Frequently Asked Questions

The most direct option to get to Manado’s Sam Ratulangi International Airport is flying via Singapore. Scoot Airlines,  which is a budget subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, offers two weekly flights between Manado and Singapore (Wednesday and Saturday) at this time. We expect more flights to be added as demand increases. The flying time is 3.5 hours. If arriving domestically, there are numerous daily flights, some direct, from Jakarta (3 hrs in duration) on a variety of carriers along with flights from Denpasar (Bali) via Makassar.

The 30-day Visa on Arrival (VOA) is the most popular option for tourists to Indonesia. Tourists from 60 countries are eligible as of May 30, 2022. At the approved port of entry (including Manado, Jakarta & Denpasar), foreign visitors will need to present the following requirements:

• An original passport that is valid for more than 6 (six) months from the date of arrival in Indonesia.
• Roundtrip airline ticket.
• Visa fee of IDR 500.000. You might need to pay with a credit card/debit card/cash.
• Proof of travel insurance with minimum coverage of USD 20,000.
• Proof of two-doses COVID-19 vaccination.
• PeduliLindungi Apps installed on mobile phones (can be downloaded at Google Play/Apple Store).

Alternatively, you may apply for a visa before you leave home by contacting the Indonesian Embassy or Consulate in your country.

The entry requirements are loosening post-pandemic, so please check online for changes.

Guests will find very few mosquitos on our property, but we still provide mozzie spray and coils in our bungalows and we recommend that you bring insect repellent and appropriate clothing for the late afternoon and early evening hours.

Before your departure we also recommend that you consult with your doctor for advice on anti-malarial drugs suitable for divers if you seek absolute protection.

Black Sand Dive Retreat is a 1-hour drive from Sam Ratulangi International Airport using the new Manado-Bitung Toll Road.

We accept payment at the resort by credit card (Visa or Mastercard), as well as cash in Indonesian Rupiah, Euros, and if immaculate, US Dollars. We can only accept perfect USD because Indonesian banks and money changers will refuse or give a substantially lower rate for notes that are old, damaged, marked, or even folded.

Bitung has a number of ATM machines, which can be used to withdraw Rupiah using your credit or debit card.

Because of widespread credit card fraud in this part of the world, we also recommend that you notify your bank or credit card company that you will be visiting Indonesia prior to your departure, as there have been cases of cards being blocked by banks thinking that it has been stolen.

Though diving is the primary reason visitors come to North Sulawesi, there are other things to do. The nearby Tangkoko National Park offers the best chance anywhere of seeing the rare Tarsius spectrum, the smallest primate in the world. The park is also home to the endemic black crested macaque, cuscus and other interesting wildlife and unlike most parks in Southeast Asia, you actually do see wildlife quite easily with the help of the sharp-eyed park rangers who are mandatory guides for visitors.