With its white sand beach fringed with palm trees, the Murex Bangka Resort offers charming and comfortable accommodation. The surrounding waters are filled with delights for divers. Colourful soft corals adorn towering pinnacles, while the area is known for excellent macro subjects, including on the house reef.
Accommodation
Three room categories are dotted along the beach and up the hill of Bangka Island, all in the private grounds of Murex Bangka Resort. The Standard Oceanfront Cottages are simple and charming with unrestricted views, situated on the water's edge they can accommodate either double or twin beds and have a private terrace area to enjoy the view from.
Premium Hillside Cottages feel the sea breeze and have stunning elevated views over the ocean and lush tree canopy below. These tastefully appointed, air-conditioned rooms offer comfortable indoor living and large verandahs with built-in day beds. Double and twin bed sleeping configurations are available, while for families and groups of friends, semi-detached options are available.
Premium Oceanfront Cottages are traditionally-styled timber bungalows that are larger in size. These duplex rooms have adjoining doors and are also ideal for families and groups. All rooms are located on the seafront with azure views and have air-conditioning.
The resort is committed to sustainability and harness solar power during daylight hours. While diving and other activities are being undertaken throughout the day, electricity is reduced to match the supply produced by the solar panels. Once the sun sets, full power is provided.
Facilities
On-site dining is easy in the covered, open-air beachfront restaurant and under the palm trees on the beach. Enjoy a variety of cuisine with a tantalising mix of international and Asian flavours using fresh local ingredients served buffet style, with the option of table service when eating on the beach. Dietary requirements can be catered for upon request. The on-site spa is the ideal place to unwind, while land tours and guided day trips can be arranged to nearby attractions.
Location
Situated in the Bangka archipelago of northern Sulawesi, between the Lembeh Straits and the Bunaken Nation Park, this area boasts impressive marine life and tranquillity.
Murex Bangka Resort can be easily paired with Murex Manado Resort, with the transfer being conducted by dive boat. You won't have to miss a single diving with this seamless combination.
Resort Features
- On Site Dive Centre
- Oceanfront
- Full Board Available
- Spa
- Environmentally Aware
Recommended for
- Dive Clubs & Groups
- Experienced Divers
- Photographers
Our Holiday Prices
The price quoted is a guide, based on the cheapest time to travel and two people sharing. Flight prices change daily, so we'll prepare a personalised quotation to ensure that you receive the most competitive price for your chosen travel dates.
Please call 01353 659999 or complete an enquiry form for a quotation.
Murex Bangka Resort
8 days from £2,695 inc. flights, transfers, accommodation, diving.
Send Enquiry Speak to an expert. Call 01353 659999
At a Glance
- When to Go Apr-Nov
- Rental Equipment Yes (£)
- Rooms 14
- Nitrox Paid
- Group Discount 11 Guests
Highlights
- On site dive centre
- House reef
- Oceanfront
- Camera facilities
- Remote location
- Freediving
What's included?
Price per person typically includes:
- Flights to/from UK
- Airport transfers to/from resort
- 7 nights accommodation on a full-board basis
- 10 dives
Our Price Match Promise
At Regaldive we are committed to offering you the best possible value for money on all our diving holidays. That's why we offer you a price match promise. Learn more about our promise to you.
Murex Bangka Dive Centre
Murex Bangka is the twin dive centre of Murex Manado, also offering an exceptional diving from a team who undergo additional training in programmes such as marine biology and underwater photography. Small ratios offer a more personal experience as the dive team are proud to share the underwater world around Bangka archipelago with you.
Equipment Rental
Nitrox Available (Paid)
Groups
Free WiFi
Boat Diving
Courses
House Reef
Environmentally Aware
A full range of PADI diving courses are available, along with AIDA freediving courses. The coral nursery gives divers the opportunity to take part in the Ocean Gardener project, aiming to improve the reef life in the surrounding areas. Onsite is an extensive camera room with dedicated preparation area and ample charging points.
The house reef is a gentle slopping reef, descending to a white sand bottom, vibrant coral and abundant marine life are prevalent as well as a host of unique macro critters. Peter’s Sponge is a favourite for spotting dugong, glassfish covered bommies which rest on the white sand floor. Batu Goso is a series of steep, coral encrusted pinnacles, these provide shelter from the tidal currents which bring white tip reef sharks, black tip reef sharks, turtles and groupers. It's also possible to reach dive sites on Gangga and Talise Islands in addition to a few on the mainland, special trips to Bunaken National Park can be arranged during transfer between the resorts.
Gallery
Dive Info
Conditions are generally calm all year round, and the deep waters afford excellent visibility averaging 25 metres. The seas are home to many unusual species, ranging from the prehistoric ‘coelacanth’ fish through to reef shark, green turtles, Napoleon wrasse and dugongs. The majority of sites are easily accessible and they are rarely crowded.
Manado is extremely popular with photographers, who relish the fascinating marine life, excellent conditions and facilities.
Diving in the region is concentrated over two areas: Bunaken National Marine Park and the Lembeh Strait.
Dive Bunaken National Marine Park
The Bunaken National Marine Park has won numerous international conservation awards and is home to the majority of the dive sites that are accessible from Murex Manado, Siladen Resort & Spa, and Tasik Ria.
Most of the reefs of the Bunaken National Marine Park are rich and unspoilt, offering pristine and abundant soft coral and fish life in huge concentrations. The night diving in the park is spectacular, providing frequent encounters with rare nocturnal creatures. For a change of scenery, the Molas wreck is remarkably intact for a WWII ship, the bow resting at 25m and the propeller at 40m.
The Bunaken National Marine Park consists of five islands: Bunaken, Manado Tua, Nain, Montehage, and Siladen, as well as a part of the North Sulawesi mainland. Diving in and around Bunaken is predominantly wall diving and drift diving. There are also numerous beautiful coral slopes that are suitable for novice divers. There are 22 official dive sites within the park. The variety of both fish and soft coral is outstanding, and marks out this area as one of the most bio diverse marine environments in the world. With visibility around 25m and water temperature 26–30°C, this is an excellent destination for underwater photographers and naturalists alike.
Schools of barracuda and jacks, green turtles and reef sharks, sea snakes and Napoleon wrasse are among the resident inhabitants of these steep coral walls fringing Bunaken Island.
Dive Lembeh Strait
The Lembeh Strait is world-famous for its macro life. This is arguably one of the finest destinations in the world for macro and photography enthusiasts.
Lembeh plays host to a cornucopia of weird and wonderful creatures that are found here and here alone. Diving is over shallow black sandy slopes where seahorses and nudibranchs are found in abundance. Many of the species that are encountered are simply not found elsewhere. Inimicus devilfish, dwarf lionfish, scorpion fish, puffer fish, mimic octopus, pegasus sea moths, frogfish, ribbon eels and flying gurnards to name but a few.
The Lembeh Strait is a unique dive destination and a haven for experienced divers who are looking for species that are unusual and rarely seen. The dive guides and instructors are extremely experienced in locating and identifying the many unusual species that are encountered in the Lembeh Strait.
Twin Centre Accommodation Options
Divers can easily combine stays between the resorts of Murex Manado, Siladen Island or Tasik Ria on the Bunaken side, with Dive Into Lembeh or White Sands Beach Resort on the Lembeh side.
Many guests also opt to combine a liveaboard with a land based option in Manado. Please ask a member of the Regaldive team for more information.
We can also arrange extensions to your diving or snorkelling holiday, including cultural tours, nature and wildlife-focused activities, plus city breaks.
Dive Packs
We recommend you pre-book your dive packs with Regaldive prior to departure - contact us to arrange this. Your diving schedule can be tailored to suit your needs with options for single dives, two dive trips or full day excursions with lunch served on the boat. Discount packages are also available for divers and for snorkellers offering two dives per day.
Group incentives are available for a minimum of 11 divers.
Please discuss your requirements with the Regaldive team, who will prepare a quotation suited to your needs.
Extras in Resort (pay locally)
- Bunaken Marine Park fee
- Nitrox fill
- Night dive (minimum 2 divers)
- Dive equipment rental: Full equipment is available to hire, including BCDs, regulators, wetsuits, 15L tank, fins, masks
Helpful Information
Getting Around
Anyone booking the full package through Regaldive will receive local supplier assistance from the moment they exit customs at the airport, and all our packages include land and boat transfer where applicable, unless otherwise requested.
Taxis are readily available, but it is recommended that you seek assistance from reception at your local place of stay for any additional travel and excursion arrangements you may wish to make in situ.
Climate
You can enjoy fine diving year round in Manado. Located just above the equator, temperatures remain constant throughout the year, with highs near 33°C and lows that rarely fall below 27°C. Humidity may be high during the rainy season. The water temperature ranges between 27°C and 29°C.
The sunniest season is from April to November. It does rain throughout the year, with rainfall rising between December and March. Showers tend to be brief and heavy.
If you are looking to enjoy some rainforest walks or white water rafting, it is better to travel in the rainy season (but again it is year-round) because that is when the forest and highlands are watered and are at their most lush.
In Water Protection
We suggest a 3mm or 5mm full suit (or dive-skin for those who do not feel the cold) for divers and snorkellers, to protect against any stinging hydroids.
Land Clothing
It is normally shorts and t-shirts by day (even if it rains, because it is warm tropical rain) in the resort. The nighttime dress code is light and casual. If you are venturing any further, we recommend more modest dress with loose fitting clothing.
Time
Manado is +7-8 hours ahead of GMT depending on summer/winter time in UK.
Languages
The official language spoken is Indonesian. English is widely spoken.
Currency
Indonesian Rupiah (IDR).
All items must be paid in local currency (Rupiah) due to laws and regulations in Indonesia. Visa and Mastercard are accepted in all the resorts but may incur a local bank charge and card transactions are billed in Rupiah. British Pounds are not accepted in Manado.
The most useful currency to take is the US Dollar. Exchange rates are usually published every day at the reception and some are able to exchange a small amount in resort.
You can withdraw cash in Rupiah from the ATMs at the local banks, provided you have your PIN number with you. Also, if you make it to town before 2pm, you can draw up to Rp 3,000,000 on a Visa card or Mastercard inside the banks (you must present your passport with your credit card).
It is not possible to use travellers' cheques in local shops, dive centres and resorts. Travellers' cheques can only be cashed in the bank by the owner of the cheque, with a form of photo I.D.
Tipping
Although entirely voluntary, tipping is a recognised part of life in this region of the world. Some local staff look to guests for personal recognition of particular services offered.
Electricity
220 volt electricity with standard European round pin electricity plugs.
Activities
Manado is the regional capital of North Sulawesi and serves as an ideal base to explore this area of outstanding natural beauty. Trek to the Kali Waterfall and the 'Tangkoko' rainforest where the world's smallest primate, the Tarsier monkey, lives. You can climb a volcano or take to white-water rafting. Then there's the geography of the area including paddy fields, spice plantations and markets. Excursions are available from all the resorts.
Night Life in Manado
Should you wish to try the local cuisine in town one night, you can reach Manado town from Tasik Ria Resort in around 30 minutes by taxi. These can be easily ordered through the hotel reception. Manado's 'Warung' restaurants offer excellent seafood, Asian and (some) western food cuisine. Eating out is extremely cheap. After dining, there is a reasonable but limited nightlife - a few good bars with live bands playing most nights; you can also shop at night for clothes and snacks.
Guests at Siladen Resort & Spa and White Sands Beach Resort are more limited in outside evening activities due to their location.
Planning your Holiday
Flight Information
Flights with Singapore are with Singapore Airlines, via Singapore into Manado International airport. There are currently 4 connections per week to and from Singapore to Manado. Flights from London Heathrow to Singapore are daily and twice-weekly from Manchester.
Flights may also be available with Etihad, Emirates and KLM Airlines with an onward flight to Manado with a domestic carrier.
Flight duration:
London - Singapore 12 hours and 40 minutes.
Singapore - Manado 3 hours and 35 minutes.
Visas
Entry requirements vary from country to country, and it’s important to check the latest visa information well before you travel. Some destinations may allow visa-free entry for a limited period, while others require an eVisa or a visa obtained in advance. To ensure you have the correct documentation for your trip, we recommend checking the official advice from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) or contacting the relevant country’s embassy or consulate. Other nationalities should check with their own consulate/embassy.
Passports
Before you travel, make sure your passport is valid for the full duration of your trip and meets the entry requirements of your destination. Many countries require at least six months’ validity beyond your planned return date, while others may have different rules. For the most reliable and up-to-date information, visit the UK Government’s passport guidance or the official travel advice pages for your destination. Other nationalities should check with their own consulate/embassy.
If you’re planning to travel to or via an EU country (with certain exceptions) your UK passport must meet two key requirements, it must be less than 10 years old on the day you enter the country and it must be valid for at least three months after your planned departure date.
Vaccinations & Health Advice
Health and vaccination requirements differ depending on where you're travelling. Some destinations may require proof of specific vaccinations or recommend certain precautions to protect your wellbeing.
We’re not qualified to provide you with specific advice on vaccinations and strongly recommend that you contact your healthcare professional before you travel to discuss the inoculations you may need to consider.
For trusted guidance on health and vaccination advice, refer to the NHS Travel Vaccination Advice, Masta Travel Health or Travel Health Pro websites.
Enquire about Murex Bangka Resort
Speak to an expert. Call 01353 659999 Send Enquiry