Travel

Nestled on Siladen Island in Indonesia’s vibrant Bunaken Marine Park, Siladen Resort and Spa offers a quintessential tropical escape for travelers seeking tranquility and underwater adventure. Surrounded by crystal-clear waters and vibrant corals, the resort is a haven for snorkeling and diving enthusiasts eager to explore Indonesia’s rich marine biodiversity. Siladen’s commitment to sustainability ensures minimal environmental impact, ensuring that the surrounding reefs are among the most pristine—and photogenic—in the whole of Southeast Asia.

Established with a focus on eco-friendly luxury, the resort features charming bungalows built with natural materials, blending harmoniously with the island’s lush landscape. With uninterrupted ocean views, accommodations offer modern amenities and a relaxed, rustic aesthetic that enhances the sense of seclusion and comfort. A beachfront restaurant serving fresh seafood and local Indonesian cuisine is a welcome hangout after an intense day’s diving, while the well-stocked bar is perfect for sunset cocktails.

And then there’s the diving. Beginners will appreciate the calm, shallow waters around the island, ideal for introductory dives and snorkeling. Combined with gentle currents and stunning visibility, these protected sites allow for enjoyable, hassle-free underwater explorations among colorful coral gardens teeming with small fish and sea stars. For more advanced divers, the renowned Bunaken walls offer epic drift dives past overhangs, tunnels, and stunning soft corals and sponges. Then, top it all off with some mind-blowing encounters with tiny aliens from the deep on a fascinating blackwater dive.

In this Destination Portfolio special, 13 well-known underwater photographers share their thoughts about Siladen and the fantastic diving and photo opportunities they’ve enjoyed during their visits.
 

The perfect peak of the Manado Tua volcano lords over a pristine reef submersed in gin-clear water

Grant Thomas

My time at Siladen Resort and Spa was unforgettable, from drifting along vibrant coral walls teeming with turtles to exploring the surreal world of blackwater diving. The resort’s luxury, attentive staff, and commitment to conservation made it a dream escape. I especially loved the diversity of diving, with each site offering something new, from macro critters to sweeping reef scenes. It was the perfect blend of adventure, relaxation, and underwater photography heaven!

Grant Thomas is an award-winning underwater photographer, writer, and expedition guide with a fascination for the natural world
 

Siladen is famed for its massive barrel sponges—and it’s easy to see why!

Byron Conroy

To me, Siladen is a diving paradise. I have returned to Siladen many times due to the incredible hospitality of the resort and the diverse diving that the resort offers all within a few minutes boat ride. There are many resorts across the world that specialize in all sorts of different diving, but Siladen has it all: Incredible wall diving with rich coral reefs, shallow house reefs with wonderful snorkeling, muck diving macro shooting as good as anywhere in Indonesia, the healthiest population of resident turtles I have ever seen, and of course the newest addition is blackwater diving. As a full package, there are very few resorts that can come close to what Siladen has to offer. It’s also not just the diving; the dining on the beach at sunset with some of the best food in Indonesia and the warm smiles and welcomes from all the staff make it extra special.

Byron Conroy is an award-winning underwater photographer specializing in cold water, currently based in Reykjavik, Iceland
 

A lazy sea turtle enjoys the view from her cozy perch on the wall

Talia Greis

My visit to Siladen Resort still has me dreaming of vast sloping reefs, dramatic overhangs adorned with pendulous corals, and turtles gliding effortlessly in and out of the blue. What really took me by surprise was the abundance and grandeur of the barrel sponges and gorgonians peppering the never-ending slopes. I was so overwhelmed with wide-angle opportunities in this pristine oceanic wonderland that it almost felt wrong to hit the water with a macro lens. But that quickly changed after I discovered that the critter diving was equally impressive! I enjoyed mornings in the muck with the likes of ghost pipefish, shrimps and crabs, while my evenings were spent blackwater diving for weird and wonderful drifters of the deep. And after a hard day’s work, you are welcomed back to shore with five-star hospitality in a luxurious jungle paradise. You’ll spend your surface intervals lounging by the pool, practicing yoga at sunset in the luxurious boutique treehouse, and indulging in fine-dining cuisine overlooking a picture-perfect ocean. A huge thanks to Siladen Resort and Spa for gifting me with an unforgettable experience!

Talia Greis is an award-winning underwater photographer from Sydney, Australia
 

The reefs at Bunaken are incredibly healthy and full of life and color

Lisa Collins

Siladen Resort is one of my favorite destinations in the world! Not only is the resort luxurious, you feel—right from the start—like you are valued and important to the staff, who make sure your stay is the best it can be. The food is delicious and varied, with a mix of local and international dishes enjoyed on a beautiful sandy beach overlooking the extinct Manado Tua volcano as the sun sets. The diving is supreme, with a mix of steep walls, reef tops and muck diving, so there’s something for everyone, especially for turtle lovers! The dive and boat crew are superb—and you might even have an impromptu song during your surface interval!

Lisa Collins, owner of Capture Cayman and one of the owners of INON UK, is an underwater photography instructor and photographer with a career spanning 30 years
 

This tiny and beautiful Pontohi pygmy seahorse, unlike other pygmies, moves home regularly between algae and seagrasses. Its most distinctive feature is the fine red hair-like filaments along its dorsal spine, which create a mane-like appearance

Catherine Holmes

The lush tropical surroundings, many villas directly on the beach, spa, and meals under the stars whenever possible make the whole Siladen experience amazing. The location of the resort makes it perfect for diving both Bunaken Marine National Park and the muck diving of the North Sulawesi mainland. A day trip to Bangka is also a regularly offered outing from Siladen, and this, for me, was the real gem of the trip—a mix of wonderful reef diving, colorful soft corals, bright red fans, and large schools of blue-lined snappers. The macro is also fabulous. The rare and delicate Pontohi pygmy seahorse was found easily and in numbers, and my buddy and I were each able to spend plenty of time enjoying seeing this beautiful creature for the first time. Combined with picnic lunch on a deserted coral island, it was pretty much perfect!

Catherine Holmes is the Underwater category winner of GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023 and winner of the Coral Reef category in the Underwater Photographer of the Year 2025
 

Dean Capozzola and instructor Dimpy Jacobs begin Dean’s final dive towards his Junior Open Water Certification above a healthy, shallow reef in the Bunaken Marine Park

Renee Capozzola

I have very fond family memories of Siladen because my younger son received his PADI Open Water certification there, which was a tremendous experience thanks to the resort’s outstanding dive guides. I have traveled to this beautiful spot in the Bunaken Marine Park three times. I love shooting here because it really has everything to offer in one place: beautiful and healthy coral reefs, a wide variety of large and small marine animals, and steep walls adorned with so many turtles that you can’t count them all! And after the dive is over, it's great to return to the resort, with its welcoming staff, amazing food, and perfectly understated luxury. I look forward to returning soon!

Renee Grinnell Capozzola is the 2021 Female Fifty Fathoms winner and Underwater Photographer of the Year 2021
 

An adorable boxfish, smaller than a pea, captured on a blackwater dive

Brandi Mueller

There are so many places to travel, but Siladen is one of the few places I keep going back to, over and over again. The resort feels like home—but a seriously upgraded home! With luxury accommodations set in peaceful garden or ocean-view settings, fantastic food served with your toes in the sand, and staff that make you feel like a friend and effortlessly make sure your every need is met; it really doesn’t get much better than Siladen. And that is before you even get in the water. The diving is superb and really has something for everyone. It is a turtle haven, and there is fantastic muck as well as stunning coral-covered walls. Siladen also does blackwater diving like no one else: Every diver gets their own guide, which makes it feel super safe and you basically get your own private critter finder. While I would be shooting one thing, my guide would be finding me my next photographic subject!

Brandi Mueller is a photographer, writer, captain, and dive instructor based in the West Pacific
 

Exploring the overhangs along a wall, a diver marvels at the amazing cascading coral display

Beth Barklage

Arriving at Siladen Resort and being greeted by the friendly and welcoming staff, I recall thinking I was in for a memorable experience. My villa was spacious and well-appointed, offering a stunning view of the ocean with the Manado Tua volcano in the background—a Kodak moment, for sure—and every meal was wonderful. The camera room is spacious, featuring numerous outlets for charging devices, and it is conveniently located near the dive boats, making it easy to maneuver camera gear. And then there was the diving: always excellent and diverse, with stunning vertical walls just a short distance from the beach, and complemented by sunny weather and calm seas. All aspects of my stay at Siladen Resort were delightful, and I look forward to returning!

Beth Barklage is an international award-winning photographer and member of the Ocean Artists Society
 

Peek-a-boo! A tiny yellow bearded coral goby plays hide-and-seek among the coral branches

Anita Verde and Peter Marshall

My husband and I have visited Siladen Island Resort and Spa three times since 2018, but many guests’ visits are in double figures! We can see why. We love that from the resort you have direct access to the breathtaking, vibrant coral walls and resident green sea turtles around Bunaken Marine Park, and also some great macro opportunities with a range of impressive critters. For us, the warm water and good year-round visibility makes for very relaxed and enjoyable dives. Plus, the resort directly faces the towering Manado Tua volcanic island, so at the end of each diving day, you are rewarded with a guaranteed, jaw-dropping sunset. Funnily though, with all the beautiful coral reefs and turtles, my favorite images from our last trip to Siladen were of tiny fishes. I have fond memories of capturing this image of a yellow bearded coral goby. I think I must have waited 15 minutes before it shyly peeked out for a split second, enabling me to capture the eye and nothing more!

Anita Verde and Peter Marshall are award-winning photographers, photojournalists, and DPG Field Editors
 

You don’t want to miss those special moments so don’t forget to look up!

Saeed Rashid

Since my first visit around 15 years ago, North Sulawesi has really become a second home to me. From the weird and wonderful critters of the Lembeh Strait to the mesmerizing blue waters of Bunaken National Park, it’s a truly special place. And when I think of the national park, I immediately think of the fabulous Siladen Resort and Spa. The phrase “barefoot luxury” gets thrown around far too often these days, but it genuinely fits here. Siladen is an absolute oasis. Asia is well known for its warm hospitality, but the team at Siladen go above and beyond. They’re always there when you need them and melt away into the background when you don’t—service that’s really a cut above the rest. I absolutely love diving in Bunaken, especially with the turtles. If you haven’t been, it might sound like a bit of a tall tale—but honestly, you can easily see 30 or more turtles on a single dive. It makes photographing them such a joy. Miss the shot? No worries—there’ll be another one along in a minute! Just get your wide-angle lens on and enjoy the ride. Oh, and before I forget, make sure you book a treatment at the spa. It’s absolutely amazing!

Saeed Rashid teaches Digital Publishing and Photo Journalism at Bournemouth University, UK, and somehow finds time for underwater photography, writing, organizing dive shows, and running underwater photography workshops
 

A diamond squid captured on a blackwater dive: This species spends the daytime in deep water and comes out to hunt at night close to the surface

Galice Hoarau

My main goal in visiting Siladen was to explore and help develop its blackwater diving—and the deep waters between the island and Bunaken delivered rare and fascinating critters. Siladen also offers an impressive range of dives, from vibrant walls and sea turtles to rewarding muck sites. But what truly sets this place apart is the people. The resort stands out not only for its service and hospitality, but for its genuine commitment to the local community—a spirit that’s felt in every interaction, both above and below the surface.

Galice Hoarau is an evolutionary biologist and an internationally awarded underwater photographer based in Bodø, in the Norwegian Arctic
 

The towering soft coral bommies of Bangka are breathtaking

Grace Pempek

When I think about the diving at Siladen, one word comes to mind: diversity. I visited this beautiful resort following a week of muck diving in Lembeh. In many ways, I wish I had started my journey here, or at a minimum, dedicated more time to diving their varied sites. In my short three days of diving, I experienced plunging walls covered in hard corals and teeming with turtles, I drifted through the dark abyss on an exciting blackwater dive, I discovered even more macro critters in their sandy muck, and I took the day excursion to Bangka, which gave me the opportunity to photograph the most beautiful soft coral bommies I’ve ever seen! As if that wasn’t enough, I spent each evening snorkeling on their house reef, which provided the ideal setting for split shots. The reef was healthy and full of life, set to a backdrop of a volcano and stunning sunsets—this alone made the trek with my large dome port well worth the effort! Siladen is truly a place with something for everyone, and I can’t wait to go back for another visit.

Grace Pempek is an award-winning photographer based in South Florida and currently serving as Vice President of the South Florida Underwater Photography Society (SFUPS)
 

A freshly hatched hawksbill turtle enjoys Siladen’s balmy waters for the first time

Alex Lindbloom

Siladen is a fantastic place to dive and, of course, take photos. Not only is it very easy to access, with direct flights from Singapore, but you also don’t need to travel more than 15 minutes from the resort to find incredible dive sites full of photogenic subjects—like turtles. I was lucky enough to be in the water when a whole bunch of recently hatched hawksbill turtles were released just a few feet off of the resort's shore.

Alex Lindbloom is a professional underwater photographer and videographer who has spent the past 12 years in Indoneisa, documenting the underwater wonders of this magical island nation