BANGKA & BUNAKEN - Two jewels of North Sulawesi

Traveling Across Indonesia, the Northern Part of Sulawesi Island – September 2024

The focus is on diving tourism, with the video showcasing detailed diving spots on two islands in North Sulawesi – Bangka and Bunaken.

Bangka Island

Bangka Island is a small island located off the northeastern tip of Sulawesi, renowned for its pristine beaches and diving tourism. The island has four main coastal villages: Lihunu, Kahuku, Libas, and Ehe. Geographically, the island is diverse, featuring forests, hills, coconut plantations, rocks, mangroves, and untouched beaches. 

The island is home to various terrestrial animals, such as the Javan deer, tarsiers, common bear cuscus, Asian water monitor, wild boars, and various species of reptiles and spiders. The surrounding coral reefs attract tropical fish species like Napoleon wrasse, frogfish, pygmy seahorses, nudibranchs, and even dugongs—a protected marine mammal species. Dugongs are known to frequent and feed in the waters off the island's coast.

Bunaken Island

Bunaken Island is part of Bunaken National Park in North Sulawesi. The park is located near the center of the Coral Triangle, providing a habitat for 390 coral species and numerous fish, mollusks, reptiles, and marine mammals. Bunaken National Park was established in 1991 and covers a total area of 890 km², 97% of which consists of marine habitat. The remaining 3% comprises land formed by five islands – Bunaken, Manado Tua, Mantehage, Nain, and Siladen. Bunaken is a tropical island with dry and rainy seasons. Air temperatures on the island range from 22 to 32°C, while water temperatures vary between 27 and 29°C. August is the hottest month, while January is the coldest and rainiest. 

Bunaken is a tropical island with dry and rainy seasons. Air temperatures on the island range from 22 to 32°C, while water temperatures vary between 27 and 29°C. August is the hottest month, while January is the coldest and rainiest.