Siladen 2 - Sulawesi
Siladen 2 is one of those sites we always try to hit when we're in Bunaken. It’s a gentle drift along a sloping reef, easy enough for newer divers but with plenty to keep the seasoned pros entertained. You’re typically dropping in somewhere around 15 metres, often right into a thick forest of staghorn coral. The sheer density of it is impressive, and those sapphire demoiselles flash through the branches like tiny jewels. Keep an eye out for the small stuff here. We've often found Stobbs' pygmygobies tucked away, and the pale dwarfgobies are a common sight if you’re patient. The real magic, though, is how the light plays on the reef. It filters down through the shallows, illuminating the vibrant table corals and the occasional tailface sleeper hovering near the sandy patches. While a whale shark is a rare treat, we love Siladen 2 for its consistent, relaxed beauty. It’s a dive that rewards slow exploration.
- Location
- Sulawesi, Indonesia, Southeast Asia
- Coordinates
- 1.624023, 124.807980
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
- 45 Bananas - 10-30m (reef)
- Aer Bajo 2
- Aer Banua 1
- Aer Banua 3 - 5-25m (reef)
- Air Prang
- Alung banua - 15-35m (wall)
- Angels Window Bukabuka Isl. - 15-40m (reef)
- Angels Window Bukabuka Isl. (reef)
- Angel Window (cave)
- Annie point
- Apollo
- Apollo (reef)
- Apollo - 15-30m (wreck)
- Apollo (reef)
- Aringkambin - 5-25m (reef)
Nearest Dive Centres to Siladen 2
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
- Species code: Ea (Enhalus acoroides) - Seagrass & Algae
- thalassia (Thalassia hemprichii) - Seagrass & Algae
- Staghorn coral (Acropora cerealis) - Hard Corals
- Small giant clam (Tridacna maxima) - Clams & Mussels
- Boring Clam (Tridacna crocea) - Clams & Mussels
- seagrass (Halophila ovalis) - Seagrass & Algae
- Branch coral (Acropora florida) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora caroliniana) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora hyacinthus) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora indonesia) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora humilis) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora solitaryensis) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora selago) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora austera) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora tenuis) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora acuminata) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora yongei) - Hard Corals
- Table coral (Acropora clathrata) - Hard Corals
- Pink anemonefish (Amphiprion perideraion) - Reef Fish
- cymodocea (Cymodocea rotundata) - Seagrass & Algae
Recommended Packing List for Siladen 2
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