BUNAKEN ISLAND, INDONESIA
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Bunaken is an area of 8.08 km ² island in the Bay of Manado, located in the northern island of Sulawesi, Indonesia. This island is part of the city of Manado, the provincial capital of North Sulawesi, Indonesia. Around the island there Bunaken marine park which is part of the Bunaken National Park. This marine park has a marine biodiversity one of the highest in the world.
Road to Bunaken
Bunaken Island can be achieved by speed boat (speed boat) or a rented boat with about 30 minutes journey from the port city of Manado. To reach the city of Manado you can use various means of transportation, one through the air path. Through the air port city of Manado, Sam Ratulangi connect with some other big cities in Indonesia like Jakarta, Surabaya, Makassar and Balikpapan. In addition, this airport also has direct flights from and to other countries namely Singapore, Manila, Kuala Lumpur and Davao, Philippines.
In addition through the air, Manado City can also be reached by sea. Pier in Manado is generally served by smaller ships. This is because the location of the adjacent waters of Manado, Bunaken Marine Park location that is protected and also a fairly shallow waters. In general, ships at the port of Manado is leaning against the ship with the aim of Islands Sangir and Talaud Islands. Speed boat to and from the Park is generally docked at this pier. Large ships owned by PT. Pelni docked in the city of Bitung, located approximately 40 km east of Manado.
Bunaken National Marine Park
Bunaken National Marine Park is representative of Indonesia's marine ecosystems, including sea grass, coral reefs and coastal ecosystems. This national park was established in 1991 and covers an area of 890.65 km ². 97% of this national park is the habitat of the sea, while the remaining 3% is mainland, covering five islands: Bunaken, Manado Tua, Mantehage, Naen and Siladen.
Bunaken marine park has a 20 point dive (dive spot) with varying depth of up to 1344 meters. Of the 20 diving points, 12 points among them diving around Bunaken Island. Twelve point dive is the most frequently visited by divers and lovers of the beauty of underwater scenery.
Most of the 12 point dive in Bunaken Island lined up from the southeast to the northwest of the island. In this region there are underwater great walls, which is also called the hanging walls, or a giant rock walls that stand vertically and curved upward. These rock walls are also a source of food for fish in the waters around Bunaken Island.
BUNAKEN NATIONAL PARK ENTRANCE FEE:
All visitors to the Bunaken National Park (divers and non-divers) are required to pay an entrance fee, in accordance with North Sulawesi Provincial Government Provincial Law Number 9/2002. The entrance fee for foreign visitors is Rp 50,000 per daily ticket (approximately US$6), or Rp 150,000 (approximately US$17) for a waterproof plastic entrance tag valid for the full calendar year.
Entrance tags and tickets can be purchased direct from all NSWA members, or from ticket counters on Bunaken Island and on Siladen Island. They must be carried at all times that guests' are within the park boundaries, and tags can easily be affixed to guests' diving or snorkeling gear or on backpacks. Enforcement of the entrance fee system is conducted via spot checks by park rangers on land and at sea.
Scuba Diving
Most of the diving around Bunaken is done on the deep walls the which are carpeted in coral and pocked with Caves and crevaces. There is something for everyone here from the deep pelagic freaks and fans to marine biologists and macro photographers, a dive destination to Cater for all Tastes.
Since most of the dive sites around 6km long island are very similar Bukanen We have only included the most popular. Other great dive sites include Raymond's Point, Ron's Point, Pangalisan, Cela Cela and Home Kampung all of the which offer impressive wall dives and an Abundance of marine life.
Accommodation
On the island you have the choice amongst a number of homestays, with rates starting at around Rp. 80 000 per day and person incl. fullboard. If you only go for the cheapest option don't complain afterwards if the water in your mandi (bathroom) doesn't get filled up regularly, or food isn't quite as nice as you had hoped for. Life in North Sulawesi in general isn't as cheap as in other regions of Indonesia, and most things on Bunaken have to be brought in from Manado.
Depending on the season even fish can be pretty expensive. Better think twice before you try to bargain down prices which are already cheap; for the locals it could mean the difference between being able to eat 3 or only 2 meals a day, or buying school books for the children or not.
But in general, tourists who come in Bunaken stay in the city of Manado. In the city of Manado quite a lot of alternative lodging options, both hotels will also homestead.
This is the address of some hotel in Manado which you can choose:
* Synthesis Peninsula Hotel hotel
Jl. Jend Sudirman, Manado
* Hotel Sedona Manado
Tanawangka Highway, Village Tafeli,, Manado
* Hotel Gran Puri Manado
Sam Ratulangi Street 458, Manado
* Tasik Ria Resort
Jl. Trans Sulawesi, Mokupa, Manado
* Sahid Kawanua
Sam Ratulangi Street 1, Manado
* Aston Hotels Manado City
Sudirman No. 128, Manado
