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Divers may choose not to stay on one of the islands within the marine park but instead to stay at a Manado city dive resort.
There are several local dive sites close by. Visibility is not as good as Bunaken and litter in the water can be off putting but these dive sites offer some amazing macro diving. They have more in common with Lembeh Strait dive sites than Bunaken diving. They are often dived as the last dive of a daytrip on the return from Bunaken back to the resort and make a nice change from the wall diving in the marine park. Several of the Manado resorts have good house reefs like Murex and Celebes. 
Black Rock (also known as DJ Point) is one of the most popular dives in the area. The reef consists of rock and sand patches a long way removed from the beautiful corals of Bunaken. But searching around the rocks will reveal a wonderful array of critters. Ribbon eels can be seen poking up out of rubble holes. Scorpion leaf fish sway gently back and forth in the current. Frogfish are also brilliantly disguised, so are ornate ghostpipefish. A keen eye will be able to find many different types of shrimp including Coleman's shrimp and Emperor shrimp.
Pygmy seahorse can even be seen here. Crocodile fish can be found in the sand as can flounder. Maximum depth is 25m. Currents are weak. This dive site is suitable for all levels of diver.
Manado City Dive Sites Continued >>
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