Introduction: North Sulawesi SCUBA/Snorkelling Odyssey

Well - I don’t quite know where to begin. We’ve done six (or maybe seven) trips to Siladen and it is one of two places we just keep going back to. It is just a sensational dive resort with biodiverse, healthy coral reefs and some sensational wall dives. Our last trip in July 2024 was also very popular with snorkellers and they saw much the same as we bubble-blowers - lots of turtles (20 or 30 on some dives) and masses of colourful reef fish. I don’t think any of us will ever forget the many thousands of Red Toothed Trigger fish that swarmed the walls of Siladen and Bunaken Island. Nor the Pilot Whales that escorted us home one day. It is one place I’ve always had total confidence in - the management is brilliant - every department is superbly run, from the gorgeous open air restaurant that wraps around the pool, to the well designed dive centre with its air conditioned camera room and outstanding briefing facilities.

But for a decade or so, I’ve also been very interested in the diving up off the very northern tip of North Sulawesi, in The Bangka Islands. A good option up north appeared to be “Coral Eye - Marine Outpost” and I followed its development with interest. It was the brainchild of four young marine biologists, who decided to pursue their dreams & passions and set up a marine outpost right in the heart of the Coral Triangle. When the project came to life in 2009, the original idea was to create a co-working outpost where universities and students could exchange ideas and develop their projects on tropical marine environments.  In 2013, following the construction of the diving center and lots of hard work, Coral Eye opened its doors to tourism as an alternative to mix science with passion and love for the sea. The idea behind Coral Eye was to create a meeting point for students, professors and researchers from different institutions, universities and regions. So what started off with an educational intent soon developed into a thriving tourist venture.

Recently, Siladen Island Resort and Spa got involved in upgrading Coral Eye to an amazing standard and now the two are sister resorts offering similar staff and luxury. Food is a feature of both and so is exceptional levels of service and accomodation. Coral Eye is in a superb location on a gorgeous beach with great shore dives. It offers great macro and soft coral diving. Last July, half a dozen or so members of our group took the option of the two hour journey up north as a day trip to do three dives at Bangka and check out Coral Eye Resort. They were stunned by the soft corals and even managed to share one dive site with a Dugong. They were equally impressed by the resort. I got a text back from Davo “Book me in now!” And I did!

This is the most expensive and also the most complicated trip we have ever run. But it offers so much! It can be done as a combination trip - enjoying the luxury of 9 nights at Coral Eye and even doing a double dive en route to Siladen as we transfer from one brilliant resort for 5 nights at another! Or, if you choose, you can just do the Coral Eye section alone. But, for mine, the combination is the best of all diving opportunities. The macro delights and amazing critters of Bangka and Lembeh Straits and the superb blue water coral walls and masses of life at Siladen.

There’s a lot to read and process here - all I ask is that you discuss your options with Tracy Price at Dive Adventures. The booking form alone cannot cope with all the different combinations of accommodation and schedule options - so give Tracy a buzz on (03) 9646 5945 or e-mail her at tracy@diveadventures.com.au. To confirm your place on this trip , you will need to complete the online booking links and arrange payments of a non-refundable deposit amount of $950.00.