Alung banua - Sulawesi

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.

Location
Sulawesi, Indonesia, Southeast Asia
Coordinates
1.617484, 124.756000
Type
wall
Maximum Depth
15-35m

Marine Protected Area: KK Kota Manado

Best Time to Dive in Sulawesi

The warmest water temperatures in Sulawesi occur in November, averaging 30.4°C. The coolest conditions are in September at 28.7°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 29.5°C
  • February: 29.4°C
  • March: 29.8°C
  • April: 30.3°C
  • May: 30.3°C
  • June: 29.7°C
  • July: 29.1°C
  • August: 28.8°C
  • September: 28.7°C
  • October: 29.5°C
  • November: 30.4°C
  • December: 30.2°C

Nearby Dive Sites in Sulawesi

Nearest Dive Centres to Alung banua

Marine Life in Sulawesi

Home to 252 recorded species including 162 reef fish, 53 hard corals, 9 seagrass & algae, 9 sea snails & nudibranchs, 6 clams & mussels, 4 sea cucumbers.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for Alung banua

Based on average water temperature of 29.7°C, currents 4 cm/s.

  • Shorty or Rashguard - warm 30°C water needs minimal exposure protection
  • Mask - essential for every dive
  • Fins
  • BCD - buoyancy compensator
  • Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
  • Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
  • Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
  • Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
  • Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories