Manado – Bunaken 21 to 26 October 2022

October 25, 2022

Decided to try out bunaken this time round since the last dive here was with tasik ria in 2013. Diwali weekend. Scoot!

Weather is pretty good so far, fingers crossed. Staying at bastianos dive resort. The resort is not bad at all so far especially at the price! As usual like any other resort.. hospitality at its best.

Started the morning with 2 dives:

22 October: Dive 328: muka kampung – 24m, 59 min. Air in 220. Air out 30. Weight: 6kg, with fourth element.

Was too overweighted. Spent first half of the dive just trying on balance the weight and get bouyancy right. Took out 2kg for the second dive. Water Viz was good. Nothing major sighting.

Dive 329: Lekuan III – 25m, 63 min. Air in 220. Air out: 60. Weight: 4kg with fourth element. Still a bit overweighted.

Saw some nudis, super thin hair shrimps. That’s really about it..walls were beautiful.

Dive 330: Alung Banua. 19m. 77 min. Air in: 220. Air out: 35. Weight 3kg. Think can take out 1kg more.

Big nice wall. Saw quite a few candied crabs. Took a few videos of nemos. And anemone shrimps.

23 oct- Dive 331: Lekuan I. 21m. 68min. Air in 207. Air out: 40. Weight 3kg. 855am.

Highlight was the ponta seahorse. And a minute shrimp.

Dive 332: Bastianos 4. 1117am. 72min. Air in 203, air out: 35. Weight 3kg.

Highlight was the big hairy shrimp!

Dive 333: Bastianos 5. 15:17pm. 19m. 66min. Air in 204. Air out: 47. Weight 3kg.

Saw this pink hairy nudi.. colonies of them. Flat pink worm … And ended the dive spotting a big lobster!

24 oct- some folks went to naine island for dive at 430am .. to see hammerheads.

Dive 334: Paneha. 9:03am. 65 min. 24m. Weight 2kg. Air in: 205, air out: 40.

Saw 2 new nudis.. nice Viz in the morning.

Dive 335: Bastianos Timur 1. Weight 2kg. Air in 207. Air out: 74. 1118am. 66 min. 20m.

Hairy shrimp.. crocodile fish. Hair line shrimp. Thermocline for almost the whole dive. And 2 crabs in a bush- orange and black.

Dive 336; Lekuan II. Weight 2kg. Air in 205. Air out: 25. 1516pm. 29m. 70min.

Candied crab, nudis.. 😀

25 October – dive 337. Raymond’s point. Weight 2kg. Air in 204, air out 37. 8:54am. 62 min. 27m.

Was here to see the bumblebee shrimp.. but no luck. Saw a new nudi..

Dive 338. Mandolin. Weight 2kg. Air in 205. Air out 45. 1113am. 21m.

Dive 339. Fukui. Weight 2kg. Air in 205. Air out 28. 1450 hrs. 24m. 72 min.

The other group DM air gauge was spoilt. So 4 of us had the same guide. Saw a leaf-fish, active brown-white slug and orang utan crab. Saw a small little purple candied crab too. The video light was out of batt just 30 min into the second dive.. zzz.

Last dive of the trip. Not bad. Slow easy dive. Ended dive with the one and only moray eel of the trip. Saw some nudis, dancing shrimps. And a giant clam.