Lorenso Cottages - Bunaken Island, North Sulawesi - Indonesia Lorenso Cottages - Bunaken Island, North Sulawesi - Indonesia Lorenso Cottages - Bunaken Island, North Sulawesi - Indonesia
Lorenso Cottages - Bunaken Island, North Sulawesi - Indonesia Lorenso Cottages - Bunaken Island, North Sulawesi - Indonesia
Lorenso Cottages - Bunaken Island, North Sulawesi - Indonesia Lorenso Cottages - Bunaken Island, North Sulawesi - Indonesia
diving & Snorkeling
Bunaken UW Pics - Anemone Fish Lorenso Cottages Bunaken - North Sulawesi

Lorenso Cottages Bunaken - North Sulawesi
Bunaken UW Pics - Chrismas Tree
Lorenso Cottages Bunaken - North Sulawesi
Bunaken UW Pics - Nudibranch

Bunaken National Marine Park

General Information

The Bunaken National Marine Park was formally established in 1991 and is among the first of Indonesia's growing system of marine parks. Bunaken UW Pics - Sleeping TurtleThe park covers a total surface area of 89,065 hectares, 97% of which is overlain by sparkling clear, warm tropical water. The remaining 3% of the park is terrestrial, including the five islands of Bunaken, Manado Tua, Mantehage, Nain and Siladen. Although each of these islands has a special character, it is the aquatic ecosystem that attracts most naturalists.
The waters of Bunaken National Marine Park are extremely deep (1566 m in Manado Bay), clear (up to 35-40 m visibility), refreshing in temperature (27-29 C) and harbor some of the highest levels of biodiversity in the world. Pick any of group of interest - corals, fish, echinoderms or sponges - and the number of families, genera or species is bound to be astonishingly high. For example, 7 of the 8 species of giant clams that occur in the world, occur in Bunaken. The park has around 70 genera of corals; compare this to a mere 10 in Hawaii. Although the exact number of fish species is unknown, it may be slightly higher than in the Philippines, where 2,500 species, or nearly 70% of all fish species known to the Indo-western Pacific, are found.

Bunaken - Scuba Diving

Snorkeling and Diving Guidelines

Do not touch living marine wildlife, such as coral, animals, etc.

Do not collect souvenirs (shells, coral, etc.).

Do not stand or rest on coral reefs.

Never harass aquatic animals for your own amusement.

Always be aware of your position in the water and that of your dive gear, in relation to marine animals and the coral reef.

Remember to dive safely, both in terms of your health and that of the marine environment.

Review and update diving skills such as buoyancy control, finning and positioning.

Do not feed marine animals.
A growing number of dive centers is operating from the mainland around Manado and directly from Bunaken Island. Generally spoken you should rather pay a few dollars more and go for safe and experienced operators than just choose the cheapest option. Tank fillings can be a problem, and headaches after each dive give you a clear sign that your dive operator saves money on filters; better go somewhere else if you experience this.

In general diving standards in North Sulawesi are high, as is environmental awareness among the dive operators, at least the ones who have formed the North Sulawesi Watersports Association , NSWA. The NSWA has made significant strides in improving the management and conservation of Bunaken National Park and surrounding marine ecosystems and in conferring concrete benefits of tourism to the villagers living within the park. Many of its members have spent a lot of their money and time for various ecological and social achievements within the park. This has not gone unnoticed; recently the Bunaken National Park has received the "Tourism for Tomorrow Award" and the "UN Equator Prize" .
Unfortunately some stupid backpackers still think that they know everything better than these international organisations and refuse to pay the entrance fee to the National Park. If you are planning to do this, please stay away. You are not welcome - the National Park needs support, not ignorance! (Source: sulawesi-info.com)

Click here for Bunaken Dive Sites Map

Most of our satisfied divers/costumers dived with Living Colours Dive Resort (member of NSWA), a European run dive resort located just about 150 meters from us.

Bunaken - Snorkeling

Bunaken UW Pics - PolypsThe home reef streching from the front of Lorenso I to Lorenso II known as 'Bunaken Timur I' and 'Bunaken Timur II' diving spots, is one of the most beautiful area within marine park, especially for snorkellers. The rich combination of hard and colourful soft coral covering the breathtaking drop offs--homing marine animals in abudance make this reef area an absolutely not-to-be-missed spot for snorkelers.
Lorenso Cottages organizes full day snorkeling and dolphin trips including snorkeling session at Siladen Island reefs at most reasonable price.

Ask Lorenso or Vasko at Lorenso Cottages for more info.

 
Lorenso Cottages - Bunaken, North Sulawesi - Indonesia