Diving in North Sulawesi

They call it The Land of Smiling People and you could well join them in their grins if you choose it for your Indonesia diving holiday. Fast becoming one of the best diving destinations in the world, this island province promises dazzling coral reefs, amazing muck diving and all creatures great and very, very small. Here you will have access to a whole variety of dive sites, more than 100 in all. If you want to snap otherworldly critters on a muck dive then head to the Lembeh Strait where you can see a lot even on shallow dives as this is where hairy frogfish and harlequin shrimp like to hang out, along with octopus and eels.
For good, healthy coral covering walls and bigger marine animals such as turtles, then you should try Bunaken National Marine Park, while macro-lovers should head to the nearby islands of Bangka and Manado Tua and the Sangihe Archipelago is home to active volcanoes, including one underwater that gurgles sulfur dioxide bubbles. The best time to dive North Sulawesi is from July to October, although you can dive all year round, with slightly worse conditions during the December to February rain season.

The descriptions provided here are intended as general information and personal experiences related to specific dive sites and locations and should not be construed as definitive advice or recommendations. Before diving, please confirm that diving is permitted at your chosen location, and comply with all relevant local laws, regulations, and posted signage. The responsibility for verifying the legality of the dive and assessing any associated risks rests entirely with you.