Liveaboard to Sangihe Talaud Islands

Date: 11 - 19 October 2008
Duration: 9 days

Highlights:

7 days of fabulous diving on board the MV Serenade (diving these waters since 1992) covering the crescent-shaped chain of volcanic islands just north of Manado in North Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Deep trenches on either side of the islands funnel vast amounts of current borne nutrients to shallower depths. This means that practically the whole aquatic food chain is present in these waters. From marine mammals such as dolphins and pilot whales, predator pelagics of all kind, thousands of species of smaller reef dwellers, as well as hard and soft corals in brilliant abundance.

The abundant reef life in these waters including white tips, large groupers, Napoleon wrasses, mantas, eagle rays, barracudas, schooling fish and reef fish and corals. Macro favourites include nudibranchs and weirder critters frogfishes, leaf fishes, scorpions etc.

Trip will run with 10 divers maximum

Boat: The MV Serenade
Deck layout and vessel details: http://www.murexdive.com/Serenade.html

Requirements:

Very Experienced divers only - tricky currents, deep dives


Itinerary:

Trip Itinerary: Subject to change dependent on actual weather conditions:

Oct 11: Transfer from airport to Murex Dive Resort. Cruise departs from Murex late afternoon ~5pm and proceeds north passing top of Sulawesi island towards Sangihe Islands
Oct 12: Arrive early morning in Siau Island. Dive Siau all day / night dive available. Continue to cruise further north
Oct 13: Dive Mahengetang Island and Underwater volcano. Night dive available. In the evening cruise back south.
Oct 14: Dive Para and Bawondeke Islands. At night, see the lava flow from Mount Karangetang on Siau. Night dive available. Cruise further south
Oct 15: Dive Tagulandang, Ruang or Biaro Island. Night dive available. Cruise to Bangka / Talise
Oct 16: Dive Talise / Bangka / Pulisan areas. Night dive available. Cruise to Bunaken National Park
Oct 17: Dive outer parts of Bunaken : Naen and Montehage islands.
Oct 18: Dive location either in Bunaken/group vote.
Arrive back to Murex Resort late afternoon. Overnight in Murex.
Oct 19: Departure - transfer to Manado airport between 9am - 5pm.

Dive Sites:

Coordinators:
Participants (8):