Understanding BunakenBunaken is one of Indonesia's most famous dive/snorkeling areas, and it draws scuba divers & snorkelers from all over the world. In addition to Bunaken itself, a rather featureless banana-shaped island, the National Park includes the neighboring islands of Manado Tua, a distinctive cone-shaped extinct volcano, Siladen, Montehagen, Nain, and Nain Kecil.
Bunaken Landscape
The park is famed for the clarity of its water (35m visibility is common in the summer dry season), the abundance of coral and fish, and for the precipitous "walls" at some sites. Bunaken Timur, right off the east coast of the island and featuring all of the above, is according to some the best dive site in all Indonesia.
Bunaken Flora and fauna
Except for the very largest pelagics, nearly everything can be found at Bunaken. Reef inhabitants include white and black tip reef sharks, giant sea turtles, napoleon fish, and dugongs.
You may frequently run into dolphins, and occasionally schools of whales.
Bunaken Climate
Bunaken is barely a degree above the equator and thus tropical. The "Rainy Season" from November to mid April, brings frequent rains, sometimes in storms lasting for several days, which make the air nice and cool but also reduce visibility. The "Dry Season" from May to October, when temperatures climb to 35° and visibility reaches a maximum. Bunaken receives far less rain than the mainland and is well ventilated with sea breezes.
How to Get to Bunaken
Bunaken is about 45-60 minutes by boat from Manado. Most resorts will arrange transfers from the airport for their guests. Alternatively, a public boat leaves daily except Sunday at 2-3PM from the canal on the north side of the market. The cost is 25,000Rp for tourists, 10,000Rp for locals (welcome to Indonesia). It returns to Manado from the jetty in Bunaken village around 8-8:30AM every morning except Sunday. You can also charter a boat both ways at anytime.
Bunaken Fees/Permits
As of September 2008, entry to the park costs either Rp 50,000/day or Rp 150,000/Calendar year, children below 10 years are exempt. Even though the fee does not seem to be automatically levied upon entrance to the island, it is the responsibility of all visitors to the Park to have one, and most reputable dive shops & Resorts will supply them. As proof of payment, you will receive a plastic tag that must be carried at all times; it's waterproof and must be carried at all times as "spot" checks are not uncommon by the patrol boats. The Park is Managed by a multi stakeholder board comprising of Government and non government members to include representatives of the 30,000 locals that live within the boundaries of the park. Though deemed by some as not being transparent and lacking in effectiveness, the management board together with the Water Police have, over the years, been able to stop cyanide fishing, dynamite fishing and more recently participated in the release of 700 Napoleon Wrasse that had been caught in and around the Marine Park and destined for the culinary delights of certain mindless individuals, thus, though not perfect and having room for lots of improvement the Management Board does have an important role in the conservation of the area and this could not happen without the support of all visitors in adhering to the purchase of the entrance tag.
Get around Bunaken
Muddy and concrete paths connect the various settlements around the Bunaken. Many are effectively impassable after rain. Watch out if walking along the coastline, as the beach may disappear when the high tide rolls in. Scooter taxi service available around the island.
Tourism on Bunaken has been very much geared towards divers over the years, but the trend seems to be changing and more and more snorkelers are visiting the area as too are those who wish to just relax immersed in nature...away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Possible activities for landlubbers include:
What to See in Bunaken
* Beach-combing, especially at low tide when the reef top is accessible
* Hiking to some of the secluded coves on the Eastern and Northern part of the island, but trails are poorly marked
* Fishing, but only outside of the park boundaries: hire a boat or join one of the local fishing boats.
* Dolphin & Whale watching, either while on diving or snorkeling boat trips or by hiring a boat.
What to Do in Bunaken
The thing to do in Bunaken is dive, dive and dive! However, the steep walls and occasionally strong, rapidly changing currents mean that many sites cater more to the intermediate/advanced diver, although there are beginner-friendly sites too and all dive shops can arrange intro dives and Open Water Diver courses. The North Sulawesi Watersports Association offers oodles of detail on diving in the park. The park also offers outstanding snorkeling!
All dive shops in the park are affiliated with resorts, so see Sleep below for listings.
The snorkeling is fantastic just in front of many of the resorts that surround the island, with an incredible amount of marine life living in the shallows and also on the outer walls. Remember not to snorkel without fins as the currents can sometimes be strong, and change quickly even when they are not. Pick a reference point on the island and do not stray too far unless you are a confident swimmer.
What to Buy in Bunaken
At the "Visitors Center" on Liang beach locals sell handicrafts, T Shirts and general souvenirs
What to Eat in Bunaken
Fish, fish and fish -- usually at your dive resort.
What to Drink in Bunaken
Natural drinking water is Not available on Bunaken. Insist on bottled mineral water at all times, ensure that coffees or teas are made using bottled water also. Local spirits Cap Tikus literally "rat brand" made from distilled palm wine (a type of moonshine), actually quite nice "on the rocks with a slice of lemon". "Bintang" is the number 1 beer in Indonesia and now available cold at many of the Resorts, together with wines.
Sleep in Bunaken
Most people choose to sleep at their dive resorts, almost all of which offer full board and attractive package offers. Those on the south and west sides of Bunaken have a strip of beach (coarse yellow sand), while the east side has a mixture of mangroves and small beaches with better reefs.
* Bunaken SeaGarden Diveresort (Bunaken SeaGarden Diveresort), Bunaken Island (Pangalisang beach), ☎ +6281244738802. On a beautiful location at Pangalisang beach you will find the Bunaken SeaGarden Resort, a small and cosy diveresort with 4 spacey cottages build in a traditional style. All cottages have a nice veranda and a modern style bathroom. Diving in one of the best divelocations in Indonesia: The Bunaken National Park 20.
Lodging in Bunaken
* Bastianos Dive Resorts.
* Bunaken Cha Cha Nature Resort.
* Bunaken Village Resort.
* Froggies Divers.
* Living Colours.
* Lorenso's Bungalows.
* Two Fish Divers.
Stay Safe in Bunaken
There are no unusual health risks in the park, aside from the standard set of easily avoided venomous marine critters. Sharks and crocodiles are both absent, and jellyfish are found only occasionally, primarily during the change of the seasons in spring/fall.
Bunaken Landscape
The park is famed for the clarity of its water (35m visibility is common in the summer dry season), the abundance of coral and fish, and for the precipitous "walls" at some sites. Bunaken Timur, right off the east coast of the island and featuring all of the above, is according to some the best dive site in all Indonesia.Bunaken Flora and fauna
Except for the very largest pelagics, nearly everything can be found at Bunaken. Reef inhabitants include white and black tip reef sharks, giant sea turtles, napoleon fish, and dugongs.
You may frequently run into dolphins, and occasionally schools of whales.
Bunaken ClimateBunaken is barely a degree above the equator and thus tropical. The "Rainy Season" from November to mid April, brings frequent rains, sometimes in storms lasting for several days, which make the air nice and cool but also reduce visibility. The "Dry Season" from May to October, when temperatures climb to 35° and visibility reaches a maximum. Bunaken receives far less rain than the mainland and is well ventilated with sea breezes.
How to Get to Bunaken
Bunaken is about 45-60 minutes by boat from Manado. Most resorts will arrange transfers from the airport for their guests. Alternatively, a public boat leaves daily except Sunday at 2-3PM from the canal on the north side of the market. The cost is 25,000Rp for tourists, 10,000Rp for locals (welcome to Indonesia). It returns to Manado from the jetty in Bunaken village around 8-8:30AM every morning except Sunday. You can also charter a boat both ways at anytime.
Bunaken Fees/Permits
As of September 2008, entry to the park costs either Rp 50,000/day or Rp 150,000/Calendar year, children below 10 years are exempt. Even though the fee does not seem to be automatically levied upon entrance to the island, it is the responsibility of all visitors to the Park to have one, and most reputable dive shops & Resorts will supply them. As proof of payment, you will receive a plastic tag that must be carried at all times; it's waterproof and must be carried at all times as "spot" checks are not uncommon by the patrol boats. The Park is Managed by a multi stakeholder board comprising of Government and non government members to include representatives of the 30,000 locals that live within the boundaries of the park. Though deemed by some as not being transparent and lacking in effectiveness, the management board together with the Water Police have, over the years, been able to stop cyanide fishing, dynamite fishing and more recently participated in the release of 700 Napoleon Wrasse that had been caught in and around the Marine Park and destined for the culinary delights of certain mindless individuals, thus, though not perfect and having room for lots of improvement the Management Board does have an important role in the conservation of the area and this could not happen without the support of all visitors in adhering to the purchase of the entrance tag.
Get around BunakenMuddy and concrete paths connect the various settlements around the Bunaken. Many are effectively impassable after rain. Watch out if walking along the coastline, as the beach may disappear when the high tide rolls in. Scooter taxi service available around the island.
Tourism on Bunaken has been very much geared towards divers over the years, but the trend seems to be changing and more and more snorkelers are visiting the area as too are those who wish to just relax immersed in nature...away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Possible activities for landlubbers include:
What to See in Bunaken
* Beach-combing, especially at low tide when the reef top is accessible
* Hiking to some of the secluded coves on the Eastern and Northern part of the island, but trails are poorly marked
* Fishing, but only outside of the park boundaries: hire a boat or join one of the local fishing boats.
* Dolphin & Whale watching, either while on diving or snorkeling boat trips or by hiring a boat.
What to Do in Bunaken
The thing to do in Bunaken is dive, dive and dive! However, the steep walls and occasionally strong, rapidly changing currents mean that many sites cater more to the intermediate/advanced diver, although there are beginner-friendly sites too and all dive shops can arrange intro dives and Open Water Diver courses. The North Sulawesi Watersports Association offers oodles of detail on diving in the park. The park also offers outstanding snorkeling!All dive shops in the park are affiliated with resorts, so see Sleep below for listings.
The snorkeling is fantastic just in front of many of the resorts that surround the island, with an incredible amount of marine life living in the shallows and also on the outer walls. Remember not to snorkel without fins as the currents can sometimes be strong, and change quickly even when they are not. Pick a reference point on the island and do not stray too far unless you are a confident swimmer.
What to Buy in BunakenAt the "Visitors Center" on Liang beach locals sell handicrafts, T Shirts and general souvenirs
What to Eat in Bunaken
Fish, fish and fish -- usually at your dive resort.
What to Drink in Bunaken
Natural drinking water is Not available on Bunaken. Insist on bottled mineral water at all times, ensure that coffees or teas are made using bottled water also. Local spirits Cap Tikus literally "rat brand" made from distilled palm wine (a type of moonshine), actually quite nice "on the rocks with a slice of lemon". "Bintang" is the number 1 beer in Indonesia and now available cold at many of the Resorts, together with wines.
Sleep in Bunaken
Most people choose to sleep at their dive resorts, almost all of which offer full board and attractive package offers. Those on the south and west sides of Bunaken have a strip of beach (coarse yellow sand), while the east side has a mixture of mangroves and small beaches with better reefs.* Bunaken SeaGarden Diveresort (Bunaken SeaGarden Diveresort), Bunaken Island (Pangalisang beach), ☎ +6281244738802. On a beautiful location at Pangalisang beach you will find the Bunaken SeaGarden Resort, a small and cosy diveresort with 4 spacey cottages build in a traditional style. All cottages have a nice veranda and a modern style bathroom. Diving in one of the best divelocations in Indonesia: The Bunaken National Park 20.
Lodging in Bunaken
* Bastianos Dive Resorts.
* Bunaken Cha Cha Nature Resort.
* Bunaken Village Resort.
* Froggies Divers.
* Living Colours.
* Lorenso's Bungalows.
* Two Fish Divers.
Stay Safe in Bunaken
There are no unusual health risks in the park, aside from the standard set of easily avoided venomous marine critters. Sharks and crocodiles are both absent, and jellyfish are found only occasionally, primarily during the change of the seasons in spring/fall.