Murex Dive Resorts Bangka

Murex Dive Resorts Bangka is a family-run, professional operation situated on a palm-fringed beach in North Sulawesi, Indonesia. Having been a pioneer in the region since 1980, the centre played a vital role in the establishment of the Bunaken Marine Park and remains deeply rooted in the local diving community.

The resort offers a true island experience, with accommodation ranging from traditional-style wooden bungalows to premium oceanfront cottages. It serves as a central hub for those using the 'Passport to Paradise' programme, which allows you to move between the diverse marine environments of Bunaken, Bangka, and Lembeh via boat transfers.

The diving team is composed of local experts, many of whom hail from the Manado region. Your guides are specifically trained in marine biology, species identification, and underwater photography, ensuring you get the most out of every descent. The centre operates with a low diver-to-guide ratio, with a maximum of four divers per guide.

Communication is straightforward, as the team speaks English, Indonesian, German, and French. For those looking for more specialised instruction, the staff also provides guidance for freediving through the Apnea Murex programme and coral restoration via Ocean Gardener.

Murex Bangka is a PADI 5 Star centre offering a comprehensive range of training from beginner to professional levels. You can start with your Open Water Diver or use eLearning to accelerate your progress. The curriculum includes the full PADI progression, such as Advanced Open Water Diver, Rescue Diver, and Divemaster.

Specialty courses are also widely available to refine your skills, including PADI Enriched Air Diver, Deep Diver, Night Diver, and Peak Performance Buoyancy. For those interested in the artistic side of the sport, the centre offers Digital Underwater Photography courses.

The dive boats are designed for comfort and functionality, featuring shaded areas, cushioned seating, and individual cylinder supports. They are well-equipped for long days on the water, providing passengers with personal towels, fresh fruit, drinking water, coffee, and tea.

Onboard facilities include toilets, first aid kits, and emergency oxygen. For photographers, the boats provide dedicated dry storage for cameras. The vessels are also equipped with long ladders to make boarding and exiting the water easier.

The centre provides full equipment hire for those not travelling with their own kit. Shore-based facilities are designed with professional divers in mind, featuring separate freshwater rinsing tanks for diving equipment and camera gear, as well as outdoor drying areas and individual lockers.

For underwater photographers, there are dedicated camera rooms equipped with individual preparation stations and multiple power sockets. Nitrox is available on-site for those looking to extend their bottom times.

The reefs around Bangka are a vibrant tapestry of hard corals, soft corals, sea fans (Gorgoniidae), and whip corals. You will find a massive variety of reef fish, including many species of snapper (Lutjanus), fusiliers (Caesio), and various butterflyfish (Chaetodon). Larger pelagics such as tuna (Thunnus), jacks (Carangidae), and eagle rays (Aetobatus) are also known to pass through the area.

Macro life is a significant draw here, particularly for those interested in small, detailed subjects. The sandy areas and coral bommies are home to a wealth of crustaceans and cephalopods, including mantis shrimp, various species of octopus (Octopus vulgaris), and the flamboyant cuttlefish. You can also find many species of nudibranchs, pygmy seahorses (Hippocampus bargibanti), and ghost pipefish (Solenostomidae).

In the shallower sections, keep a keen eye out for the dugong (Dugong dugon). The area is also frequented by sea turtles (Cheloniidae), including green turtles (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata), as well as reef sharks (Carcharhinus), such as whitetip reef sharks (Triaenodon obesus) and blacktip reef sharks (Carcharhinus melanopterus).

The best time to visit is during the dry season, from late March to late November. During this period, water temperatures typically range between 28°C and 30°C. Currents at the dive sites are generally easy to manage, typically ranging from weak to moderate depending on the tides.