Bunaken is the name of an island in the bay of Manado, North Sulawesi, Indonesia. Bunaken became famous because of marine park which has joined in a national park. Formally, Bunaken was established as a national marine park in 1991. The Bunaken marine park became the first marine park in the world. Bunaken marine park has an area of 25.265 hectare and there are 20 diving spots. Administratively, the Bunaken marine park is part of the Manado city (capital city of North Sulawesi). Visitors can head Bunaken marine park areas using a motor boat from Manado with travel time for about 40 minutes. Entrance to the area of Bunaken marine park is IDR 50,000 for a daily ticket and IDR 150,000 for a calendar year.
To enjoy the beauty of Bunaken marine park, visitors should diving and feel the sensation of marine life. The equipment for diving can be rented there. Bunaken provide semi-submarine which has glass wall for visitors who do not bold to dive. Thus, each visitors can enjoy the underwater life of the glass-walled vessel. Bunaken marine park has about 390 species of coral, it also has about 200 species of fish and marine life. The lucky visitor can find a mermaid when diving in Bunaken marine park area. Various other types of fish that are in the Bunaken marine park is Hippocampus, Seriola rivoliana, Lutjanus kasmira, Scolopsis bilineatus, etc.
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Nembrotha cristata in Bunaken marine park
image source: https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berkas:Nembrotha_cristata_bunaken.jpg |
Despite all the dive spots have a very beautiful view, but there is one point that is unique for diving that is near Molas beach. At this diving point has ruins of ship belonging to a Germany merchant that sank in 1942. It has a length of 60 meters and sunk at a depth of 23 meters under the sea. The vessel is split in two part so that divers can see the wheelhouse and handle cargo. Visitors in Bunaken marine park can also snorkel and perpetuate the life under the sea with a special camera. Snorkeling equipment rental cost is IDR 100,000 and the cost of renting the camera is IDR 350,000. The images will be given to visitors on the CD.
There are many reasonably priced lodging in Bunaken. The cheapest cost for accommodation in this island is IDR 40,000 for every night with makeshift facilities. Lodging with more comprehensive facilities are also provided, of course, with a more expensive price. Visitors who come from outside the region or abroad can use them as an option for lodging, another option is to stay at the hotel in Manado city. Then, they can traveled to the Bunaken marine park by hire for daily travel packages to Bunaken. This tour package will accompany visitors explore the Bunaken marine park. Usually, the tour begins in the morning and returned to the Manado city in the afternoon
