Shanu’s Divemaster Training in Bunaken Part II
Hey guys, it’s Shanu again. I am now taking my Divemaster training in Bunaken – I arrived in Manado on the 28th of October and transferred across to Two Fish Bunaken island to complete the last two weeks of my training. It’s now been a week diving at Two Fish Bunaken Resort, and I have to say that with the crystal clear waters, which boast visibility of 25-30m, and sloping reefs dropping into walls going far and deep, Bunaken is diving heaven!
Almost all dives sites are wall dives that start with a sloping or flattened coral reef between 5m-8m and then drops into near-vertical wall going anywhere between 50m – 100m, or even more. You always need to watch your depth here! You can often see the coral reefs from the boat itself the water is so clear. These shallow coral reefs are dense with ample marine life making safety stops equally engaging.
Shanu checking out the dive sites in the Bunaken Marine Park
One of the best parts about diving at these walls? Drift diving! You just follow the current, observe the wall as you drift along, making the dives effortless and fun! The walls are beautiful with corals all around. Parallel to the walls, you’ll always find red-tooth triggerfish and fusiliers swimming around. It’s just fish everywhere all the time and I’m not complaining.
Bunaken is also a turtle haven! Yes! I had stopped counting from my very first dive, and I’ve seen so many on every dive. Nonetheless, I can’t get enough of them. They swim effortlessly and gracefully. It is almost therapeutic to watch them glide in the water. I was lucky enough to see a huge green turtle, I don’t think I’ve seen any that big before. These turtles rest in natural coves like shelters in the walls. Bunaken has two species of turtles: Green and Hawksbill, both endangered.
My favourite dive site in Bunaken so far is Lekuan II. The name means “windy”, which it earns from the topography of the wall itself. It is a very interesting dive with a mix of marine life to see in a single hour, big stuff and small stuff. It also can bring more current and thermocline. At the site we spotted a Pontohi seahorse, many nudibranchs, clown triggerfish, turtles, and schools of small fish. At around 6m, there is a cove where two baby sharks live. I saw them, one was sleeping and the other was swimming around in its cove, looking at me curiously. It was exciting. I hope to visit them again.
Bunaken’s wall dive sites are teeming with fish
During my other dives, I’ve seen white tip sharks swimming 10m below me (@25-30m), big napoleons wrasse, numerous beautiful nudibranchs, big crayfish/ lobsters, tiny shrimp, many different kinds of anemone (clownfish), big puffer fish, bump head parrotfish, Napoleon wrasse, turtles (did I need to mention again?), leaf scorpionfish, numerous flute and cornetfish and their juveniles, and much more.
I have really enjoyed diving on the Wonderwalls of Bunaken and completing my PADI Divemaster course with Two Fish Divers.
Do you want to join Shanu and become a PADI Divemaster in Indonesia? Two Fish Divers’ Divemaster internships are completely unique in South East Asia and you can combine different resorts into your training. Choose between 7 different resorts and stay for as long in each of them – or choose your favourite and stay there – it’s up to you!
For more information or to make a reservation, fill in the contact form below and we will get right back to you.
We look forward to diving with you soon!
