Meet Rakel
Posted on April 2nd, 2019 by News DroidFor our March entry of “meet the staff”, we will be introducing you to Rakel Jacobus, who has had various roles over the years at Siladen Resort & Spa. Her most recent position is as assistant manager in the house keeping department. Rakel was born and raised on Siladen island, and most of her family
Student Family Specials
Posted on March 27th, 2019 by News DroidAt Murex Dive Resorts we understand that diving families know that few activities are more memorable than family dive trips. Imagine discovering pristine reefs together. Dream about exploring an unknown destination? It’s all possible. Kids grow quickly, too quickly, and as children finish high school or enter university, opportunities for your family to travel together
Student Family Specials
Posted on March 26th, 2019 by News DroidAt Murex Dive Resorts we understand that diving families know that few activities are more memorable than family dive trips. Imagine discovering pristine reefs together. Dream about exploring an unknown destination? It’s all possible. Kids grow quickly, too quickly, and as children finish high school or enter university, opportunities for your family to travel together
Join our full day Bangka diving trip
Posted on March 25th, 2019 by News DroidNorth Sulawesi has an incredibly varied underwater world. Many guests who visit the region will break their vacation into several parts, giving them the opportunity to experience all the fantastic diving and snorkelling the area has to offer. The most common combination is Bunaken Marine Park and Lembeh, allowing them to see the world class
Marine Protection for Murex Bangka House Reef
Posted on March 20th, 2019 by News DroidOne of the highlights of diving at any of our resorts in North Sulawesi (Manado, Bangka and Lembeh) is that they are all offer stunning House Reefs. Whichever destination you choose to stay (or all three with our Passport to Paradise), you’ll have a phenomenal dive site just a step off the beach. The shallow
Siladen’s Ongoing Social Commitments
Posted on March 18th, 2019 by News DroidSince Siladen Resort & Spa opened its doors back in 2003, we have been working closely with the residents of the kampung (village) to help further develop the community. Over the years, we have provided building materials for the school, and with the help of many of our generous guests, we have been able to
Up Close and Personnel with Dive Guide Anton Horman
Posted on March 15th, 2019 by News DroidSome of you may be familiar with our “Up Close and Personnel” Blogs where we get to know some of our staff a little bit better. Have you dived with our Dive Guide Anton yet? Here we find out more about Anton, how he came to work at Murex Dive Resorts and why he loves
Hawksbill Turtles of Bunaken Marine Park
Posted on March 9th, 2019 by News DroidBunaken Marine Park is most well known for its abundance of macro life. But aside from the tiny critters photographers love so much, we also have an unusually high number of turtles living here. It is not uncommon to spot as many as 20 turtles during a single dive on one of the walls surrounding
Bangka Lihunu Village Tour and Jungle Trek
Posted on March 5th, 2019 by News DroidDo you like to meet the local people and explore when you are travelling? Are you interested in traditional culture and way of life? As a remote tropical island, the local villagers on Bangka Island live in much the same way that they have for generations. It’s a fascinating experience and extremely rewarding to meet
An Underwater Photography Guide to Diving Bangka Island
Posted on February 28th, 2019 by News DroidFrom the moment you see the white sand beach and crystal clear water as you approach Bangka Island, any underwater photographer will feel their heart skip a beat. This is a truly tropical paradise and while it might seem impossible, underwater it gets even better. Whether you are shooting macro or wide angle; hoping for
The impact of underwater photography
Posted on February 25th, 2019 by News DroidOver the past few years, there has been a boom in the amount of people getting into underwater photography. Recent advancements in camera technology has driven equipment prices to a point where it is an accessible and affordable hobby for almost all divers. Underwater photography is a fun and rewarding way to enhance your diving
Meet Michael
Posted on February 19th, 2019 by News DroidFor this months entry of ‘meet the staff’, we will be highlighting another of our long term members of staff, Michael Rondonuwu, A.MD. Par. His role with the resort has varied over the past few years. His most recent (and longest) position is as our main driver, so he is one of the first staff
The Colourful Leaf Scorpionfish
Posted on February 2nd, 2019 by News DroidMany of the guests that we welcome to Siladen Resort & Spa are passionate underwater photographers looking to add to their ever growing image portfolio of unusual critters, or critter hunters looking to complete their life long ‘critter bucket list’. Bunaken Marine Park is home to a huge amount of strange and bizarre critters, some
Siladen’s Sweet Sixteen
Posted on January 26th, 2019 by News DroidThe 27th of January is a very special day for us. It was this day back in 2003 that we officially opened the doors of Siladen Resort & Spa and welcomed our very first guests, and now 16 years later we are still doing what we love the most – trying our very hardest to
Anemone Eco-Systems: Hives of Activity in North Sulawesi
Posted on January 23rd, 2019 by News DroidAnemones are not only beautiful to look at; they also offer protection from predators to numerous marine species. While sea anemones may look delicate, they actually take on the role of a fortress for many anemonefish species and crustaceans. To gain the protection of a sea anemone there is a price to pay which varies
Meet ibu Finni
Posted on January 22nd, 2019 by News DroidFor January’s entry of meet the staff, we will be introducing you to another of our very long term staff members, Ibu Finni, our chief pastry chef. Due to the nature of her work, you may have never met her, however her delicious creations are defiantly well known as she is also partly responsible for
Symbiosis: Marine Matchmaking in North Sulawesi
Posted on January 20th, 2019 by News DroidSymbiosis is a system that has been in place on Earth among various species for millennia and nowhere is it more apparent than in the ocean and on coral reefs. Here are some of our favorite symbiotic match-made marine species which we spot regularly around our dive sites in North Sulawesi… Sea Cucumbers and Emperor
Blackwater and Bonfire Diving in North Sulawesi
Posted on January 10th, 2019 by News DroidDive into the Deep, Discover and be Amazed! Have you heard of blackwater or bonfire diving? Do you know what they are? These are exciting dives which reveal some incredible critters in their larvae stages – many of which are not seen by the majority of divers. Amphipods catching a ride on a pyrosome It
Yoga in the Heart of Bunaken Marine Park
Posted on January 8th, 2019 by News DroidHere at Siladen Resort & Spa, we are always looking for new ways to improve the experience of our guests – be it by adding additional services, or improving the services we already offer, which is why we frequently bring a spa trainer to the island and why we just added a new boat to
Freediving in 2019: simply breathtaking
Posted on January 1st, 2019 by News DroidLet’s go deeper Interested in trying out freediving with the Indonesian record holder as your instructor? Well, have we got some news for you, because, as of 2019, Thalassa Dive Resort Manado will be offering you the chance to do just that! Stanley Sradaputta, born in Surabaya and raised in Jakarta (47) has broken the Indonesian
The Frogfish of Bunaken Marine Park
Posted on December 28th, 2018 by News DroidRecently, we have had an influx of one of our most popular underwater critters – frogfish. These bizarre blob like fish are always a hit among guests, and while they may not be the most attractive fish that can be found around Siladen, with their amazing camouflage, poor swimming ability, and amazing hunting tactics, they
Night Diving and Nocturnal Critters in North Sulawesi
Posted on December 28th, 2018 by News DroidNorth Sulawesi is famous for it’s incredible marine biodiversity – and this diversity doesn’t just include the 1000’s of marine species which can be found here. North Sulawesi is home to three very distinct diving destinations. Highlights of these regions feature phenomenal walls, sea trenches of over a 1km deep and healthy resident populations of
Christmas Comparisons: Family, Food and Festivities in North Sulawesi
Posted on December 17th, 2018 by News DroidChristmas is by far one of the largest Christian celebrations of the year which is celebrated throughout the world. Although the origins of Christmas and the story of the birth of Jesus is the same the world over, the ways in which different countries celebrate Christmas can be extremely different. Did you know that in
The Palu Report
Posted on November 23rd, 2018 by News DroidSeptember 28th 2018 was the day that Palu in Central Sulawesi was struck by a tragedy: an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.5 leveled or damaged over 70.000 houses, displaced thousands and caused the deaths of at least 2.100 people. Immediately in the wake of this event, concerned messages and questions came pouring in, ranging
Our PADI Women’s Dive Day video won a prize!
Posted on October 17th, 2018 by News DroidRemember when we posted our video to celebrate PADI Women’s Dive Day last July? Turns out that PADI liked it so much, it was selected as one of the winners! High fives all around as PADI informed us of the following: Congratulations! Your video submission for the 2018 PADI Women’s Dive Day Video Contest was selected as one
Chef Arnol takes 2nd Prize at Mando Fiesta Culinary Festival
Posted on September 12th, 2018 by News DroidManado Fiesta is a yearly event held in the city of Manado, taking place from August 30th until September 9th this year. Different cultural festivities including music, art, fashion, religion and of course, food are celebrated all over town. The Culinary Festival is the event’s chance for budding chefs and cooks to show off their
Learn & teach with our IDC in November
Posted on August 30th, 2018 by News Droid
Teaching others is a rare gift, and there is nothing like seeing your students grow and develop into world-class divers. This experience can be yours by taking our Instructor Development Course under the guidance of PADI Course Directors Frans Rattu and Simone Gerritsen. With so much experience under one roof, you’re guaranteed a productive and