Bunaken Cha Cha Nature Resort |
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| Bunaken Island resort in the heart of the marine park... |
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Situated on Bunaken Island, the most popular of the 5 islands that comprise the world famous Bunaken National Marine Park, this relaxing and unpretentious dive resort is ideally located if you want to stay right in Manado's premiere diving destination.
Rooms: 10
Diving in: Bunaken Island
Dive type: Boat dives
Divers: Max. 16
 Customer Reviews
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Staying at this resort means that your boat journey times to the dive sites are shortened to just a few minutes and you get to make your night dives within the park itself. Unlike most other resorts within Bunaken, the dive operation employs only qualified divemasters as dive guides, and the enforce a strict 'no-touch' policy for marine life which is very refreshing to see in this fragile and unique environment.
Bunaken Cha Cha's island location really is idyllic. Cut into the small hillside, the resort offers breathtaking views across the marine park to Siladen Island and the Manado mainland. Here you can watch for passing pilot whales or dolphins frolicking on the sea's surface. Constructed from natural materials and surrounded by indigenous tropical forest, the resort steps down onto its own small beach area. Take your mask and fins with you as just 30 metres or so from the water's edge, is the Bunaken Timor wall - one of Manado's favourite dive sites and great for snorkelling too.
Photos of Bunaken Cha Cha Nature Resort just don't do the place justice at all. The resort's personal flavour and friendly atmosphere are invisible to a camera's lens. This is a small, family business run by an Irish/Italian/English and Japanese partnership. The owner's approachable style and attention to detail is really what sets this resort apart.
Located on the secluded east coast of Bunaken, your peaceful enjoyment will not be encroached upon by the noisy churches in central Bunaken. The resort is also the only one on the island to have hot water available in the rooms.
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| rooms, beds, bathrooms, views... |
There are 7 larger Superior and 3 smaller Standard Cottages, all overlooking the wonderful Sulawesi Sea. Bunaken Cha Cha is the only resort on Bunaken Island to offer hot water showers to its guests.
All the cottages have:
- Seaview
- Fan cooling
- Twin or double bed
- Private bathroom with hot water shower
- Towels and soap
- Balcony and chairs
- Cotton cheesecloth mosquito nets
- Reading lamps
- Complimentary mineral water
- Cabinet, desk, chair and mirror
- Round 2-pin power sockets with power adapters
- Torch
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Because some of the cottage walls are wooden and others stone, some rooms can have noise from adjacent rooms. Please let us know if this is a concern to you, so we can allocate you a stone walled room.
2 of the Superior cottages can be used for 3 persons (please enquire for details).
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| diving details... |
The Cha Cha Diving Club offers boat dives all around the 5 islands of Bunaken Island national park. Having spent some time at the resort, we think that the personal dive service offered by the operation is very good. In addition, the resort employs only properly qualified divemasters and enforces a 'look-but-don't-touch' policy to marine life - clear positives when compared to the local competition.
The 2 dive boats feature:
- 13 m traditional-style with wood hull
- Built in year 2004
- Maximum of 8 divers per boat
- 2 divemasters
- 3 non-diving boat crew
- 2 x 40 HP Yamaha engines
- Speed - 13 knots
- Shaded kit up area
- Sundeck
- Rinse tank
- Drinking water, biscuits, tea and coffee
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Daily departures from the resort are at approx. 08:00 hrs for the first 2 dives and 14:30 hrs for the third dive. There is a 2 hour lunch break between trips. Boat journey time is 1-30 minutes.
Note: Due to windy conditions the sea surface can be quite rough between January and March. If you are less agile than most, we recommend visiting outside of these months.
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| Customer reviews: |
"I spent Christmas with them and they provided a cozy, homely atmosphere The food was good, fresh and always sufficient. They manage to create a very personal atmostphere, as if you're guests into their home rather than a guest in a hotel, which I really appreciated." - Michel Engering, Netherlands ...
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