Tucked away on remote Bunaken Island, off the northern tip of Indonesia's Sulawesi Island, lies the small, intimate Bunaken Cha Cha Nature Resort. The warm, clear waters around the resort are part of Bunaken National Marine Park, one of the world's finest diving destinations. Many resorts in Bunaken and nearby Manado cater to the hard-core diver. Bunaken Cha Cha offers a top-notch diving program for all levels, and welcomes families and non-divers.
Diving in Bunaken
Underwater Bunaken is jaw-droppingly beautiful. It has dazzling walls covered with healthy soft and hard coral, and the variety of marine life is staggering. It is estimated that Bunaken Marine Park supports 70% of all fish species that exist in the Indo-Western Pacific. Bunaken is particularly famous for its macro diving — observation and photography of little critters like nudibranchs, anemone shrimp and sea horses.
Before arriving at Cha Cha, my teenage son was filled with anticipation about seeing the big stuff. He was not disappointed. We saw black tip sharks, huge bumphead parrotfish, napoleans, morays and massive sea turtles. I never expected he'd be so wowed by the small stuff. Kudos to the Cha Cha dive team who model patient and unhurried diving, and have amazing talent for finding the ocean's tiniest creatures.
There are over 20 dive sites easily accessed from Bunaken Island and many are suited to novice divers and even snorkelers. Travel time via boat is often less than 30 minutes. The water averages a pleasant 27-30 degrees C and visibility ranges from 20-40 m. Calm conditions prevail, particularly during the peak April-November season.
For snorkelers, Cha Cha has a marvelous house reef just meters from the beach.
Bunaken Cha Cha Dive Operation
The resort runs a PADI affiliated centre and employees are highly experienced diving guides and instructors. Sam and Yuko were super safety conscious with my son, but also kept it fun and exciting. Sometimes, the lodge's affable owners, Raf and Reiko join the morning dives. They know the sites like the back of their hands, and their love and respect for Bunaken Marine Park is obvious.
The resort holds only 20 guests so personalized service and small dive groups are guaranteed. Cha Cha staff does a great job accommodating both experienced and novice divers, and dive sites are carefully selected to match guests' abilities and desires.
Cha Cha prides itself on being "non-diver friendly" and their dive schedule is built so that divers and their non-diving companions can spend time together. Two-tank morning dives depart at 8 am and return to the resort in time for lunch. Afternoon dives are optional; if there is demand, the boat leaves at 3 p.m.
Bring your own gear or rent from the lodge's excellent selection. Either way, dive staff store, set-up, and wash the gear, so all you have to do is show up on time.
Bunaken Cha Cha Lodge
The resort overlooks a small stretch of beach with wonderful views toward Siladen Island and the Sulawesi volcanoes. It is far from other resorts and very quiet. The ten wooden bungalows are tastefully decorated and have breezy verandahs. Don't expect luxury, just relaxed bare-foot comfort and great service.
The main lodge houses the reception, restuarant and small bar. There is plenty of cozy seating to enjoy the view, browse through fish guides and mingle with fellow guests. There's a friendly, "feel at home" vibe, and you'll soon know everyone's name including the charming staff. Guests are an eclectic mix of couples, families and singles from all over the world.
Meals are fantastic. Influenced by Reiko's Japanese heritage and local Indonesian flavours, the food is consistently delicious, innovative, and beautifully presented. Meals are served family style and Reiko, Raf, Yoko and Sam join guests for lively conversation.
How to Get to Bunaken Cha Cha
Silkair flies directly from Singapore to Manado. From Bali, Jakarta, and other Indonesian cities, connections are through Makassar. Guests are met at Manado airport by Cha Cha staff and driven to the harbour (30 minutes). The boat transfer, directly to the resort, is about 50 minutes. Be prepared for a wet landing where you'll wade a short distance in shallow water before being greeted with big smiles and tropical drinks.
Source:
Moore, Bruce. Bunaken National Park. North Sulawesi Adventures Beyond Dreams. Retrieved on November 9,2011 from http://www.north-sulawesi.org
Caroline Helbig - Passionate about travel, outdoor adventure, and health and fitness, her work has appeared in numerous print and on-line publications.
