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Bunaken

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Bunaken is an island of 8 km2, part of the Bunaken National Marine Park. Bunaken is located at the northern tip of the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia. It belongs administratively to the municipality of Manado. Scuba diving attracts many visitors to the island. Bunaken National Park extends over an area of 890.65 km2 of which only 3% is terrestrial, including Bunaken Island, as well as the islands of Manado Tua, Mantehage, Nain and Siladen. The waters of Bunaken National Marine Park are up to 1,566 m deep in Manado Bay, with temperatures ranging between 27 and 29 °C. It has a high diversity of - corals, fish, echinoderms and sponges. Notably, seven of the eight species of giant clams globally occur in Bunaken. It also claims to have seven times more genera of coral than Hawaii, and has more than 70% of all the known fish species of the Indo-Western Pacific. Oceanic currents may explain, in part, why Bunaken National Marine Park has such a high level of biodiversity. Northeasterly currents generally sweep through the park but abundant counter currents and gyros related to lunar cycles are believed to be a trap for free swimming larvae. This is particularly true on the south side of the crescent-shaped Bunaken Island, lying in the heart of the park. A snorkeler or diver in the vicinity of Lekuan or Fukui may spot over 33 species of butterfly fish and numerous types of groupers, damsels, wrasses and gobies. The gobies, smallish fish with bulging eyes and modified fins that allow them to attach to hard surfaces, are the most diverse but least known group of fish in the park.

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Beyond the reef: cultural rhythm of Manado

While most visitors focus on the underwater spectacle, the island’s connection to nearby Manado offers a subtle counterpoint. Early morning, the island’s modest harbour fills with colourful motorbikes and the scent of kopi beans, as locals ferry in fresh fish for the daily pasar. A short walk to the village yields impromptu batik workshops where artisans demonstrate the painstaking wax‑resist technique, often accompanied by a brief session of traditional Minahasan music on the gong. Sampling the local woku – a slow‑cooked coconut broth spiced with turmeric and lemongrass – provides a culinary foil to the salty sea air. Engaging with these everyday practices enriches the dive narrative, turning a day of marine observation into a more rounded understanding of the archipelago’s human tapestry.

Timing currents: when lunar cycles shape the dive experience

The park’s reputation for vivid biodiversity is amplified during specific lunar phases. Around the full moon, the interplay of stronger tidal streams and the park’s gyroscopic currents draws planktonic larvae into the central lagoon, creating fleeting micro‑ecosystems that attract schools of juvenile fish. Divers who schedule a night dive during these periods report seeing synchronized swarms of tiny lanternfish flickering like a living chandelier. Conversely, a new moon brings calmer surface conditions, ideal for surface‑dwelling nudibranchs and delicate soft corals that shy away from stronger light. Consulting the local dive centre’s tide chart and moon‑phase guide can turn a routine dive into a purposeful observation of the ocean’s cyclical choreography.

Sustainability on the water: low‑impact dive practices

The density of visitation at Bunayan’s premier sites has spurred a community‑led push for greener dive etiquette. Operators now encourage the use of reef‑safe sunscreen, which eschews oxybenzone in favour of mineral‑based formulations, to protect the fragile coral polyps. Many schools enforce a vertical ascent rate of no more than 9 metres per minute, reducing bubble trauma to sponges and soft corals. A growing number of guides also conduct brief briefings on the local manta cleaning stations, advising divers to maintain a respectful distance to avoid disrupting these mutualistic gatherings. By adopting these modest adjustments, guests contribute to the long‑term health of a marine environment already famed for its richness.