Travel

A coral garden, photographed during the three-tank day trip to Bangka Island from Siladen—one of the many excursions offered by the resort
 

After earning a category win in the prestigious DPG Masters competition, I found myself planning my first-ever trip to the Coral Triangle to redeem my prize. Traveling from the East Coast of the U.S., I was determined to make the most of my time in Indonesia—this was truly the trip of a lifetime, to a place I had only dreamed of visiting until then!

A trusted fellow photographer suggested I add on a few days of pampering at Siladen Resort to round out a week of fantastic muck diving in Lembeh. It had, after all, taken me 39 hours of travel to reach North Sulawesi, Indonesia—it didn’t take much convincing to stay a little longer and experience the best this region has to offer. And Siladen Resort is definitely at the top of that list.
 

Siladen is a world-class resort with outstanding amenities and the hospitality is top-notch. We felt so welcome from the moment we stepped onto the island to the time of our bittersweet departure
 

The camera room is outstanding. It is air conditioned and has a large fresh water rinse bin located right outside. Every photographer has dedicated stations, but there is also enough room in the center to thoroughly dry and set up your kit. It’s also a great place to enjoy a cocktail—a special surprise that was delivered on our last evening!
 

The ferry ride from mainland Manado to Siladen was quick and seamless, and before long we were stepping onto a true island paradise. From the moment we arrived, it was clear that Siladen Resort takes great pride in delivering world-class hospitality. Every detail—the food, the service, the atmosphere—was exceptional. And the diving? That was the icing on the cake.

After check-in, we were escorted to the dive shop and greeted with a warm welcome. The team helped us plan how to make the most of our too-short four-day stay. First up was a blackwater dive that evening, followed by a day of wall diving around the island, a day of exploration in nearby Bangka, and finally an early morning drift dive with some unforgettable turtle encounters.
 

The visibility around Siladen was exceptional during our entire stay, which made for some excellent wide-angle opportunities
 

One of the things I appreciated most was that we had the same dive guide for our entire stay. He carried my camera to the boat each day, helped me find amazing subjects underwater, and even modeled for a few shots. He took the time to understand what my photography goals were and ensured we went to a diverse set of dive sites to maximize photographic opportunities. Building that continuity and trust made my time there both more photographically productive and more enjoyable.

The blackwater dive began with an incredibly thorough briefing in the resort’s state-of-the-art camera room. We even received a PowerPoint presentation that walked us through what to expect. Although I’ve done blackwater dives before, I really appreciated the level of detail and preparation; for anyone new to it, Siladen would be the perfect place to try. My husband especially appreciated that the kitchen stayed open late so we could still enjoy a gourmet dinner after returning from the night dive. It’s those small touches that really set this resort apart.
 

A sharpear enope squid was one of the star subjects of our blackwater dive
 

The next day, we explored the breathtaking coral-encrusted walls of Bunaken National Marine Park. As we drifted along the reef, we counted no fewer than two dozen large green turtles gliding effortlessly beside us. We later learned that Siladen Resort has played a major role in preserving this thriving turtle population.

During our stay, one of the resort’s staff members shared the heartwarming story behind their conservation efforts. When the resort was first being built, the team noticed a sharp decline in local turtle numbers. Many villagers had long relied on turtle eggs as a food source, which put additional pressure on an already struggling population.

Recognizing that a more sustainable alternative existed, the resort’s owners began subsidizing the cost of chicken eggs—readily available in nearby Manado—and also offered payments to locals who reported and protected turtle nests. It took time and persistence, but the community gradually realized that the turtles were worth far more alive than as a meal.

Today, Siladen’s commitment to conservation is evident in the vibrant health of the reef and the abundance of marine life that surrounds the island.
 

Turtles, especially greens, seemed to be coming towards us from every angle as we did our drift dive along the stunning, coral-encrusted walls of Bunaken
 

A big green turtle looks out from its beautiful home along the walls of Bunaken
 

One of the towering soft coral bommies that are so characteristic of the Bangka dive sites
 

Day three took us on a full-day excursion to Bangka Island, where we completed three dives and enjoyed a picnic lunch on a private beach. The area is famous for its towering soft coral bommies that burst with color under the sunlight—a true underwater kaleidoscope. The reefscapes were indeed stunning, and the photographic opportunities were endless.

Our final dive focused on macro life that rivaled anything we’d seen in Lembeh. My guide had prepared me ahead of time, so I was able to switch to my macro lens on the boat—a breeze thanks to the ample dry space on board. It was such a productive day filled with great diving, stunning scenery, and delicious food.
 

An adorable porcupinefish peers out at the camera from underneath its hard coral shelter
 

I was grateful I took my macro setup for at least one dive for the opportunities to shoot some of the tropical Pacific’s smaller critters
 

A closely packed school of catfish come in close on our macro dive
 

On our last day, I couldn’t resist returning to Bunaken to see the turtles one more time. As a photographer, I think turtles are among the most photogenic underwater subjects, and I wanted to make the most of every encounter.

That afternoon, we treated ourselves to a spa session for one final indulgence and wrapped up the day with a sunset snorkel on the house reef—the perfect spot for split shots. It was the ideal ending to an incredible journey. We left Siladen Resort with full memory cards, relaxed minds, and hearts set on returning. This little island paradise captured both our imaginations and our affection—and I’ll be looking for any excuse to go back.
 

We’ll never forget Siladen’s abundant turtles—hawksbills as well as greens
 

See more of Grace Pempek’s award-winning work by checking out her Instagram page.