The Incredible View & Marine Life at Bunaken Marine Park

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Bunaken Marine Park is a world heritage site. This Marine Park became known in 1975, discovered by divers Nusantara Diving Club (NDC), who conducted a diving expedition in Bunaken. Although local residents prohibited them from diving, the divers who came from Manado were not afraid. The local community believed that Bunaken was inhabited by evil spirits wandering around, so activities such as diving at that time were strictly prohibited in the Bunaken Marine Park area.
A Brief History of Bunaken
A group of fishermen who banned the divers were amazed and fearful when the divers wore masks and other diving equipment. The divers then plunged into the clear seawater to the dark bottom and disappeared on the edge of the abyss into the mysterious depths of the sea.
Together with the local community, the traditional fishermen noticed oxygen bubbles emerging from the depths of the sea. They assumed that the divers would not return safely. Moments later, their fear turned to admiration when they saw the divers emerge unharmed, and instead rejoiced and smiled.
The divers said they did not see the spirits as fishermen and local residents reported but saw amazing sea creatures that fishers had never seen before. The divers found rare fish and marine plants on the coral walls that are still pristine and preserved. According to them, the sea animals are very beautiful and make them amazed.
Bunaken is one of the ecosystems that have the most diversity of marine wealth in the world. Therefore, this area is designated as a national park. The Indonesian government has also registered Bunaken as an original Indonesian world heritage site to UNESCO starting in 2005. According to experts, Bunaken’s sea depth is about 4,000 feet inhabited by more than 2,000 species of fish, and there are about 500 species of coral that have never been found before. All of them are more than enough for divers to witness its beauty.
The underwater beauty of Bunaken and its surroundings exceeds the beauty of the seabed of the Antilles Great Barrier Reef islands of Australia and Eastern Canada. No wonder the number of visits to Bunaken increases every year.
Bunaken was first inhabited by residents who came from the migration of the Bowontehu kingdom in Manado Tua, which was founded in 1400. Its territory includes the northern coast of the Minahasa Peninsula, Bunaken Island, Siladen, Mantehage, Naen, Talise, Ganges, and Bangka Island.
Around 1850, the inhabitants of Tanjung Parigi moved to the southeast, on the coast opposite the city of Manado. Then they founded a new country with the name “Wunakeng,” hich is abbreviated from the word “Kinawunakeng,” which means a place to live.
In subsequent developments, changed the word “Wunakeng” to Bunaken, which was abbreviated from the word “Pamunakeng” which means a place to land. People from the Bowontehu kingdom in Manado Tua landed by boat on the island, now called Bunaken.

The Beauty Served at Bunaken
Bunaken National Marine Park is located in the bay of Manado, Sulawesi, Indonesia. This tourist spot in Manado is famous for its underwater beauty worldwide and is a favorite for tourists visiting Manado. Diving into the underwater beauty of Bunaken National Park is one of the activities that you must do when visiting Manado.
Bunaken Island is one of five islands in the Bunaken National Park. The other four islands are Siladen Island, Manado Tua Island, Matehage Island, and Naen Island. Bunaken marine park is one of Manado’s mainstay tourism objects. Here you can see the beauty of coral reefs that are still well maintained, and various fish live under the Bunaken sea.
This tourist spot in Manado is one of the best dive sites in Indonesia that has 39 dive points with varying depths of up to thousands of meters. Here you can find various marine life in their natural nature that is unique, colorful, clean, and well-maintained. Several coral reefs in Bunaken marine park will amaze you with their beauty. In addition, the unique thing about Bunaken Marine Park is that there are great underwater walls or hanging walls or giant coral walls (a cliff), that stand vertically and curve downwards at a depth of 25-50 meters. This coral wall is also a source of food for fish in the waters around Bunaken waters.
For those who can’t swim, there are other options to enjoy this underwater paradise in Bunaken. In addition to diving or snorkeling, you can rent a submarine that has been specially designed with a boat wall. The ship is in the form of transparent glass so you can easily see the scenery under the sea in the waters of Bunaken.
Best Time to Visit Bunaken
The best time to dive in Bunaken waters is between May-August. The water here is clearer at this time, so you can more clearly see the variety of marine life in Bunaken Marine Park. In addition, the air temperature is also ideal for those of you who want to dive.
To be able to enjoy this Underwater Tour, you only pay Rp. 350.000,- by using the boat that you rent at Pasar Bersehati at a rate of Rp. 300,000, – up to Rp. 400,000, – an. If you are from Marina, the fare is around Rp. 600,000-Rp. 800,000. But if you want cheaper, you can use a traditional boat at a rate of Rp. 50,000 per person. To enter this tourist area, you have to buy an entrance ticket with prices ranging from Rp. 25,000-Rp. 50.000/person who can be purchased in Manado or directly at Bunaken National Park.
Let’s visit Bunaken Marine Park with friends, family, and loved ones to Bunaken Marine Park. Make new experience visiting Bunaken Marine Park is supported by the beauty of the sea view and the richness of the amazing underwater biota. To maintain this,tourists from Indonesia and foreign countries who visit here should maintain their natural preservation by not polluting or damaging this marine park.
Before you plan a trip to Bunaken, be sure to read more about Bunaken and Indonesia by visiting Wonderful Indonesia.