Siladen sensation - Bunaken Marine Park - trip report

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Wiggsy

Contributor
Messages
319
Reaction score
42
Location
Mt Eliza; Melbourne; Australia
# of dives
Ever been anywhere that totally lived up to the glossy brochures and the glamorous websites or promotional DVD's? Neither had I...until I took a group of 30 plus to SIladen last July 2008. Siladen was the perfect small group diving holiday destination. The beach is superb, the views across to the dormant volcano , Manado Tua are stunning, and the snorkelling 5 minutes walk down the beach to Siladen jetty is among the best I have ever experienced. This is an awesome place - we were totally impressed from the moment we arrived until our sad departure from this heavenly island.

The resort quality is quite upscale - the manager is ex-Sheraton, and this is reflected in huge 5 star buffets that left us all concerned for our waistlines. And yet the food is so healthy - masses of Asian vegetables, fruits, seafood, pork, chicken. beef and lamb options, that we didn't gain one kilo! Desserts at luchtime and dinner....but again healthy and delicious low fat options were always available. We had a villa on the beach - a huge timber lined room (a little dark - as is typical of timber lined rooms) with every possible comfort and luxury. Four poster king bed, outdoor lounge and daybeds and a very cool outdoor private bathroom that was such a great idea we want to build one for our home! The spa does a great massage and coconut scrub - I have never, ever been so totally relaxed!

But we were there for the diving - and this is also a top notch dive operation - with the luxury of 1 dive guide for every 3 or 4 divers. Dives are guided at such high ratios so that you get an individual guide to show you all the tiny critters like pygmy sea horses and crinoid crabs that wouold otherwise go unnoticed. The biodiversity of the Bunaken marine park is remarkable and there was so much to see - dives typically last an hour - you don't use much air when drifting with the gentle currents. They also have en excellent instructor who taught 6 of our group to PADI Open Water standard - they were in very good hands indeed.

The village nearby is a gem - we visited the school (even thought they were on holidays they all came in to meet us!) and we learnt (since forgotten) how to count to 10 in Indonesian.

I cannot recommend this place strongly enough - if anyone finds anywhere better (or even as good) then please let me know. I have travelled at least once a year to dive resorts for the last 20 plus years and this is my new favourite. I now have the tough job of finding somewhere as good next year!

Loved it and will go back!
 
Wiggsy,

Thanks for the trip report...headed to Bunaken and Lembeh in two weeks. I'm assuming a 3 mil. wetsuit for Bunaken and possibly 5 mil. for Lembeh?

Can't wait!
 
Any neoprene was almost excessive! I dived in a thermo/lycra (titanium lined lycra) and that was perfect.....neutrally bouyant...warm in the water...possibly a little wind chill out of it (but, actually, there wasn't any wind!) The water was 29 - 30 degrees celsius (whatever..in fahrenheit)...The occasional cooler thermocline....but even my wife dived in a polartec/lycra suit. BLISS! If you can get over to Siladen Isladn Resort and Spa, say Hi to Jean-Loup (instructor) and Don, the manager. You will love it! Turtles on most dives...sharks on quite a few - but it is the macro world that is most amazing......So much life.
 
Hookedonreef:
headed to Bunaken and Lembeh in two weeks
So am I. :D Staying at KBR and Bunaken Cha Cha. I hope both resorts are nice palces and just can't wait for the diving. I'm with Wiggsy and doing without the wetsuit. Just a long sleeve lycra shirt. May take my 2 mil shorty, depending on if there is room for it.
 
I would recommend a full body suit to protect against sun, scrapes and stingers. I personally wear a 0.5 mm (half mm) Scubapro neoprene suit. Yet others are cold wearing five mm full suit with hood.
 
Thanks Guys,
I think I'll take both just in case, I'm a little older (and skinny) and do chill a little after a few dives. TegP....Were leaving out of LAX on the 20th. Tasik Ria and then BKR.
 
Always a good idea to have layers available. My wife and I both took 3 mm suits to go over the lycra/titanium undersuits - but they stayed dry in the dive bag for the whole trip (and we're whimps - I dive in a a drysuit even in summer here in Melbourne!) I must admit that I was a touch cooler (really just less warm) on the night dive (but as that was about the best night dive I've ever done I was too busy taking photos of ghost pipefish, nudibrachs, banded serpent pipefish, etc to notice! But take layers if you can, 'cos it is a nice luxury to dive sans neoprene.
 
Last edited:
Hookedonreef:
Tasik Ria and then BKR.
I'm leaving on the 21st. I will be at KBR till the 31st and then off to Bunaken Cha Cha.

AlanWald:
I would recommend a full body suit to protect against sun, scrapes and stingers.
Alan, are the stinging hydroids that bad? Is it primarily on the Lembah side or is Bunaken also affected?

Thank you, looking forward to the trip.
 

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