Explore Sulawesi

Sulawesi, Indonesia, is a diver's paradise offering a kaleidoscope of underwater experiences across its diverse marine landscapes. From the world-class wall diving at Bunaken National Park to the macro wonders of Lembeh Strait's black sand sites, Sulawesi provides an unforgettable dive journey. Bunaken teems with vibrant coral reefs and the occasional sighting of migrating sperm whales, while Lembeh is a haven for underwater photographers, showcasing rare and elusive marine life like the pygmy seahorse and ghost pipefish.

Central Sulawesi's Togian Islands boast some of the calmest waters and most dramatic drop-offs in the world. Divers can marvel at pinnacles and walls swarming with turtles, eagle rays, and rainbow runners. In Donggala, an untouched coral reef ecosystem awaits, home to frogfish and reef sharks. Meanwhile, the vibrant coral gardens of Wakatobi in Southern Sulawesi are renowned for their rich macro-diversity, rivaling Lembeh with its hidden treasures. For thrill-seekers, the Cape of Bira offers exhilarating encounters with hammerhead sharks and barracudas amidst strong currents. Opting for a liveaboard experience allows divers to fully explore Sulawesi's remote and breathtaking dive sites, making it a must-visit destination in the heart of Indonesia.

Places to Explore

South Sulawesi

17 Divesites 5 Centers

Diving in South Sulawesi offers an extraordinary underwater adventure that captivates divers with its vibrant marine biodiversity and stunning dive sites. The region is renowned for its pristine coral reefs, dramatic walls, and picturesque atolls that are teeming with life. A typical dive here will reveal a kaleidoscope of colors as schools of fish dart through the coral gardens, while graceful turtles and reef sharks glide effortlessly by. Divers can also explore fascinating wreck sites that serve as artificial reefs, providing a haven for countless marine species.

Central Sulawesi

49 Divesites 4 Centers

A veritable underwater Eden waiting to be explored, Central Sulawesi is perfect for both beginner and advanced divers with warm, gin-clear waters.

North Sulawesi

60 Divesites 6 Centers

North Sulawesi offers more than 100 dive sites from muck dives to the Lembeh Strait.

Southeast Sulawesi

4 Divesites 2 Centers

The southeast region of Sulawesi, Indonesia is home to some of the most spectacular diving in the entire world.

Upcoming Events

Professional Level Programs / Courses

Celebes Divers

Assistant Instructor

15 Nov 2025

The Assistant Instructor rating is the next step after becoming a Divemaster along the scuba instructor pathway. It allows you to collect valuable teaching experience, practice briefings, teach academics, and conduct in-water training. If you want to further your career as a dive professional, you can finish the Instructor Training Course, pass the Instructor Evaluation, and become an Open Water Diving Instructor.

Professional Level Programs / Courses

Celebes Divers

Assistant Instructor Trainer

22 Nov 2025

Assistant Instructor Trainers prepare Assistant Instructors to teach academics and conduct in-water training. As an Assistant Instructor Trainer, you are also qualified to assist Instructor Trainers, giving you valuable experience along your scuba diving instructor pathway. When ready, you can finish the Instructor Training Seminar, allowing you to become an SSI Instructor Trainer. Start your journey to create scuba diving instructors today.

Instructor Evaluation

Celebes Divers

Instructor Evaluation - IE

01 Dec 2025

Top Dive Sites Map

★★★★★ Wakatobi House Reef

Wakatobi Housereef is one of the most beautiful house reefs in the world. Entry directly from the jetty / beach or, depending on the current, shuttle service with boats. Incredible biodiversity on the steep face, you should definitely do several dives there during the day and at night to enjoy the high lights.

512
Logs
183
Divers
18.0 m
⌀ Depth
17.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Apollo

Apollo is a very healthy reef close to the beach towards the South of Una Una, starting at 22 metres and continuing beyond 40 metres. It is the perfect dive spot to view a Barracuda tornado, which although not guarenteed, is seen all year round in Una Una.

445
Logs
342
Divers
29.0 m
⌀ Depth
17.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ Pinnacle 1

A beautiful triangular Pinnacle with both a slope and a wall, located 3 minutes away from Sanctum Una Una dive resort. The reeg starts at 5 metres and is perfect for both day and night diving, and for enabling OW students to learn to dive without threatening the coral.

929
Logs
614
Divers
22.0 m
⌀ Depth
17.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Artemis

A long winding wall descending beyond 60 metres, with the top of the reef sitting at around 3 metres very close to the beach. Artemis is covered in tube sponges and overhangs, and defined by its dramatic sillhoutes.

171
Logs
129
Divers
21.0 m
⌀ Depth
18.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ Hong Kong

A sloping reef towards the south of the Island, named for its abundance of fish - specifically the huge schools of yellow snapper. Maximum depth 24 metres.

532
Logs
401
Divers
22.0 m
⌀ Depth
18.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Jungle

A deep sloping wall lying 3 minutes from Sanctum Una Una dive resort, sitting in a bay close to the rainforest jungle. Best enjoyed when it hasn’t rained, as a river runs off into this spot which can affect visibility.

271
Logs
190
Divers
24.0 m
⌀ Depth
17.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Jam

A reef network sitting between Sanctumm Una Una and Pinnacle 1, about 2 minutes by boat from the resort. The dive starts at 30m, and winds through various reef systems before finishing at a small wreck around 10 metres. It is possible to cross to Pinnacle 1 and the Sanctum house reef during this dive.

187
Logs
110
Divers
20.0 m
⌀ Depth
15.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ Black Forest (Candi City)

A beatufil and incredilby unique hard coral site, with a variety of temple, cabbage and mushroom corals. Maximum depth is 24 metres but the majority of the dive remains around 15 metres. Named for the unique formations of temple corals which look like the Back Forest in Germany.

663
Logs
536
Divers
20.0 m
⌀ Depth
17.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Mandiri

A clam-shaped deep wall to the North of the island where you can often hear the volcano exploding underwater. The site sits off the walking point to the Volcano’s summit.

204
Logs
171
Divers
25.0 m
⌀ Depth
18.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Sipi

You don’t have to go to Lembeh for some excellent muck diving, you can find it at the Sipi dive site. A sandy bottom slope that begins at 3-4 meters and goes down 25 meters, is waiting for divers that love macro life.

191
Logs
156
Divers
21.0 m
⌀ Depth
16.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ Survival Bukabuka Island

Survival is an underwater seamount for advanced divers, with a top reef starting at 16 meters and a drop-off wall creating an aquarium-like experience.

57
Logs
23
Divers
25.0 m
⌀ Depth
30.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Ihana

Ihana is a long shore-hugging reef just two minutes from close dive resorts. It is the perfect spot for beginners, with a shallow protected sandy area at the start of the reef and a wide variety of reef fish, including a yellow snapper nursery.

397
Logs
235
Divers
14.0 m
⌀ Depth
14.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Greta’s Place

Greta’s Place is a beautiful sloping wall between Sanctum and Una Una’s main village, best dived in the morning light. The top of the reef starts at 5 meters, and is covered in Una Una’s usual super-sized sponges and a large variety of hard and soft coral. Usually dived on the right shoulder.

396
Logs
291
Divers
21.0 m
⌀ Depth
19.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ Pinnacle 2

A large pinnacle starting at 5 metres and extending beyond 60, which sits 5 minues from Sanctum Una Una Dive Resort. A safe spot for beginner divers to practice to 12 metres as well as a good drop off point for more experienced divers to explore nearby deeper pinnacles, such as Satellite.

743
Logs
508
Divers
24.0 m
⌀ Depth
17.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Menara II

Menara II is a winding wall off Una Una’s main village with hard and soft corals, a variety of reef fish and a cave that can be entered one by one.

173
Logs
138
Divers
23.0 m
⌀ Depth
17.0 m
⌀ Visibility

Diving in Sulawesi

Sulawesi, an Indonesian island, hosts some of the world's most spectacular dive sites. Known for its rich marine biodiversity, Bunaken National Marine Park is a must-visit, offering an impressive array of coral walls teeming with exotic fish and vibrant corals. For wreck diving enthusiasts, the Molas Shipwreck near Manado provides a fascinating exploration opportunity, surrounded by schools of fish and other marine creatures. Lembeh Strait is renowned for its muck diving, where divers can spot unique critters like mimic octopuses and flamboyant cuttlefish. Shore dives are abundant, providing easy access to incredible underwater experiences. For those seeking adventure, night dives reveal Sulawesi's nocturnal marine life, creating unforgettable memories. Dive travelers can enjoy both shore-based accommodations and liveaboard options, ensuring a perfect dive experience tailored to their preferences.

The best Months to dive in Sulawesi

Sulawesi offers year-round diving opportunities with its tropical climate and diverse marine life. Water temperatures generally range between 26°C to 30°C, providing comfortable conditions for divers throughout the year. Visibility in Sulawesi is typically excellent, often reaching 20 to 40 meters, which is ideal for exploring its vibrant coral reefs and abundant marine biodiversity.

Diving is possible all year, though certain months may offer more favorable conditions. From November to April, the region experiences the wet season, which can bring stronger winds and currents, potentially affecting visibility and dive conditions. However, many divers still enjoy diving during this period. The dry season, from May to October, is considered the best time for diving, with calmer seas and clearer skies enhancing the overall experience.

Statistics

Historical data and trends

Dive Activity & Environmental Conditions

Centers Map

ANOA DIVER CORPS

FANNY WALLPAPER, 93231 Kota Kendari, SG - IDN

Celebes Divers

Bunaken, Lingkungan VII, 95010 Manado, SA - IDN

GaiaOne Boutique Diving

Tevana House Reef, Jalan Pantai Bara, Tanjung Bira, 95271 Bulukumba, SN - IDN

AIM Dive Center Makassar

Pavillion Recidence Double Decker No.62, 90224 Makassar, SN - IDN

Siladen Resort & Spa

Kotak Pos 1196 , Pulau Siladen, 95011 Manado, SA - IDN

SELAYAR SCUBA SCHOOL

Matalalang Cottage Jl. Poros Bandara H. AROEPPALA No. 135 Matalalang, Bontoharu, Selayar, 92812 Kepulauan Selayar, SN - IDN

BLACK MARLIN DIVE RESORT

Kadidiri Island, 00000 Ampana, ST - IDN

ODYSSEA DIVERS

Desa Kima Bajo Jaga 2, 95000 Kabupaten Minahsa Utara, SA - IDN

3will Bunaken Dive Resort

3will bunaken dive resort , Pangalisang Beach, 95000 Bunaken, SA - IDN

DASENG SELAM MANADO

Malalayang Satu Barat No. 113, 95163 Manado, SA - IDN

SANCTUM UNA UNA

Desa Binaguna Kel. Binaguna, 94683 Tojo Una-Una, ST - IDN

Harmony Bay Resort

Pulau Kadidiri, Desa Tobil, Kec Togean, 94691 Kabupaten Tojo Una Una, ST - IDN

Blue Planet Dive Resort

Jl. Poros bara, Pantai Bara, Bira, Bonto bahari, 92571 Bulukumba, SN - IDN

Minanga Divers

Jl. Minanga, Malalayang 1 Lingkungan 7, 95162 Manado-Sulawesi Utara, SA - IDN

AKKP DIVING SCHOOL

Jl. Soekarno Hatta No.1 Matahora, Wangi Wangi Selatan, 93795 Wakatobi, SG - IDN

ROCK N ROLL DIVERS

Jl. Sultan Hasanuddin No 41, 93717 Bau Bau, SG - IDN

Reconnect - Private Island Resort & Dive Cente

Buka Buka Island, 94685 Tojo Una Una, ST - IDN