Ocean Rover & Kima Bajo

Day 1. Depart the UK for Manado via Singapore

Day 2. Ocean Rover, 9-nights [FB]

Ocean Rover is a 30-metre purpose-built diving vessel, sleeping up to 16 guests in eight cabins. Located on the main and upper decks, with large windows or portholes, each cabin has a private bathroom and individually controlled air-conditioning. The air-conditioned saloon features a tastefully designed dining and lounging area, with a fullyequipped entertainment centre and library. The shaded upper deck offers comfortable recliners and has its own snack corner.

Ocean Rover's vast dive deck offers plenty of space for gearing up, has several large camera tables and twin rinse tanks, light tables, two battery charging stations and photo-tuition, along with a crew dedicated to helping you get those superb images! Access to the water could not be easier with Ocean Rover's unique feature, the 'Whale-deck', which gently slopes to the water's edge.

Ocean Rover's departure point in Manado is Bitung, in the Lembeh Straits - the location of choice for underwater photographers in search of unique macro subjects - and each cruise will start and finish with a full day of diving. Divers will also spend time enjoying the world-class diving around Bunaken National Marine Park and Bangka Island, with spectacular walls and reefs of hard and soft corals. Cruising further north to a chain of volcanic islands, the Sangihe Archipelago, some of which are over fifteen hundred metres high and densely covered by coconut palms. Here is some of the deepest and clearest water on the planet. Highlights include an underwater lava flow, a natural hot spring jacuzzi and a dive at Mahangatang, an underwater volcano which releases silver bubbles into the sea. Conditions permitting, it is also possible to do a spectacular pinnacle dive at Para Island. A Sulawesi cruise is not complete without a day at newly discovered critter sites - Minahasa and Popo (a.k.a. Bethlehem).

Day 11. Transfer to Kima Bajo Resort, 7-nights [FB]

With its own private beach, this phenomenal, unspoilt location is idyllic for diving and relaxation, located just a short boat ride away from world renowned dive sites of the Bunaken National Park. Kima Bajo is the ideal place for divers and non-divers alike with its bar, restaurant, Mayana Spa, private beach and excursions to nearby places of interest. Accommodation includes 19 luxurious villas with a sunken outdoor bathtub and shower, an exclusive two-villa suite with its own private swimming pool and 12 spacious longhouse suites. The design is constructed from the finest natural materials available locally to create a style that is contemporary and yet very much in keeping with the North Sulawesi image.

Eco Divers will offer two dives in the morning and one dive in the afternoon with a leisurely lunch back at the resort. Purpose built boats are spacious with contemporary interior facilities such as sundecks, rinse tanks, WC, shaded salon and powerful, energy efficient double outboard engines. As with all Eco Divers' diving, the guest-to-guide ratio is kept small at four to one and with a maximum of just eight guests per boat. Snorkellers and non-divers are welcome to join any of the trips.

The attractive upscale boutique Kima Bajo Resort, beautifully compliments Kungkungan Bay Resort in Lembeh being of the same high standards.

Day 18. Depart Manado for the UK via Singapore [B]

Day 19. Arrive home