Bunaken Cha Cha "New Arrival"

Here is our New Arrival at Cha Cha ....Chico  ...our new Great Dane puppy

She is 9 weeks old now and has already made good friends with our other

dogs.

My New Camera Canon G9

3 months after buying my new Canon G9, I had the first chance to try it out, these were a couple of results

Indonesia -Bunaken Bugs-

Most people that have stayed on Bunaken have had some sort of encounter
with the various bugs that live on the Island...yes we have spiders, not the
man eating type, scorpions...yes but again not the type that ambush you.
Ants, now I never knew till I arrived on Bunaken that there could be so many
ants in one area....and of so many different types, I often wonder what the
total population of ants could be in the world at any one time??...the mind
boggles.
After 9 years, you would think that we, at Cha Cha, would have seen all that
are available on Bunaken....but no, we still see new ones, every time the same
story....... new bug, you think of "new species" and " can we call it the Cha Cha
bug" but then we find that its actually quite common.......

Here is the latest that created quite a stir at Cha Cha the other morning,
its actually a "Tortoise Beetle" about 15mm long and gold...have a look.

"Thank You Junko" - Bunaken Cha Cha

It was with great sadness that we said goodbye to, most probably our most important collaborator " Junko san" in February 2008. Junko started working at Cha Cha in April 2006 together with her boyfriend (Nyoman), she had just recently acquired her Instructor license and had approx.. 200 dives total, so still rather "green" to the world of Diving, Teaching and Diving Resort Management.
Things did not work out with Nyoman and within a couple of months he left to return to Bali, luckily for us Junko decided to remain at Cha Cha and so began our two year work relationship with her.
Up to that moment I had been very protective of all my diving guests, rarely would I allow them to be guided by any body else other than me, but slowly Junko proved that I could trust her, I often explained that guiding is guiding and teaching is teaching you can have good guides and good Instructors, but the key to success was to be good at both.
Over time Junko did become that person both attentive and sharp eyed at guiding and a patient and methodical Instructor, in this way she gained respect from us at Cha Cha and also from her "Fans"...our guests.
Now that she has left, there is definitely an empty feeling in Cha Cha from time to time, though I can joke with almost anybody, the "connection" we had with Junko was very special.....a friend that we could totally trust, joke and laugh with.

So we wish Junko all the best for her future, we miss her and I hope she knows and understand that Reiko & I are always here should she ever need anything and that our "small paradise" is always her home too.

Here is a little tribute to her....our good friend.

Manado Earthquake Today click to view epicenter

The " Ring of Fire" rocks again

From the coordinates below, we can see that the epicenter was north
of Molucca Sea far more north than previous tremors, a Tsunami Warning
was issued and then cancelled 30 minutes later, no damage has been
reported and life goes on as usual in Manado.

Magnitude 6.7
Date-Time Thursday, July 26, 2007 at 05:40:18 (UTC)
Coordinated Universal Time
Thursday, July 26, 2007 at 1:40:18 PM local time at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location 2.800°N, 127.493°E
Depth 44.6 km (27.7 miles)
Region MOLUCCA SEA

Coelacanth Autopsy reveals pregnant fish

The Autopsy of the Coelacanth that was caught last month around Bunaken National Marine Park, surprisingly showed that in fact the fish was pregnant, hopefully the teams from Indonesia, France and Japan will be able to use the data gained, to better understand this amazing creature.
17th July Update

I have been informed by Manado University that I cannot publish any information regarding this species of fish it seems
that somebody from Japan has complained about us showing this video footage, and they have cited that they own all
the rights to it !!!

Of course we appologies profusely if we have infringed any copyrites, though we belive we have not, it is such a pitty
that those (Japanese) involved with the Coelacanth cannot work together with those that are and live on location like
us and that instead they wish to show force of strength so as to keep exclusivity to themselves.
Surely not a positive way forward, though time will tell.

Diving with Bump Head Parrot Fish

The last few days are proving to be quite something around Bunaken
Yesterdays sighting of this school of 30 Bump Head Parrit Fish is not
excepetional but the fact to film them at 18mt depth and in such clear
viz. is really a treat.
Enjoy the show.

Living Fossil "The Coelacanth" The Video

The Coelacanth commonly known as the Living Fossil Fish or in Indonesia as " Raja Laut " King of the Sea has been around since the dinosaur period, some say at least 7 milion years, not a fish that you can see diving or snorkeling but one that every now and again is caught by fishermen around Manado and Bunaken National Marine Park.

Manado - North Sulawesi Earthquake

So how about we get "real" about the earthquake that happened here last night.
Yes it was strong, yes we all shook about a fair deal and some folk got a bit
worried, but this worry stems from the ridiculous information that we recieve
from incompetent media or shall we just call it "gossip" that is then printed and
broadcast by people that have absolutely no clue to what they are talking about
at the very least or just need to make a "headline" at any cost.
More than one media broadcast last night the imminent arrival of a Tsunami to
Manado!!! on what bassis did they divulge this information ? what information
did they have to make such a statement? what right do they have to scare
monger people into a frenzy and panic ? to the point that the Governor
of North Sulawesi had to make a public statement this morning that there
was no danger of a Tsunami, based on information received from Japanese
Tsunami warning system.
Lets stay a moment with the Tsunami scenario and the logic that should go
with it and lets ask the question, where was the epicenter of the earthquake?
North East Sulawesi, now Im not sure what maps the local media uses,
but on all the maps I have looked at Manado is on the oposite side of Sulawesi
Island from the Earthquake, so for a destructive Tsunami to arrive to Manado
it would have to do one of two things
1) Travel North, then at Bitung it would have to take a sharp left and then
travel South, then around Bunaken Island it would have to turn a sharp left
again to enter Manado bay......why do I think this is a little far fetched.
2) Travel West from its epicenter and hit Bitung, travel inland over many
mountain ranges to then arrive at Manado.....from the mountains!!!! again far fetched.
Yes ok, I will admit we did get a bit more wave action for about an hour last
night but nothing more than we would get at this time of the year and month
with a High tide of 2.47 and some strong NE winds, nothing more or less than normal.
So to those that have the honor and responsability of divulging information,
please get your facts right, we live in an age "information" pls look this up in a
dictionary and I think that you will see that " bullshit" is not one of its meanings.

Scuba Diving Holiday Promotion

Bunaken Cha Cha Nature Resort

Early 2007 Promotion -25%

Valid until 28th February 2007


• Valid for all “Diving Package” bookings, confirmed and paid for by 28th Feb. 2007.
• Valid for bookings made throughout 2007 as long as booking is confirmed and paid for in full by 28th Feb.2007
• No Refund available on this promotion, in case of cancellation up to 7 days before date of arrival, booking may be rescheduled to other date within 2007, though Seasonal adjustment to price may be necessary.
• Only 2 Superior cottages and 1 Standard cottage are included in this promotion for any one period, and thus “first come, first served” policy applies.
• Promotion is valid for Accommodation/Full Board - Diving
• Promotion is NOT valid for Transfers - Equipment rental - Drinks or any other amenity used at the Resort and not included in the booking and/or paid for at the Resort.

Sun Rise at Bunaken Cha Cha

Amazing Sun Rise at Bunaken Cha Cha Nature Resort

Moray eel

One of my better photos while Scuba Diving

Manado/ Bunaken - Cuttlefish

An interesting photo of a cuttlefish feeding on a shrimp

Manado/ Bunaken - Eagle Ray

Even though the weather has not been so good the last few days
with rain and waves, it seems that it hasn't effected what we can see underswater while scuba diving.
Eagle Ray at 20 mts depth in front of Cha Cha

Manado/ Bunaken - Happy New Year 2007

Its been a busy time at Cha Cha with Xmas and New Year celebrations.
A big thanks to all our guests for making 2006 memorable and giving us theconviction to
make 2007 even better.
And cos good things come to great people, our friendly Dugong paid us a visit outside Cha Cha
for 5 straight days and many of our guests had the luck to seehim/her, this photo taken by Reiko.

Bunaken Cha Cha Nature Resort Xmas Special

Xmas and New Year Promotion
Valid from 15 Dec 06 - 10 Jan 07
Limited Availability

Superior Cottage
4 Days/ 3 nights
Airport Transfers incl.
Full Board (3 meals)
Non Diver US$ 350.00
Diver US$ 550.00

Standard Cottage
4 Days / 3 nights
Airport Transfers incl.
Full Board (3meals)
Non Diver US$ 225.00
Diver US$ 450.00

Prices based on double sharing incl of taxes
Diving Package incl. 2 boat dives per day (6 dives)

Bunaken Cha Cha Nature Resort

Even though almost mid December, it seems that the weather is still holding up well. The "rainy season" this year has still to show its face, it seems that we are in the middle of an El Nino, so maybe this answers the question..why?
The last "real" rain we had was in the begining of August and since then it has been only a matter of eveing showers, just barely enough to help the Cha Cha garden not die altogether, luckily these small showers have lowered the possibility of fires on bunaken and thus we are no longer on "red alert" like last month, but dont worry our "red alert" system works well and our staff is always on the look out for any smoke as a sign of a possible problem.
The dry weather has made life difficult for the villagers on the islands, especially Bunaken, with its limited natural water supply, both humans and live-stock suffer even though a government grant did fund a water project, but what a mess, US$25k to dig a hole in the ground, find water and within 1 month the water was contaminated with salt water, the contractor made a tidy profit by giving the villagers something they could have got directly from the beach......salt water !!

Manado/ Bunaken -- "Cha Cha Frog Fish"

We have been away for a few weeks, but here is some exciting news...a Cha Cha colour Frog Fish, yes all will know that Cha Cha's colours are orange and blue, where did we find it...well thats a secret but I will let you into a clever thing I picked up some weeks ago.....use google earth and use the different colour variations of the sea in the image to tell you how deep the area is.
Ouch maybe I have said toooo much here, but it works, we have found underwater pinnacle with it and other info that has helped us in our quest for new dive sites.
Anyway back to "Froggy", found him/her at about 7mt deep, in rubble area, perched on this small sponge, never moved for more than 3 consecutive days....whats he/she waiting for?? who knows maybe a partner? but hey, who cares.

Cumi Cumi(Squid) Spawnning News.

Squid  Spawnning Day

Today, we spent a wonderful under water time to watch their spawnning sean at a a dive site in Manado,Bunaken National Marine Park.

Bunaken Cha Cha Nature Resort

 

Manado Tua Island

Manado Tua Isalnd

Just few days ago, I saw this fish in Tanjung Kopi point. The fish called "Ikekatsuo" in Japanese. We do not see this fish so often around this ara. It's got sharp body line and very small face.

Manado,Bunaken cute sea star

While we are diving, sometimes we find this type of cute pink sea star.
The size is less than 5 cm, but when I use frash for the picture, it's came out like this beautiful color. It looks like they try to resemble part of coral and mixed in a coral wall.

Maybe for many divers, not so interesting, but I like also this type of sea creature.

by Reiko 

Beautiful Tropical Diving

Montehage Island is a one of tropical Island in Bunaken National Marine Park.

As you can see, white sandy bottom at shallow water is just like a peacefull dream world. 

Limited Special Offer!!

In conjunction and to celebrate the opening of
Singapore Airlines new routes

Milan/ Singapore and Barcelona/ Singapore

Bunaken Cha Cha Nature Resort offers the following promotion price to

Italian and Spanish Nationals using the new route.

7 nights accommodation and full board in Superior Cottage
with 5 days of diving, two boat dives per day
for a total of 10 dives per person

Published price US$ 920.00 per person

Promotion price US$ 685.00 per person (Min. two guests)


Offer validity

For new bookings made between 10th June 2006 - 31st July 2006

Travel must be completed before 30th September 2006 Offer is
based on twin or double sharing

Extra day’s extensions available pls contact.

Min of one Italian or Spanish national must be in the travelling group.
Only valid for those using the New Route.
Full payment required within 7 days of booking confirmation

Subject to availability.

Singapore Airlines flies from Milan and Barcelona to Manado via Singapore

Singapore Airlines flies to Milan and Barcelona

From 19 July 2006,

Singapore Airlines will be the first and only airline to fly from
Milan and Barcelona to Manado via Singapore.
For information on schedules and rates pls click below.

http://www.singaporeair.com/saa/en_UK/content/local/IT/promo_fares/MILflight.jsp

Manado /Bunaken Diving Tanjung Kopi point

Great!!
The dive today was compleated. Nice sun, sea, and soround at atomospire.

Tanjung kopi, gentle current, 25mt visibility, lots of fishes, I like it.

Barrakudas, tunas, Jack fishes, wonderfull creatures.

I wish you were here!!

by Nyoman at Bunaken Cha Cha Nature Resort

Manado /Bunaken Dive log 14May06

It was beautiful day today.
We went dive to "Tiwoho" which is on the main land Sulawesi Island.

This dive site is popular diving point as a macro fish, and endless beautiful coral reef on the shallow part.

We saw many different kind of nudybranches, and found a couple of anemone fish protecting their eggs. Wonderful!

All of sudden at 3 meter depth, a group of the Buffalo fish passed in front of us.
Surprise!!

message and photo by Reiko (Owner of Bunaken Cha Cha Nature Resort)

Manado /Bunaken Dive log Raymond 10May06

Whip corals were amazing at Raymond on west side of Bunaken Island, and also unseen bottom was great, slow current, perfect weather all in one.

we had lot of fun today to see lot's of kind of fish in 1 dive, amazing planet!

Manado /Bunaken Today 8May06

There were not so many boats and divers today around the island, which means a good time for diving.

There is no doubt I will say, the rainy season just over, it might be windy in next few days but I guess it's only for a temporary.

Fukui was exellent today, and also Lekuan.

so pls come to bunaken and you will be a witness of the words "Best under water".

Manado /Bunaken Montehage Great healing dive!!

Montehage northeast from the resort, another island which is also a part of Bunaken National Marine Park.

We dived here today, the site called Barracuda point. It was wall and slope dive,
but we were un lucky, there were no barracuda today, but instead we saw small school of Buffalo Fish. They swam passed just in front of us, that's was amazing!

Some part of the coral reef was damaged cause of COTS, so we collect those bad guys.
but here on the shallow reef got such a beautiful white sandy bottom, it looks just paradise! Our Japanese guest called "Great healing Diving"......

by Nyoman and Reiko

Manado /Bunaken Dive The Ship Wreck point

The Wreck was a lot better than few weeks ago.

cause, all about the visibility and nice weather, it layed just between 23-40m, it's a quite deep, so you must watch your limit depth otherwise you will exeed the no decompression limit.

The 2nd dive was sloping area, exellent for small stuff.

by Nyoman(Instructor guide at Bunaken Cha Cha Nature Resort)

Manado /Bunaken Paradaise!

I was not dive today, but I can feel it, it will be great to be down the water.

The weather was very good so far, also for the next days.

Calm water, perfect visibility, it's PARADISE, and Dancing Dolphins just infront house reef of Bunaken Cha Cha Nature Resort, that was amazing! So wellcome to Bunaken.

by Nyoman (Instructor Guide in Bunaken Cha Cha Nature Resort)

Manado /Bunaken Dive log Fukui and Mandolin point

I like the weather so far and hopely will stay the same for the next days.

We were dive in two different places, but one and another was close, Fukui and Mandolin.

Surface was calm, and the visibility also great.

Mandolin was lot of fun, curresnt.

It was strong current, but controlable. I felt like flaying and kissing the sky.
very good.


by Nyoman (Instructor Guide in Bunaken Cha Cha Nature Resort)

Manado,Bunaken 29April End of the rainy season days.

I can not see the sun today, I thought the weather will be good in next few days, or in the beginning of May the rainy season will over.

I wasn't dive today, only watched the water movement infront of the resort.
Rain, wind were made me confused, unpredikable weather, but soon the sun will come,
no worry.......

by Nyoman (Instructor guide at Bunaken Cha Cha Nature Resort)

Manado /Bunaken Dive log 28April06

Today generaly the dive was fine and good, but the other side of the Resort, west coast wasn't good on surface, cause today wind blow from west to east whichmean all along coast was fine.

Cela Cela was good but on surface it was bit rough.

The third dive was Cha Cha point which is just in front of our resort, that's was a super, we saw sharks, turtles, and nice beautifull corals were best.

by Nyoman (Instructor guide at Bunaken Cha Cha Nature Resort)

Manado,Bunaken Cha Cha from sky

Manado, Bunaken Cha Cha Nature Resort from sky.

Manado /Bunaken Mandarin Fish by Bunaken Cha Cha

We were dive in several places today. North west of the island, Raymond and Sachiko point.

Generally the weather was fine today, the water visibility and surface was fair.

The most interesting dive today was the third dive at mandarin point.

To meet this "Mandarin Fish", we need to determine the time cause they only will come out and play just after sun set.

Today was great and lot's of fun.

by Nyoman(New instructor guide at Bunaken Cha Cha Nature Resort)

Manado/Bunaken, Dolphin in front of Cha Cha Resort

Perfect..... today the weather was perfect, nice sun shine, no wind, calm water and nice visibility.

We were dive in west side of the island Alungbanua, and last dive were in Siladen island.
It was very calm dive, we could see the beautiful coral wall slowly and relaxed.

And another great things happened today was a school of grey dolphins just playing around in front of the resort all day.
Great creatures!!(*^ ▽^*)　

STARBUCKS COFFEE and Bunaken Cha Cha at Manado,Sulawesi

STARBUCKS COFFEE in Japan, they pur a story about Indonesia especially about Jawa, and Sulawesi in their free paper called

STARBUCKS PRESS

The story made by a Japanese writer who virtually travelled in Sulawesi, and stayed at Our resort Bunaken Cha Cha Nature Resort on Bunaken Island in Bunaken National Mrine Park.

Reiko(Owner of Cha Cha) helped them to give many infomation as much as possible about local cultuer & music around this area, so we as Bunaken Cha Cha Nature Resort got thanks from STARBUCKS who put our name and web site address on credit line in this free papaer.

You can get this free paper "STARBUCKS PRESS" April2006 in the STARBUCKS Coffee shop all over JAPAN, right now.

Feel Good, isn't it??

If you are living in Japan, just go to STARBUCKS COFFEE and get this STARBUCKS PRESS.
Sulawesi travell story is waiting for you!

Rainy day on Manado/Bunaken

We were upset today related to the weather, the sun was sleeping all day long, it started from early morning, the sky was covered by dark cloud.
We started to dive at the same time rain started.Surface was cold but under water was so warm and calm.

After lunch the wind blow from west coast to east. It made most of diver from another resort dive in east coast of the island, liketimor, sachiko, cha-cha point.

by Nyoman(New instructor dive guide at Bunaken Cha Cha Nature Resort)

Manado /Bunaken Dive log at Fukui point 23April06

Today we choosed Fukui as our first dive spot and lekuanⅢ was the second, cause Fukui has nice sandy bottom, which is good to doncuct the courses.

The weather was not bad. but the sky was cloudy all day long, and current was almost non.
The surface was flat as pancake.
Wather temp. 26℃ was a bit chilly in lekuan.

we imagined if the sun smile today, we will had a perfect visability.

by Nyoman (New instructor dive guide at Bunaken Cha Cha Natrue Resort)

Walking to the village

It's a bit tired today.
After being walked arround this island, the wather was still like the day
before unprodictable, I thought, cause maybe this month gonna be the
last month of the rainy season in Indonesia.
After having a lunch and few hour rest, we tried to get close to the peoples
around the island, it was nice village, we been the toher side of the beach and
walked back to the resort by the beach side.
It was lot of fun, but tired.

by Nyoman(New instructor dive guide at Buanaken Cha Cha Nature Resort)

Manado/Bunaken Open Water Cource in Indonesian?!

Today big group of guest went home, so we are not diving today.

It's nice to having out of the water after being in water and diving for so many days.

But I started to teach to some local staff "PADI Open Water Cource", and they were quite good,

though they still have a problem with the language. (No Text in Indonesian!!)

But I can see they are enjyoing it.

by Nyoman (Instructor Guide at Bunaken Cha Cha Nature Resort)

Manado /Bunaken Dive log Bango 16April06

The weather today wasn't good. I mean a bit cloudy.

When we did first dive, and it was so really strong currents, this site we went called BANGO point one of the dive site around Montehage I.S.. Water temp. was good 28℃, and surface was quite calrm. we found nice yellow nudybranc.(see the pic)

After a hour surface interval we moved to the east coast of the island, this dive was enjoyable cause of nice carals, sky is getting bright and also not too much current.
I like this site.

by Nyoman(Instructor guide at Bunaken Cha Cha Nature Resort)

Manado Dive Log Ship wreck 14April06

Today the weather was fine, we were dive in the wreck, the water was very calm and this midium size wreck lies down just between 26-40m depth.

Unfortunatly the visibility was poor (+-)8m, it maybe because of the rain yesterday, Water temp. on the bottom was 27℃, luckily no current.

This ship wreck is quite far away from the resort compair to other dive sites, it's in very near Manado(main land), about 40mnt by boat from Bunaken Island.
The ghostpipe fish and being inside of the wreck was the most I like.


Dive Log by Nyoman (Instructor Guide Bunaken Cha Cha Nature Resort)

Manado Tua Dive log 13Apr06

The Dive today was a bit hard in the beginning because of current.
But the weather was fine, calm sea, nice sun shine, 28 of water temp, around 20mt visibility, and not so windy.

The currents was swept us away from the reef, but only for a moment, in the end of the dive the current was completly stop, and followed by a school of big eyes travally fish just before we surfacing......


coment by Nyoman (Instructor Guide)
Bunaken Cha Cha Nature Resort

Manado /Bunaken Dive log 12April06

I was Dived today in two several places Lekuan I, nd Timur I which is near by the resort.

The weather was a bit cloudy today, but not so much windy, and the water temp. was fine 28.
Visibility was fair as well in between 15-20mtr.

Nooon dive was great for me, I was dive here before(Timor), but the dive today was so special.
White spoted egle ray was swam away in 30mtr bilow, Great!!

Coment by Nyoman (Instructor Guide)
Bunaken Cha Cha Nature Resort

Welcome to our new Instructor "Nyoman"

Warm welcome to Cha Cha to our new instructor Nyoman.

Hi
My name is Nyoman.
This is my first time to be here in Bunaken.I started to work in Bunaken Cha Cha Nature Resort since last week.

I've been diving here for few days all around the island, and all was just great!!Specially the wall.

The water temp. and visibility and all the marine creaturesthat live here was fine and good variety, Lekuan Ⅲ is my favorite site so far.

There are still lot of place that I need to dive in, so why don't you come here and let's explore Bunaken together.

Manado/Bunaken 11April06