Sulawesi

This summer we are running a trip to the Northern end of Sulawesi. Sulawesi was formerly called Celebes and is a large amoeba shaped island between Maluka and Borneo. Sulawesi straddles the equator so the warmth of the water, the sunlight and the rich nutrients upwelling from the surrounding very deep waters ensure prolific coral and marine life growth. There are more species of coral here than anywhere else in the world. The fantastic coral ensures a profusion of life surrounding the reef and is an ideal place to see creatures such as seahorses, pigmy seahorses, mandarin fish, numerous nudibranchs, frogfish, and ghost pipefish. In the deep water off the reef we might be lucky enough to see sperm whales, big pelagics, mantas, and whale sharks.

We will be staying initially in a hotel, the Tasik Ria, a few Kilometres South of the town of Manado. The rooms are situated in the gardens around the swimming pool and are a short distance from the restaurant, pool bar, dive centre and sunset viewing jetty bar. We have breakfast and dinner at the hotel. Lunches are included with the diving. Although there is an excellent house reef, the most exciting diving is at the extinct volcanoes protruding from the sea in the Bunaken marine park and to get there we will be using the dive centres purpose built boats. After about 6 nights at the Tasik Ria we will transfer to the idyllic Kungkungan resort at Lembeh for 4 nights before returning back to the Tasik Ria. At the Kungkungan resort, nestled in the tropical forests that butt up to the sea there will be three boat dives a day and unlimited shore diving. Here the diving is in the narrow channel between the forest covered rock walls that the Lembeh straits so special. The sandy bottom between the beautifully encrusted rocks is the home of the incredible assortment of creatures that can only be described as amazing. There is the mimic octopus that changes its shape, texture and colour to look like a variety of venomous creatures rather than tasty octopus. Large and pigmy seahorses, more wildly coloured nudibranchs than you can shake a stick at. frogfish, hairy scorpion fish, the rare Bangai cardinal fish to name just a few.

Not only is the diving on this trip fantastic but the island of Sulawesi is also very interesting. The island itself is has a variety of terrestrial habitats there are mountains and lakes as well as lots of jungle. Being placed between Australia and Asia the bird and animal life of the island is a mixture of both regions with a few local inventions such as the dwarf buffalo, the bear cuscus. It is also the home of the tarsius, the world’s smallest primate at 10cm long. There are areas were Dugongs can be seen feeding, volcanoes, white water rafting, goldfish lakes, local markets, all of which make wonderful excursions that can be arranged locally.