Manado-Maratua-Kakaban-Sangalaki

 

Starting with world famous muck diving in Lembeh we cross the Celebes Sea to Islands of Sambit, Maratua, Sangalaki, & Kakaban.  Here you will find both large and small marine life in abundance; potential for thresher sharks, manta rays, white-tips & nurse sharks, huge schools of barracuda, many turtles, and even Whale Shark! Not to mention plenty of macro life to keep even the most experienced of divers happy, plus non-stinging jellyfish in the fresh water Lake of Kakaban

Sample Itinerary

Note:  All schedules are subjected to changes according to weather, sea, diving, & local conditions.

Day 1. (0-2 dives) 5pm. Our staff will meet you upon arrival to Manado Airport & transfer you to White Manta.  Depending on arrival time, we can do 1-2 critter dives in Lembeh..

Day 2. (3-4 dives) Muck Diving along Manado coastal Islands

Day 3. (3 dives) Muck Diving along Manado coaster Islands, long over night crossing to Pulau Sambit

Day 4-5. (4 dives x2 days) Diving around Pulau Sambit.

Day 6.  (3-4 dives) Diving around Maratua island; huge schools of chevron barracudas, and big-eye jacks at the mouth of the channel.   Look out for the shark action with possible sightings of hammerhead sharks too!

Day 7. (4 dives) Diving around Kakaban with stunning wall dives & visiting the amazing fresh water Jellyfish lake.

Day 8. (3-4 dives) Diving around Sangalaki looking for manta rays, turtles & more! We also have a chance to visit the beach to watch hatching baby turtles make their dash to the sea!

Day 9. (1-2 dives) Looking for whale sharks at local fishing “bagans”, then sail back to Tg Batu Port Sailing time 5 hours.  Last night sleeping on White Manta in the harbour.  Plenty of time to wash & dry equipment, rest & relaxation, and if need be, an early flight on trip departure day.

Day 10. (0 dives) 6am-8am. Check out after a light breakfast, farewells, and transfer to local hotel or Berau Airport (recommended Batik Air flight ID 6341 Berau (BEJ) to Jakarta (CGK); ETD BEJ 09:30am - ETA CGK 11:05am Batik Air ID6341 OR ID 6347 Berau (BEJ) to Jakarta (CGK); ETD BEJ 14:20pm - ETA-CGK 17:50pm)

Diving days: 9 days (26 dives. Some dives may be substituted for island tour)

Embarkation / Disembarkation

  • Bitung Port, Manado (MDC) /
  • Berau Airport (BEJ), East Kalimantan, Indonesia. Note: Transfer from New White Manta/ Tg.Batu pier, Indonesia, 2-2.5 hours by local minibus.

How to get to Manado (MDC)

  • We will be there to transfer you to the White Manta.  Airport transfer to Bitung Port 1 hour.
  • From Bali Lion Air daily flights via Makassar/ Surabaya.  From Jakarta direct with Garuda Indonesia
  • International, from Singapore direct flights with Silk Air.  Or fly to Jakarta and catch early morning Domestic flight
  • Note; if staying in Manado, please review our ‘Hotels in Manado’ section in the Celebes Sea Fact Sheet for included pickups for local hotel in Bitung area or Sam Ratulangi Airport, Manado (transfer time 1 hour).   Manado City hotels are NOT included in our free pickups.  If NOT local then OWN way from hotel to Manado Airport or Bitung Port.

How to get from Berau (BEJ), Indonesia

  • From White Manta/ Tanjung Batu pier, Indonesia.  2 hours 30 mins by car to Berau Airport.
  • Direct flights back to Jakarta on either morning or afternoon direct flights with Batik Air & Citilink
  • If flying to Singapore, then can fly to Balikpapan (BPN) with Batik Air or Wings Air, then Scoot Air back to Singapore.

Dive Site Information (Lembeh)

  • Water Temp: 27-30 degrees Celsius
  • Air Temp: 27-32 degrees Celsius
  • Visibility: 20-30 meters,
  • Currents: mild ,
  • Level: intermediate to advanced,
  • Best Time to Dive: all year round
  • What to See/ Highlights: macro heavan with weird & wonderful critters all around

Dive Site Information (Sambit-Sangalaki)

  • Water Temp: 28-30 degrees Celsius
  • Air Temp: 28-30 degrees Celsius
  • Visibility: 10-30 meters,
  • Currents: mild to medium ,
  • Level: beginners to advanced,
  • Best Time to Dive: start of May to end of October
  • What to See/ Highlights: Pelagic; Manta rays, hammerheads, barracuda, jacks, tuna, & more. Reef; amazing soft corals, turtles, leopard & reef sharks, harlequin shrimps, pygmy seahorses, frogfish, ribbon eels, cuttlefish, nudis, & usual suspects

What's included?

  • Round trip transfer local Hotel/Airport - Boat
  • All nights' accommodation on Boat
  • All meals (Western & Indonesian) snacks, hot beverages, coffee, tea, Milo, soft drinks
  • Towels, toiletries, & cabin services
  • FOC replacement if equipment breakdown
  • Warm towel & drink after every dive
  • Regular air tanks, weights, belt, 6 dive guides (1x instructor, 5x dive masters)

What's excluded?

  • All flights & hotels stay
  • Marine Park & Harbour fee  
  • Dive & Travel insurance
  • Fuel surcharge (if applicable). Please see our Booking Information page 'Fuel surcharge' section for more details and fees per person.
  • Massage services
  • Laundry services
  • Nespresso coffee, alcohol; beer & wine
  • Satellite Wi-Fi
  • Diving gear: Dive computer, torch, large tank, BCD, regulator, wetsuit, fins, mask.
  • Nitrox Enriched Air fills
  • Note; Nitrox & diving gear Items priced per diving day and are subject to availability.
  • Note: Exposure suits; 3mm shorty wetsuits available ONLY. 

Trip Schedule

  • Departure; 5pm, 1st day - Bitung Port, Manado, North Sulawesi. Or earlier if everyone arrives before and all trip preparations completed. Free transfer from local hotel or Sam Ratulangi Airport, Manado to White Manta on trip departure day (transfer time 1 hour).
  • Return: 6am, last day - Tg. Batu Pier, East Kalimantan.  We arrive back the evening before.  On last day after a light breakfast and fond farewells, we will take you to Kalimarau Airport, Berau in time for check-in & flight (transfer time 2-2.5 hours). Note: Latest WM check-out midday, trip return day.
  • Last dive ends: 12pm (midday), penultimate day.  Plenty of time for R&R while we sail back to Tg. Batu pier where we spend the last night on White Manta.  This also allows for your minimum 18 hours surface interval/ No Fly Time (as recommended by PADI) before flying the next day.

Additional Trip Information

Travel Documents

  • Please see our Travel & Visa Information page to help prepare and plan in advance for your travels and entry into Indonesia, as detailed by the Government of Indonesia.
  • Guest Info. We MUST receive guest’s details well in advance in the trip.  Note: Late receipt of passport details may very likely lead to delayed departure & significant changes to the itinerary.
  • Visa On Arrival (VOA), single entry is now available for many countries and Visa Exemption Arrangement (VEP) for some ASEAN countries for stay up to 30 days. VOA cost: IDR 500,000 (approx. EUR 32 / USD 35). Payment can be done by: Visa, Mastercard or Debit Card or Cash Indonesian Rupiah (IDR). You may also apply for an eVOA prior to your travel, making it super easy. Note: Please check here for eligibity. If you are from one of countries not on the VOA or VEA lists, or if you simply wish to get a visa in advance, you MUST apply for an eVisa (B211A) online PRIOR to arrival before entering all other airports.
  • Passport. Please ensure your passport is in good order, has enough pages, is valid for at least 6 months, and that you are able to enter Indonesia. Check with your local Embassy of Indonesia if unsure.
  • Departure Tax. Indonesia Passenger Service Charge (IPSC) has changed to be included in your flight ticket price. Please check though as previously it was 200,000IDRp to leave Indonesia, & up to 100,000IDRp for domestic flights. Carry small bills, Indonesia Rupiah preferred, as often no change given.

Domestic Flights

  • Please book BEFORE confirming your International flights to ensure you make your connection to Manado & from Berau.
  • Travel agent: If you require assistance with your itinerary: obtaining an e-visa, booking domestic flight tickets, hotels, transfers, and additional land arrangements etc, we can recommend local Indonesian Travel agents, our friends at Come2Indonesia.  Contact the team here tour2@come2indonesia.com.. Note: If booked with credit card please ensure the card is with you upon check-In or have an official Airline form filled in & signed by card holder authorizing the use of.
  • Our ticketing agents are not responsible for any flight delay or cancellation, luggage lost or delay. In any case, please contact our ground staff in Bali for assistance for flight delay issue.
  • Domestic Airlines normally have 20kg allowance, although you may pay for 10kg extra when booking, if needed (around US$3/kilo). With an additional 7kg carryon.

Health & Insurance

  • Dive Insurance:  Compulsory for this trip.  We also strongly advise you get adequate travel insurance. Please check your travel insurance policy for your diving needs.  If not covered then we recommend DiveAssure for their single trip policy cover.
  • Dive Computer: Compulsory on this trip.  We have rentals onboard if you do not have.
  • Follow Safe Diving Practices at ALL times plus No Deco Diving and No Solo Diving.
  • Travel insurance is compulsory for our trips. Our trips are not inclusive of any form of insurance. White Manta Diving cannot be held responsible for any trip disruption or cancellation due to unforeseen circumstances beyond our control, or any flight/ hotel expenses/ medical/ extraction/ delay/ refusal of admittance to the country or your trip, before, during or after. We strongly recommend all guests purchase adequate travel insurance, as such an occurance will affect all guests on trip. Please see our Booking Information page 'Travel Insurance' section for more details and recommended insurers.
  • Malaria Zone: NOTE that in this part of Indonesia we advise you take the proper precautions against malaria.  The following anti-malaria drugs are considered safe with diving; Doxycycline or Malarone.  Mefloquine (Lariam) is NOT recommended with diving.  Good preventative measures include DEET and long armed/legged clothing in evenings. If unsure consult a diving doctor.

Internet/ Mobile

  • Satellite Wi-Fi
  • Mobile signal; local Telkomsel is best local card to buy.  Not long after you leave port we have has intermittent/ limited mobile signal until we return.
  • Telkomsel prepaid card is the best value. Plus can add credit to top up!!!

Trip Extras payment onboard

  • By Credit card comes with 4.5% additional handling fee.
  • By Cash we accept US Dollars, Euro, Singaporean Dollars, and Indonesian Rupiah.  Please ensure ALL bills are in good order; NOT worn or torn and unmarked or we are UNABLE to accept.  ATMs available in town.

Trip Extras

  • Marine Park & Harbour fee: US$250 per person (collected in advance of trip).
  • Fuel Surcharge fee: US$200 per person (collected in advance of trip).
  • Massage US$35/ hour, laundry services US$10/ basket
  • Nespresso coffee: US$2, beer US$4, wine US$30-50
  • Satellite Wi-Fi: US$35 per person/ 10Gb card.
  • Nitrox: US$20/ diving day or US$7/ fill.

Equipment rental

Diving gear: Full Set US$50/ diving day (except large tank & torch) ONLY if paid in advance of the trip, else individual rates apply per diving day**

  • BCD US$15
  • Regulator US$15
  • Dive computer US$15
  • Wetsuit US$10
  • Fins US$10
  • Mask US$10
  • Large tank US$15
  • Torch** US$15 per sunset/ night dive.

Diving gear items priced per diving day**. Please provide sizes in advance of the trip, as all gear is subject to availability. If not known then provide your height, weight, shoe size, where applicable.

  • Note: Torch rental** price is per sunset/ night dive.
  • Note: Exposure suits: 3mm shorty wetsuits available ONLY.    
  • Note: Large tank AL100, 100 cu ft (13.2 liters)
  • Note: Gear included: Regular air tank AL80, 80 cu ft (11.1 liters), weights, belt.
  • Note: Additional tank US$15/ day

TRIP BOOKING