This was my second diving trip in Menado. I dove with my two buddies, Denada and Ronny Rengkung, and also with our aunty, Mustika Quartina.
We stayed at Tasik Ria Resort, approximately 1 hour from the airport (although we made it in 40 minutes when we were late heading back to fly to Jakarta 
). This time we dove with Tasik Divers, as Ecodiver wasn’t the operator anymore (although all the people looked like the same). It was a pretty good deal that I got, Rp 3 million for 4 night and 3 days diving in Bunaken. Plus additional Rp 450 thousand for our Lembeh trip. Quite a bargain.
I always loved diving in Menado. It has good infrastructure, nice hotel (much better than Gorontalo and Palu), good dive operators, and most of all, nice dive sites. Well, if you are a food lover, count it in too. My buddy Ronny Rengkung has a restaurant downtown, Ayam Kalasan it’s called, although I am not sure where it was. It served many Menado food too. Simply said: awesome! I mean it. We also tried Ria Rio Restaurant. Another yummy experience. I sometimes can’t make up my mind, which one is better, the food or the diving.
In my experience, Menado always provides easy dives. That’s why many of the new students get certified there, while enjoying their vacation. But it was pretty quiet. Good. It was perfect to try my new underwater housing, this time with Canon 5D mark 2 in it.
Talking about camera, I was not very happy with the operator though. My buddy Denada rented a pocket camera, a Sea&Sea, 7 mega pixel. After the second dive, I saw the ‘low battery’ warning. She took it back, but they convinced her it was fine. So she dove again, but only to find the camera could only shoot another 3 frames. She then brought it back again, get the operator open the underwater case, and apparently the lens could not retract. They said they could have asked her to pay $500 although they preferred not too. This was a situation where a decision was about to made based on poor knowledge. First of all, the whole camera would only cost half of the amount mentioned. Secondly, how could a diver harm the camera while it’s securely operated in its housing and it didn’t even leak a bit? Thirdly, if the lens mechanism failed, it’s really an easy job to fix by a basic camera shop. I would rather make them pay her $500 for refusing to check it although the low battery warning already blinked and made her losing her opportunity to shoot great moments.
Special thanks to Noldy and Benny, our dear guides. And also to Ronny for the lovely food.
I love all the pics, wish I could do your activities :p The best is Nemo Picture (Clown Fish) ^^ Need permission to use it as my background picture in my notebook. May I?? hehe…
5D mk2? No wonder the pictures are awesome. And they were shot by the legendary Jerry. Kapan dive bareng Jer? Libur 17 Agustus?
2009:)
as always..magnificent pics!!
Wonderful pics!!Lovely!
Hi Jer,
Try walea! Its the protected diving area in central sulawesi, one of my best diving experience.
Ini alamat website dan foto2nya for your references: http://www.walea.com/eng/picture_gallery.php
ciao!
Awesome pics as always, Boy. Love pics of the seahorse. It’s amazing to see the richness of Indonesia underwater life. Great job!
impressive….. worthwhile investments
awesome pics! lovely…
great pictures! bunaken marine park is definitely a great place for diving and for underwater photography. been there twice and look forward to go back.
cheers!
bakaln ke sana…nabung dl
Cool images very clean, good compositions… I’m a british photographer with Indonesian roots, working here for the next six months… Based in Jakarta, but my current projects’ in Central Kalimantan. Have a look at my blog and let me know what you think!
http://charliebarnwell.wordpress.com
A perfect equipment meet a perfect shooter, I think that’s why those UW pictures more stand out now. Another great job, bro!
i luv thats clown fish……
say it:Manado
not: Menado
wah keren nih om.. saya saja di manado belum pernah foto uderwater… jadi pingin… salam
kang, spec kameranya pake yang gimana ? terutama untuk yang NudiRetreat_070. thanks.
Canon 5D mk 2 dalam housing Ikelite
Hello Sir…
Little nice story about ur trip in Manado City…
Ur story make me interesting for read it,so im was read it.
Actually im come from manado city.
Now,im just asking ur permit for know about ur some trip in tourism place or ur activity about photographer maybe,,something which same like that.
Ok,before thanks and the last where i can contact you..? email or facebook maybe…?
Thanks ^_^
sya bru belajar fotografi Jer, sya juga pengguna Canon eos,
untuk foto yang tasikria_004 pake’ lens brapa? … pake filter ga??
Thank u….
Lensa 17-40 mm Lytha, ga pake filter
wadoh…. thanks for share this pictures…
bunaken punya isi laut mamang toooooppppp!!!!!