Frequently asked questions about Kalinaun resort

The strengths of Kalinaun Resort are many and explained in detail below: the strategic location, the comfort of the cottages, the quality of the food, diving in private spots where no one else dives...

Yes, it is strategic!

It is located one hour drive from Manado airport and the transfer does not require boats so it is safe and fast at any time of the day and in all weather conditions;
we reach the Bangka dive sites in 15/20 minutes, those of Lembeh in 20/25 minutes but the richest dive sites are in the Kalinaun Marine Natural Park at 3 minutes. You can explore 3 different areas in the same vacation without moving out to another resort.

Always, excluding December-January-February due to the rainy season.

There are also flights from Jakarta but the best solution is from Singapore with a flight operated by Scoot Air (Singapore Airlines group) that can be purchased in a single ticket (from Italian and European cities to Manado).

Currently 30 kg flying in economy class.

The Kalinaun resort can only be booked directly, by our choice.

Tour operators and travel agencies require a commission of 20% (even on prepaid dives!) And this conduct to unnecessary impoverishment of the structures by depriving them from resources which could to be used to improve their service.

Check for yourself the prices of the structures that offer services identical to ours (à la carte menus, brickwork cottages, etc ...).

Yes, even by booking directly you can still have the flight ticket and travel insurance. Contact us for more information..

GMT +8.

Yes, in North Sulawesi crime is low and violent crimes against the person are almost non-existent.

No vaccination is mandatory. Ask your doctor for advice on which optional vaccination might be suitable for you.

A deposit of 25% is required at the time of booking.
In case of cancellation up to 30 days from the date of arrival (60 days in high season), the deposit will be refunded without expenses or deductions.
For reservations canceled less than 30 days (60 days in high season) the deposit will be withheld and cannot be used for future stays.

Do you want more protection? With a few tens of euros it is possible to subscribe to an online insurance policy that also protects against illness, damage to luggage, etc.

The All Inclusive treatment at the Kalinaun resort covers practically everything:
accommodation in beachfront cottages,
all meals with a la carte menu,
bottled water and soft drinks,
fresh fruit juices,
Italian espresso,
Italian artisan ice cream,
laundry service as well as for personal clothes,
Wi-Fi internet generated by fiber optic (very fast and stable),
taxes and services.

Alcoholic beverages are not included.

Yes, we always hold promotions at Kalinaun Resort.

Yes, Kalinaun resort has group rates, accommodating a maximum of 16 people.

By customizing our services, you can get a very affordable prices. For example: instead of a la carte menu, you can choose a pre-agreed menu, eliminate laundry services for personal clothes, no Italian espresso ... Contact us to make a joint offer.

You need a passport with at least 6 months of residual validity on the date of entry and at least two blank pages on it.

The Indonesian borders are open to tourism, but the spread of the virus and the rules to combat it are constantly evolving, so contact us for updated details or see your country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs country regulations.

Currently citizens of 43 countries can obtain a tourist visa on arrival, but the spread of the coronavirus and the rules to combat it are constantly evolving, so contact us for updated details.

Our staff organizes the transfer by car. Approximately one hour to reach the resort.

Kalinaun Resort staff will be waiting for you at the airport and will be available to help you if there are any bureaucratic problems with the immigration or customs office.

Yes, the transfer from the airport to the resort is available at any time of the day and it’s safe in all weather conditions as you travel by car.

1.624833, 125.144778

On the ground there is always someone among the staff who can speak Indonesian, Italian, English, French and German. On the boat there is always someone among the staff who can speak Indonesian, Italian, English, and French.

No, it is not necessary to carry cash. Our All Inclusive treatment is truly complete, you will not have any additional surprise costs.

No, a rare case in the past involved local people who had returned from hinterland trip. In any case, discuss vaccination and prophylaxis with your doctor.

No, there are not many mosquitoes because all the cottages and the restaurant are front-sea. Their diffusion depends on the seasonal climate: dry and windy periods make them disappear completely, humid periods make them diffuse.

Yes, all of the resort's cottages have air conditioning, but they are not recommended.

In the cottages of the Kalinaun resort you will find a bed with a high quality mattress (2x2 meters) and large mosquito net, fan, air conditioning, refrigerator, electric kettle, desk, sitting area, wardrobe, large sea-front terrace, hammock, outdoor shower, indoor water heater equipped shower.

Here you will find the layout plans based on the number of people.

Schuko 220 volt.

Since 2022 at the Kalinaun resort, Wi-Fi internet generated by optical fiber is available (therefore very fast and stable).

In Kalinaun Resort you can choose what you want to eat from our à la carte menu which includes about 100 dishes, Italian foods and Indonesian specialties every single day.

Here you can see the online menu with photos and here you can access the printable version in PDF.

Kalinaun resort chefs are on hand to modify recipes to avoid ingredients you are allergic to or simply those you don't like to eat.

No, although the water from our well has obtained the certifications after a laboratory analyzes, we recommend drinking only bottled water (free, included in the All Inclusive treatment).

At the Kalinaun resort, fresh and light clothing is recommended, informal and not elegant. You can forget about the shoes. 🥳

The Kalinaun Resort laundry service is also extended to the personal clothing of our guests (completely free, included in the All Inclusive treatment).

No. tipping is not a mandatory at Kalinaun resort and our staff are well aware that the custom of tipping varies greatly from country to country so they have no expectations.

Yes, the percentage of repeater guests is very high because the small number of cottages and the spontaneity of the staff which create a relaxing and familiar environment, despite the utmost respect and correct confidentiality.

During your stay at Kalinaun Resort you can go diving in three different areas: Bangka Island, Lembeh Strait and the wonderful Kalinaun Marine Natural Park.

If there are no specific requests, our diving center is set up to show our guest the richest diving sites of the time, ranging in the three diving areas.

No, at the Kalinaun resort there is no extra charge depending on the distance from the dive site.

Usually, in the morning you go for a double dive, staying at the sea from 8:00 to 12:30 and in the afternoon two single trips are arranged at 14:30 and 16:30.

Night dives are available every night, except for inclement weather and unfavorable tidal conditions.

Yes, both EAN32 and EAN36 are available at Kalinaun resort.

Yes, it is highly recommended. The dives are not very deep (usually max 24 meters) but the majority of special subjects are located under 18 meters, so nitrox allows you to dedicate yourself to photography without haste, without the stress of the no-decompression limit.

At Kalinaun resort we have a dive guide for each cottage as standard, this usually means one guide for every two divers. Often, having availability, we have offered a guide to each diver, both to increase the experience of our guides and to find a greater number of subjects. Rarely (it has happened twice in 15 years) we have not guaranteed this rapport due to force major.

All the guides of the Kalinaun resort have basic knowledge of marine biology, they respect the marine environment, they know the Latin names of the 800 species they’ve cataloged in the database of the Kalinaun Marine Natural Park.
The LESS experienced Kalinaun resort guide has eight years of experience and more than 2,000 dives.

Given that it has become more and more difficult to make weather forecasts, the best times to dive with Kalinaun resort are spring (March-April-May-June) and autumn (September-October-November), characterized by clear / variable skies, rain often at night, moderate wind, sea never rough.

July and August are windier, mosquitoes disappear, the sky remains blue even in the afternoon but waves can form which do not prevent diving but limit the places to dive safely.

Please note: Bangka diving spots are all facing south and the Lembeh Strait runs from south to north, so even staying in these two locations the choices of diving spots are heavily influenced.

The water temperature in the sea around Kalinaun resort varies from 27° to 30° in any season; the thermocline is generally absent. On rare occasions the thermometer showed 24°. 🥶

The main dives in Bangka are characterized by steep landslides, shoals or pinnacles from the lush coral reef and good visibility.

The main dives in Lembeh take place on a bottom of volcanic black sand with coral debris and a large amount of garbage of any nature. The proximity to the city and industrial port of Bitung and the palm oil factories make the water highly polluted. Lembeh does not lack a handful of noteworthy reef dives.

The dives of the Kalinaun Marine Natural Park are halfway between Bangka and Lembeh, it’s a mix of these characteristics and have the privilege of hosting the largest number of special animals (explore the 800 species registered in the park's database).

Diving on Bangka Island, characterized by wide visibility and a very rich reef, you will encounter the classic coral reef fauna.

And in the Lembeh Strait you will encounter the strangest and rarest animals. Ideal subjects for underwater macro photography.

Visibility in Bangka is generally good although rarely chrystal clear due to the amazing abundance of plankton in its waters.

Visibility in Lembeh is generally poor due to: sandy and shallow bottoms, deposits of silt and other erosion dust, rich amount of plankton , pollution from the city, and little reflection generated by the dark seabed.

Visibility in Kalinaun Marine Natural Park depends on the type of dive site, as above.

To dive in Lembeh, Bangka and Kalinaun Marine Natural Park a basic license with a limit of 18 m (Open Water Diver) would be sufficient, but it is preferable to have an advanced level with a limit of 30 meters and at least an experience of not less than 30 dives. Good hovering management is essential to protect the marine environment from accidental impacts and to protect yourself from contact with potentially dangerous animals (mimetic and with poisonous quills).

You can bring your complete diving equipment or if you prefer you can rent it from us. To guarantee the availability of sizes, we recommend that you indicate this when booking.

At the Kalinaun resort you can rent all the diving equipment you need. let us know when booking to guarantee the availability of suitable sizes.

No, in Kalinaun resort we do not sell prepaid dives in order not to bind and / or damage those who find themselves in a position where they might not be able to dive, or simply because they don’t feel like diving at the moment. The more dives you make, the lower the price goes, counting at the end of your stay.

Yes, our diving rates include: boat passage, dive guide, tank and weights.

No, the boat pass for non-diver guests is free.

No, but there is Roberto Chiappini, photographer expert in macro photography and author of books ; Guide to underwater macro photography, the Kalinaun Marine Natural Park guide, and as well as the video The secret bay of Kalinaun, who lives in the resort and you will have his experience at your disposal (he has been diving here since 2006), you can ask for advice and he will be the first wanting to see your shots.

The recommended photographic equipment is: a reflex camera body, macro lens (approximately 100mm), double flash. Everything else is unnecessary accessories.

The underwater photographer has at his disposal a series of services / comforts, including: a personal guide for himself and his companion, a box for the camera dedicated to cottage-boat-cottage transport (our staff will take care of it), a ceramic tub inside the cottage bathroom dedicated to the camera, a box of fresh water on the boat (on request).