Conditions referenceSeason, water and visibilityBest Apr–Oct · Moderate current · 27–30°C (coldest Jun, warmest Jan)
- Current
- Moderate
- Water temperature
- 27–30°C (coldest Jun, warmest Jan)
- Visibility
- 15–40m: Commonly 20-35m; can reach 40m+ in the dry months (roughly May-August).
- Experience
- The Lekuan walls are gentle enough for Open Water divers and training.
01 · Marine life
What you may see
Sightings are never guaranteed. The bars show typical likelihood by month.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | commonly seen |
| February | commonly seen |
| March | commonly seen |
| April | commonly seen |
| May | commonly seen |
| June | commonly seen |
| July | commonly seen |
| August | commonly seen |
| September | commonly seen |
| October | commonly seen |
| November | commonly seen |
| December | commonly seen |
Seen alongside green turtles on the walls, though less numerous; often resting in crevices and on coral ledges.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | commonly seen |
| February | commonly seen |
| March | commonly seen |
| April | commonly seen |
| May | commonly seen |
| June | commonly seen |
| July | commonly seen |
| August | commonly seen |
| September | commonly seen |
| October | commonly seen |
| November | commonly seen |
| December | commonly seen |
The signature Bunaken encounter; green turtles are seen on most dives, with counts of ten or more in an hour reported on the Lekuan walls.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | commonly seen |
| February | commonly seen |
| March | commonly seen |
| April | commonly seen |
| May | commonly seen |
| June | commonly seen |
| July | commonly seen |
| August | commonly seen |
| September | commonly seen |
| October | commonly seen |
| November | commonly seen |
| December | commonly seen |
The walls and slopes hold a wide variety of nudibranchs; Bunaken Timur and the Siladen reefs are good for macro-focused dives.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | occasional |
| February | occasional |
| March | occasional |
| April | occasional |
| May | occasional |
| June | occasional |
| July | occasional |
| August | occasional |
| September | occasional |
| October | occasional |
| November | occasional |
| December | occasional |
Napoleon wrasse are drawn to the cleaning station at Fukui Point and cruise the exposed walls; large individuals are seen but they are wary.
02 · Dive sites
Dive sites worth knowing
A starting point, not a ranking. Conditions decide what works on the day.
Bunaken Timur
A long wall on Bunaken's east side rich in soft and leather corals; watch for turtles, nudibranch species and, occasionally, eagle rays or dolphins.
5–35m · Moderate current
Fukui Point
A west-coast slope with a colony of garden eels and a row of large Tridacna giant clams; a cleaning station draws Napoleon wrasse, trevallies and snappers.
5–25m · Mild current
Lekuan I
The most popular of the three Lekuan walls on Bunaken's south side, gentle enough for training and known for large numbers of green turtles.
5–35m · Mild current
See all 7 dive sites
03 · LogisticsGetting there and costsEasy. Fly to MDC. Typical trip $–$$.
Route overview
Easy
Day trips from a coastal base, about 1.5h from the airport.
Airport options
MDC
Sam Ratulangi International Airport (Manado)
Domestic hub reached via Jakarta (CGK), Makassar (UPG) or Singapore (SIN); then a road transfer to a Manado pier and a boat to the island resorts
Typical trip cost
$–$$
under $2,000 to $2,000–4,000
Per person, excluding international flights.
- Land-based dive resorts on Bunaken and Siladen span budget guesthouses to upscale eco-resorts; a 7-day dive package commonly runs roughly $1,200-3,500 per person excluding flights, depending on resort.
Permit or park fee
What you pay
Rp150,000 (about $10) for a waterproof pin/tag valid the whole calendar year, or Rp50,000 for a daily ticket. Payable in cash on arrival
most resorts arrange it.
How it works
All visitors to the marine park (divers, snorkelers, day visitors) must buy a Bunaken National Park entrance tag on arrival and display it while in the park.