Coral Eye Resort, Bangka and Gangga Islands

Diving at Coral Eye

The beachfront dive centre provides each guest with an individual area for rinsing and storing equipment. Two morning boat dives are normally followed by a third afternoon dive, while night dives feature regularly in the schedule. Dive groups are limited to four divers per guide, and boats carry between six and eight guests with shade, sun decks, oxygen, first aid supplies, life jackets and VHF radios. The centre offers Scubapro rental equipment, 12 and 15-litre aluminium cylinders with DIN or INT connections, 32% nitrox and recreational courses from introductory programmes to advanced and specialty training. Photographers have access to an air-conditioned camera room, stabilised power outlets, a dedicated rinse tank and an air gun. Advance notice is recommended for full rental sets.

Most local dive sites are reached within five to 20 minutes. Bangka’s underwater landscapes include hard-coral slopes, volcanic pinnacles covered in soft coral, sandy macro sites, mangrove roots and seagrass beds. Sahaung is the island’s best-known dive area, with boulder-strewn ridges, colourful soft corals, sea fans and dense schools of snapper and anthias. Divers can also search for pygmy seahorses, frogfish, leaf scorpionfish, nudibranchs, octopuses and larger reef fish, while dugongs occasionally visit local seagrass habitats. The resort also offers bonfire night dives and, on request, full-day three-dive excursions to areas such as Bunaken and Lembeh.

Snorkellers can enter the house reef from the jetty at any tide and explore shallow coral gardens, the rocky cape and nearby mangroves. Independent snorkelling is possible when conditions allow, although occasional currents mean guests should follow local advice. Guided day and night snorkelling, plus half-day and full-day boat trips around the Bangka Archipelago, can also be arranged.

Diving in Bangka and Gangga Islands

Bangka and Gangga offer a varied blend of reef, drift and macro diving. Current-swept rocky pinnacles support vivid soft corals and large schools of fish, while sheltered bays and sandy slopes provide habitat for frogfish, ghost pipefish, pygmy seahorses, nudibranchs and unusual octopuses. Seagrass beds around the islands are also visited by dugongs, although encounters remain rare and cannot be guaranteed.

Diving is possible throughout the year. March to June and September to October often bring some of the most favourable weather and underwater conditions, while exposed sites may be affected by wind and waves during July and August. Some dives are suitable for newer divers, but sites with stronger currents are better suited to those with appropriate experience. Coral Eye’s central Bangka location provides particularly convenient access to the island’s reefs and pinnacles.

Plan your wider North Sulawesi dive trip with ZuBlu’s destination guide:

https://www.zubludiving.com/destination/indonesia/sulawesi/bangka-gangga

ZuBlu’s dive travel experts will help you create the ideal package at Coral Eye Resort, including your preferred room type, diving, excursions, equipment rental, transfers and any special requests. Share your travel dates, group size, diving experience and budget, and we’ll recommend the best options for your trip.

We’ll also help with practical travel planning, including flight routes, arrival timings and resort transfers, making sure your itinerary works as smoothly as possible from start to finish.

Once you’ve finalised your plans, your travel expert will put a complimentary hold on your preferred room and send a final quote that includes accommodation, meals, diving, transfers, rental equipment or excursions. This quote will also show any extras paid in advance or at the resort - there are no hidden fees - as well as a payment schedule and cancellation terms and conditions.

Your booking is confirmed once the required deposit, or full payment when necessary, has been received.

After confirmation, your dedicated guest concierge will take over and assist with flight routes, transfers, any personal information required by the resort, and questions about your reservation. They are there to make the entire process as straightforward as possible.

Ready to start planning you trip? Chat with a travel expert now.

Looking for some more information about dive resorts in Indonesia? Read more in our guide here.

Getting there

The nearest airport is Sam Ratulangi International Airport in Manado (MDC). Manado has domestic connections with major Indonesian hubs including Jakarta, Bali, Makassar and Surabaya, as well as international services from Singapore. Flight schedules and routes can change, so current options should be checked when planning.

Coral Eye arranges private transfers around the clock on request, using a combination of private car and resort speedboat. The journey between Manado Airport and the resort takes approximately 1.5 hours: around one hour by road to the embarkation point, followed by a 30-minute private boat ride directly to the Coral Eye jetty.

A transfer surcharge may apply. Boat transfers before sunrise or after sunset cannot always be guaranteed during poor weather, so late arrivals and early departures should be discussed before flights are booked. Private connections from other North Sulawesi hotels and resorts can also be arranged.

Other activities

Guests can explore Bangka’s coastline independently using the resort’s kayaks and stand-up paddleboards or join a guided kayak tour through the mangroves. Hiking routes lead through the forest to Lihunu village and elevated viewpoints overlooking the archipelago.

Mainland excursions can be arranged to Tangkoko Batuangus Nature Reserve in search of endemic wildlife such as Celebes crested macaques, bear cuscus and spectral tarsiers. Tailor-made trips to the cooler Minahasa Highlands and Tomohon are also available. At the resort, guests can book traditional massages and natural treatments at Coral Eye Spa.

Good to know

• WiFi: Complimentary WiFi is available in the accommodation.
• Mobile coverage: Coverage has not been confirmed and may be limited on remote Bangka Island.
• Electricity: 24-hour electricity is available in all room categories.
• Plug type: Indonesian plug types C and F are generally used; bring a universal adaptor.
• Payments at the resort: Cash and credit cards are accepted. Cash can be paid in Indonesian rupiah, euros or US dollars; card payments are converted to Indonesian rupiah.
• Currency: Indonesian rupiah (IDR).
• Time zone: Central Indonesia Time, WITA (UTC+8).
• Minimum stay: Three nights, increasing to five nights during August.
• Family policy: Children under four stay free; reduced rates are available for children aged four to 11 using an extra bed with accompanying adults.
• Check-in: From 15:00.
• Check-out: By 10:00.
• Diving insurance: Mandatory for guests diving with Coral Eye.
• Dive computers: Each diver must use a personal dive computer; rentals are available.
• Best diving period: Diving is year-round, although we recommend April to November for the most favourable conditions.