Gangga Divers Manado
With more than 30 world-class diving locations around Gangga Island, this dive region offers a wonderful variety of marine life with rare species and pristine reefs. Gangga is the ideal starting point for diving the Bangka Archipelago, Bunaken National Marine Park and Lembeh Strait.
Dive Service
Gangga Diver's PADI Five Star Dive Center is run by international dive instructors. Qualified guides and dive masters pride themselves in offering personalised diving service to suit divers of all levels of experience. Ratio is 4 divers with 1 dive guide.
The dive center has 4 wooden dive boats and 1 Fiberglass boat, all custom built for diving. They all have higher ceilings then the traditional boats used by many other dive shops in the region. Two wooden boats carry 8-12 divers each. The two smaller wooden dive boats carry 4-8 divers each. The Fiberglass boat has a capacity for 12-15 divers. The 3 larger boats all have toilets on board. All dive boats have safety equipment such as radio, life jackets, first aid kit and DAN Jumbo Oxygen twin tanks. Boat staff are trained to anticipate all the divers needs. Each boat is fully stocked with towels, freshwater tanks for cameras, drinking water, hot drinks and snacks.
The dive shop provides racks for each room to store equipment and has toilet and shower facilities with hot water - perfect for after those night dives.
Dives are done with 12L or 15L aluminium tanks, there are both INT as well as DIN valves. Nitrox (32%) is available free of charge for Nitrox certified divers. Of course well-maintained rental equipment and various PADI dive courses are available. A large camera room with sink for camera rinsing plus personal lockers and charging outlets 220-110V are available.
Snorkellers pay extra to join the boats 'Christina' or 'Setia' for their designated boat excursions to excellent snorkelling sites nearby. A guide will assist on board and in the water.
Dive Sites
Some of Sulawesi's best diving is found right next to Gangga Island and neighbouring Bangka Islands.
An active underwater volcano to the north of Bangka Island, Manhangetang, provides some spectacular dive sites nearby. Diving is recommended for confident beginners and advanced divers as some stronger currents might be experienced on those sites at times.
Daily 2-tank morning dives are offered to dive sites within the Gangga and Bangka Island groups. Additional afternoon dives are on offer.
Once a week, special day trips are scheduled to the world-famous coral walls of Bunaken National Park, and also critter diving on the volcanic sands of Lembeh Strait. Travel time is approx 90 minutes each way and you have the chance to do three dives.
Conservation
As member of the North Sulawesi Watersports Association (NSWA), Gangga Island Resort is committed to protecting the local reefs and is involved in conservation and development projects aimed at helping the local communities create sustainable tourism activities.
