Dive Review of
Kungkungan Bary Resort in
Indonesia

Belize, Palau, Truk, Solomon Islands, Galapagos Islands, Coco Island, Coral
Sea, Red Sea, Cayman Islands, Hawaii, Maldives, Fiji Islands, and Cozumel. 

Dive Conditions

Dive Guides presented a dive plan for each dive, and we were allowed to
vary our profile with them.  Max. depth was 100' but most sea life was
within 15-75'.  

The Resort has a camera room near the dive briefing area with fresh water
rinse tanks, both 110 and 220 volt power for recharging batteries.  They
also have 24 hour security around the Resort to ensure the safety of their
guests.  

Overall Rating

A Dive Trip to Paradise at Kungkungan Bay Resort:

I have just returned from Kungkungan Bay Resort (KBR) at Lembeh Strait,
North Sulawesi, Indonesia.  We spent (10) days doing (3) dives per day and
I can’t say enough about how great the resort and the diving were. 
Indonesia is a country of thousands of islands and the North Sulawesi
Province is far removed from the political unrest of Jakarta and Bali. 
This Province is about 85% Christian, 5-10% Buddhist, and 5-10% Muslim and
the local population live in harmony.  Visitors should not be concerned
about acts of hostility as North Sulawesi is very peaceful and the locals
are friendly. 

Flying there takes some time and we flew from Los Angeles International
Airport to Narita Airport, Japan (11 hours).  After a (2) hour layover, we
flew to Changi International Airport, Singapore, (8 hours) and had a (12)
hour layover so we got day rooms to get a shower and nap.  We then had a
(3) hour flight to the Airport in Manado, N. Sulawesi and a 1 ½ hour
drive to KBR in Lembeh Strait.  While the traveling requirements might seem
somewhat difficult flying Northwest and Singapore Airlines was relatively
simple and we checked our bags through from LAX to Manado.  I suggest you
confirm baggage weight requirements as coach and business/first class are
different.

As for KBR, the resort is in a beautiful very well maintained setting about
4-5 miles from the Port of Bitung.  Steve and Miranda Coverdale are the
managers of KBR with Steve from Eco Divers running the dive operations and
Miranda operating the Resort.  Both of them are extremely hospitable and
spent time with us each morning prior to the first dive.  The typical (3)
dive daily routine was a thorough dive briefing five minutes before each
dive.  KBR has (4) 26’ dive boats that leave at 8:15 AM, 11:15 AM and 2:45
PM each day with each dive lasting about one hour.  Night dives are also
offered every day in place of the 2:45 PM dive, you need only a minimum of
(2) dive guests for the boat to go out.  Tank fills were to about 3,000
lbs. and Nitrox is also available.   Each boat typically takes 2-3 dive
guides and usually six divers.  The dive guides know all 35 dive sites
extremely well and can point out various indigenous creatures like:
scorpion fish, wasp fish, frog fish, dragonets, devil fish, a variety of
ghost pipe fish, pigmy sea horses, blue ring octopus, sea snakes, snake
eels, cuttle fish and at times a wonder puss.  There is also a huge variety
of nudibranchs, bristle worms, and hard coral (check out any reference book
on the Lembeh Strait, the variety is amazing).  At the conclusion of each
dive, the boat returned to the Resort (rides took about 5-10 minutes at the
most).  On the ride back, we were served fresh fruit and water.  The main
island offers “muck” diving at depths up to 100’ but most of the unusual
and indigenous underwater life can be found from 15’-50’.  The smaller
islands across from the main island offer beautiful hard corals similar to
diving in the Cayman Islands with much of the same sea life.  Water
temperature while we were diving Nov. 4-14 was a consistent 84 F but at
times cold currents would show up so we used three mil wetsuits and were
warm.  Daytime weather was typically in the mid 80’s and most afternoons a
rain shower would come through.  Evenings would cool down to the mid 70’s. 


Our deluxe cottages were air conditioned, had a king size bed with an
overhead fan, refrigerator/bar, TV, full sized bathtub as well as a shower
and plenty of hot water.  One caution, don’t drink the tap water, drink the
bottled water that is provided in each room and at each meal.  Although I
took malaria preventative while I was there I was told this area did not
experience any cases malaria.  Each Sunday afternoon, while divers are out,
the Resort does spray under each cottage and around the common grounds as
part of an insect abatement program, which I found to be very effective.

The Resort has a main dining area and the meals were very well prepared. A
buffet was usually available as well as a full menu that contained not only
local dishes but also offered dishes you would see in the southern states
and Mexico.  KBR also offered room service and would prepare a meal 24/7
for its guests and they would fulfill special meal requests as well.

KBR offered several day trips and I did visit the local markets one morning
before the first dive.  Beary, my market guide took me to the public fish
market, then to a local open market, a Buddhist temple, and a visit to a
high school.  The next time I am there I am going to do the Highlands
Tour.

In summary:  
The dive guides are all exceptionally knowledgeable of the dive sites.  My
personal thanks to Ben, Liberty, Jeffrey, Robert, Ade and Johan for their
friendly and accommodating nature; you made our diving incredible.  

To the resort staff, especially Merlyn, Beary, Ita, Rusna, Grace, Patricia,
and Hadriak, thank you, you were all so friendly and hospitable.

To Steve and Miranda Coverdale, KBR is a great place, not only to dive, but
also to relax.  How well it is managed is a statement of your ideals. 
Thanks for a terrific trip, see you again the end of February 2007!!!!!
 

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