Any info re; Sulawesi

[jeff99]

Hi everyone!

New to the board, and new to diving. Totally hooked now, and planning next trip:D Have decided to try and get to Sulawesi in June/July and have compiled a short list of resort/operations that my girlfriend and I are interested in. Most of the resorts on our list we have seen plenty of info, discussions etc. to give us a good picture, but there are two on our list for which there seems to be little info re: state of the reefs, currents, species etc. Also not much in the way of trip reports or reviews that I can find. Has anyone been to either Bentenan Beach Resort or Olong Siladen? Any info would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Jeff & Susi

[Adrian Kelland]

Have you looked at any of the reports in the Far East seciotn of the Travel Club Jeff?

http://www.bsactravelclub.co.uk/reports/index.html

Adrian

[jeff99]

Been through those Adrian, thanks - it's already helped me with my shortlist! It's info on the two mentioned resorts that I really need - doesn't seem to be much about at all, especially Bentenan. Just wondered whether any members had been to either of them - it's always better to see a review!

Jeff

[Alison Boler]

Jeff
Try emailing our Far East Correspondent, Steve Perry. He has done a lot of diving out there. His email address is steve.perry@bsactravelclub.co.uk or you can mail him via the forum as he is a member.

Hope he can help.

Allie

[jeff99]

Hi Allie,

Thanks for info - will do!

Jeff

[Divingschnorbitz]

Just back from Siladen Island Resort and it was fantastic. Resort is only one on island only houses 30 guests. I went with my non diving partner in February and she loved it. Very off season - one day only us there! Staff were brilliant and food was 7 to 8 out of 10. The diving was another matter. Absolutley amazing. I think it has possibly spoiled anywhere else for me. Wall dives, drift dives. A typical dive would comprise big reef sharks, many turtles, clouds of fish, and amazing coral, soft and hard. Standouts included a massive hawksbill turtle and 3 or 4 encounters with banded sea kraits. Also eagle rays and on one dive 2 hammerheads steaming into a school of jacks. Also, the macro life. The dive guides carry magnifying glasses and we saw pygmy seahorses, little shrimps- brilliant. Night dives well I am running out of superlatives. The dive boats are similar to dhonis but with a smaller drop and faster. When I dived there was never more than 6 divers, and 1 guide to a pair. As I was alone I had my own guide for 10 days - Parman - a great guy. He knew where everything was to be found and dived the way I wanted to do. We even did buddy checks, which as you know is rare unless you insist!

I have been to the maldives 4 times - different resorts - and this is better on all counts. February is the rainy season and it rained for one day. Otherwise hot and sunny and the sea temperature was 29 degrees. Downsides are: it was 35 hours door to door. It's a long way. Also, it is in the Ring of Fire. I heard an earthquake underwater on one dive, and there was allegedly a tsunami warning on the last day. Altho, we had no problems at all, you should know. The resort itself is well run, owned by Italians, and we were the only Brits: rare compared with most, who are European expats living in Singapore.

Anyway, sorry for the stram of rave. It was great and I am already pressing my wife to book for next year. I will stick a photo on later. Hope this helps.