Bunaken National Park

Bunaken National Park is very representative of Indonesian tropical water ecosystems, consisting of seagrass plain, coral reef, and land/coastal ecosystems.

The northern part of the Park area covers the islands of Bunaken, Manado Tua, Montehage, Siladen, Nain and Nain Kecil, and part of the Tanjung Pisok coastal area. The southern part of the Park covers part of the Tanjung Kelapa coast.

On land, these islands are rich in species of palm, sagu, woka, silar and coconut. Among the animal species that live on the land and the beaches are black-crested macaques (Macaca nigra nigra), Timor deer (Cervus timorensis russa), and bear-cuscus (Ailurops ursinus ursinus).

The mangrove forest of the Park contains, among others, Rhizophora sp., Sonneratia sp., Lumnitzera sp., and Bruguiera sp. This forest is also rich in species of crab, lobster, mollusc, and sea birds such as gulls, herons, sea doves, and storks.

The seaweed species that can be found here include Caulerpa sp., Halimeda spp., and Padina spp., while the dominant seagrasses, in particular in the islands of Montehage and Nain, are Thalassia hemprichii, Enhallus acoroides, and Thalassodendron ciliatum.

Thirteen species of coral have been recorded in the waters of the Park, dominated by fringing reef coral and barrier reef coral. An interesting feature is the 25-50 metre vertical coral wall which is inhabited by 13 coral genus.

About 91 species of fish live in the waters of the Park, among them being the emperor angelfish (Pomacanthus imperator), almaco jack (Seriola rivoliana), spotted seahorse (Hippocampus kuda), yellowstripe snapper (Lutjanus kasmira), four saddle rock cod (Ephinephelus spilotoceps), pinkish basslet (Pseudanthias hypselosoma), two-lined monocle bream (Scolopsis bilineatus), etc.; and species of mollusc such as the great clam (Tridacna gigas), horned helmet (Cassis cornuta), pearly-chambered nautili (Nautilus pompillius), and ascidians.

There are five islands in the Park where visitors can enjoy diving, snorkelling and marine tours.

Cultural attractions outside the Park include the Anniversary of Manado in July and Menulude in January, in Manado.

Best time of year to visit: May to August.

How to reach the Park: The Park can be reached from Manado harbour, the Nusantara Diving Centre (NDC) Marina in Molas sub-district, and the Blue Banter Marina. From Manado harbour by motor boat to Siladen Island takes 20 minutes; to Bunaken Island, 30 minutes; to Montehage Island, 50 minutes; and to Nain Island, 60 minutes. From Blue Banter Marina heading to the recreation area on Bunaken takes 10-15 minutes by cabin cruiser. From the NDC harbour to the dive sites off Bunaken takes 20 minutes by speedboat.

Office: Jl. Raya Molas, Kotak Pos 1202
Manado 95242, North Sulawesi
Tel. : +62-431-859022
E-mail: tnb@manado.wasantara.net.id

Declared : Minister of Forestry SK. No.730/Kpts-II/91,
a total area of 89,065 hectares
Location : Regency of Minahasa and Municipality of Manado (Province of North Sulawesi)

Temperature 26° - 31° C
Rainfall 2,500 - 3,500 mm/year (on average)
Altitude 0 - 800 m asl.
Salinity 33 - 35 0/00
Weather clearness 10 - 30 m
Low-tide 2.5 m (on average)
Rainy season November to February
Dry season March to October
Geographical location 124°39' - 124°35' E; 1°35' - 1°49' N

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Bunaken National Marine Park

Map of Sulawesi

Manado or Menado is your setting off point to stunning Bunaken National Marine Park

Protected since 1991 for its fantastic reefs and mangroves and outstanding biodiversity. The waters of Bunaken National Marine Park are extremely deep, clear, refreshing in temperature (27 to 29 °C). Bunaken National Marine Park is home to some of the world’s best year-round snorkeling and scuba diving. Check out the Bunaken Island Group – Bunaken, manado Tua, Siladen, Montehage and Nain – each ringed in part by a pristine white-sand beach.

Map of the island group (Click on the pic to zoom it)

Flat Bunaken and its southern beach in front, volcanic Manado Tua in the back

In shallow water just a few meters offshore lies a band of eye-catching reefs, while further out, in the 60 to 120 foot zone another band of coral reefs teams with all sizes of fish, brilliant in hues and decoration, swimming around you in dizzying numbers, almost bouncing off your wetsuit.

Clear water in Bunaken water

In the thousands of little nooks along the wall you will spy delicate pencil-thin blue-ribbon eels, clear and reddish-striped coral shrimp, lurking lobsters and scuttling crabs. In deeper waters will really get your heart started, as if it wasn’t hammering with adrenal jazz already.

Bunaken Marine Park has become an important example of how Sulawesi, and the rest of Indonesia, can work to protect its natural resources.

Fees/Permits
All visitors to the Bunaken National Park (divers and non-divers) are required to pay an entrance fee, in accordance with North Sulawesi Provincial Government Provincial Law Number 9/2002. The entrance fee for locals is Rp2,500 a day and for foreign visitors is Rp 50,000 per daily ticket (approximately US$6), or Rp 150,000 (approximately US$17) for a waterproof plastic entrance tag (can be attached to your diving gear) valid for the full calendar year.

GET IN
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 2PM, or you can charter a boat anytime.

HOW TO GET THERE
There are now international flights to Manado.
Singapore Airlines' regional airline SilkAir flies from Singapore to Manado four times a week - every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. The flight takes about three and half hours. nd from Kuala Lumpur on Malaysian Airlines via Kota Kinabalu.

From Indonesia
Manado is well connected with most Indonesian cities. Daily flights arrive from Jakarta and Surabaya in Java, Ujung Pandang in South Sulawesi, Denpasar in Bali, Balikpapan in Kalimantan as well as Sorong in Irian Jaya. Connecting flights from other cities fly usually via Jakarta or Ujung Pandang.

The following airlines fly to Manado:
Batavia Air
Garuda Indonesia
Mandala Airlines
Merpati Air

From Manado to Bunaken Island
In case you wish to come to the island on your own you can get a public boat, which leaves from the harbour at around 2pm every day except Sundays, or you can charter a private boat at any time. The boat ride takes 45-60 minutes. The public boat will drop you off in Bunaken Village from where you can walk (about 30 minutes) or hire a boat at anytime.

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Dives In The Exotic Manado

The promise of an experience both rich in culture and adventure never ceases to lure visitors to exotic Manado

Map of Sulawesi

Once A jealously guarded secret among the most traveled of backpackers, this magical land in Indonesia, with its pristine tropical rainforest and offshore island paradise, was formally introduced to the outside world when SilkAir started its direct flights to Manado, a few years ago,

Take a stroll around Manado and the well-integrated local communities will impress you. Generations of interaction with the Portuguese, Dutch, Filipinos, Chinese and other racial groups has greatly influenced the Manadonese to be sympathetic, easy-going and cheerful.

The legacy of centuries of Dutch control has also left Manado with many Christian churches. This predominantly Christian city lives up to its ’spice islands’ reputation and is still exporting large quantities of clove, nutmeg and vanilla, among other spices, to the rest of the world. Visitors come to Manado primarily to visit the 75,265-hectare Bunaken-Manado Tua Marine Park that consists of five offshore islands – Bunaken, Manado Tua, Siladen, Montehage and Nain.

Whether you are a novice snorkeller or an experienced diver with thousands of dives under your belt, you will be astounded by the rich bio-diversity that inhabits the crystal clear waters at the park’s more than 20 dive sites. The enticing shallow reed flats and the coral-encrusted steep walls will satisfy even the most discriminating of snorkellers and divers. Here, you can expect to see reef sharks, barracudas, eagle rays, butterflyfish, anthias and other underwater marine life.

One of the world's last untainted marine sanctuaries is found wrapped around the island-studded tip of the North Sulawesi Peninsula in Indonesia

Nevertheless, you will need the trained eyes of the professional local dive guides to spot the interesting little critters that expertly camouflage themselves to blend with their coral hosts. Two species of deep-sea living fossils, the Nautilus and the recently discovered Coelacanths also dwell in the abyss. At the ocean’s surface, dolphins and pilot whales make frequent appearances. Elusive dugongs and migrating whales – humpbacked, killer, sperm and minke whales – do surprise visitors with their occasional presence.

The marine park’s extremely deep seabed and its steep coral walls as close to the shore, allow 70 genera of corals (compared to only 10 in Hawaii) and over 2,500 species of fish to stay in harmed from the illegal practice of dynamite fishing. Locky Herlambang, the founder of Manado’s very first dive centre, reinforces the pristine condition of this reef by fighting for the federal government’s declaration in 1989 to make this area a national park. Towards this he started a conservation programme among the local fishermen when foreign tourists began to arrive. At present, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) and its division, the North Sulawesi Watersports Association (NSWA), are working in close conjunction with local communities, government officials, local dive resort operators, nature groups, travelers and scientist to play an important role in managing, developing and conserving the park’s natural resources.

Lembeh Straits - Manado, Indonesia

Not to be outdone by Bunaken’s spectacular reefs, an American-owned resort at Kunkungan Bay in the nearby town of Bitung boasts of diving of a different kind – ‘muck diving’. Within the protected waters of the Lembeh Straits, and in waters less clear and a lot colder from that of Manado’s, this nutrient-rich strait supports some of the worlds most rare and remarkable creatures. The dedicated and courteous guides from the resort promise sightings of secretive mandarin fish, pygmy seahorse, frogfish, ghost pipefish and the mimic octopus among other elusive species.

With reef life in such abundance, spot fishing is naturally promising too. Along the deep waters off the Bunaken Park and around Bangka Island, anglers can expect to find yellow fin tuna, bonitos and billfish year-round. According to the local fishermen, these fish are the most robust during August and September as they feed on the baitfish that moves from the open ocean into the shallows.

Manado’s land experiences are just as mesmerizing as its underwater world. Take a scenic ride to the highland regions of Minahasa at the village of Kali where a waterfall plunges 60 meters. A kilometer walk to the waterfall takes you past the friendly Minahasa village, its local plantation and a refreshing spring flowing from the mountain. Among the rich vegetation, the sugar palm bears fruit that is used by the locals to make saguer, a traditional sweet and sour alcoholic brew.

Active volcano, Mt. Lokon, in Tomohon, Manado, Indonesia

The nearby mountainous town to Tomohon has long been a centre for Christian missionaries. Ride on ornate pony carts called bendi, and enjoy the vibrant colors from the numerous flower stalls that line the main road. This city is locally known as the ‘City of Flowers; because of the wide range of flowers, as well as fruits, which are commercially grown, flooding the markets of Manado. Nestled on both sides of Tomohon are the two famous volcanoes – Lokon and Mahawu. The trail of the frozen lava from previous eruptions leads to steaming crater lakes where a breathtaking panoramic view of the Bunaken Islands awaits.

Kolintang - Minahasan's traditional percussion band - Manado, Indonesia

At Tara Tara, experience Minahasan’s traditional dances and music. Every Sunday afternoon, at 3pm, visitors are entertained by the rhythmic cakalele dance accompanied by a bamboo kolintang percussion band. In Manado, there is enough to do on land and more waiting to be discovered beneath the waves. This destination continues to fascinate wide-eyed travelers who venture to this pristine land of many exciting characters.

Bunaken National Marine Park - Manado

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