Thalassa – Menado

Thalassa Resort & 5* PADI Dive Center, formerly called Barracuda, has been one of the first three dive resorts operating in North Sulawesi and opened its doors as early as 1988. Since the 1 April 2013 Thalassa’s Dive Team has taken over this small resort. You will be surprised how close to nature you feel in this small resort. “Thalassa goes Green” and that is something you feel everywhere… Between the fruit trees, the swaying palm trees and the flowers of the lush gardens Thalassa Resort & 5* PADI Dive Center has a total of 20 rooms divided into 3 categories. All rooms are equipped with AC and private bathrooms with hot-water shower and overlook the sea from a private terrace.

North Sulawesi is almost exclusively visited by divers. Why this is, will quickly become clear. It has one of the richest and most varied underwater landscapes on earth.

Specialists say that in Bunaken National Park alone, one can find more than 58 different coral species and subspecies and about 2,000 species of fish. These numbers grow even larger if you start counting the other species in the Archipelago of Bangka and Lembeh Strait.

Thalassa organizes trips to most of these extraordinary dive sites in this rich area. North Sulawesi is part of the island where three large bodies of water come together: the Pacific Ocean, Sulawesi (Celebes) Sea and the Indian Ocean. Together they are an important food source for numerous species. The tidal flow and variety of underwater landscapes also contribute to the richness of this treasure under the sea. The sea around North Sulawesi can be roughly divided into five different dive areas. Together they offer over 150 different dive sites, suitable for all levels.

Water Temperature

The tidal range is about 2.2 m and therefore most of the dives are drift dives. The water temperature is between 26 and 29 degrees. Most of the divers and snorkellers wear a 3mm shorty or long-sleeve wet suit.

Seasons in North SulawesiNorth Sulawesi roughly has two seasons; a “wet season” and a “dry season”. For the past years the weather has been unpredictable and the general “rule of thumb” cannot be guaranteed. During the North-West monsoon, the wind is stronger and brings in more rain. The official rainy season starts around mid-October and lasts until mid-April. After this the South East monsoon starts bringing in the dry winds. For the past three years the seasons have been unpredictable and there is no more clear distinction between the dry and wet season. March and April can still be quite o.k. and May can be rough.
Pilot WalesThe best months, without too much rain, not too much wind and in general good visibility is from May to end of September. The months March, April, October, November and December are usually still quite good, with rain only in the (late) afternoons and evenings. The months January and February are usually quite wet, but because of the cooler water brings in more pelagic fish, sharks and whales. Unusual spotting of Mantas, Whale Sharks, Sperm Whales and Orcas also occur between December and April.
Water Temperature and VisibilityThe water temperature is quite constant 28 degrees all through the year with the exception of November (usually quite high temperatures up to 29 degrees) and January to March with temperatures as low as 26 degrees on some days. The visibility varies between 20-40 meters. In the rainy season the coast sides can be a bit less.
Bunaken National Park FeeAll visitors of Bunaken National Park are required an entrance fee. Divers and snorkelers need to purchase a Bunaken Pin at IDR 150’000 per stay. It is also a nice souvenir.

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