North Sulawesi

The region combining mainly waters of Sulu Sea and Celebes sea and surrounded by Borneo, Sulawesi and Philippines harbours the richest variety of marine species in the world. WWF identified this area as Sulu-Sulawesi marine ecoregion - the global center of marine biodiversity. There are many good dive sites in the region, but in my opinion the two most exciting spots are Sipadan Island (East Borneo) and North Sulawesi (including Lembeh strait and a few islands approachable from Manado). There are a few other dive spots in the world that are more scenic but nowhere else you can find such concentration of various species that are within minutes reach from the same resort.

Manado and Northern islands

My first introduction to North Sulawesi was in year 2000 when I visited Murex resort and dived near Bunaken and Manado Tua islands. These islands have some of the best reef walls I have ever seen. Only Sipadan island of East Borneo can rival such wall diving. However, the latter is quite different. The walls of Bunaken island and Manado Tua are covered with huge sponges and gorgonians that are surrounded by streams of butterfly fish and moorish idols. Manado Tua is home for the coelacanth fish - the "live fossil". I visited Murex again in May 2001 for a liveaboard dive trip on MV Arlena to the nothern islands reaching the famous underwater volcano. It was the most scenic liveaboard trips I have ever had. This included great underwater scenery, volcanic activity underwater and above sea level and rich sea life. Later, I discovered Lembeh strait...

May, 2001 October, 2001
The region combining mainly waters of Sulu Sea and Celebes sea and surrounded by Borneo, Sulawesi and Philippines harbours the richest variety of marine species in the world. WWF identified this area as Sulu-Sulawesi marine ecoregion - the global center of marine biodiversity. There are many good dive sites in the region, but in my opinion the two most exciting spots are Sipadan Island (East Borneo) and North Sulawesi (including Lembeh strait and a few islands approachable from Manado). There are a few other dive spots in the world that are more scenic but nowhere else you can find such concentration of various species that are within minutes reach from the same resort. Manado and Northern islands My first introduction to North Sulawesi was in year 2000 when I visited Murex resort and dived near Bunaken and Manado Tua islands. These islands have some of the best reef walls I have ever seen. Only Sipadan island of East Borneo can rival such wall diving. However, the latter is quite different. The walls of Bunaken island and Manado Tua are covered with huge sponges and gorgonians that are surrounded by streams of butterfly fish and moorish idols. Manado Tua is home for the coelacanth fish - the "live fossil". I visited Murex again in May 2001 for a liveaboard dive trip on MV Arlena to the nothern islands reaching the famous underwater volcano. It was the most scenic liveaboard trips I have ever had. This included great underwater scenery, volcanic activity underwater and above sea level and rich sea life. Later, I discovered Lembeh strait...


	False clown anemonefish Amphiprion ocellaris	Clarke's anemonefish Amphiprion clarkii	Spine-cheek anemonefish Premnas biaculeatus



Black-backed butterflyfish Chaetodon melannotus	Ovalspot butterflyfish Chaetodon speculum	Bicolor parrotfish Cetoscarus bicolor	Snowflake moray Echidna nebulosa

Coral hawkfish Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus	Falco hawkfish Cirrhitichthys falco	Sandperch - Parapercis sp.	Latticed sandperch Parapercis clathrata

Lionfish - Pterois cf. volitans	Spotfin lionfish Pterois antennata

			Porcupinefish - Diodon hystrix

Black-saddled toby Canthigaster valentini	Blacksaddle mimic filefish Paraluteres prionurus	Fang blenny Plagiotremus tapeinosoma	Gorgonian sea fan Echinogorgia sp.

Reef octopus - Octopus cyanea	Bobtail squid - Euprymna berryi	Chromodoris willani	Hermit crab Aniculus cf. miyakei

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