
Top Scuba Diving & Snorkeling Locations in Manado, Sulawesi Utara, Indonesia
1. Bunaken Marine Park
A protected marine reserve with abundant coral reefs and diverse marine life, providing an unparalleled scuba diving experience.
- Rich Marine Life: Home to over 70 hard coral species and various fish species, including the rare mandarin fish.
- Clear Waters: Offers visibility up to 30 meters, allowing for a clear view of marine life.
- Snorkeling Opportunities: Although primarily known for scuba diving, Bunaken also offers excellent snorkeling opportunities.
2. Siladen Island
A small island offering world-class scuba diving with calm waters and easy access to the coral reefs.
- Beginner Friendly: Ideal for beginner divers due to its shallow waters and clear visibility.
- Turtle Point: Famous for the turtle point, a popular diving spot where turtles are frequently sighted.
- Luxury Resorts: Home to several luxury resorts offering dive packages and accommodations.
3. Manado Tankilabita Jetty
A popular jetty for shore diving with easy access to a variety of marine life and coral reefs.
- Shore Dive Site: One of the few shore dive sites in Manado, making it convenient for divers.
- Easy Access: Offers easy access to a variety of dive sites without the need for boats.
- Macro Life Focus: Known for its macro diving, with a chance to spot nudibranchs, pipefish, and other small creatures.
4. Lembeh Strait
A muck diving site with an abundance of rare and unusual marine life, ideal for macro photography.
- Macro Diving: Offers some of the best macro diving in the world, focusing on small creatures like nudibranchs, pipefish, and seahorses.
- Visibility Challenges: Visibilities can be challenging due to the silt on the sea floor, but the rare sightings make up for it.
- Night Diving Opportunities: Known for its exceptional night diving opportunities, with a chance to see bioluminescent creatures like ghost pipefish and mandarin fish.
5. Hangngan Beach
A secluded beach offering great snorkeling opportunities with a variety of coral reefs and marine life.
- Secluded Location: A less crowded alternative to other dive sites, offering a more peaceful experience.
- Coral Reefs: Home to vibrant coral reefs teeming with various fish species.
- Accessibility: Easily accessible by boat from Manado or nearby resorts.
6. Gangga Island Resort & Spa
A luxury resort offering dive packages and accommodations, with easy access to various dive sites.
- Luxury Accommodation: Offers luxurious villas and suites, perfect for a relaxing getaway.
- Dive Packages: Provides dive packages tailored to individual skill levels and preferences.
- Exclusive Dive Sites: Access to exclusive dive sites not accessible from other resorts.
7. Pulau Pangalisan
A small island offering a variety of diving opportunities with clear waters and diverse marine life.
- Clear Waters: Offers clear waters with good visibility, making it ideal for underwater photography.
- Diverse Marine Life: Home to a variety of marine life, including turtles, eagle rays, and sharks.
- Pangalisan Jetty: Famous for the Pangalisan jetty, a popular dive site with various coral formations and marine life.
8. Manado Tua Island
An island featuring an active volcano, offering a unique diving experience with hot water springs.
- Active Volcano: One of the few active volcanic islands suitable for scuba diving.
- Hot Water Springs: Divers can explore hot water springs, adding an extra element of excitement to the dive.
- Volcanic Formations: Features unique volcanic formations underwater, creating a fascinating diving experience.
9. Gunung Tambora Wreck
A wreck dive site featuring the remnants of the cargo ship Gunung Tambora, attracting a variety of marine life.
- Cargo Ship Wreck: The Gunung Tambora was a cargo ship that sank in the 1980s and now serves as an artificial reef.
- Marine Life Attraction: Attracts various marine life, including turtles, sharks, and eels.
- Intermediate Dive Site: Suitable for intermediate divers due to its deeper depths and stronger currents.
10. Bangka Island
An island offering a variety of dive sites with crystal-clear waters and diverse marine life.
- Crystal-Clear Waters: Offers crystal-clear waters, allowing for a clear view of the underwater world.
- Diverse Marine Life: Home to various marine life, including turtles, eagle rays, and sharks.
- Multiple Dive Sites: Features multiple dive sites catering to divers of all skill levels.
11. Bohol Sea Safari
A liveaboard boat offering dive packages, exploring various dive sites across the region.
- Liveaboard Experience: Offers a liveaboard experience, allowing divers to explore multiple dive sites without relocating.
- Expert Guides: Provides expert guides with extensive knowledge of the region's dive sites.
- Customizable Itineraries: Offers customizable itineraries, catering to individual preferences and skill levels.
12. Manado Bay
A bay offering various dive sites with a variety of marine life, suitable for divers of all skill levels.
- Variety of Dive Sites: Features multiple dive sites catering to divers of all skill levels.
- Marine Life Diversity: Home to various marine life, including turtles, eagle rays, and sharks.
- Night Dive Opportunities: Offers night dive opportunities for those interested in experiencing the underwater world at night.
13. Silolik Island
A small island offering a variety of dive sites with clear waters and diverse marine life, ideal for macro photography.
- Macro Diving Focus: Offers some of the best macro diving in the region, focusing on small creatures like nudibranchs, pipefish, and seahorses.
- Clear Waters: Features clear waters with good visibility, making it ideal for underwater photography.
- Accessible from Manado: Easily accessible by boat from Manado or nearby resorts.
14. Lovina Beach
A beach offering excellent snorkeling opportunities with a variety of coral reefs and marine life.
- Secluded Location: A less crowded alternative to other dive sites, offering a more peaceful experience.
- Coral Reefs: Home to vibrant coral reefs teeming with various fish species.
- Accessibility: Easily accessible by boat from Manado or nearby resorts.
15. Gangga Island Resort & Spa's House Reef
The resort's private reef offering easy access to a variety of marine life and coral reefs.
- Resort-owned Reef: A private reef exclusively for guests of the Gangga Island Resort & Spa.
- Easy Access: Offers easy access to a variety of marine life and coral reefs without needing to travel far.
- Variety of Marine Life: Home to various marine life, including turtles, eagle rays, and sharks.