Not many people, even local will recognice this place as a diving destination, albeit its relatively easy to reach, 1.5 hour drive from Palu, the capital city of central sulawasi. At least 5 daily flight landed in palu fom Jakarta, Surabaya via Ujung Pandang. We knew this place when we stayed at Prince John Dive resort, located 40 km north of Palu, at the end of Donggala bay on Makasar strait side, while marantale is located at another side, facing the tomini bay. They arrangede a day trip for us, took 2.5 hours by car from the resort.
The trip cost us extra Rp. 500,000 per head. There's no diving facility in the area, they even bring the boat engine and technician together with us and rent a boat from local fisherman.
If you love healthy beautiful coral with giant sponges (including at least one Salvador dali sponge) in excelent visibility, with mild or no current, this is the place to go. I guess the viz. at the firs location was amazingly reach 40 - 50 m, very blue water and practically no particles at all. Probably due to the location is relatively far from the shore. Unfortunately, this place is not for bigfish lover. The biggest fishes we saw is not more than my palm.
Here few pictures taken by my daughters.
More of our trip can be found here:
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