Cakalang Resort

We spent three nights at Cakalang and had a lovely stay thanks to Ferdinand, Julie, and Debby. Diving with their instructor Onong was excellent, with every dive bringing plenty of fish, corals, and turtles. It was also great to share a beer or two with Ferdinand at the end of the day. I'd recommend it if you want somewhere cosy and quiet with lovely people.

I felt completely safe here as a solo female traveler, and Bunaken would also suit families. Single traveler prices were a welcome relief. Book directly through their website or contact them on WhatsApp, since the listings and prices on Booking.com, Agoda, and Ggl are wrong and causing lots of problems. The wireless connection was perfect, and mobile service was good too. The bungalow was spacious and in Minahasa style, with tiled floors. Mine was right by the water, so I fell asleep and woke to the sound of it lapping below. The outdoor tiled shower was lovely, the grounds were beautiful, the pool uses ozone instead of chlorine, and it's an easy walk into town. There isn't air conditioning yet, so be prepared for some heat and humidity. The morning and evening breeze, the sea, and the pool all help cool you down. Ferdinand and Julie were gracious hosts during my wonderful five-day stay. The meals were delicious and made to order, including gluten-free food for me. You can choose whether to join a meal. Offshore, a dugong sometimes visits the seagrass, and getting to the reef is an easy swim except at the very lowest tide. There is plenty of intact reef along and near the drop-off, and the water is much cleaner than on the other side of Bunaken, where I also stayed. I snorkeled from shore and dove from their boat with a local guide, and both were satisfying. There is usually a current in one direction or the other, so once you're out on the reef, snorkeling from shore is generally an easy drift.

A lovely family homestay in a quiet spot near the harbor. The staff are friendly and the service is good, and the pool is nice and useful. Their dive center is worth recommending too. We did our Padi open water with Mr Jack. Magic!

My husband and I spent a few days here with Ferdinand, and the people really make this place special. We felt at home and had a great time together. I also completed my open water certificate course with Merfy, and it went very well. The dive sites are amazing. I highly recommend staying here and experiencing the laid-back life on bunaken.