Cocotinos Lembeh a Boutique Dive Lodge

Location: Desa Makawidey Ling 3, Bitung, id

Star Rating: 2 Stars

Property Type: Lodges

About this Property

Important Information

Policies

Check-in: 02:00 PM - 12:00 AM

Check-out: 12:00 PM

Amenities & Facilities

• Health or beauty spa nearby
• Offsite parking discounted rates available
• Parking
• Non-smoking rooms
• Air conditioning
• Swimming pool
• Restaurant
• Terrace
• BBQ facilities
• Luggage storage
• Express check-in/check-out
• Safety deposit box
• Tour desk
• Ironing service
• Car hire
• Massage services
• Currency exchange
• Shared lounge/TV area
• Shuttle service (additional charge)
• Outdoor furniture
• Express check-in
• Free wired internet
• Scuba diving on site
• Snorkeling on site
• Airport transportation - pickup (surcharge)
• Airport transportation - drop-off (surcharge)
• Offsite parking discounted rates available
• Private beach nearby
• Internet access
• Housekeeping on request
• Wine release events
• Exercise/lap pool
• Japanese garden
• Health or beauty spa nearby
• Swimming nearby
• Beach club nearby (surcharge)
• Beach toys
• Vegetarian menu options available
• Accessible shuttle
• No accessible shuttle
• Accessible train station shuttle
• No accessible train station shuttle

Rooms Available

• Superior Double or Twin Room

  Offering free toiletries and bathrobes, this twin/double room includes a private bathroom with a shower, a hairdryer and slippers. This twin/double room is air-conditioned and has a seating area with a flat-screen TV, a private entrance, a tea and coffee maker, a wardrobe, as well as a safe deposit box. The unit has 3 beds.

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Shower
  • Safety deposit box
  • TV
  • Air conditioning
  • Hair dryer
  • Bathrobe
  • Refrigerator
  • Desk
  • Seating Area
  • Fan
  • Toilet
  • Private bathroom
  • Dressing room
  • Slippers
  • Private entrance
  • Tile/marble floor
  • Electric kettle
  • Wardrobe or closet
  • Linen
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Clothes rack
  • Toilet paper
  • Trash cans
  • Shampoo
  • Body soap

• Junior Suite

  Boasting a private entrance, this air-conditioned suite comes with 1 bedroom and 1 bathroom with a shower and a hairdryer. A seating area with a flat-screen TV, a tea and coffee maker and a terrace are available in this suite. The unit has 3 beds.

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Shower
  • Safety deposit box
  • TV
  • Air conditioning
  • Hair dryer
  • Bathrobe
  • Refrigerator
  • Desk
  • Seating Area
  • Fan
  • Toilet
  • Private bathroom
  • Dressing room
  • Slippers
  • Private entrance
  • Tile/marble floor
  • Electric kettle
  • Wardrobe or closet
  • Terrace
  • Linen
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Clothes rack
  • Toilet paper
  • Trash cans
  • Shampoo
  • Body soap

• Double or Twin Room with Balcony

  The spacious twin/double room provides air conditioning, a private entrance, a terrace with sea views as well as a private bathroom featuring a shower. The unit offers 3 beds.

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Shower
  • Safety deposit box
  • TV
  • Air conditioning
  • Hair dryer
  • Bathrobe
  • Refrigerator
  • Desk
  • Seating Area
  • Fan
  • Toilet
  • Private bathroom
  • Dressing room
  • Slippers
  • Private entrance
  • Tile/marble floor
  • Electric kettle
  • Wardrobe or closet
  • Terrace
  • Linen
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Clothes rack
  • Toilet paper
  • Trash cans
  • Shampoo
  • Body soap

• Deluxe Double or Twin Room with Balcony

  Providing free toiletries and bathrobes, this twin/double room includes a private bathroom with a shower, a hairdryer and slippers. This twin/double room is air-conditioned and features a seating area with a flat-screen TV, a private entrance, a tea and coffee maker, a wardrobe, as well as a safe deposit box. The unit offers 3 beds.

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Shower
  • Safety deposit box
  • TV
  • Air conditioning
  • Hair dryer
  • Bathrobe
  • Refrigerator
  • Desk
  • Seating Area
  • Fan
  • Toilet
  • Private bathroom
  • Dressing room
  • Slippers
  • Private entrance
  • Tile/marble floor
  • Electric kettle
  • Wardrobe or closet
  • Terrace
  • Linen
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Clothes rack
  • Toilet paper
  • Trash cans
  • Shampoo
  • Body soap

Guest Reviews

• Heather (10/5): -
• Yaya Gmail (9/5): - Tout. Pour la première fois de notre vie, nous ne sommes pas sortis de l'hôtel car nous avions tout sur place. 5 jours à profiter du cadre et du service, massage en prime. La gentillesse et la disponibilité du personnel est un véritable atout. Le lieu est excellent pour un séjour reposant et de qualité. Les sites de plongée offrent une grande variété de Macro bien que je trouve le prix un peu cher. Le snorkling est accessible depuis la plage. La piscine est grande, très agréable. Nous y avons passé beaucoup de temps. Le menu du restaurant est varié et de bonne qualité. Un vrai travail de présentation des plats nous a séduit. Bref, si nous repassons dans le coin, nous séjournerons ici à nouveau même si c'est un peu isolé. Ou surtout parce que c'est isolé! Rien de dramatique, seulement quelques remarques mineures : La plage est encombrée de plastique venant du large le matin mais quelqu'un la nettoie chaque jour. Des puces de sable nous ont piqué. Le sol au niveau des transats pourrait être facilement rénové pour plus de confort. L'abattant des toilettes demandait à être remplacé.
• Maciej (9/5): -
• Ronald (8/5): Goed - Het uitzicht en het eten. De koffie (als koffieliefhebbers). De locatie was wel in de middle of nowhere. Voor ons geen issue, want wij kwamen alleen voor het snorkelen en Tangkoko National Park.
• Manica (6/5): -
• Gottfried (8/5): -
• iouri (10/5): -
• iouri (10/5): - Great property. Nice diving Nice and great location
• Letizia (8/5): - The hotel is located in a small village, with a very little mini market and nothing more. However, the room is spacious and bathroom is big and has good water pressure in the shower. The massage and the laundry service were very good and appreciated. The restaurant and diving center organization is ok, and personnel is always very kind. There is no real beach, only a small black sandy area that appears with low tide. The number of sun beds should be increased, as of today it is not enough for all guests and sometimes you are obliged to lay on the grass or just stay at the table of the restaurant.
• Eyer (7/5): -
• Jelena (9/5): - Sehr schön und freundliches Personal. Leider hatte die Dusche wenig Wasserdruck.
• Becky (10/5): Would go back again - Full package if you’re a diver . The coffee, being an American
• Manjana (7/5): - Sehr gute Ausstattung der Zimmer sowie der Tauchschule, komfortable Betten und sehr sauber. Das Personal im Restaurant und im Tauch Center waren nicht besonders aufmerksam.
• SonneHH (10/5): Schon zum zweiten Mal, wir kommen wieder. - Sehr schönes Resort mit Pool. Uns gefallen die Seaview Zimmer am besten. Das Tauchen ist super organisiert.
• dirk (9/5): Schon zum 3ten Mal dort eingecheckt. Für mich als Taucher gibt es nix zu beanstanden. - Essen kann vorbestellt werden und wird dann pünktlich während der Tauchgänge serviert. Jederzeit warme Getränke zur freien Verfügung. Immer wieder gern.
• Mary Rolbiecki (9/5): I would return and stay at this resort again which says a lot. - The menu for this resort and the quality of food was excellent. Everyone on staff was friendly and helpful. The dive staff was extremely helpful and knowledgeable. I would highly recommend staying at Cocotinos.
• Mary (10/5): I would stay again and look into a package deal - The staff are friendly, the diving operations is great. I had a wonderful massage with Miss Lee and food was tasty. Room number 8 was spacious. Na
• SonneHH (10/5): Wiederholungstäter - Sehr schönes kleines Tauchresort. Tolle Guides, super Service! Wir kommen wieder!
• Karen (10/5): -
• GABRIEL (7/5): - Amazing staff! 10/10 friendly and willing to assist with anything and went far and beyond. The property was very very well Maintained, immaculate and clean. The junior suite was very big and comfy, although the other rooms looked small and dark. Great breakfast. The property is in a town, lots of noise, music, dogs and roosters, wasn’t that bad but at times it did bother. The restaurant food is basic and astronomically expensive in comparison to other hotels in indonesia of even higher category that are more isolated, small portions. The diving was very expensive as well, about 50% more than other locations + dive rental on top. The junior suite was a very nice room, but the feeling of the property was of a glorified very well maintained hostel.
• Desmond (8/5): -
• André (9/5): -
• Ursula (7/5): - Freundlichkeit des Personals Zimmer zu laut, weil an der Straße. Essen: Portionen viel zu groß, sodass immer viel ensorgt wurde. 🤨
• Natalie (7/5): - Staff is nice, room clean and everyday room service Room to the road quiet loud. Food was not good (breakfast sometimes cold, dinner crazy expensive and not tasty. Dive center: broken wetsuits and shoes, BCDs old and not safe anymore. Even if I got 50% - it’s too expensive for this old diving gear and dangerous.
• Catherine Mallet (10/5): -
• Leo (8/5): Heerlijk kleinschalig hotel met een geweldig rif - Prachtig rif voor het resort en heerlijk kleinschalig, waardoor het echt heel relaxen was. Mooie kamer, goed bed en matras. Personeel is heel servicegericht. Ontbijt moet je een dag van te voren opgeven wat je wil eten. Jungle tour is een aanrader! Resort is moeilijk te vinden via een uitdagende weg door de bergen. Zorg voor een goede ervaren chauffeur. Kwaliteit van ontbijt kan soms verschillen. Eten (diner) is echter geweldig. Zorg voor goede anti-muggenolie. Communicatie en informatie kan beter. Hierdoor hadden we de boot gemist voor een duik/snorkeltrip.
• vale (8/5): Tranquilidad - Personal muy amable, dispuestos a ayudar en cualquier momento,buena comida en el restaurante,lugar tranquilo. Por decir algo, se necesitaría más luz en las habitaciones.
• Philip (8/5): - Beautiful scenery and nice swimming pool to hang out The food was under par. Inconsistent quality and overall not well stocked. Which is a real pity given that there are almost no other options close by to eat.
• Janine (4/5): Gewollt und nicht gekonnt! - Die Zimmer sind super. Wir haben uns während unseres Aufenthalts nicht wohlgefühlt. Vieles wirkte gezwungen und unbeholfen … im Service, Ambiente oder in den Abläufen. Es hatte den Anschein, als wolle man ein hochwertiges Erlebnis bieten, kann den Anspruch aber nicht bieten. Daher nicht authentisch.
• Vigintas (10/5): -
• Karin (7/5): Insgesamt gut, Standard Restaurat- Service /Tauchequipment verbesserungswürdig - Sehr nettes Personsl, super Lage direkt am Meer / Meerzugang / Strand, Garten und Ausstattung sehr schön , Sauberkeit top, tea time mit cookies & Kaffe inbegriffen; Wassertank und Aircondition / Bademäntel sehr praktisch, schöner Pool; insgesamt gut gepflegte Anlage; Tauchboote sehr gut ausgestattet und ordentlich; Diveguides haben super Kenntnisse beim Auffinden der Merestiere; sehr nettes und zuvorkommendes Personal Das Leihtauch-Equipment war z. T. nicht ausreichend in Schuss; Regulatoren / Finnimeter und undichte Masken, das hätte nicht sein sollen; Diveguides sind z. T. zu sehr auf Fotografieren fokussiert und achten nicht immer genau darauf, wo sich die Tauchgäste gerade befinden (für Anfänger ggf. verunsichernd). Lange Wartezeiten auf Essen kamen öfter vor, was bei Mahlzeiten zwischen Tauchgänngen etwas unangenehm war. Vergleichsweìse recht hohe Essenspreise; manche angebotenen Gerichte waren aus, ohne Hinweise in der Speisekarte und Gerichte wurden nicht zur rechten Zeit/ nicht zusammen serviert (am 2er-Tisc! ) - was nicht recht zum gehobenen Anspruch bzw. Preisniveau passt.
• Agnes (9/5): Wenn Lembeh, dann gerne wieder Cocotinos! - Einfach aber praktisch. Immer sauber. Liegt am Meer, Tauchbasis ist angeschlossen. Sehr nettes Personal. Essen auf dem Menü nicht immer verfügbar.
• Ferran (8/5): - Ubicación No hay nada que no me gustase especialmente directamente relacionado con el hotel en sí , pero me molestó ver tantos plásticos y basura en la playa y en el agua . Repito . No es un problema del hotel sino de la mentalidad del país donde hay un claro y grave problema de gestión de residuos y mentalidad al respecto . Sino cuidan mejor este tema se cargarán los recursos naturales y con ellos su propia salud y por supuesto su potencial turístico que podría ser importante .
• Guillaume (8/5): - Le diving center, le lieu Il faut tout réserver à la l'avance, c'est un peu compliqué pour
• Kai-Uwe (9/5): - Recht luxuriös, sehr gutes, aber ziemlich teures Restaurant, welches alternativlos ist, weil es nichts anderes in der Umgebung gibt. Sehr freundliche und hilfsbereite Mitarbeiter Zwei Anfragen im Vorfeld der Anreise wurden nicht beantwortet
• Paolo (8/5): Loved it - Staff was amazing, everyone was extremely kind and available. The room and especially the bathroom were big, with two showers! The pool was nice, food was great and there is a nice coral reef in front of the beach. The beach should be improved and cleaned. Hot water would run out after less than 10 minutes. Also, cocktails should be stronger :)
• Virginia (8/5): - El hotel es precioso. Solo hay dos habitaciones que dan al jardín, las demás están ubicadas en un pasillo y son oscuras. La camada es cómoda, pero son dos unidas. No hay nada cerca por lo que el consumo tiene que hacerse en el hotel. Cocinan muy bien aunque el precio es un loco más elevado. Tiene un pequeño arrecife en frente del hotel, lástima que haya muchos plásticos y no lo limpien.
• Nicolas (10/5): Posto meraviglioso - Attenzioni dello staff, camera e resort con standard molto elevati. Rapporto qualità prezzo ottimo Al mio arrivo la temperatura nella stanza era molto fredda a causa dell' aria condizionata
• Barbara (10/5): - Service und Zimmer waren das Beste, was wir in unserem Urlaub hatten. Das Frühstück konnte aus mehreren Möglichkeiten ausgewählt und für den kommenden Morgen vorbestellt werden. Es war sehr lecker. Zum Service gehörte ein Afternoon-Tea, hier gab es Tee/Kaffee, Gebäck und Obst zur Wahl. Das Abendessen ist a la carte. Das angeschlossene Dive Center ist gut ausgestattet (besitzt sogar einen eigenen Kameraraum). Wir hatten sehr kompetente Guides, die uns viele tolle Besonderheiten zeigen konnten. Pro 2 Personen 1 Guide. Wir hatten hier eine rundum sehr erholsame Zeit mit äußerst freundlichem und zuvorkommendem Personal. Die Preise für das Tauchen sind gehoben im Vergleich zu anderen Tauchspots in Indonesien. Das verhält sich bei anderen Resorts in der Lembeh Strait genau so. Teures Tauchpflaster.
• Nadège (10/5): Très bon séjour dans un super hôtel - Le cadre, les équipements, le personnel extra, la nourriture Un peu cher, mais sans doute propre à la région
• Camilla (4/5): Disappointing but friendly staff - The staff is friendly and nice. The first room we got had a really bad smell, but they helped with getting another one. The prices in the restaurant are too expensive, and the food not very good, which is sad when there is nowwhere else to go in the the area. Only go there if you are into muck diving, which is not even the best I have tried.
• Klaus Pagh (8/5): Dejligt sted, venligt personale, men dyrt at spise. - Fine faciliteter, venligt personale, fin dykning Dyrt at spise på stedet, men ikke gode alternativer. Maden god.
• Lisa (8/5): Very good - The room was very comfortable with good attention to detail although it was off a corridor which was not obvious in the photos. Location was very pleasant with a small house reef easily accessible from the beach. The evening meals were fresh and tasty but quite expensive when you factor in the extra 20% service and government tax. Staff were generally keen to assist but there were a number of misunderstandings possibly related to the language barrier. We pre organised a private boat and snorkeling trip and agreed a price via WhatsApp but on arrival it took the whole day of speaking to different staff to get this agreed and I was offered a less suitable trip for almost the same cost several times. Eventually the pre organised trip was agreed and it was excellent with a great crew, guide and some fantastic snorkeling. Would definitely recommend but make sure your requests are fully understood and agreed to in advance. See above
• Prudence (9/5): Superb - A lovely low key resort - very relaxing; easy access to snorkelling and diving sites; staff very friendly and helpful
• Miguel (9/5): Superb - Very much everything, the staff were very helpful and friendly, nothing was difficult or impossible for them, Ike at the reception was fantastic, She's on top of her game. Breakfast was amazing, all food at the restaurant was very tasty and fresh, the diving operation run like a Swiss clock, big thank to the diving team aswell, I will definitely recommend Cocotino Lembeh and their sister hotel in Manado. Everything was good 👍
• Ian (10/5): Exceptional - Wonderful people who could not do enough to be helpful. We had a long stay and felt like family by the time we left. The Indonesian food in the restaurant is delicious and very reasonably priced. Complimentary coffee and tea are available all day with biscuits, krupuk and late-afternoon surprise snacks - a real plus when you have spent hours underwater. Comfortable loungers by the water and a large, cushioned balian for when it rains The diving from the hotel is world-class and our guide (Iwan) probably the best spotter I have ever dived with and really knows his macro photography. We were coming back with a lot of fabulous photos every day, many of species we had never seen before. The boats are comfortable and spacious, and as an older diver I felt well looked after, with lots of help gearing up and exiting the water. The dive sites are typically a 5-minute ride away, so there is often time to go back to your room and take a hot shower between dives. We hope to come back for more. Really appreciated the large number of plug sockets and USB points available in the room Would have been nice to have an outside view - the 'balcony' is more of a small entrance hall to the room. The 'English' breakfast was not great. Towels a bit worn and and guests are asked to request changes - we kept forgetting to ask for a new bath-mat, and ours got rather grubby as a consequence
• Maria (10/5): It is incredible spiritual journey for me. The nature of Lembeh is beyond beautiful. - Lembeh heals your soul and cocotinos lembeh is safe sanctuary None
• Emanuele (9/5): Superb - good facilities, friendly service and wonderful diving
• Lipshyan (9/5): Not spacious and luxury, but warmth and cozy. A boutique resort done professionally. - Surprisingly I was the only guest in the entire resort. Even with that, the friendliness and professionalism of the staffs crew made me feel well taken care of and homely. They made sure every of my needs are taken care of and super attentive. I was expecting something really basic from amenities to services judging from the price that I paid, but it turns out it was probably better than some other highly rated and expensive resorts which I have experienced. The food is good. They actually take note of my dietary requirements and were too attentive to every glitches of my movement, making sure I was OK. The first night upon arrival, I was invited to join their staffs and families Xmas party. It was warmth and welcoming. I was the only diver in the whole super spacious dive boat. At some dive sites, I had a chance to see other resorts guests all cramped into a small boat whilst I was like in a luxury cruise boat by comparison. The captain made sure everything was perfect. When I resurfaces, he brought me hot towel, made sure I took a rinse, passed me the towel, water, fruits, coffee, snacks, etc etc. Felt a bit overwhelmed when I booked a basic (which I thought so) resort. Good job to all the staffs working there. The resort is not big and fancy, but it's warmth and cozy. Even the villagers kid come by during the evening for their swim at the resort dive centre. It was really nice seeing them happy. The water is absolutely clear hardly any trash compare to other islands nearby. Yes, the hot shower. It's up to the standard one required after a cold dive. Even the dive centre has hot shower. Not sure why the ratings were so low previously.. but my p.o.v, it's a perfect 10! Some mosquitoes in the room. But they don't bite. Funny enough. Couldn't think of anything else.
• Ulman (10/5): Exceptional -
• Maurits (9/5): We underestimated the muck... Go dive here and you will see a lot! - Our dive guide was amazing. He knows how to find all sorts of special marine life but also knew all the names and wrote them down underwater on a chalkboard! You are in very good hands for diving here. Also, the view is amazing and the pool is nice! Great luxury rooms & bathrooms and a quiet relaxing resort. The food could be better and perhaps it's time to replace some of the diving masks.
• Jennifer (10/5): Excellent place to stay and dive. - This diving and hotel were amazing. The guides were very knowledgeable. I really appreciated the hot towel post dive, I would recommend for anyone wanting to dive Lembeh.I also stayed at a five star resurt across the straight but enjoyed Cocotinos more.
• Fred (10/5): It was near perfection. - Beautiful and comfortable in all ways . Dive boat steps away. Nothing
• Thomas (8/5): Nice rooms but a little expensive. - Nice knowledgeable and very friendly crew for diving. Beds were soft and comfortable. AC and WiFi was strong. Food was too expensive and lacking taste. Too few options. Our reserved table was changed 2 times for unknown reasons. Seemed just confusing. Although we were asked to provide breakfast wishes for the next morning the orders were partially forgotten and one day the preorders were replaced by a buffet without informing us which led to unnecessary wait time. We had a free transfer to the airport and wanted to change that to a transfer to Likupang instead. This is about the same distance and time but we were told that the car would need to drive past the airport and that there was no alternative road ( despite the road Google maps suggested). We were charged an additional add-on rate similar to what we found out was a fairly standard rate for a 2 hr drive of that distance (54 km). This was clearly misinformation and felt like an attempt to cheat us to pay an unreasonable extra fee.
• Nadia (8/5): Very good - Beautiful location, super friendly staff Unfortunately the resort is facing a lot of trash (plastics) at their beach. The staff puts efforts in cleaning the beach, let’s hope one day government(s) starts investing much more in this worldwide issue
• Eric (9/5): Superb -
• Patrick (10/5): Perfect location to dive the Lembe Strait and reasonably priced - perfect location and staff to dive the incredible Lembe Strait. Food and staff were great. I t=rarely go anyplace twice but I’ll be back to dive the Lembe with Cocotinos
• David (10/5): What an exceptional place to stay and dive the Lembeh Straight. - What an exceptional place to stay and dive. We arrived as guests and left as family. Angel on the front desk could not do enough for us. The food in the restaurant was excellent with hit drinks and fresh snacks available all day. The dive team were brilliant. Our dive master Christian was one of the best I have ever dives with right down to the care he took over our equipment. The boat men were great too. OJ made the diving a treat. Well done Euan for managing such a top team. If you want to dive and see the macro in Lembeh this is the place to go. We will definitely be back!
• Nanno (9/5): Superb - We enjoyed very nice holidays at Cocotinos Lembah, súper location for diving and also good for snorkeling. Places to explore in the water are just very close by. The rooms are comfortable, the is a nice pool just in front of the view over the Lembah Strait and beside the open restaurant. Good food is served. Lots of possibilities to explore the underwater world, well equiped Diving Center. The staff friendly and professional. Nothing,
• Hardianto (10/5): Exceptional -
• Sharm (10/5): My buddy and I fell in love with the rustic charm of Makawidey village and Cocotinos Lembeh. We appreciated the privacy - Clean rooms, extra touches for comfort. Polite and discreet staff. Private balcony was really great. perfectly located for the best diving Lembeh had to offer. No nearby eateries. Wifi connection could be better.
• Leopold (5/5): Passable - Due to an offer it was relatively cheap. Very strange vibes. Dive staff was very reserved. Food was mediocre. Diving was very expensive without any apparent reason. Also everything else seemed twice as expensive as necessary. Would not go there again.
• Vlad (10/5): Exceptional -
• Vlad (10/5): Great base for diving Lembeh Straight - Very attentive staff, phenomenal diving, comfortable rooms, great value.
• Anonymous (10/5): Exceptional -
• Hilary (2/5): Exceptionally disappointing at this price - Pretty place. Has a pool. Nice room with air conditioning. Warning this is an essay but want to justify my poor review and provide useful information to people looking at diving lembeh. Left with a bad taste in mouth. Sneaky hidden charges and inconsistencies. Don't make clear dive gear not included. Tell you prices in dollars; more expensive than quoted idr prices on wall and in printed price list. The main dive guide iwan kept saying, but you know price in dollars, I said yes, as in listed price was same as quoted idr price. But they weren't the same. I suspect he knew this and kept saying this so I couldn't argue later. Devious. Met owner and didn't seem like a con artist but that's what felt like, a con. Charge way over odds for everything: airport transfer quoted as 61$ when can travel for half that price - regular taxi at airport is around 450-500k idr. Food double Jakarta airport prices (108-150idr). Western food awful, nice but limited Asian menu. Bad coffee. Said would be fruit for breakfast, never was. Staff deferential but not overly friendly. Lack of manager on site a major issue. If problem had to speak w surly dive manager or manager of Manado resort whose English was poor and seemed incapable of sorting out any issue. Front desk often unattended so difficult to get queries sorted, even minor ones. Had issue on last dive were alleged buddy sat in same position for 45 minutes and then moved to different position for another 30 minutes. I eventually had to get dive master pad and write, 'are leave just going to stay in same place whole dive?' We moved a little but kept going over same area as had to keep within sight of this person. It was a boring dive. I got very cold and then she did not come up with us!! The stonefish like dive manager saw no problem with this. They should have known as she had a camera and was an instructor that she would do this and should have discussed this with us before. They said, 'this often happens when someone has a camera!
• Catherine (8/5): Very good - The wifi connection. offering a lower cost alternative to eating in the restaurant e.g being able to order food from a local warung.

Photos