Divestart :: Where and When to find your favorite critter!


HOME

What

When

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Where

You are here : World >

Manado (Bunaken)

Info & Marine life (53)

Flights & Beds

Description:
Bunaken, National Marine Park. Dramatic drop offs, high quality coralreefs, enormous diversity in Marine life. Within the top 10 of worlds best dive area's.

Details:

Nearest commercial airport: Manado International Airport

Average watertemp: Min 25 - Max 30 ^oCelcius.

Average visibility: 20 Horizontal metres

Bottom composition: Sand, Corals, Mud, Vegetation, Vulcanic

Dive conditions: Ocean/Sea, Salt water

Seasonality: All year round but best period from May until October.

Marinelife in the area:

Species

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Angel sharks

Possible but very unlikely.

Bat rays

Beaked whales (dolphins)

Beaked whales are the least known of all whales in the world. Most of the information comes from dead animals washed ashore and a few brief encounters at sea. Some species have never been seen alive. However, according to quite a few oceanic cetacean specialists it is likely a number of beaked whale... (More)

Blacktip reef sharks

Quite common

Blue sharks

Unlikely close to the reefs. Prefers a bit colder water and might follow cold upwellings.

Bottlenose Dolphins

Bottlenose dolphins are seen sometimes but not very often. Best chance is July until October.

Bull sharks (Zambezi/Whaler)

Unlikely close to the reefs. Possible at open sea.

Cat sharks

Possible for some species. However most cat sharks are deep water sharks way beyond scuba dive depth limits.

Coastal fish & Reef Life

Basically all tropical reef/coastal fishes, are present. They are simply to numerous to mention in detail. In terms of numbers we speak over 1000 species. Not all are found on all sites and with guarantee, but most of the time we are able to find for you what you want. Besides clear tropical water w... (More)

Common dolphins

There are 2 distinct forms of common dolphins; Short-beaked and long-beaked. Easily confused with striped and spinner dolphins. Those last ones are most of the time positive identifications and, we think, therefore more likely to be seen than the common dolphin.

Coral Spawning

With the vast amount of corals we have in our park, spawning definitely takes place. It seems that we have two peaks in which coral in Manado spawns: Around March, April and around September, October. This usually happens a few days (4-8) after full moon and starts right after sunset. But it has al... (More)

Devil rays (Mobula)

Not common but we see them now and than.

Dugongs

We still have dugongs in the area but probably no more than a hundred individuals. They are most common in the Southern section of Bunaken Marine park, but are also seen in the Northern section. Not very rare, but you are lucky if you see them. Manatees

Eagle rays

White-spotted eagle ray is very common and often seen in groups of 5 or more, flying along the walls.

Electric rays

False killer whales (dolphins)

False Killer whales are sometimes spotted in groups where they behave like dolphins, with high leaps and sometimes bow rides.

Frasers Dolphins

Not common but possible to spot.

Great Hammerhead sharks

Sometimes seen close to the reefs. You are lucky to see them but we have a few sightings every year.

Green turtles

Very common around the reefs and drop offs. Almost a 100% guarantee you will see them.

Grey reef sharks

Not as common as black tips and white tips, but there is a chance.

Guitarfish rays

Hawksbill turtles

Irrawaddy Dolphins

Irrawady Dolphins are possible in this area but definitely not common. Likely to be confused with Finless porpoise which is by the way also not common.

Kemps Ridley turtles

Killer whales (Orcas)

Around the months May till September, for the past years, a small group of 4-5 individuals has been spotted in the area. Many visitors have seen them already, including one positive sighting under water. But you are lucky if you see them.

Long-Beaked Common Dolphins

See also common dolphins.

Mako sharks

Possible at open sea

Manta rays

Not common but we see them sometimes. No special season.

Melon-headed whales (dolphins)

In the months July, August, September, we have now and than spotted small pods of which could be Melon-headed whales. The confusion is with Pygmy killer whales. Both species are supposed to be rare but they are too small for False killer whale and also no Pilot whales (see also Pygmy killer whale).

Minke whales

Possible and more likely than Blue, Fin and Sei whale

Moray eels

Very common and various species.

Oceanic Whitetip sharks

Sometimes spotted from the boat on the way to or from the dive spot.

Pantropical Spotted Dolphins

Very common in the area and same family as Spinners. Often together with Long and short-snouted spinners or striped dolphins in schools over 100 individuals. When tuna is around you can expect them as well.

Pelagic fish

Though in the center of highest marine diversity in the world, we are not particularly known for big pelagic fish. They sure are around and are also seen close to the reefs. Schooling jacks, barracuda’s and tuna species are quite common. From the boat we see sometimes sailfish and marlin but you are... (More)

Porpoises (whales)

From the Porpoises, the only possible encounter would be the Finless porpoise.

Pygmy killer whales (dolphins)

In the months July, August, September, we have now and then spotted small pods of which could be Pygmy killer whales. The confusion is with the melon-headed whale. Both species are supposed to be rare but they are too small for False killer whale and also no Pilot whales. (see also Melon-headed whal... (More)

Rissos Dolphins

Rissos are often seen in combination with either groups of spinner dolphin and/or pilot whales. Easy to identify because of there typical “scarred, light gray skin

Rough-Toothed Dolphins

Can be spotted and possibly “the unidentified one” in the big schools.

Saw fish

Scallopped Hammerhead sharks

A few sightings per year and mostly on remote spots.

Sei whales

Possible but not likely

Short-Beaked Common Dolphins

Short-finned pilot whales (dolphins)

Short-finned pilot whales are very common in the area and who ever dives here for a week has a more then a fair chance to spot them. Often sun bathing and relaxing it is possible to get very close to them. Pod size sometimes up to 60 individuals and in combination with Spinner dolphins.

Silky sharks

Sometimes seen at open sea, associated with schools of tuna.

Sperm whales

Sperm whales of quite often spotted in the area. What we mostly see is young Sperm whales with their mother and aunties, but we know that also individual male’s come for mating. On average we have about 6 sightings per year, when we coincidently see them going or coming from the dive sites. Sometime... (More)

Spinner dolphins (Long-snouted)

Very common and in dry season almost guarantee.

Spinner dolphins (Short-snouted)

Probaly very common but also difficult to tell apart from the Long-snouted Dolphin. It believed that it is less abundant than the Long-snout and therefore spotted less.

Spotted dolphins (Pantropical)