Explore Bunaken
Located off the tip of North Sulawesi are the islands of Siladen, Manado Tua, Montehage, Bunaken, and Nain. These five islands make up the Bunaken National Marine Park, which has some of the highest levels of biodiversity in the world, with exceptional fish variety and world-class walls. The seas surrounding the islands are very deep, in some places dropping to depths of 600 meters/1,968 feet, with the islands being pinnacles that reach to the surface. This has created an impeccable topography for wall diving. The oceanic currents that sweep past the marine park supply a steady stream of nutrients to Bunaken’s rich diversity, and it's not uncommon to see migrating pilot and sperm whales heading to breed.
The islands of Bunaken National Park have a number of dive resorts; however, if you have the time, it is worth seeing more of the North Sulawesi region. Many liveaboards will allow you to scuba dive in Bunaken while enjoying the best macro diving at Lembeh Strait and taking a visit to the unique rock formations of the Bangka Islands. It is possible to arrange day trips from Manado Bay; however, a day trip is not enough to experience the full beauty of Bunaken diving.
Dive Activity
Diving in Bunaken
Bunaken diving has been offered the title of having some of the best wall diving in the world. You can find yourself enthralled while drifting along in Bunaken’s signature wall dives, like Celah Celah, or exploring the sandy depths of Black Rock, encountering macro creatures on par with the standards set at Lembeh Strait. Dramatic drop-offs will find you peering out into the blue, trying to spot resident dolphins as the thriving coral reefs draw your eyes into their intricate patterns and vibrant hues. Technical divers can find themselves descending into unexplored rocky outcrops, and those with a passion for wreck diving can explore the Manado wreck, which sank in World War II and rests 40 meters/131 feet below the surface. Those wishing to partake in advanced dive courses will find dive sites here the perfect challenge!
Top Wildlife Sightings in Bunaken
With over 70% of all fish species known to the Indo-western Pacific found here, scuba diving in Bunaken really is a feast for the eyes. The submerged mountain ranges of the island’s offer drop-offs with an extensive variety of soft and hard corals that provide a home to a vast array of reef fish such as fusiliers, sweetlips, cardinalfish, and damselfish. There are thought to be over 33 species of butterflyfish residing in the Bunaken Islands - how’s that for a kaleidoscope of colour.
Hunting giant trevallies, mating big-eye trevally and never-ending fast-moving schools of triggerfish all make the reef their home as reef sharks, turtles, and eagle rays appear to delight your senses. In the south of the marine park, dugongs are known to feed on seagrass beds and large silvertip and hammerhead sharks have been spotted at some dive sites. Looking out into the blue it is possible to observe the grace of migrating pilot and sperm whales while resident dolphins may show up to play at any moment. Macro photographers can trawl the walls for scorpion fish and nudibranch or search rocky patches for emperor shrimps and candy crabs. It’s safe to say, whether you are a fan of the big or the small, Bunaken diving has it all.
Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content
Shutterstock-Shane Myers Photography
4.4k Sightings
J
199
F
81
M
272
A
245
M
234
J
272
J
562
A
713
S
670
O
505
N
382
D
262
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 200
Alamy-WaterFrame
Moray Eel
952 Sightings
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39
F
10
M
60
A
83
M
43
J
57
J
129
A
164
S
146
O
75
N
88
D
58
Shutterstock-Ed Jenkins
Hawksbill Turtle
682 Sightings
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25
F
7
M
18
A
42
M
43
J
57
J
117
A
89
S
98
O
63
N
91
D
32
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 600
iStock/ultramarinfoto
Wrasse
526 Sightings
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13
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5
M
24
A
35
M
27
J
42
J
58
A
79
S
110
O
29
N
70
D
34
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 25
iStock/Juliosanjuan
Eagle Ray
271 Sightings
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5
F
6
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4
A
5
M
21
J
15
J
24
A
78
S
45
O
39
N
13
D
16
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 28
Udo Kefrig
Clownfish
1.6k Sightings
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76
F
19
M
97
A
112
M
75
J
88
J
212
A
256
S
237
O
216
N
159
D
90
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 3000
SSI-Peter-Schinck
Nudibranch
1.6k Sightings
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53
F
10
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85
A
142
M
86
J
92
J
181
A
220
S
274
O
183
N
137
D
99
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 130
Shutterstock_Krzysztof Odziomek
Butterfly Fish
1.4k Sightings
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56
F
4
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95
A
91
M
55
J
83
J
150
A
198
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214
O
194
N
155
D
92
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 90
Shutterstock-Rich Carey
Angelfish
1.2k Sightings
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57
F
4
M
76
A
68
M
54
J
67
J
144
A
190
S
197
O
165
N
136
D
81
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 40
iStock-wrangel
Triggerfish
1.2k Sightings
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40
F
7
M
68
A
67
M
51
J
78
J
151
A
228
S
212
O
144
N
105
D
87
The best Months to dive in Bunaken
You can enjoy scuba diving in Bunaken all year round but the dry season, between March through to October, will provide the best dive conditions. November to late February can see winds and rains so surface conditions and visibility can reduce slightly, however, there is much less rain here than in other parts of Southeast Asia. Although most marine life can be seen year-round, June is the best month for sharks and July for dolphins and pilot whales. March through to July and August you may be able to witness sperm whales migrating through the region to calf in the Sangihe region of North Sulawesi.
