Indonesia Hotels and Resorts
Kasawari Lembeh Resort
Kasawari Lembeh Resort, the newest addition to great dive properties in Indonesia, is located in the center of the Lembeh Strait within easy access to world-famous muck diving but also reef and wreck sites. The boutique resort was designed for discerning guests with a touch of luxury and hassle-free diving. There are eight deluxe villas and two Kasawari villas, all featuring an air-conditioned bedroom and both indoor and outdoor shower areas, and large private decks. Amenities include mini bars, safes, CD players, hair dryers, bath robes, ceiling fans, and WiFi. The larger Kasawari villas have the best views over the strait.
Kasawari has a beachfront infinity swimming pool, massage center and a top-notch restaurant serving international and Indonesian dishes. The excellent dive center has indoor and outdoor showers, separate changing rooms, individual dry lockers, large freshwater rinse tanks and an air-conditioned camera room with individual universal charging outlets. The specially designed three 39-foot dive boats carry a maximum of six divers with two guides each. Contrary to general perception, the Lembeh Strait also offers excellent wall, reef, pinnacle and even wreck diving with good visibility, all within a few minutes from the resort – look for giant sea fans, schools of jacks and snappers, purple dartfish, pink squat lobsters and boxer crabs. Small critters such as pygmy seahorses, hairy frogfish, stargazers, wunderpuses and flying gunards are pointed out by the expert dive guides, and you can join a dusk dive to observe the fascinating mating rituals of mandarinfish. Kasawari offers Nitrox.
Raja4Divers
Raja4Divers is a new dive resort located on a private island in Pulau Pef in Raja Ampat, about 65 miles from Sorong. The landscape of Pulau Pef consists of mountainous terrain covered in lush jungle, surrounded by spectacular bays, white sand beaches, coconut palms, pristine blue water mangroves, hidden lakes, blue lagoons, limestone islands, ancient rock art, incredible fauna and flora and some of the world’s richest reefs in every direction. Raja4Divers has only six large water bungalows with private bathrooms including an outdoor shower, spacious decks with hammocks and outdoor furniture, small refrigerators, safes and WiFi connection. Working together with the local villages, the resort has trained staff, curbed fishing on the reefs, and employs locals in construction, food production and customer care. This cooperation has halted overfishing and brought economic benefits to the remote area.
Underwater you can expect lush colorful soft corals and gorgonians, hard coral gardens teeming with life, large schools of fish, caverns and overhangs, WWII wrecks, adrenalin filled drift dives, giant manta rays, wobegong sharks, endemic walking sharks, macro critters, dolphins and whales, and pygmy seahorses as big as a grain of rice. Raja4Divers offers free Nitrox for those with Nitrox certification. Up to four boat dives are done each dive day, and the great house reef is available for divers and snorkelers. Other activities include kayaking around the islets, jungle walks, birdwatching, caving, and guided topside photo walks among others. For underwater photographers, the resort has a full imagining studio with resident expert to assist you. This little paradise is perfect for divers and non-divers alike with its incredible natural beauty and plethora of activities to choose from.
Misool Eco Resort
Located on a private island in Raja Ampat, Misool Eco Resort is fringed by powder-white beaches and protected by stunningly clear lagoons and abundant reefs. This truly eco-friendly resort has only nine deluxe water cottages and a brand-new beautiful villa, all built with indigenous materials by local artisans. Every single piece of construction wood and all the furniture was milled or carved from salvaged driftwood and free-fallen timbers, thus creating a living art gallery for all visitors and staff. While eco-friendly, the accommodations are luxurious with natural stone flooring, ceiling fans, air-conditioning (the walls are insulated and plastered to keep the cool in), full bathrooms, large verandas with inviting hammocks, and lovely views over the ocean even from your bed.
Misool’s location is perfect for the discriminating diver – Raja Ampat is home to over 1,200 species of fish and 700 species of mollusk, not to mention all the corals, smaller critters and pelagics such as the “walking” epaulette shark commonly seen on night dives on the house reef. Misool has worked with the local villages and in 2005 reached an agreement that protects 400 square kilometers of ocean around the resort from fishing and harvesting. Diving and snorkeling here is a treat for anyone making the journey – and the house reef exceptional and should not be missed. Raja Ampat is famous for its diversity and abundance, and the coral covered walls, reef flats, caves, sea mounts, lagoons and pinnacles are teeming with life for you to see. Misool’s lovely accommodations, gorgeous surroundings, great food and excellent service are other reasons you should not overlook this tropical haven.
Wakatobi is a small paradise located on a remote tropical island, accessible only by thrice weekly charter flights from Bali. Here you can access the wonderful diving and snorkeling at Banda Sea while enjoying world-class comfort in accommodations and service. Wakatobi has four different types of accommodations: four gorgeous villas, four select beach bungalows, nine beach bungalows and nine garden bungalows. The villas are modern in design and all have different features ranging from direct beach access to infinity plunge pool. Select beach bungalows are located directly on the beach and have large front porches. Standard beach bungalows also face the ocean, and the smaller garden bungalows are set amidst the tropical vegetation. All villas and bungalows have air-conditioning, private bathrooms and beautiful furnishings.
Wakatobi is known for its fabulous diving and snorkeling. The three mile long house reef is world-famous and provides an easy access to the underwater wonders. Although daily boat dives are offered, some divers are happy with the house reef and the wall beyond it to never go onboard. Just go in with your buddy, follow the reef and have one of the resort’s “taxi boats” follow and bring you back when you are done. Marine life is prolific and the reefs healthy – from nudibranchs to sharks, it’s all here. To make sure that you will see what goes on when the sun sets, don’t miss a night dive! After all that diving and snorkeling, relax in the spa or in your bungalow, and end the day with a great meal. Wakatobi is a family friendly resort and has a kids’ club to entertain the little ones while you are diving. The resort offers both Nitrox and Rebreather.
Siladen Resort & Spa is located on a lush tropical island next to the Bunaken Marine Park in Manado. The private and beautiful setting lends itself to romance, seclusion and comfort. There are only five beach villas and ten double garden view villas, all equipped with decks with sun beds, air-conditioning, minibars, satellite televisions, telephones and private bathrooms with hairdryers. The larger beach villas are perfectly positioned for private sunset views! Siladen has a pool, a restaurant with a bar, and you can have a private barbecue dinner prepared by the sea. The resort is rightly proud of its fantastic spa which offers a full range of traditional Indonesian massages, aromatherapy, body scrubs and more. You can enjoy your treatment in one of the comfortable massage rooms, open air massage pavilion or in the privacy of your villa.
Siladen has a fantastic house reef that will take even the most dedicated diver away from a dive or two – and night dives on the reef are a treat not to be missed. The main dive area, Bunaken Marine Park, has over forty different dive sites, and Siladen’s excellent dive staff will show you the best of the area. You can expect healthy reefs with colorful reef fish, dolphins, turtles, reef sharks, rays and sea snakes. A full range of PADI courses are offered. Other activities here include trekking, rafting, fishing and canyoning. Fishing can be arranged outside of the marine park area.
Kungkungan Bay Resort is located on the Sulawesi coast of Lembeh Strait. The resort was designed to have a minimum impact on the environment while offering all modern comforts. The resort has eight air-conditioned beachfront cottage suites with a large separate living room with a veranda, ceiling fan, minibar, hairdryer and a queen-size bed. The eight beachfront traditional houses are L-shaped and have two queen-size beds, ceiling fan, minibar, cable television and air-conditioning. For families, there is one family traditional house with two bedrooms; one with a king-size bed and one with two single beds plus all the amenities listed above. The beachfront villas are perfect for honeymooners and have a large open-style concept. The hillside two-story villa is the most private and has stunning views. Resort amenities include an infinity swimming pool with a swim-up bar, internet access, lending library and 24-hour restaurant service.
Kungkungan Bay Resort is a fantastic place for macro photography. Lembeh Strait plays host to a cornucopia of weird and wonderful creatures to be found here and here alone. Shallow black sandy slopes have abundance of seahorses and nudibranchs, as well as devilfish, dwarf lionfish, scorpionfish, puffer fish, octopus, Pegasus sea moths, frogfish, ribbon eels and flying gunnards. Truly a one-off opportunity for all photographers and anyone looking for the unusual and unseen, you're sure to see something that you have never seen before, no matter how experienced you are. The exceptional year-round weather conditions provide a variety of diving experiences, from muck dives on pure black volcanic sand to colorful coral reefs and enticing historic wrecks. The resort offers a full range of diving courses and Nitrox.
Lembeh Resort in North Sulawesi is a beautiful modern boutique resort with fantastic diving. The resort is surrounded by lush tropical gardens and blends into the landscape. Overlooking the strait, you are treated to glorious sunsets and gentle breezes. There are fourteen cottages with wide verandas for views. Choose from four traditional detached cottages, five cliff-side villas, one garden suite or two two-bedroom cottages perfect for families or friends traveling together. The traditional cottages overlook the strait and have private balconies. The cliff-side villas are worth the short climb: the views are incredible! The two-bedroom cottages have shared balcony and living room, which can sleep two extra people. All cottages have air-conditioning, ceiling fans, mini bars, personal safes, complimentary toiletries, hairdryers upon request, and drinking water. The garden suite has an inside bathroom, the others feature a Balinese-style open-air bathroom with both a bathtub and a shower or two showers. All the cottages are furnished with care with your comfort in mind.
Lembeh has a fresh-water swimming pool, a bar and restaurant, a library and media room with a satellite television, an internet room and a gift shop. There is a spa for massages and a selection of activities such as island tours to choose from. Your meals here feature local produce including fresh-squeezed juices and seasonal fruit, just-baked pastries and bread, and a wide variety of Indonesian and international dishes with a great selection of wines. Lembeh is known for its muck diving and incredible photo opportunities. Diving is great year around with a changing critter landscape throughout the months. From March to May, you may spot a whale shark or whales. The best critter season is generally from April to October when you are the most likely to see hairy frog fish, mating mimic octopus and countless other fascinating creatures. The resort’s dive shop has a large camera room and offers a full range of dive courses and free Nitrox.