing us to make informed decisions regarding our trip
