North Sulawesi Dive Resorts
Murex Manado Resort
Murex Manado is set on the waterfront amid lush, tropical water gardens with stunning views of Manado Tua volcano and Bunaken Island. On arrival at the resort, you will be welcomed into the Murex family by the warm-hearted staff.
The world famous dive sites of the Bunaken Marine Park are just a short boat ride away, whilst the Manado Bay muck diving sites are on the resort’s doorstep, making Murex Manado perfectly located for exploring these two diverse areas.
Whether you’re a diver or non-diver, why not relax by the infinity pool? Take a walk around the grounds which are bursting with tropical flowers and trees, enjoy the sunset with an evening cocktail, or indulge yourself with a massage at the spa.
Murex’s casual yet classic vibe is perfect for friends and families. A home from home in North Sulawesi where exceptional service is guaranteed.
Contact us to ask about the Passport to Paradise experience which combines Murex Manado with Murex Bangka and Lembeh Resort for the ultimate chance to discover North Sulawesi in one trip.
Hotel Services/Facilities: Murex Manado Resort’s landscaped gardens feature lily ponds, koi ponds, spring-fed streams with bamboo bridges and shady palm trees. There are several species of orchids and tropical flowers all bursting with colour. The gardens attract a variety of butterflies and birds, and turtles are known to nest and lay eggs on the black sand beach.
Resort facilities include a designated camera room with personal preparation areas, bright lighting and air conditioning, ‘nature’ spa, infinity pool overlooking the ocean with sun loungers and pool towels, Apnea Murex freediving centre, and stand up paddle boards. A large flat-screen television is available for viewing marine life presentations and underwater photo/videography.
Food, Beverage & Entertainment Facilities: All stays at Murex Manado are on a Full Board basis.
The resort offers indoor and outdoor dining. The restaurant and outdoor dining area are at the heart of the resort, overlooking the ocean. A la carte and family style dining is available on the beachfront or in the main restaurant. The cuisine is a modern mix of western, Asian and Indonesian flavours created using fresh, local ingredients.
Special dietary requirements can be catered for on request.
Enjoy a cold drink while watching the spectacular sunsets across the water from the oceanfront gazebo.
Murex Manado offers a selection of day trips, cultural tours and land tours. Popular choices include trips to the Tangkoko Nature Reserve, the Minahasa Highlands (markets, villages, lakes, mountains and historical sites), Mahawu Volcano, and cooking classes in resort.
Transfers: Guests fly into Manado’s airport, the international gateway to North Sulawesi. Murex Manado Resort is located 1 hour by road from the airport.
Murex Manado Resort offers 12 comfortable and spacious Deluxe Cottages and 3 smaller Pool Side Bungalows.
All accommodation has 24 hour electricity, en-suite bathrooms with hot water, air conditioning, either a king size bed or twin beds, veranda, drinking water, complimentary tea, coffee and free Wi-fi.
Two of the Cottages are designated as Premium Luxury Cottages and offer upscaled interior design touches and ceiling fans.
Murex Manado’s House Reef is just a step off the beach directly in front of the resort. Up to a depth of 12m there is a coral slope, and below this point you will find a sandy slope with patches of corals and several artificial reef balls that are nicely overgrown with corals and sponges.
The Bunaken Marine Park is just a 35 minute boat ride away. Murex Manado offers a two dive trip to Bunaken in the morning with the surface interval spent on board. Return to the resort for lunch followed by a third dive in the afternoon to explore Manado Bay. Or opt for a three dive safari trip with lunch served onboard your boat.
With 7 boats of different sizes in their fleet, the dive centre team is able to offer flexible schedules and can easily cater to larger groups of families and friends. Murex Dive Guides are extremely experienced in the region and they also undergo intensive training programs for marine biology and underwater photography.
The dive centre offers equipment hire, Nitrox, PADI courses, night dives, day trips to Bangka and Lembeh, free diving and AIDA courses, snorkelling, and tailored schedules to suit all needs.
Bunaken Marine Park’s warm waters and excellent visibility mean diving in Bunaken is suitable for all level of diver. Highlights include dolphins jumping alongside the boat, two species of turtle, schooling fish, tuna, reef sharks, passing eagle rays, vibrant, healthy reefs, breathtaking underwater scenery and walls, and an abundance of smaller critters and macro-life. The rich marine bio- diversity of the dive sites surrounding Bunaken Island will leave even the most seasoned of divers spell bound and ready for more.
The dive sites around Manado Bay offer great muck, reef and wreck diving opportunities. Highlights of diving here include a wealth of some of Indonesia’s rarest and unique critters including various octopus and cuttlefish species, stingrays, frogfish, seahorses and an array of nudibranch and crustaceans. These dive sites, along with the Murex Manado House Reef, are excellent macro-photography sites and also offer incredible night diving.
With such a large number of dive sites to explore, ranging topographies and varied marine life it is no wonder that divers return to Manado time and time again.
With so much to see, we recommend adding on a stay at Murex Bangka 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 Bangka 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
24 – 31 January 2025
NOW from JUST £795pp
PHILIPPINES DIVING
2 CENTRE RESORT OFFER
02 – 17 February 2025
NOW from JUST £2495pp
GRENADA DIVING
RESORT OFFER
23 – 30 April 2025
NOW from JUST £1795pp
MALDIVES DIVING
LIVEABOARD OFFER
25 April – 03 May 2025
NOW from JUST £2095pp
DOMINICA WHALES & DIVING
RESORT OFFER
02 – 09 June 2025
NOW from JUST £1675pp
RED SEA DIVING
LIVEABOARD OFFER
06 – 13 September 2025
NOW from JUST £1499pp
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