Bastianos Bunaken Dive Resort

Bastianos Bunaken Dive Resort sits on Bunaken Island, inside Bunaken National Marine Park. The island is known for its wall dives and the density of life on the reef. The resort runs along Liang Beach, the longest stretch of white sand on the island, facing the sunset, with the dive sites a short boat ride away.

The resort features Deluxe Beachfront, Superior Beachfront, and Hillside Rooms, designed for comfort after a day of adventure. With its laid-back charm and unbeatable location, Bastianos Bunaken Dive Resort is the perfect place to experience the beauty of Bunaken, both above and below the water.

The Accommodation

Deluxe Beach Front

The Deluxe Beachfront Rooms face the sunrise. Each has an en-suite bathroom, daily housekeeping, in-room dining and good bedding.

Superior Beachfront

Each Superior Beachfront Room has a private verandah facing the sea, an en-suite bathroom with hot water and a Western-style toilet.

Hillside Rooms

The Standard Rooms sit on the hillside, each with a private verandah and a choice of air conditioning or a fan.

World-Class Diving at Bastianos Bunaken Resort

The Ultimate Diving Experience in Bunaken Marine Park

The resort’s position on Liang Beach puts over 20 dive sites within reach, covering vertical walls, coral gardens and the range of species Bunaken is known for.

Bunaken Marine Park consists of five islands rising from depths exceeding 600 meters – essentially a submerged mountain range with pinnacles breaking the surface. This unique topography creates the dramatic wall dives for which Bunaken is famous, complemented by gentle sloping reefs and shallow coral gardens that rank among the best in the world.

Marine Biodiversity Beyond Compare

The underwater ecosystem around Bastianos Bunaken hosts an incredible variety of marine life. Divers regularly encounter green and hawksbill turtles resting on reef walls, schools of colorful fusiliers, butterflyfish, sweetlips, and cardinal fish. Larger pelagic species including tuna, humphead parrotfish, wahoo, barracuda, and reef sharks often patrol the deeper sections.

Macro enthusiasts will delight in discovering scorpionfish, various shrimp species, nudibranchs, lionfish, and seahorses hidden among the corals. With excellent visibility often exceeding 30 meters and water temperatures between 27-29°C year-round, conditions are ideal for underwater photography and comfortable diving experiences.

Professional Dive Center with Local Expertise

Bastianos Divers, a PADI Dive Center since 2004 (R-34063), offers comprehensive diving services with professional staff who bring years of experience in these waters. The dive center takes pride in employing local guides from Manado and surrounding areas who possess intimate knowledge of dive sites, currents, and marine life behavior – ensuring you’ll discover hidden treasures you might otherwise miss.

The facility is equipped with two electric compressors, oxygen first aid, and a dedicated camera room with working tables and charging stations. Four modern dive boats provide comfortable transportation to dive sites, with amenities including fresh water for camera equipment, refreshments, and snacks during surface intervals.

Structured Diving Schedule

Bastianos follows a well-organized daily diving schedule:

• Morning dives: Departing at 8:30 AM for two tank dives with a one-hour surface interval
• Afternoon dive: At 3:00 PM for a single dive
• Specialty dives: At 5:00 PM for Mandarin fish viewing or 6:00 PM for night diving

Dives run to a maximum of 70 minutes including safety stops, or until 50 bar. Groups are kept to 4 divers per guide.

Courses for Every Level

Bastianos runs PADI courses from first-timer to professional:

• Introductory experiences for children (Bubble Maker from age 8) and adults (Discover Scuba Diving)
• Certification courses from Scuba Diver to Open Water Diver
• Advanced training including Advanced Open Water, Rescue Diver, and specialty courses
• Professional development with the PADI Divemaster program

Specialty courses include Enriched Air (Nitrox), Deep Diver, Drift Diver, Peak Performance Buoyancy, and Wreck Diver, plus conservation-focused programs like Coral Reef Conservation and Dive Against Debris.

Beyond Diving

When not underwater, Bastianos offers additional ocean activities including snorkeling, freediving, and dolphin-watching excursions. The resort also provides cultural experiences such as cooking classes featuring local North Sulawesi cuisine and trips to see the tiny Tarsius primates in nearby mangroves.

For photographers, the resort offers special underwater photography workshops with resident photographer Barney Seier, who provides personalized guidance to help divers capture their underwater adventures.

Perfect for All Diver Levels

While Bunaken’s dramatic walls offer exciting opportunities for advanced divers, the varied topography makes it suitable for all certification levels. Beginners can enjoy the shallow coral gardens at 4-5 meters depth, which also provide perfect settings for safety stops and final underwater photographs before ascending. These same coral gardens make Bunaken an excellent destination for snorkelers accompanying diving partners.

Between the facilities, the staff and the position inside the marine park, it is a straightforward place to spend a week diving Bunaken.