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Dive Review of Gangga Island Resort in
Indonesia/Northern Sulawesi

Gangga Island Resort, May, 2007,

by Steven Levin, VA, United States (Reviewer Reviewer 5 reports). Report 3537.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 5 stars Food 5 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity N/A
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving 1 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ N/A
Beginners 5 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments This was my seventh trip to Gangga Island Resort (GIR) over the last three years. The resort continues to maintain a high quality of accommodation, food, and diving operations.

GIR is almost unique in Northern Sulawesi in that it supports people who are non-divers as well as divers. The resort has white sand beaches with lots of shaded areas with lounging bales.

Diving from GIR is very diversified given its location off of the tip of Northern Sulawesi. In the area of GIR there is diving at Bangka and Talisan Islands as well as the coast of Northern Sulawesi. These areas offer dives at locations such as Batu Gosoh (Bangka), Batu Tiga (Bangka), and Pulisan (N. Sulawesi) that provide environments that are extremely rich in invertebrates - soft corals, sponges, tunicates, etc. Other dive sites provide muck diving opportunities such as HBO Point and Paradise Reef.

All of the dive sites provide a broad range of creatures to include Frogfish, Leaf Scorpionfish, many diverse species of nudibranchs, Orangutan Crabs, pipefish, etc.

Diving is done from boats built by GIR on the island. The boats are comfortable and fast. Four boats have on-board toilets and fast/quiet four stroke engines. Since the resort is effectively located between Bunaken and Lembeh Straits they are able to offer day trips providing divers three dives at either of these locations and reach them in one hour. This makes GIR a viable location for divers that want to sample these three different areas of Northern Sulawesi diving.

The ratio of guests to dive guides, anywhere from 1 to 4 guests per guide, which means that different styles and interests are accommodated.

They are in the process of installing an in-house Nitrox system as well as satellite based WiFi. Both of these capabilities such be in place by the end of 2007.

GIR is reached by flying to Manado. Most people fly direct from Singapore on SilkAir - a three hour flight. It is then a 1+ hour drive and 20 minute boat ride to the resort.

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience Over 1000 dives
Where else diving Throughout Asia-Pacific, Australia, Galapagos, Carribean, Indian Ocean
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas calm
Water Temp 80-84°F / 27-29°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 35-90 Ft/ 11-27 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions No restrictions other than common sense. Dives are guided but with as much flexibility as you want.
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

Sharks None Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles None Whales None
Corals 5 stars Tropical Fish 4 stars
Small Critters 4 stars Large Fish 2 stars
Large Pelagics 2 stars

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter 5 stars Boat Facilities 4 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 4 stars Shore Facilities 5 stars
UW Photo Comments On-shore there is a large and well equipped facility for charging and camera maintenance. On the boats there are plastic tubs filled with fresh water.
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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