Above: The Volcanic Island of Manado Tua, Orca in foreground
I visited here in April 1996, diving with NUSANTURA Dive Center who were absolutely fantastic, especially the Dive Master, Maarten who was assigned to Fiona and myself. My only complaint is that diving was limited to only two dives per day although we did manage 3 when night dive opportunies arose. They are a well laid-back outfit, but I am sure that with sufficient people pushing them, THREE dives per day should be possible.
The food was excellent even the lunches on board, the crews excellent, the boats slow and basic but as I said this is a laid-back outfit. If you ever go there I advise to bring old gear that is still usable but you do not need any more and give it to the guides when you leave. They are great guys and I had to fight with them to prevent them from setting up my gear ... prefer to do that myself.
Underwater Maarten proved to be incredible, once he knew what lens I was using he found the subjects. Most dives were drift dives (including the night dives!). And when Fiona ran low on air he took her to the surface made sure she got back on the boat then joined me below again.
Finally, I must mention three great ladies, Beb from Paris, Ulla and Pirjo from Finland.
DIVE SITES AT BUNAKEN ISLAND
MANDOLIN
LEKUAN II
LEKUAN III
FUKUI POINT
ALUNGBANUA
RAYMOND POINT
Bunaken is a haven for macro photography and a nudibranch paradise (see nudibranch pages), although we did see sharks, turtles and ORCA's, Quote Fiona: "Oh that's a big dolphin" Quote me: "Shit, where's my camera"
Above: One of the three Orcas that passed by as we had lunch.
ANEMONE CRAB, Neopetrolisthes ohshimai, frequently found here.
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