Why its safe in Manado

Two Fish Divers would like to extend their sympathies to the families and friends of the victims of the Bali bombing. Although these events were tragic, we hope that people will still visit Indonesia, and we believe that it is still safe to travel here.

• The tragic events in Bali have actually forced the Indonesian government to recognise that there is a small minority of people who are trying to cause trouble - before now they had refused to accept such an idea. Since the Bali bomb, new laws have been passed and several leaders of militant groups have been arrested.
  

• Manado, Bunaken Island and Lembeh are in the province of North Sulawesi which is 90% christian, and there has been no trouble in this region that has caused any risk to tourists. The nearest place of unrest is in Poso which is 2 to 3 days travel away, the equivalent of London to Moscow by train!
  

• There was a bomb in Manado aboiut 4 years ago which caused some damage to the Phillipine Consulate. Someone placed a device outside the house of the consulate in a residential area of Manado, but the device was very small and no one was injured. The police have already arrested some suspects, and the issue seems to be about business licenses that the consulate was giving (or not giving) for trade with the Phillipines. This is not a tourist issue and all of the foreign owners of dive centres in Manado do not feel at risk - NONE of them thought it necessary to leave.
  

• Transfers are quick and direct. Manado has an International airport and you can fly in direct from Singapore or Jakarta. We pick you up and transfer you directly to Bunaken Island or Lembeh and you will be there within 2-3 hours.
  

We hope that you will still come here and not let the terrorists win by staying away. It is a global threat, not an Indonesian thing. Just remember, you are probably more likely to get hit by a car or have a tree falling on your head at home than get into trouble with terrorist acts.