NORTH SULAWESI

Bangka

SOFT CORAL DIVING OFF LIKUPANG

Bangka

Bangka is a small island off the northern tip of North Sulawesi, about 90 minutes by road and 30 minutes by boat from Manado. Divers come for its seamounts covered in soft coral and its schooling fish. The island is quieter than Bunaken.

The best-known dive site is Sahaung, a seamount that rises from 40 metres to 10 metres. Soft coral covers it. Schools of fish swim around it. Its strong current makes it a dive for advanced divers. Other sites include Coral Garden and Tanjung Husi.

Divers see schooling jacks and barracuda. Reef sharks are easier to find than at Bunaken. The island has dive resorts and small homestays. Half-day boat trips from Likupang also stop here to snorkel.

Two nights give five or six dives. Bangka is the middle stop of the 10-day North Sulawesi diving triangle, between Bunaken's walls and Lembeh's critters. The transfer from Bunaken takes about 3 hours. The transfer on to Lembeh takes about 2.5 hours.

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Bangka in pictures

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Bangka Island, off the northern tip of North Sulawesi: soft coral pinnacles and quiet dive resorts, reached by boat from Likupang.

When to go and how to get there

Rain in Bangka, month by month, and the journey in from the nearest airport.

Getting there

01 · Fly
To Manado (MDC)
Daily direct flights from Jakarta and Makassar. Scoot flies from Singapore five times a week (from 26 October 2026).
02 · Drive
Manado → Likupang
About 90 min by road to the boat. Ask your resort whether the transfer is included.
03 · Boat
Likupang → Bangka
About 30 min across to the island.