Bunaken National Park

Bunaken protects a stretch of water off Manado where the reef stops abruptly and the seabed falls away in vertical walls. That geography is the whole point: you can snorkel a few metres from the shallows and look down into blue that goes on well past the limits of vision, with turtles, reef sharks and large schools of fish working the drop-off. The park takes in Bunaken and Siladen islands, the cone of Manado Tua and part of the mainland coast. Accommodation is mostly small dive resorts and homestays on Bunaken itself, and days follow the boat schedule rather than anything else.

What you actually see

• The reef walls - vertical coral drop-offs starting metres from the shallows.
• Green turtles - common along the walls and often seen by snorkellers as well as divers.
• Manado Tua - the volcanic cone rising across the water, the park's landmark.
• Siladen island - a smaller, quieter island with a good sand beach and easy house reef.

When to go

Diving runs most of the year, with the best visibility roughly April to November; January and February bring more rain and rougher crossings. Currents on the walls vary with the tide, so trips are timed to it. Bring the marine park tag with you, and expect boats to leave early in the morning.

Honest expectations

Parts of the shallow reef have been damaged by past bomb and cyanide fishing and by anchors, so the tops of the walls can look poor even where the drop-offs are excellent. Plastic drifts in from the mainland, worst in the wet season. Facilities on the island are simple, with limited power and slow internet. Currents can be strong.

Nearby

Manado, the Tangkoko forest reserve and the Minahasa highlands are on the mainland.