Manado, N Sulawesi, creatures large and small

[JenM]

Great info, is there also large shoals of fish and colourful soft corals in Bunaken. We read John Banatins report and were put off Manado by it because it suggested you had to really be into macro stuff.

Absolutely not, the coral and reef fish in Bunaken are great. Beautiful walls, tons of soft and hard coral. Big stuff like sharks are hit or miss (more miss than hit in our experience unless you do the current dives) but there are very healthy populations of the usual reef fish. Actually, the Manado side has always been known for fish and coral while the Lembeh side was known for critters and muck. If you are really into macro, there is plenty on the Manado side to keep you busy - pygmy seahorses, tons of different shrimp and crabs, lots of nudis, and the more exotic stuff at the muck sites, but if you are just into fish/coral, you will not be disappointed.