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I'll be at Kasawari Dive Resort in June muck diving the Lembeh Straight (yay). Thinking about an extension to dive the Bunaken Marine Reserve. Looking at The Gangga Resort and Spa. Any reviews, comments or recommendations. I really want a resort with a/c so I don't have to deal with bugs while trying to sleep.
I go to Gangga Island 2-3 times a year. I enjoy the diversity of diving at various sites in the area. You should be able to search and find information on the resort and its operations on this board. If not, PM me. I also stay at Kasawari several times a year. Both are good operations.
If I wrote it, it's only my opinion. ___________________________ " ... when you finally see what goes on underwater, you realize that you've been missing the whole point of the ocean. Staying on the surface all the time is like going to the circus and staring at the outside of the tent. "
-Dave Barry
Gangga island resort is top notch both landside and divewise, never had such comfortable conditions for diving : I had my own diveguide and never had anything to worry about my camera nor my equipment. Gaspare the resort's owner inputs european finesse and italian warmth in the hotel management, they also try to provide elaborate food and do as much a they can, even sometimes it's a hit or miss.
The wooden bungalows are very comfortable compared to what I've seen around, they're even too westernized for such a place, powerful A/C and no bugs indeed!
I can heartfully recommend the place although it is NOT located on Bunaken but on Bangka area, which is viewed from my side even better. If you're looking strictly for Bunaken, then you should go to Siladen resort in the same comfort range.
Bangka is halfway between Bunaken and Lembeh and from its strategic location, you can dive the three areas. Lots of resorts tend to forget Bangka though I think it is even more worth the dive than Bunaken (I wouldn't exchange a Sahaung, Batu Mandi or Paradise Pier dive against any Bunaken dive).
I suggest you book through Manado Safaris travel agency, which is very reliable an efficient. Jeremy the owner (ex-KBR manager, now a long established travel agency in Manado) often offers promotions.
For some Bangka area UWphotos, you can click on the gallery link embedded in my signature, there's a Bangka/Lembeh subgallery dived exclusively with Gangga divers.
If u want to be close to Bunaken park and still be able to dive Bangka then have a look at Kima Bajo Resort. Top notch resort that has really gotten its act together the last couple of years ( since Eco Divers took over the dive op ). All of the dive boats are new and they have some top notch guides.
The best accomadation in the park itself is Siladen resort and spa on Siladen Island. Same standard as Ganga ( v good ) but nicer food and better beach. In the summer Ganga is very busy as they do a lot of non diving business. Hope this is of some help.
Forgot to say that i agree with Luko 1000% about his comments on Jeremy from Safari Tours. Known him for 7 years and he is totally reliable ( maybe a bit biased ). A lot of the big tour operators in the US also use him for help with their Indo business.
Lots of resorts tend to forget Bangka though I think it is even more worth the dive than Bunaken (I wouldn't exchange a Sahaung, Batu Mandi or Paradise Pier dive against any Bunaken dive).
Bonjour Luko,
For corals, I (still) prefer Bunaken to Bangka... On the other hand, I fully agree with you on dives like Batu Mandi or Paradise Pier (which are in the Pulisan area, not on Bangka...) and in fact I think I could spend a couple of days just at Paradise Pier . I dived only once there and was frustrated not to be able to explore more this huge site.
dives like Batu Mandi or Paradise Pier (which are in the Pulisan area, not on Bangka...)
1- yeah well...it would be hard for any Bunaken site to come close to Sahaung II for real coral. That is why many UW photographers come to get dramatic coral scapes shots on this specific site.
2- Batu Mandi aka "Doktor's place" is just in front of Bangka island and Sahaung spot (often, Batu Mandi is proposed as a second dive to Sahaung). It takes ten minutes from Bangka, twenty minutes boat ride from Gangga and... hours from Bunaken. This part is usually included into the Bangka diving area in terms of diving, all the operators located on one side or the other of the strait share the same dive spots.
Besides that, the area is called Bangka straits not bangka island...Differenciating Pulisan outside the Bangka area would be like saying there is a specific Siladen diving area, outside Bunaken park...or that Lembeh diving is only the Lembeh island side of the straits : it is pointless...
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Originally Posted by Luko
On the other hand, I fully agree with you on dives like Batu Mandi or Paradise Pier (which are in the Pulisan area, not on Bangka...) and in fact I think I could spend a couple of days just at Paradise Pier 
. I dived only once there and was frustrated not to be able to explore more this huge site.
