Overview
Tasik Ria Resort has an on site dive centre and is a comfortable diver's resort that makes the most of its natural green surroundings. The management have a hands on, personal and friendly approach, making your stay a very welcome one.
The sea front is close by the accommodation, and the Jetty Bar is available for dinner and drinks after your days diving. The accommodation offers either pool view rooms or sea view cottages in landscaped surroundings
Diving
Tasik Ria is closest to the western park of Bunaken which is the least dived place due to the distance from other operators, but one of the favourite amongst guests.
At the Western Park of Bunaken, Tanjung Kelapa and Whale Bone Point are two dive sites located closest to Tasik Ria. The former offer almost 310 species based on survey done in 2012 by Gerry Allen. Gerry has developed the 'coral fish diversity index' and is famous in his field. He added that it is estimated that North Sulawesi house 1020 species.
Whale Bone dive site offers a nice change from a wall dive to a shallow dive site with skeleton of a sperm whale. Divers can also enjoy some macro sites.
Tasik Ria House Reef is so spectacular, that other dive centres visit this.
Another popular coastal dive site for experienced divers is Molas, a wreck which sank during WWll and sits upright at a depth of 40m.
The sites around Bunaken Island (such as Lekuan) and Manado Tua (such as Pangulingan) are beautifully coloured wall dives with canyones, caves and cracks to explore. Expect a plethora of marine life in all shapes and sizes, turtles, rays, schools of Napolean wrasse and barracuda plus pelagic species are often seen cruising by.
Our Bunaken land-based liveaboard adventure is based here, and is ideal for people who prefer a liveaboard experience and to travel with a small group of friends. This itinerary offers exceptional diving at great value and is a perfect way to witness Bunaken's underwater highlights.
Accommodation
The 20 pool view rooms are all air conditioned with ceiling fans, en-suite shower and WC. Rooms have phone, fridge, satellite TV and coffee/tea facilities and drinking water. Rooms are either first or ground floor.
14 further seaview rooms enjoy the same facilities as the pool view rooms, but are larger, with the added comfort of a verandah. With 6 of the sea rooms upgraded, there’s now even more choice. Upgraded rooms offer a combination of outdoor/indoor bathrooms, vaulted ceilings with fans as well as air-conditioning, recycled hardwood floors, built in wardrobes, flat screen TV's and more windows for extra daylight.
Other Facilities
There is a large open plan reception area with lounge seating. The restaurant overlooks the lush landscaped gardens and has a dedicated bar. There is an extensive lagoon style pool. The jetty bar is the place to enjoy a post-dive day drink. A gift shop sells souvenirs and essentials. Free Wi-Fi internet access is available vi portable dongle given to each room. The dive centre and boat is on site.
Location
Tasik Ria is situated on the North-West coast of North Sulawesi, around 45 minutes drive from Manado and the airport.
Dive info
Volcanic and Dramatic
The dominating volcanic landscape creates a dramatic backdrop to the world class diving available in North Sulawesi. 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 Mercure Manado Tateli, 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 nudibranches 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 prices
Diving at Siladen Resort & Spa is with Siladen Resort & Spa
Diving at White Sands Resort is with Eco Divers Lembeh
Diving at Dive into Lembeh Resort is with Dive into Lembeh
Diving at Murex Manado is with Murex Divers Manado
Diving at Solitude Lembeh Resort is with Solitude Lembeh
Diving at Tasik Ria is with Tasik Ria Divers
Diving at Murex Bangka Resort is with Murex Bangka
As there are a finite number of dive spaces available at these resorts, divers are highly recommended to prebook their diving, particularly if you require any courses or speciality dives. Please ask us about 'All-Inclusive' dive packs available with accommodation.
Siladen Resort & Spa Dive Centre
Siladen Resort & Spa's PADI 5 Star resort operates exclusively to guests staying at Siladen Resort and Spa. Running a professional and small, friendly outfit, they place high emphasis on protection of the national marine park and its environment.
The multi-lingual dive centre operates with a maximum of 4 divers to each guide and offers an intro dive to non-divers free of charge if staying 7 nights or more. It has access to 50 excellent dive sites and special trips on request to Lembeh, Bangka & Popo. Night dives are offered every night.
There are no shore dive sites available; the diving is operated from 4 traditional Indonesian style vessels with a maximum of 8 to 12 guests per boat.
It is compulsory to dive with a dive computer in resort. Each diver must have their own computer.
Diving with knives and gloves is not permitted in the Bunaken National Marine Park.
Dive Packs
We recommend you pre-book your dive packs with Regaldive prior to departure in order to secure your diving benefit from slightly lower rates than you will pay in resort. Options available include 6, 11, 15, 20 and 25 boat dives packages (Air or Nitrox). 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
- Nitrox: €6 per fill
- Special trips to Lembeh, Bangka and Popo on request
- Bunaken Marine Park fee:
Per visit: IDR 50,000
Per calendar year: IDR 150,000
Equipment Rental:
The resort carries 12 litre aluminium tanks with INT and DIN valves along with smaller tanks for children. DIN Adapters are also available. Equpitment rental prices are available on request.
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Eco Divers Lembeh
Well established in Manado, Sulawesi, Eco Divers (a PADI 5 Star resort) offer a small, professionally run dive experience renowned for offering a personal service for divers and snorkellers. A maximum group size of just 4 guests per guide is attained whenever possible, to allow plenty of space for photographers and a gentle pace of diving amongst the cornucopia of the weird and wonderful creatures found in the Strait.
Dives are conducted from purpose built dive boats with modern facilities, equipped with toilet, shower, rinse tanks and sundeck. Each boat takes 12 divers and has tank racks and a seated dive deck. Wherever possible, a ratio of 4:1 divers: guide ratio is aimed for.
In addition to the day time diving activities Eco Divers offer mandarin dives at dusk to observe the courting dance of the colourful mandarin fish (book locally). Night time dives for suitably qualified divers also come highly recommended.
For clubs and groups of friends looking to travel together, group offers are available (6 stay, 5 pay).
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: €5 per fill
- Night Dive (minimum 2 divers): €45 per dive
- Snorkeller / boat sitter: €26 per trip
Equipment Rental guideline prices - EURO per dive - paid locally:
- Full equipment (Regulator, BCD, Wetsuit, Mask and Fins): €10 for 1 dive, €25 for 24 hours.
- Regulator: €8
- Computer: €6
- BCD: €6
- Wetsuit: €6
- Mask: €5
- Fins (and boots as required): €5
- Torch: €6
Note: All local prices listed above are an indication only, and subject to change.
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Dive into Lembeh
The Lembeh Strait has long been established as one of the best macro diving spots on the planet. Although famous for its “muck diving" on black volcanic slopes the area also boasts some wonderful coral dive sites, including the housereef at Lembeh Resort.
Dive into Lembeh schedule 3 day dives per day on twin engine fiberglass dive boats to a choice of more than 60 dive spots in the Lembeh Strait. After every dive the boats return back to the resort so you can enjoy your surface interval by the swimming pool or make any adjustments to your camera before your next dive.
A night dive by boat is available daily, providing there is a a minimum of two people.
If you have booked a diving package (starting from four nights with three days diving), then there is FREE access to the two world famous house reef dive sites (“Hairball” and “Aw Shucks”) from 07:30 AM – 18.00 PM.
The fully equipped dive centre has a spacious camera room and dedicated camera rinse tanks. There is also a guest dive gear locker room, with gear rinse tanks and showers for after the dive. The dive guides are trained in camera handling and are specialised in working in Lembeh’s unique underwater environment.
Extras in Resort (pay locally)
- Nitrox fill: $7 per tank, $20 per day
- Night Dive: $45 per dive
Equipment Rental guideline prices - paid locally:
- Full equipment (Regulator, BCD, Wetsuit, Mask and Fins): $15 per dive, $30 per day
- Regulator: $8
- Computer: $6
- BCD: $7
- Wetsuit: $7
- Mask and Snorkel: $4
- Fins (full foot only): $4
- Torch: $10
Note: All local prices listed above are an indication only, and subject to change.
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MUREX DIVERS MANADO
As pioneers of diving in North Sulawesi you can rest assured that you will be diving with experienced and professional dive guides throughout your stay at Murex Manado Resort. Murex Dive Guides have thousands of dives experience in the region, they also undergo intensive training programs including marine biology and underwater photography. Dive Guides strive to ensure that you receive the best underwater experience possible. Just like you, diving is their passion.
This full-service dive centre offers very high levels of service. Dive conditions are checked each day and dives are planned to take you to the best sites at the right time.
Safety is always the number one priority, and all Murex boats are equipped with emergency oxygen, full first aid kits and communications devices. All staff are trained in rescue and emergency procedures.
The stunning walls for which the Bunaken Marine Park is so famous are just 35 minutes away and with warm waters and excellent visibility, diving in Bunaken is suitable for all level of divers.
Dive sites around Manado Bay offer great muck, reef and wreck diving opportunities for all levels of divers. Highlights of diving here include a wealth of some of Indonesia’s rarest and unique critters. These dive sites, along with the Murex Manado House Reef, are excellent macro photography sites and also offer incredible night diving.
A full range of PADI diving courses are available, along with freediving courses.
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 2 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:
- Per visit: IDR 50,000
- Per calendar year: IDR 150,000
- Nitrox fill: $7 per fill
- 15L tank $10 / day
- Night dive (minimum 2 divers): $18 per dive
Equipment Rental guideline prices - EURO per dive - paid locally:
- Full equipment (Regulator, BCD, Wetsuit, Mask and Fins): €30 per day
- 15L tank: €9 per day
- Computer rental: €13 per day
Note: All local prices listed above are an indication only, and subject to change.
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Solitude Lembeh Resort
The expertly run PADI dive centre at Solitude Lembeh Resort is based around 'muck' diving and the area's extraordinary variety of macro life, hiding in the black sandy slopes and stunning coral heads.
Small group sizes allow plenty of space for photographers and a gentle pace of diving. The dive centre have a fleet of fast speedboats allowing access to all 56 dive sites from the resort's own jetty, all within a 15 minutes radius. The excellent house reef provides more opportunities to spot that elusive critter.
This full-service dive resort adheres to the highest safety standards, while all dive staff are regularly trained in first aid and rescue procedures.
Photographers are well catered for with a spacious and well-appointed camera room and dedicated camera rinse tanks.
The resort's guides have finely tuned vision to spot a dive site's rare critters, finding camouflaged and elusive creatures where you swear there are none!
DIVE PACKS
Discounted diving and accommodation packages are available starting from just 4 days and including 2 dives per day as standard, with options to dive on both air and Nitrox. Additional diving can be arranged locally or pre-booked in advance. Bespoke diving packages can also be catered for, while a range of diving courses are also available.
Please discuss your requirements with the Regaldive team, who will prepare a quotation suited to your needs.
EXTRAS IN RESORT
- Dawn, dusk or night dive surcharge: $20 per person, minimum 2 divers
- Lembeh Strait fee: Rp. 50,000 (approx.$6)
Equipment Rental - paid locally per day:
- Full equipment: $38 per day
- BCD & Regulator: $18 per day
- Computer: $11
- Wetsuits: $9
- Mask: $6
- Fins: $6
- Torch: $6
Note: All local prices listed above are an indication only, and subject to change.
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TASIK RIA DIVERS
The dive centre at Tasik Ria is managed by an experienced team. The dive centre is a PADI 5 Star dive resort offering fully guided diving from their purpose built day boat. The dive boat has a covered dining area, large sun deck, WC and can take 15 guests comfortably.
Day trips are offered to Bunaken Marine Park giving divers a variety of wall, macro and muck diving opportunities. The centre also offer a range of courses taught in various languages by their highly qualified team of PADI and in-house trained NAUI instructors.
The centre offers a diver / guide ratio of 4:1 whenever possible, giving great personal service across all dive experience levels and abilities. It can also organise special day trips to dive the Lembeh Strait's fabulous muck diving sites. For learner divers looking to take their first steps or gain more experience in a more far flung corner of the work, Tasik Ria offers this chance.
Find out more about the dive sites in Bunaken.
DIVE PACKS
Options available at Tasik Ria Divers include 4, 5, 6 and 7 days boat diving packages, all of which include up to 3 guided boat 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
- Nitrox: $7 per dive
- Night dive: $50
- Bunaken Marine Park fee:
- Per visit: IDR 50,000
Per calendar year: IDR 150,000
- Lembeh Strait: On prepaid diving day $60 approx + Lembeh Strait fee Rp. 50,000 ($6)
- Equipment rental: prices on request
Local sales tax payable in resort:
Sales tax: 11%
Note: All local prices listed above are an indication only, and are subject to change.
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Murex Bangka
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.
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.
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:
- Per visit: IDR 50,000
- Per calendar year: IDR 150,000
- Nitrox fill: $7 per fill
- Night dive (minimum 2 divers): $19 per dive
- Equipment Rental guideline prices - EURO per dive - paid locally:
- Full equipment (Regulator, BCD, Wetsuit, Mask and Fins): €35 per day
- 15L tank: €12 per day
Note: All local prices listed above are an indication only, and subject to change.
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Resort info
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, KLM and Garuda, 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 through out 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 resort. The night time 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). Approximate rates:
£1 = 18,918 IDR
€1 = 16,750 IDR
$1 = 13,653 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 and cost about US$6 each way. Manado's 'Warung' restaurants offer excellent seafood, Asian and (some) western food cuisine. Eating out is extremely cheap, with most meals costing only around US$5. 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.
Travel info
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, KLM and Garuda 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.
Passports
Passengers travelling to Manado should have minimum six months valid on their passport from the date of return to the UK, plus one full page free. Hotel receptions may be required to take a photocopy of your passport for registration purposes.
Visas
British nationals travelling to Indonesia can enter the country without a visa for up to 30 days at certain airports' Immigration Check Points: Soekarno-Hatta Jakarta ( CGK ), Ngurah Rai - Bali (DPS), Kualanamu, Medan (KNO), Juanda - Surabaya (SUB), Hang Nadim - Batam (BTH).
You won’t be able to extend your stay beyond 30 days if you enter under this visa waiver scheme. Entry via Manado and certain other entry points is still subject to a visa on arrival at a cost of $35 (30 day visa) and $15 (7 day visa). Please note that visitors must purchase a visa if their ultimate destination is not one of those listed above e.g. guests going to Manado.
For further information about entry requirements, visit the website of the Indonesian Embassy in London or your nearest Indonesian embassy.
Vaccinations
There are no compulsory vaccinations for travel to Manado, although we recommend protection against typhoid, tetanus, hepatitis A and polio. Vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed before departure with your GP or local travel clinic. There are plenty of chemists and dentists in Manado and the general hospital has a good recompression chamber. Further information on vaccinations for travel to this country can be found at www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk and from your local healthcare provider.
Prices
At Regaldive, we offer tailormade scuba diving holidays to Indonesia, including flights from the UK, transfers, accommodation and your scuba diving activities.
The price panel above provides an indication of a lead-in price for your holiday, based on the cheapest time to travel. Prices shown are per person, and based on two persons sharing.
Our friendly and experienced team can arrange holidays of varying durations for singles, couples, friends and dive clubs. We can also advise you on the best time of year to travel to maximise your scuba diving experience, and receive the best value for money. Flights from regional UK airports may be available, depending on your destination and date of travel.
We can also arrange extensions to your diving or snorkelling holiday, including cultural tours, nature and wildlife-focused activities, plus city breaks.
Please call 01353 659999 or e-mail Regaldive, using the link below, for a quotation.
Our Price 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.
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Reviews
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Write a review
EXCELLENT STAFF, YUMMY FOOD AND FASCINATING NIGHT DIVE!
"Twin Centre Manado Trip Staying at Tasik Ria and Dive into Lembeh.
We really liked Dive into Lembeh - both the resort (small, great dive guides, yummy food and really well managed by Steve and Miranda) and the diving. We were a bit disappointed by the diving in Manado - this is about our personal preferences (like the critter stuff and the photography opportunities in Lembeh best) but Tasik Ria offered other nice features - really big swimming pool (we could actually swim in it!) and the Spa was lovely.
They were also happy to prepare veggie options from their main menu for us each day on request which was great.
Transfers and ground arrangements were all very easy and efficient. Accommodation at both resorts was as advertised - just loved the Dive into Lembeh resort - smaller, more personal and the set up just naturally facilitated us getting to know the other guests and enjoy diving with them.
Dive centre staff were excellent in both locations. Dive sites/itinerary were great. The extra night dive we arranged locally in Lembeh was well worth the money - fascinating stuff comes out at night over there and our guide (Harry) was awesome! It was my favourite memory from the holiday.
We've travelled with Regal several times before and no doubt will do so again."
Amanda Chandler - UK
Overall a Very Good Trip
"Twin Centre Manado Trip Staying at Tasik Ria and Dive into Lembeh
Overall a very good trip. The diving itself and the resort of Tasik Ria were as good and welcoming as in previous trips.
Dive into Lembeh was simply gorgeous. Beautiful and quiet location, good modern and stylish accommodation. Felt like a very professional and safe organisation with excellent guides. Particularly liked the fact that the managers dine with the guests every night to check that everything is OK. Saw far more in a week than I expected to. Highlight for me was seeing a wunderpus for the first time, and watching a coconut octopus running over the sand while juggling its shells. Occasional noise from the nearby public beach, but I think this was due to a major buddhist festival rather than party animals. Only downside I could see is that there really would be nothing at all for a non-diver partner to do here other than read and enjoy the peace and quiet.
At the start of the fortnight I found diving in a 2.5 mm wetsuit perfectly adequate (29C water temperature). However, by the end of the fortnight and clocking up nearly 35 dives, I was starting to feel quite cold which is unusual for me. I'd recommend something a bit more substantial for this intensity of diving."
Anonymous Guest - UK
Great Holiday - Tasik Ria and Kungkungan Bay Resort
"We had a great holiday. Flights and transfers all went smoothly and on time, except for the last one from Heathrow to Glasgow which was 40 mins. late! (Of course, that was out of Regaldive's arrangements.)
At Tasik Ria we were accommodated in the same two lovely beachfront cottages as before. When we arrived at Kungkungan Bay Resort they had mistakenly booked us into a one-bedroom apartment, but when we insisted that we had to have separate bedrooms, they eventually put us into two separate “cottages” on stilts, just past the dive centre. These may have been a free upgrade! They were really luxurious.
Food was superb at both places – we particularly enjoyed all the fresh fruit. At Kungkungan Bay Resort I asked if they had cereal e.g. cornflakes for breakfast – no? – “it doesn't matter”, but the next morning they produced cornflakes for me anyway!
At Tasik Ria I can't thank Dan, the manager, enough for looking after us so well, especially when I had a minor ailment and later felt unwell the morning of the transfer to Kungkungan Bay Resort (it was just dehydration, but he phoned Kungkungan Bay Resort that evening to find out how I was).
My buddy lost some sleep due to local people partying nearby, but that was beyond Dan's control, and Kungkungan Bay Resort was blissfully quiet.
The attention from staff and dive crews at both places was superb. At Kungkungan Bay Resort we had two guides (one guide each) on every dive, with a dry towel provided after each one.
Beforehand I had been apprehensive about my fitness, but all aches and pains disappeared, and I managed 26 dives altogether. My buddy did more (about 30), but I opted out of those where strong currents were possible.
There are many good memories from the trip. One which stands out was my buddy filming a coconut octopus at Kungkungan Bay Resort when it tried to grab his camera! I can't begin to list all the marine life: turtles, frogfish, leaf fish, ghost pipefish, mandarin fish, and so on. I particularly liked a group of about a dozen colourful sea urchins moving along together, but each gyrating individually within the group.
Also, it's always good to meet and chat with other divers. At Tasik Ria we met a lady who teaches and writes about underwater photography, a family from Sussex, and a party from Hong Kong led by a lady whose job consists of leading groups for a travel agency."
Anna I. - UK
Diving at Tasik Ria August 2015
"This was one of our best diving holidays. The marine life is not as colourful overall as the Red Sea, but we saw turtles on almost every dive, plus lots of the more exotic wildlife such as seahorses, pygmy seahorses, leaf fish, frog fish, numerous nudibranchs, mandarin fish and orangutan crabs.
The guides were excellent and the boats, though old, were large and comfortable and the food on board was excellent. The resort was very comfortable with a large pool and spacious rooms. The food was a very good mix of local and European dishes and the service was always very good.
My dive gear did not arrive with the flight due to a delay in London causing a 45 minute transfer in Singapore rather than two hours. The airport handled it without fuss, gave me money to buy clothes and organised hire gear with the resort until it arrived.
We spent 3 nights in Singapore on our way back and thoroughly enjoyed visiting the Tiger Balm Gardens, Buddhist and Hindu Temples, Gardens by the Bay and the free evening light show at the harbour. Now looking forward to diving in this area again."
Ian Lyons - Bury, Manchester
Tasik Ria
"Excellent resort - friendly & helpful staff. Great food. The dive centre was very professional indeed; with a good range of dives, nice big dive boats with plenty of room and the staff were happy to accommodate specific requests e.g. arranged a special trip to the other side of the island for diving. The only down side of the resort was that there was no easy walking access outside of the compound ..... and the road traffic was dreadful. A country where development is outpacing the infrastructure! "
Peter Mitchell - UK
Tasik Ria, June 2014
"We had a fabulous trip to Task Ria. We did 21 dives, and found the marine life the most profuse and colourful we have ever seen. We went to Lembeh Strait one day to see the amazing macro creatures - sea horses, nudis, mandarin fish etc.
On our day off we were taken to one of the volcanoes, where we walked round the rim of the crater, and where a group of schoolchildren insisted on taking photos of us - great white giants to them!
Our beachfront cottages were luxuriously comfortable. Any minor problems such as phone not working were quickly resolved. The food was delicious; fresh fish, fruit and vegetables tasted as they should, unlike the supermarket stuff back home.
We were sorry to leave.
Traders Hotel in Singapore was ideal: within walking distance of the Botanic Gardens. We also did a city tour and visited the zoo.
The only snags were outwith your arrangements: at the start, my BA plane from Glasgow to Heathrow had engine trouble, so I reached LHR about 6 hours later than intended! Other flights were disrupted by noisy infants, but the individual entertainment screens helped to offset this.
Thank you for organising this splendid trip for us"
Regaldive Guest - Scotland
Relaxed resort, very friendly and good dive centre
"I stayed at Tasik Ria for 7 nights in March which is quiet season. The resort is simple, but cheerfully relaxed and the staff incredibly friendly and helpful. The room was spacious, well equipped and clean with a lovely view of the pool and gardens. The bathrooms are a little tired but I understand these are scheduled to be updated soon. I hadn't dived for a while and needed to hire BCD and Regs. The quality of the equipment was good and they had an extra small which was great! The boats were fine if a lttle well used and the crew were fantastic. We were a small group and things might have been a bit less comfy if the boat was full. The diving was great, lots of interesting things to see and visibility was better than expected for the end of the rainy season. There were some currents and drift dives were order of the day. The 4:1 ratio for divers to guide was great and the guides were brilliant at spotting things I would have missed. It also gave me some reassurance as I was the least experienced of our group with only 40 dives.
For postives and negatives:
Positives: Daniel the Manager was outstanding. Nothing was too much trouble. As we were a small group he arranged for us to eat together and decide our preferred menu style. The food was great, we all the liked the spicy local variety of Indonesian food and the chefs were great. Lots of fresh fish and seafood, noodles, rice and vegetables. Other likes were the local beer and the quiet relaxed feel of the resort. I took the optional trip to Bunaken which was amazing. I hadn't muck dived before and we saw so many weird and wonderful things - a real must if you go- though I wouldn't spend a whole trip there.
Negatives: the biggest issue relates to the area generally rather than the resort - and that is plastic litter. Some areas were sadly spoilt by litter floating in the sea. The Indonesian government really needs to provide better waste collection and education before the area is ruined. Bunaken was particularly bad, although the wildlife has adapted and actually uses some of the debris for shelter."
Paula Kingdon - Devon, UK