Diving resort
Diving experience
The dreamlike boutique resort Coral Eye is located in the southwest of Bangka Island in North Sulawesi - the heart of the Coral Triangle.
Once the base for marine studies, Coral Eye Bangka has evolved into a place that delights diving enthusiasts, underwater photographers & marine biologists alike.
The aim of the boutique resort is to put its guests at the center of the experience, creating a unique environment where people are connected by their shared passion for the sea to experience and share unforgettable moments together. Built from natural materials, the resort blends almost invisibly with the island.
Thanks to the lack of stores and restaurants, Bangka with its forests, mangroves, coconut plantations and pristine white sandy beaches is the perfect place to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and immerse yourself in a very special atmosphere.
Enjoy your vacation at the Coral Eye and let yourself be enchanted by the magic of this unique place.
VILLAS & ROOMS
The resort's rooms & villas are designed to offer the highest level of comfort and an authentic island experience. They are all equipped with en-suite bathrooms, air conditioning, a ceiling fan, high-quality mattresses and cotton bed linen. There are also mosquito nets on the windows.
- Villa
The 7 spacious 100m² beach view villas are ideal for those seeking privacy and proximity to the stunning white sandy beach. They are equipped with a double bed, an indoor & outdoor lounge area, an open-air bathroom as well as a minibar and coffee & tea facilities. Here you can enjoy the sound of the waves and the fantastic view of the sea directly from your villa.
- Garden Villa
The garden villas are located in the private house of the Coral Eye Garden and have two superior rooms with en-suite bathrooms and a shared open lounge area. They are perfect for families, couples or friends.
- Superior room
Located on the 1st floor of the resort, the 6 large superior rooms are furnished with 2 extra-large single beds or a double bed and share a spacious terrace with fantastic sea views.
The terrace reflects the original communal philosophy of the Coral Eye and is the perfect place to socialize or relax after a long day of diving or exploring Bangka Island. - Â Sea View Superior Room
The cozy, slightly smaller room is located on the 1st floor above the dive center and offers a private terrace with breathtaking views of the sea and the beautiful beach. It may be a little smaller, but it certainly doesn't lack in comfort or convenience and is perfect for guests who appreciate the proximity to the dive center and the magnificent view.
FACILITIES
At the heart of the resort is a large square table which is seen as the centerpiece and is the central, social meeting & focal point of the Coral Eye. It is a place where guests come together to exchange ideas and share unforgettable moments. It embodies the connection & community that guests will experience at the resort.
- Culinary delights
The cuisine is characterized by a wide selection of homemade seasonal dishes that combine the diversity of Indonesian cuisine with Mediterranean recipes. The creative chefs rely on fresh, local ingredients to conjure up authentic and tasty dishes that will delight guests. The fish, for example, is sourced exclusively from local fishermen.
In order to protect the environment as much as possible, processed food and plastic packaging are avoided as far as possible.
At Coral Eye, quality and simplicity are at the heart of the culinary concept. Experiencing good food together and having pleasant conversations while doing so is seen as a valuable tradition that is cultivated at the resort.
- Bar
An extensive menu awaits you in the convivial bar, with both classic cocktails and unique signature drinks.
For beer lovers, the popular Indonesian Bintang beer is served, and for wine lovers there is also something very special, the Isola wine from Cantine Balita, a renowned winery based in Bali that combines Balinese and Italian farming techniques to produce a range of delicious wines.
ACTIVITIES
Although there are no roads on the island, you have the opportunity to hike through the lush jungle and visit the picturesque fishing village of Lihunu or take a relaxing walk along the beach that leads you to the charming village of Busa Bora.
- SPA & Wellness
As massages & wellness have been firmly rooted in Indonesian culture for centuries, the resort also has a SPA, which was built by the employees themselves in 2020. Let yourself be pampered during your treatment with natural oils produced by the SPA therapist himself.
- Tangkoko Reserve
You can also explore the mainland of North Sulawesi during a visit to the Tangkoko Jungle Reserve. Among other things, the reserve impresses with its extraordinary forests with very old trees and the incredible diversity of animal species. The Sulawesi tarsier - the smallest known primate species - as well as groups of endemic black macaques and the marsupial kuskus can be observed here.
- Minahasan Highlands
The small town of Tomohon lies between two active volcanoes, Lokon and Mahawu. The surrounding highland region offers a wealth of activities and experiences. Hiking to the summits of these volcanoes will challenge you, but also reward you with breathtaking views.
The Coral Triangle is undoubtedly known for its breathtaking underwater biodiversity.
With more than 30 world-class dive sites, Bangka is a true treasure trove for divers. From richly populated volcanic pinnacles to pristine coral reef slopes, sandy slopes, mangroves and impressive rock faces, a variety of diving experiences await you.
And best of all, all dive sites are conveniently accessible within 5-40 minutes by boat from the resort, so you can spend more time exploring the fascinating underwater world and experience unforgettable moments.
You can see pygmy seahorses that hide cleverly among the corals, leaf fish that adapt perfectly to their surroundings with their camouflage, as well as black & white tip reef sharks, frogfish, nudibranchs and rare dugongs.
In principle, diving is possible all year round, but between April & November conditions are optimal as the water temperature is around 29°C and visibility is up to 30 meters. In winter, visibility usually decreases somewhat due to waves & possible rain.
CORAL EYE DIVING CENTER
Located directly on the beach, the diving center with terrace offers each guest their own wet room for washing and storing their diving equipment. A special camera room is available for photographers.
The focus is deliberately on small groups with a maximum of 4 divers per guide in order to offer the best possible individual service. The local guides, who are all certified dive masters, have extensive experience in the waters around Bangka to provide you with unforgettable diving experiences.
DIVING DIVES
The boats set off at around 8 a.m. and take you on two dives. The dive sites are selected according to the needs of the guests and the current weather conditions.
During the boat trip, fresh water, hot coffee & tea as well as snacks and fresh fruit are offered.
Dives from the boat or directly from the jetty on the house reef are on the program for the afternoon. Night dives are usually organized from the jetty at around 18:00.
Full-day excursions to the Lembeh Strait or to the breathtaking diving spots of Bunaken can also be organized on request.
SNORKELING
Not only divers, but also snorkelers get their money's worth at Coral Eye Bangka. Directly from the jetty, breathtaking coral gardens and fascinating creatures just waiting to be discovered await you just below the surface.
You have the option of snorkeling about 1 km along the reef to the village of Busa Bora or in the other direction to the spectacular mangroves.
Thanks to the jetty, you can easily get into the water at any tide to explore the magical underwater world.
To get to the enchanting island of Bangka, we plan your trip via Manado - the capital of Sulawesi.
You can get to Manado via Singapore, Jakarta or Denpasar, for example, after a flight time of around 1.5 hours.
When you arrive in Manado, you will be greeted by a member of the Coral Eye Bangka staff and after a 1-hour drive you will be taken to Pantai Surabaya, from where you will continue by speedboat for 30 minutes to Bangka Island, where the resort team will give you a warm welcome.
The transfer is offered between 07:00 - 16:00. For safety reasons, a transfer before sunrise or after sunset cannot be guaranteed.
Source: Coral Eye Bangka Resort