Bunaken snorkeling: reef flats, shore access and current sense

By Bunaken Island Editorial Desk

Sourced figures: prices in the table carry their source and date. Fees and fares change, and they are third-party figures, not our offers.

Bunaken snorkeling rests on shallow reef flats sitting on top of deep walls, and Wikivoyage puts the reef about 40 m from shore. Scuba Guide rates it among Indonesia's better snorkelling parks, and whether a given swim works depends on current and tide, so ask locally before you enter the water.

How good is Bunaken snorkeling?

Scuba Guide rates it among Indonesia's better snorkelling parks, and whether a given swim works depends on current and tide. Its reason is the reef flats on top of the same walls covered in our Bunaken diving guide. Wikivoyage adds that more casual snorkelers and non-divers now visit, though tourism has long been geared to divers. So ask whether a boat outing is designed around snorkelers, or whether you would be sharing a site chosen for a dive group.

The sources disagree on depth. Neptune Liveaboards says the reef flats sit in one to three metres of water. Siladen Resort says all reefs around the park's islands suit snorkeling and come up as shallow as 3 m. One treats three metres as the deep end of the flat, the other as the shallowest point. Both are operators, so expect depth to vary by reef and by the state of the tide. The resort's "all reefs" line is also broad, and its own notes on one site, covered below, narrow it.

Can you snorkel from the shore?

Often, yes. Wikivoyage says the snorkeling is strong in front of many resorts, especially the village, and that the reef lies about 40 m from shore. Treat 40 m as a general figure from a community guide, not a measurement for your particular beach, and ask your host how far the reef edge is from your own stretch of sand.

Wikivoyage advises fins and a reference point because currents can change quickly. Ask your host or a boat crew when and where swimming is advisable that day, and tell someone on shore when you expect to return.

Shore access also depends on where you sleep on Bunaken Island. If swimming straight off the beach is the point of your trip, raise it when comparing beds on our where to stay in Bunaken page, and ask each place to describe its own entry at low water.

How do tide and current change a snorkel?

Wikivoyage warns against walking on corals when you return at low tide, and suggests a kayak as the safest way to reach snorkeling spots. Neptune Liveaboards' one to three metres is a reminder of how little water can sit over a flat, and standing on it damages the reef you came to see.

Siladen Resort gives the clearest example of current setting the limit. It says snorkeling at Fukui is possible only when there is little current. A reef that one source names as suitable can therefore be off the list on the day you arrive. Put these questions to your host or crew each day:

1. When will the water drop at this spot today?
2. What is the current doing at this spot today, not in general?
3. Where is swimming advisable today, and where is it not?
4. If the flat is too shallow to float over on the way back, what route do you suggest instead of walking on the coral?

Broader risks, including boats and medical access, sit on our page asking is Bunaken safe.

Which reef tops do sources name?

Five places come up by name in our sources, along with the village front. Each entry rests on one source, and one of those sources, Siladen Resort, sells stays here, so use the table as a starting list for questions.

The Indonesia Guide calls Muka Kampung a gentler sloping reef, good for beginners and snorkellers. It gives no current data, so ask about conditions on the day. The sources on this page offer no neutral ranking of Bunaken's snorkeling spots, so we do not publish one.

Can snorkelers ride along on dive boats?

Some do, according to travel blogs, on terms that vary by boat. Remote + Afloat, writing in 2018, says it paid a per-person charge to join Panorama Dive Resort's boat and snorkelled at four locations. Travelnania says some operators allow it for a variable fee. The Slow Road, in 2016, describes drifting above the divers until the boat collected it.

Swimming from shore is a different exercise. The Slow Road, in a 2016 personal account, describes snorkelling against the current first when leaving from shore. That is one traveller's habit, not safety advice, and Wikivoyage warns that currents can change quickly. Travelnania reports about 20 minutes of swimming each way to the drop-off from one beach, a long way from Wikivoyage's general 40 m figure. These are personal accounts from single trips, so take them to your host or crew and ask what applies on the day.

Will you see turtles from the surface?

You may, but nobody can promise it. Scuba Guide says turtles are commonly seen on the Lekuan side, and "commonly" is a publisher's word with no count behind it. Give any turtle you meet room, and do not chase or touch it. Our profile of the Lekuan wall covers that stretch in detail, and the Bunaken turtles guide sets the different sighting claims side by side.

What should you ask before joining a boat?

Send these before you pay:

• Which reef top is the plan, and what is the fallback if the current is running there?
• Does a guide get in the water, and how many guests does each guide look after? Siladen Resort says it offers snorkelers one guide per four guests, which is one resort's practice and a handy yardstick, not a park rule.
• Does the boat stay with swimmers, or does it drop them and move on with divers?
• Is the timing set around the tide, or around a dive schedule?
• Are fins, masks and flotation supplied, and in what sizes?
• Is the park entry fee included? Our Bunaken entrance fee page explains how it works.
• What happens to your money if the crew calls the trip off for sea conditions?

The price table on this page shows park entry and one agent's listing for a guided outing from Manado. That listing does not say whether its figure is per person or per group, so ask before comparing it with anything else. If you are building a whole trip without scuba, our guide to Bunaken for non-divers picks up where this page stops. A single outing from the city is covered under Bunaken day trip, the crossing under Manado to Bunaken, the months under best time to visit Bunaken, and the wider protected area under Bunaken National Park.

What else do snorkelers ask about Bunaken?

Is Liang Beach good for snorkeling?

Remote + Afloat, a blog written in 2018, says you can snorkel from the shore at both Liang and Pangalisang, with sunsets and sand at Liang and arguably better snorkeling at Pangalisang. Wikivoyage's praise goes to reefs in front of many resorts and especially the village. Ask about current and low-water entry on the day, and read our Liang Beach guide for the beach itself.

What should I bring for snorkeling in Bunaken?

Fins are the one item Wikivoyage specifically advises, along with choosing a reference point on land. Beyond that, bring a mask that fits you if you own one, and ask your boat or resort what it supplies before you leave your own kit at home.

Can non-swimmers snorkel in Bunaken?

The sources on this page do not say it is safe. Our safety page covers weak swimmers, non-swimmers and children. If you are not a confident swimmer, ask a provider in writing what it can offer, or stay out of the water.

How much does snorkeling in Bunaken cost?

It varies with how you go, from your own swim off a beach to a guided boat outing. The price table on this page lists park entry and one agent listing, each with its source and the month it was checked. Ask for a written total before you pay.

Do I need a wetsuit for Bunaken snorkeling?

Our sources set no rule here, so it is a personal comfort choice. Ask your resort or boat crew whether suits can be rented, and what they would wear themselves on that day.

Which sources support this page?

• Scuba Guide: Bunaken (publisher)
• Wikivoyage: Bunaken (community guide)
• Neptune Liveaboards: Bunaken diving (operator)
• Siladen Resort: guest FAQ (operator)
• Siladen Resort: dive sites map (operator)
• The Indonesia Guide: Bunaken diving (publisher)
• Siladen Resort: snorkelling in Bunaken Marine Park (operator)
• GetYourGuide: Bunaken island tours (agent listing)
• Remote + Afloat: Bunaken National Park travel guide
• Travelnania: things to do in Bunaken
• The Slow Road: Bunaken Life
• Park booking portal

How do I reach the desk?

Tell the desk your dates, where you are staying, and how confident you are in open water: WhatsApp +62 811-3941-4563 or bd@juaraholding.com. How requests are handled is explained on the contact page.