Coral walls
Dropping into the deep.
Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Btv70 — CC BY-SA 3.0 · q phia — CC BY 2.0 · q phia — CC BY 2.0
One of the world's famous dive sites, a national marine park taking in Bunaken Island and its neighbours, among them the conical volcanic island of Manado Tua. It is best known for vertical coral walls dropping from the shore into the deep, cloaked in colourful coral and sponges, with turtles and schools of fish all around. Divers come from all over the world for its walls and hundreds of fish and coral species, while non-divers enjoy snorkelling over the wall's lip, where coral starts in shallow water, or glass-bottom boats. The island has a village and simple dive resorts. Foreigners pay a park fee on arrival or through their resort, and the boat from Manado harbour is chartered or booked as a tour. Snorkel and dive gear can be rented. The best dive season is April to November, when the sea is calmer and visibility clearer. Allow at least a day, or two nights on the island for divers.
Dropping into the deep.
Around the walls.
A conical volcanic island.
Bunaken Island, about 45 minutes by boat from Manado
Yes: coral starts near the surface at the wall's edge, and the snorkelling is among Indonesia's best. Glass-bottom boats suit non-swimmers.