Page 76 - Diving Indonesia 21 November 2019

Manado Bay
MANADo BAy Conditions

The diving conditions Snorkeling and Freediving
anado Bay is rapidly gaining reputation around Manado Bay are Highlights
for its exceptional muck diving and generally consistent and Snorkeling in Manado
Munique marine species. The wide calm throughout the year. Bay is certainly not as
bay, in which Manado City sits in the center, Currents are minimal but colorful as the sites in
can pick up around the
offers a range of sloping black and white sand time of full moon when there are large the nearby Bunaken
sites which showcase some of Sulawesi’s tidal exchanges. Sites are best dived on Marine Park but it
does offer snorkelers
rarest critters and macro life. Underwater an incoming tide when visibility is better. and freedivers staying on the
photographers will be in their element when Manado coastline extremely
diving here. Waves can make shore dives more accessible options. The shallow
challenging during windy periods and
both waves and rainfall affect visibility waters at many of Manado Bay’s
due to the fine sediment found at sites offer a mixture of reef and
Dive sites are mainly accessed by boat but there are numerous many dives sites and run off from the sand and there is often a good mix
shore dives which can be made from the resorts which a located mainland. of hard and soft corals. Visibility
on the coast line. For divers who want to experience the wall in the shallows can be limited due
diving around Bunaken combined with North Sulawesi muck Water temperatures are a constant 28 – to waves breaking and in general,
diving, Manado Bay offers a very convenient alternative to 29 degrees Celcius. Shallow, sandy reef Bunaken Marine park offers more
Lembeh. tops which can be easily accessed from variety and a larger range of
the shore make Manado Bay ideal for options for both surface snorkelers
The majority of dive centers in the region offer morning dives those learning to dive. and freedivers.
in the Bunaken Marine Park which is a 30minute boat ride
(approximately) and afternoon dives and night dives around the
Bay.
Guiness World Record

Dive Site and Marine Life Highlights of Manado Bay Guinness World Record has inscribed 3 categories of action
2019 for Indonesia Woman Diving Organization (WASI) held in
Tiwoho and Wori it is presumed to be a Dutch cargo ship. Megamas Beach, Manado, North Sulawesi, consisting of:
Bay offer a wealth of This wreck site is named after the local • The longest Human Chain Underwater
intriguing critters on village. Lying on its side, the bow starts at
their sandy slopes and 24 meters, and the propellers are at 42 (578 divers), on 1 August 2019
should not be missed by underwater meters. Although not recommended for • The Most People Scuba Diving
photographers and divers hoping to penetration, there is a wealth of marine Simultaneously
see some iconic macro life including life to be found here including occasional (3,131 divers) on 3 August 2019
ghost pipefish, frogfish, squat lobsters, white-tip reef sharks and Napoleon • The Largest Flag Unfurled
anemone fish, ribbon eels, numerous wrasses. Underwater
species of nudibranchs and cephalopods. (1,014 m ) on 3 August 2019
2
City Extra is another stand-out muck dive For those seeking a unique experience,
of Manado Bay. The shallows are home Tanjung Papaya is an artificial reef
to seagrass beds which often harbour consisting of over 30 motorbikes which
seahorses and the sandy slope boats are now encrusted in coral growth and
frequent findings of frogfish, flamboyant home to all manner of critters including
cuttlefish and even mimic octopus. lionfish, moray eels, nudibranch and a
healthy range of reef fish. Adjacent to the
The Molas Wreck is known to have sunk motorcycles is a rubble reef patch which
in 1942 but has a mysterious history as boasts numerous macro critters including
no-one seems to be sure of it’s name but mantis shrimps, ribbon eels, ghost
pipefish and stonefish.
148 Wonderful Indonesia Diving and Snorkeling Directory Wonderful Indonesia Diving and Snorkeling Directory 149