With many sites yet to be mapped, this trip offers something new and unspoiled! With an amazing diversity of life, diving here will be incredible! The accommodation, which lines a secluded beach, will ensure your stay on the beautiful island of South Halmahera will become a trip to remember and something truly special for the experiences awaiting you above and below the waves.
Images courtesy of Dive Wordlwide and their contributing photographers.
Biodiversity is the key to a spectacular dive destination. During your time at Sali Bay Resort, you’ll encounter big schools of large fish, reef sharks and plenty of critters, tuna and dolphin, as well as several species of whale.
This area is also home to pygmy seahorse, bumphead parrotfish, flamboyant cuttlefish, barracuda and reef manta ray, making this paradise for anyone interested in muck diving and the big blue!
The remote location ensures you’ll experience exclusive dive sites rarely dived. You’ll have the opportunity for exploratory diving in addition to the 50+ sites that have already been mapped.
You’ll enjoy daily boat dives, with the potential for diving the house reefs and even an occasional night dive. With up to 3 dives on offer per day, this will be a trip to remember!
Price
Diving & Accommodation: £3,995*
NHDC Arrangement Fee: £80 per person (£40 Dive Society members and non-divers); to be paid at the time of booking.
Deposit: £200 if paid by June 2019.
Balance Payment: Balance payments will be required 12 weeks prior to departure. Payment plans may be arranged; please get in touch to discuss options for setting up a payment plan.
* Flight schedules are TBC at time of posting (April 2019). Final trip price is subject to change once flight details are confirmed (expected June 2019).
Pre-requisites
Ability: You will need to be a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver (or equivalent) with 50+ logged dives before you travel.
Medically Fit: Complete this Medical Statement and have a GP countersign it if required.
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- What You'll Do
- Your Equipment
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- What's Included
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- Insurance & Legal Bits
Accommodation
Our exclusive destination is far from the traditional tourist routes and remains a hidden gem…off the beaten path that most divers and nature lovers tread. It has just twelve beautiful beach front villas with direct access to the sea and a wonderful house reef.
Each villa is a generous 66 sqm and is equipped with a back door entrance with a first small room including a closet, minibar and photo table. Access to your wide veranda is through a double glass-sliding door and the main room is fitted with air-con, ceiling fan, make up table and corner sofa; your bathroom shower has both hot & cold water.
The restaurant & bar is located right In the middle of the resort and the experienced chef will delight you with international and local gourmet cuisine. Not far from the restaurant is a fresh water pool with bar service and the modest and intimate spa offers brilliant massages in a traditional Indonesian fashion.
Diving
This part of the Moluccas is a true diver’s paradise off the beaten track. Being the only resort in the region offers an unrivalled advantage of being able to explore new undiscovered dive sites. You don’t have to be an adventurer at heart to enjoy diving this region, but you might feel like one!
The huge biodiversity offers a great mix of coral slopes and muck diving that will ensure unforgettable moments underwater; the best thing? You’ll have the dive sites to yourselves!
Big schools of mackerels, batfish, unicorn fish, fusiliers as well as reef sharks call this region their home turf. Macro enthusiasts can look forward to a range of pygmy seahorses, ghost- and other pipefish, unusual kinds of shrimps and crabs, rare nudibranchs, flatworms and gobies. Right in front of the resort, you’ll have high chances of seeing tuna, dolphins, pilot- and other species of whales.
This trip is ideal for anyone that is PADI Advanced Open Water Diver certified with at least 50 logged dives. Please get in touch to discuss options for achieving these standards prior to departure.
R&R
Why not start the holiday with a few days of R&R in the beautiful resort of Cocotinos Manado; a boutique dive resort located within Wori Bay in the heart of Kima Bajo, a fishing village overlooking the Bunaken National Marine Park.
Travel out with NHDC a few days early and spend some time soaking up the atmosphere before the onward transfer to Sali Bay for the diving action. Daytime excursions and additional diving can be arranged locally, making this your chance to relax and unwind.
Due to the nature of the diving, you will need a Dive computer and delayed SMB with reel, as well as your usual personal dive equipment.
Water temperatures at this time of year average 27-29oC, therefore good 3mm wetsuits should be sufficient exposure protection. Shorty wetsuits may be used although hoods and gloves are unlikely to be required!
Walls and drop-offs will be available to explore with all their nooks and crannies. Night dives may be on offer (to be arranged locally at an expected cost of at least 10 euro per night dive). To participate on these dives, you will need a good torch.
All required equipment can be rented from NHDC for the week. Some back-up items may be available from the Dive Centre but availability cannot be guaranteed, therefore it is advisable to take what you’ll need!
Cylinders and weights will be available for the week from the Dive Centre. Prices include air fills. NITROX may be available for those qualified to use it and any additional cost is to be paid locally (currently 4 euro per nitrox fill).
Flights are included in the package price. At the time of posting (April 2019) final flight schedules are TBC. Please note, the final flight schedule and price is subject to change once these details have been confirmed (expected June 2019).
You will be flying from Manchester on 30th April 2020. Current expectations are to fly following the itinerary:
| 30th April | Depart UK, 30kg baggage allowance on all flights |
| 1st May | Arrive Singapore (morning), transfer via local flight to Monado. Overnight stay in Monado |
| 2nd – 4th May | R & R in Monado. Daytime excursions and diving to be arranged locally |
| 5th May | Transfer to Southern Halmahera – Sali Bay Resort (afternoon flight) |
| 6th – 13th May | Dive days (up to 3 dives per day available); combination of house reefs & boat dives |
| 14th May | Rest day; enjoy time in Sali Bay Resort and the land-based activities available |
| 15th May | Depart Southern Halmahera (morning), transfer to Monado for an overnight stay. |
| 16th May | Depart Monado for return to Manchester via Singapore; arriving Manchester on the morning of 18th May. |
The package price for Divers includes:
- All return flights and transfers from Manchester airport to Sali Bay Resort
- Total of five nights accommodation in Monado (on a twin share, B&B basis)
- Up to 3 dives per day while in Sali Bay Resort, with use of cylinders, weights and air fills per day
- Transfers to / from dive sites at Sali Bay Resort – includes house reefs as well as the use of day boats.
- Accommodation in resort villa (Sali Bay) based on a twin sharing basis;
- Double rooms are available; please inform NHDC of any preferences at the time of booking. We will endeavour to meet your demands, but as accommodation is strictly limited this will be provided on a first come, first served basis.
- Please note single occupancy is not available on this trip. If you are a solo traveller, we will arrange suitable sharing.
- All meals and some drinks (tea, coffee & water) at Sali Bay Resort; alcohol and soft drinks available to purchase.
- Local taxes / fees
- Provision of a Trip Leader by New Horizons Dive Centre
Not Included (but available)
- Regional flight luggage fees (approx. $2 per kilo, payable in local currency)
- Monado:
- Local excursions & diving (house reef)
- Meals & refreshments
- Sali Bay Resort:
- 15L cylinders; please note, these are not currently available.
- Nitrox (4 euro per fill)
- Night dives (can be arranged locally; fees to be paid in euro)
- Drinks while in resort (Sali Bay)
Let us know you want to join us! Simply send us a Trip Booking Form and completed Medical Statement.
Your place will be confirmed on receipt of the booking form, medical statement, deposit and arrangement fee.
Get in touch for bank account details or to make payment over the phone.
NHDC Arrangement Fee: £60 per person (£30 Dive Society members and non-divers); to be paid at the time of booking.
Deposit: £200. Please note, this is required to secure your accommodation and is non-refundable.
Balance Payment: Balance payments will be required 12 weeks prior to departure. Payment plans can be arranged; please get in touch to discuss options for setting up a payment plan.
Insurance
To go on this trip you must have travel and diving accident insurance. You can book your insurance with Dive Master Insurance through the New Horizons website and save 5%. Simply go to the bottom of our homepage and click on the link to Dive Master Insurance and SAVE 5% – it couldn’t be easier.
Legal
New Horizons Dive Centre Ltd will provide your own group holiday leader to provide expertise and to administer the trip. The services of this trip leader and the gear rental available from New Horizons Dive Centre Ltd are the responsibility of New Horizons Dive Centre Ltd and are provided under a separate contract. These arrangements will be confirmed by us.
The final balance due will be payable 12 weeks before departure.
Deposit payments are non-refundable unless the trip is cancelled by New Horizons Dive Centre Ltd or Dive Worldwide, or any of the resorts or locations they represent.
