Luxury Dive Resort Located on Bangka Island
Discover the Best Muck Diving in Indonesia at Bangka Island
Bangka Island, located in Indonesia's North Sulawesi region, is a must-visit destination for divers seeking an unforgettable underwater adventure. Known for its diverse marine life and unique muck diving sites, Bangka offers a perfect blend of macro critters, vibrant coral reefs, and historical shipwrecks [1][3].
A Haven for Macro Critters
Bangka's muck diving sites are renowned for their soft coral slopes and intriguing black sand slopes, providing ideal conditions for observing rare and small marine creatures. Divers can encounter a variety of macro critters such as frogfish, seahorses, octopuses, nudibranchs (sea slugs), and an array of fascinating bottom-dwelling creatures abundant in black sand and volcanic slopes [1][3].
Rich Marine Biodiversity
In addition to the macro critters, Bangka's dive sites are teeming with diverse reef inhabitants. Colourful reef fish, anemone fish, shrimp, eels, leaf and bearded scorpionfish, pygmy seahorses, schools of black snapper and unicornfish can all be found in these waters [1][3]. The area is also home to stingrays, sea snakes, reef sharks, and many small bizarre creatures frequently sought after by macro photographers [1][3].
Dive Sites in Bangka
The dive sites in Bangka include Batu Goso, Sahaung, Batu Mandi, Batu Pendeta, and Sabora. Batu Goso features steep pinnacles with a moderate slope and can have strong currents, while Sahaung consists of underwater boulders and pinnacles with a continuously sloping bottom [1]. Batu Mandi is a series of underwater pinnacles located opposite Bangka Island and offers sightings of pygmy sea horses, cuttle fish, and giant and warty frog fish [1]. Sabora is a coral slope offering a variety of fish and critters, with a resident school of blue striped snappers and numerous nudibranchs [1].
Bastianos Dive Resort Bangka
For those seeking to explore the waters of Bangka, the Bastianos Dive Resort Bangka offers an ideal base. Established in 1991 on Bunaken Island, the resort expanded to Bangka in 2019. The Bastianos Bangka Dive Center, located on-site, offers guests a chance to explore the waters with experienced dive guides and well-equipped dive boats [2]. All rooms at the resort are completely air-conditioned and come with an ensuite bathroom [2]. Guests can also enjoy the bar/lounge, poolside bar, and coffee and tea served in the common area [2]. The resort offers airport transfers in private air-conditioned vehicles and caters to guests who enjoy muck diving [2].
Accessibility and Practical Information
Sam Ratulangi International Airport receives flights from major Indonesian cities and Singapore, and the journey from the airport to the Bastianos Dive Resort Bangka typically takes 2 hours [2]. The electricity in Bangka is 220V and credit cards (MasterCard & Visa) are accepted [4]. English, German, and Indonesian are spoken in Bangka [4]. The time zone in Bangka is GMT+8:00 [4].
[1] - Indonesia Diving Guide: Bangka Island [2] - Bastianos Dive Resort Bangka [3] - Bangka Island Dive Sites [4] - Bangka Island Travel Guide
- At Bangka Island in Indonesia, divers can explore the best muck diving sites, teeming with rare macro critters like frogfish, seahorses, and octopuses.
- With vibrant coral reefs, historical shipwrecks, and unique black sand slopes, Bangka offers an unforgettable underwater adventure for those who love sports like snorkeling and diving.
- Dive sites such as Batu Goso, Sahaung, Batu Mandi, and Sabora are home to diverse marine life, including colourful reef fish, schools of black snapper, sea snakes, and even turtles.
- To fully experience the underwater life of Bangka Island, consider staying at the Bastianos Dive Resort Bangka, which offers dive tours with experienced guides and comfortable accommodations.
- The resort, located on Bangka Island, boasts air-conditioned rooms with ensuite bathrooms, a bar/lounge, poolside bar, and coffee and tea services in the common area.
- Travelers can reach Bastianos Dive Resort Bangka via Sam Ratulangi International Airport, which offers flights from major cities in Indonesia and Singapore.
- To ensure a smooth trip, it's essential to know some practical information, such as Bangka's time zone (GMT+8:00), the acceptance of credit cards (MasterCard & Visa), and the spoken languages (English, German, and Indonesian).
