When the sun sets, the reefs and coastal slopes surrounding North Sulawesi and those tiny islands become entirely unrecognizable from their day look. The majority of the bright day fish venture deep into the crevices of the world, hiding from predators, although the nocturnal creatures head out to the open to feed. A lot of men and women are so amazed by it, they create many more following the initial one.
However, what about nighttime snorkeling? Can snorkelers experience the same incredible items as the sailors do at night? The answer is yes, completely.
Night snorkeling can be an incredible adventure, but you have to visit the ideal sites to get the very best experience possible. Fortunately, our dive and snorkel guides know exactly where to take you; you enjoy your night snorkeling session just as much as the sailors do.
The majority of the creatures we encounter at night usually are more compact than the fish we see throughout the day. Therefore we must visit a sheltered site where currents are slow to non-invasive, so that you may spend time searching around the corals to discover the creatures. In addition, we ought to be much shallower than day snorkeling so you can really find the creatures.
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Reading guide
How to Get There
We usually head to the North Sulawesi mainland for night diving and snorkeling excursions. The sandy slopes are perfect for divers, and the reefs can go very shallow, along with shallow sand beds and seagrass meadows, which is ideal for the snorkelers. The mainland reefs are usually not as amazing as the ones around the islands. However, for night snorkeling, beauty is not so important, as you are not looking “at a scene”, but more for the animals themselves.
We leave Siladen Resort & Spa at 17:45, along the sites are usually no more than 20 minutes away. Every snorkeller will be given a high powered flashlight using a focussed beam, and the guide will carry some extra ones in case yours fails. As soon as you reach the website, you’ll be given a comprehensive briefing about processes and what you can expect to see. After the briefing, it’s time to slip into the inky black water armed with your underwater flashlight and swim over to the shallow reef.
What You See
It can take some time for your eyes to adjust to the dark reef. In the beginning, it may seem as if you’re wasting your time, but after only a few minutes, amazing nocturnal creatures will start to show themselves to you.
Among the most usual night snorkeling encounters are different scorpionfish family members, who sit in the open, waiting for their prey to come to them. Their cryptic camouflage is simpler to see past through the night since the light from your torch will reflect their eyes off.
Crustaceans will compose the bulk of your sightings during nighttime snorkeling. The big, awkward-looking sponge crab could be easily spotted stomping within the corals (making it the nickname “King Kong Crab” with a number of those dive and snorkel guides), and virtually every crevice you look in will be filled with the white and red-banded boxer shrimp. If you are really lucky, you might catch a glimpse of a slipper lobster as it melts away from the lighting.
Ready to snorkel in the nightlife to Bunaken? Visit Wonderful Indonesia, and don’t miss out on the magic!
