Siladen Resort and Spa, Bunaken and Manado

Diving at Siladen Resort

Siladen’s dive centre offers guided boat diving throughout Bunaken Marine Park, Manado Bay and other interesting sites on the mainland. Two dives are normally scheduled each morning and one in the afternoon, with dusk, night, blackwater and bonfire dives available on request. Dive groups are limited to four guests per guide, and private guides and boats can also be arranged. Facilities include rental equipment, DIN and INT valves, nitrox at an additional charge, PADI courses and a dedicated camera room with rinse tanks, towels, charging strips and individual work areas. Dive computers and dive insurance are mandatory for all divers.

More than 50 sites lie within reach of the resort, including the celebrated Lekuan walls off Bunaken Island, where steep drop-offs support sea fans, reef fish, green and hawksbill turtles, reef sharks and an assortment of macro subjects. Divers can also explore sites around Siladen, Manado Tua, Mantehage and Nain, muck sites along the mainland, and a wreck in Manado Bay. Bunaken’s warm water, clear visibility and reef tops beginning at shallow depths also make the area ideal for snorkellers, who can join guided boat trips or snorkel from shore near the island’s old jetty.

Diving in Bunaken and Manado

Bunaken and Manado offer a unique combination of wall, drift and muck diving. Around each of the park’s islands, reef flats give way to sheer coral walls dropping into deep water, with turtles, schooling fish, reef sharks, napoleon wrasse and abundant smaller reef life. Along the mainland, dark sand and rubble slopes offer plenty of cover for critters, including frogfish, seahorses, ghost pipefish, octopuses and other rare and unusual macro subjects.

The park can be dived throughout the year, although conditions are at their best during the drier months from April to October. May to July and September to October often have the best weather, while January and February can bring rougher seas.

Learn more about diving in Bunaken and Manado on the ZuBlu site here.

ZuBlu’s dive travel experts will help you create the perfect package at Siladen 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 can be reached on domestic flights from major Indonesian hubs, including Jakarta and Bali, and direct flights from Singapore.

Resort staff meet guests at the airport transferring them by road to the jetty and and onwards by boat to Siladen Island. The journey generally takes around 90 minutes, although tides, sea conditions and traffic can slow things down. Transfers are charged separately and normally require a minimum of two guests. The ZuBlu travel team will add these costs to your package

Because the journey includes a boat crossing, guests arriving late or departing very early may need to stay overnight in Manado. Check with the ZuBlu team before you confirm your flights.

Other activities

Non-divers can go snorkelling, enjoy spa treatments, complimentary yoga classes, Indonesian cooking classes and dolphin-watching trips. Siladen Resort also offers the use of paddleboards, a beach volleyball court and sea kayaks. Guided excursions can also be arranged to Manado, the Minahasa Highlands and Tangkoko National Park.

The Minahasa Highlands excursion can include local markets, traditional Woloan houses, Lake Tondano, pottery villages and Lake Linow. Trips to Tangkoko trips focus on the region’s rainforest and endemic wildlife, while shorter Manado tours visit markets, temples, museums, Chinatown and shopping areas.

Good to know

• WiFi - Complimentary WiFi is available throughout the resort.
• Mobile coverage - Siladen does have mobile coverage but it can be slow.
• Electricity - 220V electricity is available at the resort.
• Plug type - Two-round-pin Europlug sockets are used; guest are advised to bring their own converters.
• Payments - Visa, Mastercard and American Express are accepted; resort charges are processed in Indonesian rupiah. US dollar and Euro cash are also accepted.
• Currency - The local currency is Indonesian rupiah.
• Time zone - Central Indonesia Time, GMT+8.
• Marine park fees - Bunaken Marine Park entry fees are not included in accommodation rates.
• Air-conditioning - Every villa is air-conditioned.
• Dive insurance - Dive insurance is mandatory.
• Family policy - Two-bedroom villas are available, and babysitting may be arranged subject to staff availability.