Diving in Sulawesi
Why dive here
Sulawesi offers some of Indonesia's richest diving, with 238+ marine species recorded in the area - including blacktip reef sharks, giant moray eels, pygmy seahorses, seahorses and sperm whales. Water ranges 29-30°C, warmest April, May, November.
Sulawesi is a big place, so we’re talking several distinct dive personalities here. Bunaken Marine Park, for example, is all about those dizzying walls. You drop down, the blue stretching forever, and you just drift along, watching reef sharks patrol the edge and turtles munching on sponges. We love the sheer scale of it, and often the thermoclines bring in bigger pelagics. Then you’ve got Lembeh Strait. Forget wide-angle lenses; this is macro heaven. It’s not "pretty" in the usual sense; the volcanic sand slopes can look a bit desolate topside. But get under, and it’s an alien landscape. We’ve spent entire dives watching a flamboyant cuttlefish hunt or finding hairy frogfish tucked into a sponge. It’s slow diving, eyes to the sand, and truly rewarding. Wakatobi, further south, is a different beast entirely. Think vibrant, healthy reefs that just explode with colour. Our favourite spots there are usually the sheltered coves where the light filters through the soft corals, making everything glow. You’ll see schools of fusiliers so thick they block the sun, and the coral structures themselves are just immense. The currents can pick up, especially around the full moon, but that’s when the reef comes alive with feeding action. Overall, whether you’re into big walls, tiny critters, or pristine reefs, Sulawesi offers it. Just be prepared to travel a bit between the regions to experience the full spectrum.
Sulawesi Dive Site Map
Dive sites and dive centres in Sulawesi
Sulawesi Dive Sites
319 dive sites in Sulawesi
45 Bananas
45 Bananas offers a gentle slope in Sulawesi, a good spot for newer divers to get comfortable. You’ll typically drift past a decent spread of hard and soft corals, keeping an eye out for resident reef fish and the occasional turtle passing by. Visibility here is usually consistent, making for relaxed viewing. It’s a solid choice for a pleasant, undemanding dive.
Aer Bajo 2
Aer Bajo 2 in Sulawesi offers a good drift dive experience. We often see reef sharks patrolling the deeper sections and plenty of schooling fusiliers further up the reef wall. It’s a site best suited for divers comfortable with moderate currents who enjoy pelagic encounters.
Aer Banua 1
Aer Banua 1, off Sulawesi, offers a look at a fairly typical Indonesian reef. We’ve found a mix of hard and soft corals here, providing shelter for the usual reef fish and some smaller critters if you take the time to search. It’s a good spot for a relaxed dive, especially if you’re looking for something gentle between more energetic drift dives. Suits photographers who like to move slowly.
Aer Banua 3
Aer Banua 3, located in Sulawesi, offers a straightforward dive. Expect to see a good variety of the usual reef fish – fusiliers, snapper, and the occasional batfish school. It's a reliable spot for a second or third dive of the day, appealing to divers who appreciate consistent, comfortable conditions without too much drama.
Air Prang
Air Prang on Sulawesi presents a straightforward dive, often appreciated for its quieter atmosphere. You can expect to drift along a sloping reef, keeping an eye out for nudibranchs and the occasional passing reef shark. It’s a good choice for divers looking for a relaxed exploration rather than a high-octane pelagic encounter.
Alung banua
Alung banua, for us, is one of those places that feels like stepping into a fish tank, only it’s 20 metres down and you’re breathing compressed air. We’ve seen a lot of healthy staghorn coral in our time, but here it just stretches out, massive fields of it, giving cover to countless little residents. Look close, and you’ll find the bluespotted shrimpgobies meticulously tending their burrows, always with their shrimp bodyguard close by. It’s a perfect spot for the macro fanatics, but honestly, even if you just enjoy drifting and taking it all in, Alung banua delivers. Our favourite find here is always the pink anemonefish. They’re just everywhere, little flashes of colour tucked into their host anemones, sometimes so curious they’ll come right up to your mask. And while the big stuff isn’t the main draw, those black sea cucumbers are surprisingly large here, just slowly munching their way across the sand patches. We’d suggest going in the morning; the light really brings out the colours of the table corals. It’s a gentle dive, generally calm, so it’s great for those who like to take their time and really explore.
Angels Window Bukabuka Isl.
Angels Window on Bukabuka Island is a relaxed wall dive that offers a pleasant experience without being overly challenging. The main draw is a small opening in the reef, about 6 metres down, that lets sunlight stream through – it really does create a bright, ethereal window effect. We often see schooling purple anthias here, along with various butterflyfish picking their way across the corals. Keep an eye out for dogtooth tuna or jacks cruising past in the blue. It’s a good spot for a second dive, maxing out at 18 metres, and the visibility is usually excellent, around 29 metres.
Angels Window Bukabuka Isl.
Channel Rock is one of those places you motor out to and wonder what all the fuss is about, just a bit of ripple on the surface. But drop in, and it’s a revelation. This granite pinnacle, sitting between Praslin and La Digue, is pure Seychelles. We love the way the light filters down through the water, illuminating the golden encrusting sponges and those striking orange Tubastrea corals clinging to the rock face. Forget sprawling reefs here. This site is all about the fish life that congregates around the rock. The banded thicklips are a constant, chunky presence, and we’ve spotted scarlet wrasse darting between crevices. Keep an eye out for loggerhead turtles cruising past; they often use the rock as a navigation point. For us, the highlight is often those smaller, more intricate residents – the high hat triplefins perched on the rock, or the inquisitive spotted hawkfish. It’s a site that rewards a slow, observant dive. Dive it in the morning for the best light, and if there’s a little current, just drift with it around the pinnacle. Channel Rock really shines for divers who appreciate the subtle drama of a well-placed pinnacle. It’s a vibrant, fish-dense dive, perfect for photographers focusing on macro and medium-sized reef fish.
Angel Window
Angel Window in Sulawesi is a good choice for divers who enjoy exploring caves. Entry involves swimming through a narrow opening, which widens into a cavern illuminated by light shafts from above. You'll find yourself in a large chamber with a sandy bottom, keeping an eye out for the odd reef shark resting in the deeper sections. It’s not a long dive, but the light show is worth it, especially midday.
Annie point
Annie Point offers a straightforward wall dive in Sulawesi. You'll find a decent concentration of reef fish along the corals, which are generally healthy. It’s a good spot for a relaxed dive, without strong currents, suiting divers who prefer a more tranquil exploration of the reef rather than big pelagic action.
Apollo
Chicken Reef is one of those places that, on paper, sounds like a lot of other Raja Ampat sites – shallow, coral reef. But it consistently delivers something genuinely different. What we really love here isn't the big stuff, it’s the sheer density of the small, weird, and wonderful. Dive in and you're immediately enveloped by the usual suspects: schools of fusiliers and surgeonfish thick enough to dim the light, darting between the healthy coral heads. But get close, really close, and the macro life reveals itself. We've spent entire dives here with our noses practically pressed against a bommie, finding Pygmy seahorses, tiny blennies peeking out of coral crevices, and more nudibranchs than you can shake a stick at. Look for the delicate Snakehead Cowrie or the almost invisible Seastar Shrimp. The currents can be quite frisky, so it’s a dive where you want to be comfortable with your buoyancy and happy to tuck in behind the reef when things pick up. It's a spot for patient divers, the ones who get a thrill from spotting a Minute Triplefin or a Flame Cardinalfish camouflaged perfectly against the reef. We'd suggest going slow, letting the current carry you gently past, and keeping your eyes peeled low on the corals.
Apollo
Apollo, off the coast of Sulawesi, often gets overlooked for some of its flashier neighbours, but it’s a solid dive. We’ve found pygmy seahorses here on multiple occasions, tucked away in the gorgonians, and it’s a reliable spot for frogfish if you take your time. Conditions can vary, so it suits divers who are comfortable with potential mild currents and who appreciate a slower pace to find the smaller stuff. It's a good alternative when other sites are crowded.
Sulawesi Dive Centres
17 dive shops and operators in Sulawesi
3WILL Bunaken
Black Marlin
Bunaken Oasis Dive Resort
Celebes Divers
Cocotinos Manado A Boutique Dive & Spa
Fish In Air Bunaken
GORONTALO DIVE
Kadiriri Paradise
Ocean Wildlife in Sulawesi
238 species recorded in Sulawesi
Sulawesi Daylight & Sunrise/Sunset
Sunrise and sunset times for Sulawesi, calculated from coordinates
Today - Monday 24 August
Sunrise
05:46
Sunset
17:53
Daylight
12h 8m
Golden Hour
17:26
First light (dawn) at 05:25 · Last light (dusk) at 18:15
Monthly Averages
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 05:53 | 17:58 | 12h 5m |
| Feb | 05:58 | 18:04 | 12h 6m |
| Mar | 05:53 | 17:59 | 12h 6m |
| Apr | 05:43 | 17:51 | 12h 8m |
| May | 05:39 | 17:48 | 12h 9m |
| JunLongest | 05:43 | 17:52 | 12h 9m |
| Jul | 05:48 | 17:57 | 12h 9m |
| AugNow | 05:48 | 17:56 | 12h 8m |
| Sep | 05:39 | 17:46 | 12h 7m |
| Oct | 05:30 | 17:36 | 12h 6m |
| Nov | 05:29 | 17:34 | 12h 5m |
| DecShortest | 05:39 | 17:44 | 12h 5m |
Times are approximate local times based on longitude. Actual times may vary slightly depending on the exact timezone observed in Sulawesi.
Where to Stay near Sulawesi
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Marine Protected Areas near Sulawesi
9 protected areas near Sulawesi - please respect local regulations when diving
Kepulauan Togean
KK Teluk Gorontalo
Bunaken
KK Gorontalo Utara
KAWASAN KONSERVASI PERAIRAN DAERAH BOALEMO
KK Kota Manado
KK Boalemo
KK Minahasa
Desa Olele (Bone Bolango)
Getting to Sulawesi
Manado
Luwok
Poso-Celebes Island
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