Cela Cela
Protected Area
KK Kota Manado
Why dive here
With 238+ marine species recorded in the area - including blacktip reef sharks, giant moray eels, pygmy seahorses, seahorses and sperm whales - Cela Cela offers some of Sulawesi's richest diving. Water ranges 29-31°C, warmest June, October, November.
Cela Cela is one of those places you end up talking about for months afterwards. We hit it on a morning tide, and the current was just enough to give us a gentle drift along the wall. The reef here is a masterclass in coral health, with massive thickets of staghorn stretching out like underwater forests. You’ll spot schools of sapphire demoiselles flitting between the branches, a shimmering blue cloud against the coral’s muted greens and browns. We loved the sheer number of whitetip reef sharks patrolling the deeper sections. Not shy either, just cruising by, looking for an easy meal. Keep an eye out for the smaller stuff too; we found a few wasp pygmy gobies tucked into the crevices, barely visible against the rough coral. This site is great for anyone who appreciates a vibrant, healthy reef with good chances of seeing larger pelagics and a decent drift to take it all in. Definitely one of our favourite dives in the region.
Nearest Dive Centres to Cela Cela
Dive shops near Cela Cela
Panorama Dive Center
Bunaken Oasis Dive Resort
Fish In Air Bunaken
3WILL Bunaken
Siladen Resort & Spa
Celebes Divers
Reviews for Cela Cela
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Cela Cela
Cela Cela Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for Cela Cela, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU) - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (1.5, 124.75) (0km away)
October Averages
Sea Temperature
30°C
87°F · Range: 29.6–31.2°C
Current Speed
1 cm/s
Direction: W (270°)
Chlorophyll-a
0.099 mg/m³
Very clear (oligotrophic)
Salinity
33.17 PSU
Based on 4 years of monitoring data · Data sources: Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU)
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