Black Marlin Dive Resort

The diving was so good that I stayed much longer than I’d planned. This is a lovely little family run resort, rustic but peaceful, with a hard to beat location. The owner and staff were friendly, and I’d happily come back.

I hope someone steps in to help the owner’s three dogs, who have been left on the island without food, and that the owner takes responsibility. The place itself is deserted and in terrible shape. It isn’t under renovation, despite what’s been said.

I arrived during peak season without much of a plan, and the owner helped me get organized. The resort was a big step up from my previous guest house, especially since good amenities can be hard to find on Togean. It’s right on a beautiful beach, and the price was good.

There’s potential here, and perhaps it was a lovely place in the early 2000s, but now it feels abandoned and badly looked after. Plastic litter is scattered around and could be cleaned up, while much of the property looks old or broken. Nobody was there to welcome us when we arrived. The room was okay, but the bathroom was awful: very dirty, and clearly not cleaned properly for a long time. After we asked for it to be cleaned again, they insisted it already was. Somehow, during that attempt, the sink was broken and the bathroom left in an even bigger mess. We’d booked three nights, but stayed only two because we’d already paid. Such a shame.