TRAVELSPECIAL
A porcelain crab catching plankton
Harlequin ghost pipefish
Paradise regained
The resort is stunningly beautiful, but the hillside layout has a lot of stairs, which can be challenging after a long day diving or for guests with mobility issues.
The large cottages are well presented with thoughtful touches, such as aloe vera from the resort’ s own plants ready in the fridge for sunburn or mosquito bites. The rooms even have their own water cooler as well as torches and umbrellas. The food is excellent, healthy and locally sourced where possible.
The resort’ s premium pricing is steep compared with other Indonesian dive destinations, especially when factoring in additional excursions or spa treatments. However, guests are paying for a resort that looks after its staff and the environment as
well as supporting the local community. In turn, the staff provide exceptional service, with an uncanny knack for addressing your needs before you have even thought to ask. On arrival I mentioned I practise Pilates and by the time I was escorted to my cottage a mat was already there for me.
The ratio of divers to guides meant the dive experience was very personalised; on most dives it was rare to see more than a couple of other divers. Lovely touches included a refreshing warm wet hand towel when surfacing from a dive and a cool wet hand towel when returning to the resort after dives.
While it is possible to find budget-friendly options, the boutique luxury of Bunaken Oasis is worth it for a very special occasion. Go on, treat yourself! �
Essentials
GETTING THERE: Before the Iran war, there were two routes to Manado; at the time of writing, the route via the Middle East was not available. However, the route via Singapore with Singapore Airlines and partner operator Scoot is very much operational. In fact. It’ s slightly shorter, with journey times of between 20 and 30 hours, including stop-overs. The transfer to the ferry terminal takes anything from 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the time of day
ACCOMMODATION: Bunaken has nine dive resorts, ranging from backpacker level to top-end luxury – represented here by the Oasis. Those budget options make the wonderful reefs an option for budget conscious divers and those seeking longer stays. If you are travelling to Bunaken Oasis, you will be collected from the ferry terminal and transferred by one of their dive boats to the resort. The journey takes 40 minutes. There’ s also a public boat which runs daily except Sundays and takes about an hour if you are travelling independently.
BOOK IT: Most guests book directly with the resort either through the official website bunakenoasis. com or through the resort’ s UK based agent, email info @ bunakenoasis. com The resort offers short break packages starting at $ 1,550 for three nights including guided snorkelling and a massage. There are also full diving and non-diving packages for longer stays.
62
Manado Tua is the iconic cone-shaped volcano in Bunaken National Marine Park