Eco Divers News

New Lembeh boutique Cottages - amazing value

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 18:08:35 +0600

NEW FOR 2010 - Book a fantastic value-for-money 6-night All-Inclusive Dive Package and enjoy five nights in Kima Bajo (3 days diving) and one night in our Lembeh Cottages (2 days diving) and up to six Lembeh day-dives plus a FREE night dive! All for just US$1060 per person, based on twin share.

Each of our two boutique cottages accommodates just six guests in comfort and is the best value available anywhere in Lembeh. Elegantly furnished and air-conditioned throughout, each double bedroom has an ensuite bathroom with western-style toilet, shower and hot and cold running water. The cottage has a cosy living room with large TV and DVD player, a separate dining room and an indoor camera room for photographers. In August we are adding a third Cottage. This will take us to a maximum capacity of 16 guests. The last room is for the live-in Lembeh Cottages Manager, Tania van Aert.

We know how important food is on your holiday. That's why we've spared no expense in ensuring that our cooks provide you with a delicious and varied menu of western and Indonesian specialities. Each Cottage has its own personal chef serving guests with delicious a la carte breakfast and dinner from an extensive menu. A hot buffet lunch will be served on-board the dive boat each day. The 7-day lunch menu is also attached.

When it comes to your diving, it gets even better! Our highly experienced Lembeh guides know every inch of the Strait and will show you where the best critter action can be found. You'll dive off the most comfortable dive boat anywhere in North Sulawesi - Eco Divers own purpose-built vessel fitted with seated dive deck, dive tender/skiff, two toilets, showers, charging racks, sundeck and full safety features. We even serve a hot buffet lunch on your dive boat! Although the boat is able to carry many more divers, the limit will be just twelve guests with a guaranteed maximum guest-to-guide ratio of 4:1. Nitrox is available and we also offer full photo & video support services.

Lembeh Combo Dive Package includes:

5 nights' accommodation at Kima Bajo Resort & Spa in a Longhouse Room
1 night's accommodation at Eco Divers Lembeh Cottages
3 days' boat day-diving in Bunaken National Park (max. 3 dives/day)
2 days' boat day-diving in Lembeh Strait (max. 3 dives/day)
1 FREE night dive in Lembeh Strait
Airport transfers and round trip Lembeh road transfer Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Tax & service

Click here for the full price guide.

Start the ball rolling and book today. Email info@eco-divers.com

Manado's first Annual Fish & Critter Hunt, with Ned & Anna DeLoach, this October

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 14:41:39 +0600

If you love marine life, then there is no better place to spend the week of October 16-23, 2010, than at Kima Bajo with Ned and Anna DeLoach, co-authors and photographers of the best field guides in the business: Reef Fish Identification - Tropical Pacific and, just off the press this coming September, the long-awaited Reef Creature Identification - Tropical Pacific.

The special week will include fact-filled workshops ranging from basic invertebrate and fish identification skills to marine life behaviour made simple, photo and video tips for capturing those perfect fishy portraits, plus plenty of time underwater.

Guests will participate in daily and week-long critter hunts for the most exotic animals inhabiting famous Bunaken Marine Park.

Nothing will enhance your underwater adventures more than knowing the names and nature of the fabulous fishes and critters that surround you on every dive. And there are no better informed or more impassioned experts than Ned and Anna. We guarantee that after spending an energizing week of fun and learning with a group of like-minded friends, diving will never be the same.

The date for your diary is 16 - 23 October. Be sure to book today to get your place!
info@eco-divers.com

Dive with famous underwater photographer Jason Heller at Kima Bajo, 17-24 May

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:02:59 +0600

We're delighted to welcome Jason Heller, founder of the popular underwater photo portal www.divephotoguide.com, to Kima Bajo Resort & Spa. Between 17 & 24 May, Jason will be 'In Residence' with Eco Divers, meaning he'll be available - TO YOU - to give you invaluable tips and advice on how to get that great underwater image you've been hoping for.

Jason is known for his great energy, enthusiasm and experience in the field of taking unique photos that everyone will remember. He doesn't do average! Want to have fun diving with and learning from one of the best? Then book today and let Jason Heller become a part of your dive addiction that you'll remember forever. Jason will be the first Guest Lecturer to be In Residence with us since the opening of The Digital Centre full service photo centre.

Hope to see you there!

Opening soon! The ONLY Digital Photo Centre in North Sulawesi

Tue, 05 Jan 2010 13:27:58 +0600

The Digital Centre North Sulawesi

Opening in April 2010, the Digital Photo & Video Centre will be the only dedicated centre in North Sulawesi for all things photography and videography.

Based at Kima Bajo Resort & Spa, the Centre has been built by photographers for photographers and will be fully equipped with state-of-the-art hardware and software, providing an enormous range of photo, video, editing & printing services:

Digital SLR camera and housing rentals
Compact digital camera and housing rentals
Ports, lens and strobes rentals
HD video camera and housing rentals
Photo downloading / editing / printing
Video capture / editing / disc burning
Tailored photo and video courses
Compact digital camera underwater photo courses
Digital SLR camera underwater photo courses
Buoyancy workshops
Underwater video courses
Photo and video workshops
Guest seminars
Photo competitions / Shoot-outs
Sales of photo and video equipment* with after-sales support
Sales of accessories and memory cards
Souvenir and wedding video service
e-postcards

* By pre-order only

Find out more today. Email info@eco-divers.com

MIDE 09 - great first time success

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 19:36:41 +0600

For the first time, Eco Divers has taken part at the Malaysian diving show - MIDE 09 - thanks to the new Air Asia direct flight from Manado to Kuala Lumpur.

The show was a great success where dive centre managers for Eco Divers' Kima Bajo Resort & Spa met literally hundreds of new faces and extolled the beauty of diving Bunaken and Lembeh!

Miho and Luca (pic above) also took time out to meet with important photographers and attend some interesting presentations.

Mating Mandarins at Kima Bajo

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 14:17:23 +0600

Eco Divers dive masters have found literally hundreds of mating mandarin fish in the waters around Kima Bajo. The mandarinfish or mandarin dragonet (Synchiropus splendidus), is a small, brightly-colored member of the dragonet family, named for their extremely vivid coloration, similar to the robes of an Imperial Chinese mandarin.

While they are slow-moving and fairly common within their range, they are not easily seen due to their bottom-feeding habit and their small size (reaching only about 6 cm) and are mainly known for and seen during their interesting mating ritual that takes place daily at sunset.

Bunaken National Park Entrance Fee

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 15:11:53 +0600

The Bunaken National Park Entrance Fee for 2008 has not been increased and is fixed as follows: Rp 50,000 per daily ticket (approximately US$6) or Rp 150,000 (approximately US$18) for an annual entrance Park Tag. Tags (or tickets) must be carried at all times within park boundaries. The tags can easily be affixed to your diving or snorkelling gear or on backpacks.
The entrance fee system has been adapted from the well-known Bonaire Marine Park system, and the proceeds from the sales of the entrance tags are managed by the Bunaken National Park Management Advisory Board (BNPMAB), a multi-stakeholder board that NSWA is a member of. The system has been very successful in raising over $250,000 for conservation programs in the Bunaken Marine Park since its inception in 2001.

Please read: The Bunaken Entrance Fee - Questions and Answers