White Sands Beach Resort

Conditions are generally calm all year round, and the deep waters afford excellent visibility averaging 25m. 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 the resort.

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 liveabaord with a land based option in Manado. Please ask a member of the Regaldive team for more information.

Dive Packs

Options available at White Sands Beach Resort, with Eco Divers Lembeh, include 3, 6, 10 and 15 days diving packages with either 2 or 3 dives per day. Please discuss your requirements with the Regaldive team, who will prepare a quotation suited to your needs.

Dive Courses

A range of diving courses is available for those looking to learn to dive. Please enquire for details.

Extras in Resort (pay locally)

• Nitrox fill
• Night Dive (minimum 2 divers)
• Snorkeller / boat sitter
• Dive equipment rental: Full equipment is available to hire, including BCDs, regulators, wetsuits, dive computers, full set, torch, fins (and boots as required), masks & snorkels

Manado is easily reached via Singapore with a connection flight time of around 3.5 hours, into Manado International airport. There are 4 connections per week to/from Singapore - Manado and daily flights to Singapore from the UK.

Flights may also be available with Etihad, Emirates and KLM, with separate ticket Jakarta - Manado with a domestic carrier.

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 are more limited in outside evening activities due to their location. 

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.