world reviewer
Manado and more specifically the Bunaken National Marine Park off the coast of Sulawesi is renowned for its biodiversity and hence colour. Many, many inspirational diving photos have been taken here, full of unusually looking creatures. It’s like diving in a Cousteau documentary. Turtles meander above you, white tipped reef sharks below, parrotfish all around. As far a species numbers go there is more variety than the Great Barrier Reef.
Visibility is still pretty good and the area is being well protected and managed, more so than many popular diving destinations. Hard and soft corals flower and anemones go with the flow along the reef then the seafloor drops away dramatically.
Written by 
Nick Shaw.
“Probably the best dive site in the world”
By John Aglionby for 'The Guardian' First published March 6, 2004 Despite the steady rise of air bubbles to the surface, the two turtles canoodling some 10m above us seemed blissfully unaware of the human presence beneath them. They chatted tête-à-tête… Read more...
Written by press. Full article from The Guardian
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Manado
Manado is located in the National Marine Park Bunaken which is especially famous for its steep drop offs, some which drop for several hundred metres. These rock walls are covered in coral and marine life flourishes both on and around the walls. Common sights to tick off your divers list are ghost pipe fish, sea horses, octopi and dolphins. There are also occasional sperm whale and orca sightings.
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