Bunaken Oasis Dive Resort and Spa

Juangbet - Bunaken Oasis Dive Resort and Spa is a hidden gem that redefines luxury and eco-conscious hospitality. From the moment you arrive, you’re welcomed by breathtaking views of the turquoise sea and lush greenery. The villas are exquisitely designed, offering spacious comfort with every detail carefully considered, from the luxurious beds to the private terraces overlooking the ocean.

I've stayed at more than 40 dive resorts (and have been on a few live-aboards) over the past 50 years; and Bunaken Oasis without a doubt provided the finest, most extraordinary and memorable dive vacation I've ever experienced. Period. Bunaken Oasis is, quite simply; peerless. And my dive-buddy wife, Stacie, feels the same way. And for those of you who may have a non-diving significant other, fear not. This amazing Shangri-la will nourish the mind/body/spirit of anyone who stays here, whether you're diving or not. The resort itself is stunningly beautiful and reflects the insights, vision and intention of it's creators/owners, Elaine and Simon Wallace. The overall feeling is one of intimacy. Carefully carved into a hillside, it feels like being in a botanical garden by the ocean. The views from the cottages, restaurant, bar, pool or longhouse are a sensory delight. And the infinity pool and waterfalls provide yet another meditative and relaxing oasis within the Oasis. The Personal Touch- After you collect your luggage and step out of the Manado airport Arrivals terminal, you will be greeted by one of the Bunaken Oasis team members who will make you feel like a long-time friend---even if it's you're first time there! (That is also the last time you will lift a finger with your luggage or diver gear). Stacie and I were greeted by Andre, the front office supervisor, and his team. The transfer from the airport is a 2-stage process with a 30 minute car ride to the boat, then a comfortable 30 minute boat ride to the resort with refreshments served aboard. Even though we had a flight delay and arrived late during dinner time, the GMs, Kelly and Simon, were there to greet us at the longhouse, provide us with a detailed orientation, and welcome us aboard. As we quickly learned, Kelly and Simon are very "hands-on", humorous and helpful GMs who genuinely take great delight in insuring each guest has a memorable, hassle-free experience. They lead by example and, as a result, the entire staff exhibits the same friendly, helpful and "can do" spirit. As the week progressed, we truly began to feel like part of the "family". Diving- This is why we came, and the diving is absolutely amazing and unsurpassed. The Bunaken Marine Park has the healthiest reefs and most lush, abundant marine life we've seen in years. 'Truly made our hearts sing! Prepare to be pampered and spoiled by the valet diving service provided by the boat team; and know that there will be no more than 4 divers ever assigned to a dive master/reef guide. We had the good fortune to be assigned to Feibe; she was calm, patient, attentive, playful and had an incredible awareness of her surroundings. She spotted things we would have missed without her; and her passion for diving was evident, as was her professionalism & competence. She truly enhanced our diving experience. FYI: even though we keep our dive logs current, the Bunaken Oasis' dive team's attention to de

We went to Bunaken Oasis Dive Resort and Spa in August 2024. From the greeting at the airport to leaving the stay was outstanding. My husband and I have been to a lot of resorts around the world and we are very conscious of choosing a resort that truly caters for snorkelers rather than just divers. We were delighted with the service from the team. Dive Centre - I have never seen anything so comprehensive, and speaking to many of the divers during our stay, they were equally impressed. Many said you often get good dive centres but then the resort is a disappointment or visa versa. Whereas here they were, as we were, blown away. The attention to detail was brilliant. Every day our equipment was cleaned including our rash vests and placed on board ready for our trips. We were briefed each day where we were going and what we could expect. They would change our destination if they saw too many other boats at a particular spot. On board after each dive/snorkel we were given hot face towels, fresh fruit, and water, along with an endless supply of tea/coffee/biscuits. We were mostly with 2 divers and once 3, who all had guides. We had our own guide, Rexi, who was great and we felt very safe with him. We had a fantastic snorkel and often compared things we saw with the divers, who didn't always see what we did. The boats were very spacious and the onboard shower was nice to wash off. I used my iPhone to film and was able to loan a very snazzy piece of equipment to enable this. Rooms - the first thing that struck us was the size - enormous!!! Secondly, which is always a big bug-bear for me is, closet and cupboard space. We had been travelling for 3.5 weeks, so we had a lots of stuff. We couldn't fill all the space on offer an absolute first for us!! A wonderful surprise and bonus was, having our washing laundered, without an additional charge. The bed is big and very comfortable. Huge shower and bathroom. The rooms have wonderfully spacious balconies to relax. The room was everything you would expect from a 5* resort. Restaurant - this was the bit, we really were not expecting. The food was akin to Michelin star quality. The daily choices blew us away. We have eaten in 1, 2 & 3* restaurants and this is why we felt it is so deserving. But beware......they like to feed you!! But you can opt for 1/2 portions of everything (not that my husband ever did). Pool - this is by far the best pool we have seen, at points the depth is 3 metres and it has lots of different levels to enjoy. Perfect amount of umbrellas/beds and I am not sure how they know when you sit down but within a few minutes an iced drink arrives! Spa - the spa is very reasonably priced for a resort, so much so it is about a 1/4 of what you would normally pay and the staff are lovely and well trained. It is situated at the top of the resort and is beautiful. Staff and Management - special mentions to Rob, Susi, Gusti, Andre, Wolter (the chef), Kelly and Simon were always on hand, asking h