Scuba Diving Bangka Island: Best Dive Sites + Eco Dive Resorts
Planning a dive trip to Bangka Island? Discover everything you need to know about scuba diving Bangka Island, including the best dive sites and eco-friendly dive resorts for a sustainable scuba vacation in Sulawesi.
Located off the northeastern tip of Sulawesi in Indonesia, Bangka is a small island that’s slowly earning a reputation as a dive hotspot. Honestly, we hadn’t heard of Bangka until a few years ago – now it’s somewhere we actively encourage people to add to their Indonesian dive bucket list.
For years, Bangka Island’s reefs, pinnacles and walls were only explored on day trips from the more popular diving hubs of Bunaken National Marine Park, Lembeh Strait and Manado.
But with the establishment of eco-friendly resorts on Bangka Island and nearby Gangga Island, this spectacular region is becoming far more accessible.
Bangka Island lies in the Pacific Ocean (between the Celebes Sea to the west and the Molucca Sea to the east). It forms part of an archipelago that also includes the nearby islands of Gangga and Talisei.
Bangka is located in the heart of the Coral Triangle, a globally recognised centre of marine biodiversity.
Since the opening of its first dive resort back in 1987, Bangka has grown in popularity amongst scuba enthusiasts. Today, there are more than 30 known dive sites around Bangka Island…and that list is growing!
The area is particularly renowned for its magnificent soft corals and dramatic pinnacles, as well as its frequent sightings of dugongs. These magnificent creatures come to feed on the seagrass beds fringing Bangka Island’s coral reefs.
In this article, we’ll explain everything you need to know about scuba diving in Bangka Island, including what you can expect to see and the best time to visit. We’ll also introduce some of the best dive sites around Bangka Island and eco-friendly dive resorts, helping you plan a sustainable dive vacation in Sulawesi.
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What can you see while scuba diving in Bangka Island, Sulawesi?
Diving around Bangka Island offers some incredible underwater experiences, with the soft corals here particularly magnificent. The reef structures themselves are equally captivating – sloping walls, towering rock pinnacles, seamounts and dramatic drop-offs.
While scuba diving in Bangka Island, you may find yourself face-to-face with ghost pipefish, bargibanti and pontohi pygmy seahorses, as well as mimic octopuses and flamboyant cuttlefish. There’s a dizzying array of nudibranchs to discover, not to mention mantis shrimp and other tiny treasures.
When it comes to larger marine life, diving in Bangka does not disappoint! On any given day, you can spot schools of pelagic fish like mackerel, fusiliers, jacks and rainbow runners, as well as big predators like whitetip, blacktip and grey reef sharks.
There’s the added possibility of spotting dolphins, pilot whales and even dugongs. In short, scuba diving in Bangka Island is incredible!
Best dive sites in Bangka Island
Sahaung
Arguably the most famous dive site at Bangka Island, Sahaung consists of several underwater boulders and pinnacles decorated with colourful corals and sea fans. The Bangka Island dive site is particularly rich in biodiversity.
Huge schools of blue-line snappers, butterflyfish and redtooth triggers are regularly spotted, along with white-tip reef sharks and eagle rays.
Batu Goso
Featuring several steep pinnacles, Batu Goso is notable for its spectacular topography and ranges in depth from 5 to 35 metres. Strong currents are often present, meaning this is a good spot for advanced diving in Bangka Island.
That being said, there are several sheltered spots where you can relax and watch the passing sharks, turtles and groupers.
Busa Bora
Located off the west coast of Bangka Island, this impressive wall dive is not particularly deep. However, it offers the chance to get up close to an incredible array of marine life. Keep an eye out for crocodilefish, stonefish and frogfish camouflaged amongst the coral formations.
Peter’s Sponge
This sandy slope is peppered with coral bommies that provide a habitat for a variety of reef fish and macro critters. Aside from being one of the best places for Bangka Island macro diving, it’s also a favourite site for spotting dugongs resting in the shallows. Definitely one of the best places for underwater photography in Bangka Island!
Eco-friendly dive resorts on Bangka Island
Coral Eye Resort
Initially set up as a marine research outpost, Coral Eye is now an eco-friendly dive resort on Bangka Island. Beyond its outstanding diving amenities, the resort is thoughtfully crafted to encourage interaction and connection among guests who love the ocean.
It offers beautifully designed rooms and villas, along with a kitchen that showcases the best of Indonesian and Mediterranean cuisines.
Coral Eye is also a founding member of the Bangka Conservation Fund, dedicated to fighting illegal mining and supporting conservation initiatives on the island.
Gangga Island Resort & Spa
Located on Gangga Island (just west of Bangka), this sustainably built dive resort features 30 wooden bungalows overlooking a blissful beach.
The PADI Five Star Dive Center is run by international instructors and qualified local divemasters. Plus, there are three purpose-built boats for accessing the best dive sites around Bangka Island.
Aside from using solar power as a renewable energy source, this eco-friendly Bangka dive resort actively participates in coral reef restoration projects.
Nomad Divers Bangka
Built using locally sourced materials (and with help from the local community), this eco-friendly Bangka dive resort overlooks a small bay on the island’s southeast coast. It features a handful of traditional Minahasan wooden bungalows, some on the beachfront and others in the jungle.
Wondering where to stay on Bangka Island for beginner diving? Aside from daily dives, a full range of PADI courses are available at Nomad Divers if you’re just starting out or wanting to further your scuba skills.
Together with Coral Eye Resort, Nomad Divers is one of the founding members of the Bangka Conservation Fund.
Murex Bangka Dive Resort
Overlooking a palm-fringed beach, Murex Bangka offers a range of diving packages for Bangka Island. It features both oceanfront and hillside cottages that boast wonderful views across the water.
This Bangka dive resort is a popular choice for families and groups, with duplex accommodations that share a common space.
Can’t decide between Bangka vs Bunaken vs Lembeh diving? This eco-friendly Bangka dive resort is a great option if you also want to explore all three. Multi-destination packages are available at its sister Murex resorts.
Diving Bunaken National Marine Park and Lembeh Strait from Bangka Island
Bangka Island is strategically positioned between Bunaken National Marine Park (to the southwest) and Lembeh Strait (to the southeast), two of the most spectacular dive destinations in Indonesia.
Bunaken is famed for its dramatic coral walls, while Lembeh Strait has earned a reputation as the “Critter Capital of the World”. Lembeh’s unique muck diving sites harbour a staggering diversity of bizarre and captivating marine life, including frogfish, mimic octopuses and intricately patterned nudibranchs.
Bangka’s location between these two dive destinations makes it an ideal base – you don’t have to decide between Bangka vs Bunaken vs Lembeh diving.
From a Bangka dive resort, you can embark on day trips to both Bunaken National Marine Park and Lembeh Strait. Most dive resorts in Bangka Island can arrange full-day trips to explore further afield, with three dives at either location.
Discover everything you need to know about planning a sustainable dive vacation to Lembeh here. Heading to Bunaken? Check out our detailed article here.
Best time to dive Bangka Island
The best times to dive around Bangka Island are from March through June and September to October when the weather and sea conditions are at their best.
During Bangka’s peak dive seasons, the water is relatively calm and the visibility is exceptional, often stretching for 30 metres (100 feet) or more.
In contrast, the wetter months from November through March can sometimes result in reduced visibility and rougher seas. However, there are still plenty of sheltered dive sites that remain accessible.
The windiest time of year, from July through August, may expose some dive locations to larger swells. That being said, most dive operators are skilled at finding calmer, more protected areas to ensure safe and enjoyable dives throughout the year.
How to get to Bangka Island, North Sulawesi
The nearest airport to Bangka Island for international and domestic travel is Sam Ratulangi International Airport in Manado. It offers regular flights from Singapore and Guangzhou, as well as domestic connections from Jakarta, Makassar and Bali.
Once you arrive in Manado, it takes a little over an hour by car to reach the north coast of Sulawesi, followed by a 20-minute boat ride to Bangka Island. Transfers from the airport to Bangka Island can easily be arranged with your chosen dive resort.
FAQs about diving around Bangka Island, North Sulawesi
When is the best season to dive in Sulawesi?
While you can dive year-round in Sulawesi, the wet season from November through April usually sees increased rainfall and potentially stronger currents.
The dry season from May to October brings drier conditions and calmer seas, making for especially pleasant diving conditions. That being said, the tropical climate of Sulawesi means that some precipitation is always a possibility, no matter the time of year.
It’s important to keep in mind that strong winds can pick up around July and August. During these months, more exposed dive sites around Bangka and Gangga may see choppier surface conditions. This could impact the overall experience and accessibility.
Lembeh usually experiences a longer wet season. But as the strait is sheltered, this only really affects access to the outer reef sites.
What is the water temperature in North Sulawesi?
North Sulawesi experiences a tropical climate with water temperatures ranging from 28 to 30 degrees Celsius (82 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit) throughout the year.
For most divers, a 3mm wetsuit is adequate. However, it’s worth bringing an extra skin if you’re visiting between October and December, when cooler thermoclines can be expected.
How do you get to North Sulawesi?
There are regular domestic flight connections to Sam Ratulangi International Airport in Manado from various Indonesian airports, including Jakarta, Bali and Makassar. The only international flights to Manado are currently from Singapore (Scoot Airlines) and Guangzhou (China Southern Airlines).
Can you dive Bunaken and Lembeh from Bangka Island?
Bangka is perfectly situated between Bunaken National Marine Park and Lembeh Strait – two of the most popular dive destinations in North Sulawesi.
Most dive resorts on Bangka Island offer full-day excursions that include three dives at either of these locations. Alternatively, you can arrange a multi-destination dive trip to stay in all three.
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