North Sulawesi Dive Resorts
Murex Bangka Resort
Situated on a palm-fringed white sandy beach, Murex Bangka offers a unique tropical island experience. Drift away in a hammock while listening to the waves of the crystal clear waters lapping the shore in front of the resort. Explore the ocean underwater and by paddle board and enjoy a sundowner while watching the sunset.
Murex Bangka is a picture perfect place to relax. Hidden away with rainforest behind the resort, you won’t see a single road or vehicle – just a beach, the ocean and bright blue skies. If you’re dreaming of a remote island getaway, then Bangka Island definitely ticks the box.
As the first operator to dive the sites around Bangka Island, Murex have been exploring the area since 1990. Bangka’s world-class kaleidoscopic reefs are an explosion of colour. A plethora of macro critters as well as schooling fish and passing pelagics including reefsharks, eagle rays, dugongs, turtles, tuna and barracuda are waiting to be discovered here.
Contact us to ask about the Passport to Paradise experience which combines Murex Bangka with Murex Manado and Lembeh Resort for the ultimate chance to discover North Sulawesi in one trip.
Hotel Services/Facilities: Bangka Island lies just 20 minutes from the mainland of North Sulawesi. Murex Bangka is situated in its own private bay in a stunning lagoon with two House Reefs. The Ocean Front Cottages are positioned along the edge of the palm-fringed, white sandy beach, whilst the Hillside Deluxe Cottages enjoy an elevated position overlooking the resort and ocean.
The restaurant, dive centre and camera room are located at the heart of the resort. With incredible House Reef diving and dive boats departing directly from the lagoon, you’ll never need to walk far to get to wherever you need.
Food, Beverage & Entertainment Facilities: Stays at Murex Bangka are full board, including 3 meals a day and snacks.
Murex Bangka offers buffet style dining which combines a tantalizing mix of International and Asian flavours using fresh local ingredients.
The team of western-trained chefs are able to cater for special dietary requirements upon request.
Beach hammocks, sun loungers and indoor and outdoor dining spaces are perfect for catching the wonderful sunsets with an ice cold drink or cocktail.
Murex Bangka offers a selection of day trips, cultural tours and land tours. A popular trip is to the Tangkoko Nature Reserve for face to face encounters with the endemic Sulawesi Black Crested Macaque, and the world’s smallest primate, the Tarsier.
Transfers: Guests fly into Manado’s airport, the international gateway to North Sulawesi. Murex Bangka Resort is located 1.5 hours by road and a 20 minute boat journey from the airport.
Murex Bangka Resort offers a choice of 6 luxury Deluxe Hillside Cottages and 8 comfortable, traditionally-styled timber Ocean Front Cottages.
Deluxe Hillside Cottages are purposefully located so guests can feel a refreshing sea breeze and enjoy stunning views over the ocean and lush tree canopy below. These tastefully appointed, air-conditioned rooms offer comfortable indoor living and large verandas with built-in day beds. Double and twin bed sleeping configurations are available and all Deluxe Hillside Cottages feature large en-suite bathrooms.
Ocean Front Cottages are located in a row directly in front of the beach. Murex Bangka offers a choice of charming and comfortable, traditionally styled timber bungalows as well as larger duplex rooms, which have adjoining doors and are perfect for families. All rooms are located on the waterfront with stunning views from their private verandas. Ocean Front Cottages offer en-suite indoor / outdoor bathrooms.
Murex Bangka is the only resort on Bangka Island able to offer hot water, en-suite showers and air-conditioning. Power operates 24 hours a day in the Hillside Deluxe cottages (reduced to one socket during the daytime) and in the Ocean Front Cottages from 5pm- 7am, and additionally in the restaurant and camera room during lunchtime hours.
The daily diving programme can be tailored to suit diver’s needs with options for single dives, double dive trips or full day excursions with lunch served on the boat.
The daily scheduled is planned according to the weather conditions in order to dive the best sites at the right time.
As the first operator to dive the sites around Bangka Island, Murex have been exploring the area since 1990. Not only do their Dive Guides have thousands of dives experience in the region, they also undergo intensive training, including marine biology and underwater photography to ensure their guests receive the best underwater experience possible.
The dive centre offers tailor-made packages, night dives, day trips to Bunaken and the Lembeh Strait, PADI courses and snorkelling.
Murex offer Ocean Gardener courses on their own coral farms at both Murex Manado and Murex Bangka.
The beautiful House Reefs are just a step off the beach and you’ll immediately be amazed by the bright colours, wealth of coral and abundant marine life. Sloping reef descends down to a white sandy bottom. Along the slope, there are diverse corals and beautiful bommies which are shrouded in schools of glassfish and hiding frogfish. The reefs are home to numerous unique critters including pygmy seahorses, blue ribbon eels, mantis shrimps, cuttlefish, reef octopus, a variety of nudibranch species and look out for passing eagle rays.
Highlights of diving in Bangka include an explosion of colourful soft corals, three species of pygmy seahorse, schooling fish, reef sharks, eagle rays, dugongs, passing pelagics and a plethora of other critters including numerous nudibranch species, soft coral crabs, ghost pipefish and a variety of frogfish, crustacean and cephalopod species.
With so much to see, we recommend adding on a stay at Murex Manado and/or Lembeh Resort. Or why not take a Passport to Paradise and visit all three! Please ask us for more details.
Other Indonesian Hotels / Resorts
Bali – Kubu Indah Dive & Spa Resort
Bali – Alam Anda Ocean Front Resort & Spa
Bali – Alam Batu Beach Bungalow Resort
North Sulawesi – Lembeh Resort
North Sulawesi – Murex Manado Resort
North Sulawesi – Bunaken Oasis Dive Resort
North Sulawesi – Siladen Resort and Spa
North Sulawesi – Tasik Ria Resort
North Sulawesi – White Sands Beach Resort Lembeh by Eco Divers
North Sulawesi – NAD-Lembeh Resort
North Sulawesi – Dive Into Lembeh
Raja Ampat – Dive Into Raja Ampat (@ Waiwo Resort)
Raja Ampat – Kri Eco Resort (Papua Diving)
Raja Ampat – Papua Explorers Dive Resort
Raja Ampat – Sorido Bay Resort (Papua Diving)
Raja Ampat (North Maluku) – Sali Bay Resort
Offers
RED SEA DIVING
LIVEABOARD OFFER
12 – 19 December 2024
NOW from JUST £975pp
MALDIVES DIVING
CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR OFFER
20 December 2024 – 04 January 2025
NOW from JUST £4995pp
PHILIPPINES DIVING
2 CENTRE RESORT OFFER
15 – 26 January 2025
NOW from JUST £2495pp
MALTA DIVING
RESORT OFFER
29 January – 05 February 2025
NOW from JUST £635pp
RED SEA DIVING
LIVEABOARD OFFER
31 January – 07 February 2025
NOW from JUST £975pp
RED SEA DIVING
LIVEABOARD OFFER
28 February – 07 March 2025
NOW from JUST £875pp
The Dive Diaries
Insights, recommendations and dive experiences from our team
Top Destinations for Shark Diving Holidays
Seeing a shark up close in the wild is a moment that stays with you forever. Exhilarating. Exciting. Truly, life enhancing. Sharks hold a very
Next Level Diving on a Liveaboard
After becoming an Open Water Diver this year, Beth jumped at the chance to visit Egypt again and take her first liveaboard trip, continuing her
Sri Lanka and the Maldives: the perfect family holiday
Helena and family head to the Indian Ocean for a twin centre holiday in paradise. This year I am celebrating a milestone birthday, so I