Murex Bangka Resort

Dive resort · Indonesia · Bangka Island, North Sulawesi · Official Website

Booking by Tour Leader Club

3 room types · Bangka's sites are minutes away, mainland sites 20 minutes by boat dive sites · house reef

Murex Bangka Resort stands on a white sand beach on Bangka Island, off the northern tip of Sulawesi. This is the kind of place where the dive sites are minutes away: the Sahaung and Batu Goso pinnacles rise from the seabed almost off the shore, and dugongs rest on the sandy slopes of Peter’s Sponge.

Murex was the first resort to welcome guests on Bangka Island. The house reef starts a step off the beach: a sloping reef descending to a white sand bottom, with diverse corals and bommies shrouded in schools of glassfish, hiding frogfish, pygmy seahorses, blue ribbon eels and mantis shrimps. Every diving day includes one free self-guided house-reef dive.

Accommodation is 17 cottages in three categories: seven Premium Oceanfront right by the water, six Deluxe Hillside set into the greenery of the slope, and four Standard Oceanfront at the water’s edge. Some are built as duplexes, for families and groups.

The resort runs partially on solar energy — 38 panels and 24-hour electricity — with on-site waste sorting, recycling through the NGO No Trash Triangle Initiative, composting of all food waste and rainwater collection.

Meals are included: three buffets a day in the beachfront restaurant with an open-air terrace. On site there is a spa, a camera room, a library, a gift shop, hammocks and kayaks. The on-site manager, Marcel, is fluent in French.

The resort is part of the Passport to Paradise programme: Bunaken → Bangka → Lembeh, with boat transfers between resorts and two dives along the way.

No markup

You pay exactly the rate the resort publishes. On top of that, only the actual bank costs of currency conversion and the international transfer — no commission of ours.

We run the deal

Correspondence with the resort, holding the room, the contract, booking confirmation and all paperwork are on our side. There is nothing for you to arrange yourself.

Card payment

We accept payment by card through Stripe and issue an invoice. The transfer to the resort is our job — you do not have to find a way to pay abroad.

Support all the way

We help you choose the room and dates, work out the dive package, answer questions about flights and gear, and stay in touch until you are home.

The exact amount is confirmed when we hold your booking: it includes the resort's rate at the day's exchange rate plus the actual transfer costs. No hidden fees.

About the resort

Country

Indonesia

Location

Bangka Island, North Sulawesi

Nearest airport

Manado (MDC) — about an hour by car and 20 minutes by boat

Transfer

$103 per person round trip, available only between 08:00 and 16:00

House reef

Yes — a step off the beach, a sloping reef down to white sand with bommies full of glassfish

one free self-guided dive on every diving day

Dive sites

Bangka's sites are minutes away, mainland sites 20 minutes by boat

Dive centre

Own PADI 5 Star dive centre

Nitrox

Yes, $7 per tank; nitrox course $211

Rooms

17 cottages, 3 categories

Internet

Available on the property, included

Languages

English, Indonesian, French

At the resort

House reef a step off the beach

Private white sand beach

Beachfront restaurant with open-air terrace

Bar

Spa

Diving and snorkelling centre

Camera room

Lounge and library

Gift shop

Hammocks and sunbeds

Kayaks and paddleboards

38 solar panels, 24-hour electricity

Air conditioning and hot water

Mosquito nets

Minibar and tea and coffee station

Complimentary drinking water in the room

Diving

PADI 5 Star dive centre

Free shore diving on the house reef

The Sahaung and Batu Goso pinnacles

Dugongs at Peter's Sponge

Soft corals and white tip reef sharks

Mainland sites 20 minutes by boat

Night and blackwater dives

Groups of no more than 4 divers per guide

Guides trained in marine biology and photography

Water 28–29 °C year round

The day opens with a two-dive trip around Bangka Island or across the water on the north coast of the mainland, leaving around 8:15 straight from the beach. After lunch there is a third dive on the sites closer to the resort, or a three-dive safari trip with lunch served on the boat. Night dives leave around 18:30 and blackwater dives around 19:00. The house reef is a slope down to 25 metres with bommies, glassfish, pygmy seahorses, blue ribbon eels and mantis shrimps, with eagle rays passing out in the blue. Batu Goso is a series of steep pinnacles from 5 to 35 metres, with white tip and black tip reef sharks, turtles and groupers. Sahaung is a set of underwater boulders and pinnacles that barely break the surface, with huge table corals and schooling fish. Peter's Sponge is a white sand slope with small bommies, the best spot for dugong sightings, plus blue-ring octopus, flamboyant cuttlefish and ghost pipefish. Batu Mandi lies opposite Bangka off Pulisan on the mainland: pinnacles from 5 to 25 metres with pygmy seahorses and giant and warty frogfish.

Food

Three buffets a day, included

Beachfront restaurant with open-air terrace

Beach service

International and Asian cuisine

Fresh local ingredients, western-trained chefs

Free-flow tea, coffee and water

Bar at extra cost

Welcome drink, fruit basket and cookies on arrival

Seasonal celebrations with the resort decorated

Three plentiful buffet meals a day are served in the main beachfront restaurant with its open-air terrace, and tables can be set out on the sand instead. The cuisine combines international and Asian flavours using fresh local ingredients, and the western-trained chefs can cater for special dietary requirements on request. At Christmas, Halloween, Easter and other seasonal times the resort is decorated and celebrates with guests; private dining can also be arranged.

Beyond diving

Snorkelling on the house reef and by boat

Kayaks and paddleboards

Hammocks and sunbeds on the beach

On-site spa

Library and lounge

Coral nursery with Lihunu village

Walk to Lihunu village through the mangroves

Land excursions on the mainland

Tangkoko Nature Reserve and the Minahasa Highlands

The house reef is as good for snorkelling as for diving, with bommies full of fish standing on the slope. Snorkellers go out on the same boats as divers: a full day with three sessions is $76, a morning with two is $60, an afternoon with one is $37, and a session runs about 90 minutes. On shore there are kayaks and paddleboards, hammocks and a long white beach. The half-day Lihunu village walk is $58: from the jetty through the mangroves into a village of colourful houses and picket fences. The mainland land programmes are available from Bangka too: Tangkoko Nature Reserve $128, the Minahasa Highlands $99, white water rafting $126, a cooking class from $29; paragliding from Bangka carries a transfer surcharge.

Rooms

Cottage on the beach

$114

View: Ocean

Beds: King bed or twin beds

Four rooms in two duplexes with adjoining doors — ideal for families. All sit at the water's edge with an unrestricted ocean view and wonderful sea breezes. Hot water showers and air conditioning through the night; during daylight, from 08:00 to 18:00, the resort runs on solar power and the supply is slightly reduced.

Located on the beach Oceanfront with unrestricted view En-suite indoor-outdoor bathroom Air conditioning throughout the night King bed or twin beds with mosquito nets Adjoining doors between rooms Complimentary drinking water

Cottage on the hillside

$146

View: Greenery and treetops

Beds: King bed or twin beds

Two detached cottages and two duplexes nestled into the hillside, surrounded by lush tropical greenery. Spacious air-conditioned rooms, large verandas with built-in day beds and en-suite indoor-outdoor bathrooms. Electricity runs 24 hours a day, reduced to one socket from 08:00 to 18:00 with full power through the night.

Large veranda with a built-in day bed En-suite indoor-outdoor bathroom Air conditioning throughout the night King bed or twin beds with mosquito nets Large desk with seating USB charging facility Hillside and treetop views Complimentary drinking water

Cottage by the water

$184

View: Ocean

Beds: King bed or twin beds

Five detached cottages and one duplex positioned close to the ocean and the private white sand beach. Generously proportioned air-conditioned rooms, large verandas with outdoor seating and ceiling fans, and large en-suite ocean view bathrooms with twin basins. Detached cottages have an extra single bed. The duplex is two cottages joined by a shared common room, ideal for families and groups.

Close to the ocean and the private beach Large veranda with ceiling fans En-suite ocean view bathroom with twin basins Air conditioning throughout the night King bed or twin beds with mosquito nets Extra single bed in detached cottages Dressing table Tea and coffee station and minibar Universal wall sockets Ample storage

Rates

Accommodation — per person per night, 1–10 nights

	Double/twin	Single	Extra bed
Standard Oceanfront Cottage	$114	$160	$93
Deluxe Hillside Cottage	$146	$195	$121
Premium Oceanfront Cottage	$184	$258	$147

2026–2027 rates, valid until 31 March 2027. The price includes breakfast, lunch and dinner, afternoon snacks, free-flow water, coffee and tea, wifi, a welcome drink with fruit platter and all taxes. From the 11th night the resort gives a 10% long-stay discount on each additional night. Children under 7 are free of charge including transfers; 7–9 years $52 with transfers at 50%; 10–12 years $62 with transfers at 50%.

Diver packages — per person in double/twin occupancy

	Standard Oceanfront	Deluxe Hillside	Premium Oceanfront
4 nights, 6 dives	$925	$1,053	$1,205
5 nights, 8 dives	$1,161	$1,321	$1,511
6 nights, 10 dives	$1,397	$1,589	$1,817
7 nights, 12 dives	$1,633	$1,857	$2,123
8 nights, 14 dives	$1,869	$2,125	$2,429
10 nights, 18 dives	$2,341	$2,661	$3,041
11 nights, 20 dives	$2,566	$2,915	$3,328

Packages include accommodation, round-trip airport transfers, breakfast, lunch and dinner, morning and afternoon snacks, free-flow water, coffee and tea, diving with air using your own equipment, wifi, a welcome drink with fruit platter and all taxes.

Snorkeller packages — per person in double/twin occupancy

	Standard Oceanfront	Deluxe Hillside	Premium Oceanfront
4 nights	$739	$867	$1,019
6 nights	$1,087	$1,279	$1,507
8 nights	$1,435	$1,691	$1,995
11 nights	$1,946	$2,295	$2,708

The same conditions, with snorkelling sessions using your own equipment instead of dives.

Diving and snorkelling — price per service

	Price
Guided boat dive with air	$61
Guided boat dive with nitrox	$67
Full day guided snorkelling, three sessions	$76
Morning guided snorkelling, two sessions	$60
Afternoon guided snorkelling, one session	$37
Private guide for 3 dives or snorkelling sessions	$108
Private boat, 8:00–17:00	$364
Private boat, 8:00–20:00	$550
Large tank per day	$12
Nitrox course	$211
Nitrox à la carte, per tank	$7
Night dive surcharge, minimum 2 divers	$20
Blackwater dive, minimum 4 divers	$85

Every diving day includes one free self-guided house-reef dive. The diver and snorkeller to guide ratio is 4:1. The private guide fee is in addition to normal dive rates; private boat services include a private guide, with dives charged separately.

Transfers and resort combinations

	Price
Round trip airport — Murex Bangka	$103
Out-of-hours surcharge, 17:00–8:00, per person per way	$21
Murex Manado and Murex Bangka combination	$341
Murex Bangka and Lembeh Resort combination	$341
Passport to Paradise — three resorts	$606

Prices are per person with a minimum of two guests. The transfer to Bangka is available only between 08:00 and 16:00. The out-of-hours surcharge does not apply when booking seven nights or more. Boat transfer rates are lower when booking four or more travellers. Late arrivals depend on sea conditions: if the boat cannot run, guests stay overnight at Murex Manado and cross the next morning.

Rates and availability can change. Message us — we will confirm current dates and prices.

When to go

Best time: Year round; the driest period runs from the end of March to the end of November
Water temperature: 28–29 °C, up to 30 °C at times
Visibility: On average 15–25 metres, often up to 30 metres

North Sulawesi has two seasons, one dry and one bringing more rain. The driest period runs from the end of March to the end of November. The rain lowers the air temperature, so the wetter months suit those who prefer cooler weather. The water stays 28–30 °C year round and a 3 mm wetsuit is enough for most divers; there are occasional cooler thermoclines around October to December.

Getting there

Bangka is a small island off the northern tip of Sulawesi. Flights arrive at Sam Ratulangi Airport (MDC) in Manado: six times a week direct from Singapore with Scoot, several daily flights from Jakarta and services from Bali.

From there it is about an hour by car and 20 minutes by boat. The resort meets guests at arrivals and drives them in a private air-conditioned vehicle. The round-trip transfer is $103 per person and runs only between 08:00 and 16:00. Arrivals between 17:00 and 8:00 carry a $21 per person per way surcharge, waived when booking seven nights or more.

Late afternoon and evening arrivals are possible but depend on sea conditions. If the crossing cannot be made, the resort accommodates guests overnight at Murex Manado and transfers them to Bangka the next morning.

A passport must be valid for at least six months, with at least one blank page. A visa on arrival can be obtained on the spot or applied for online in advance (e-VOA, IDR 500,000, 30 days), and the All Indonesia declaration is completed separately. Baggage on domestic flights is usually 20 kg plus carry-on. The time zone is GMT+8 (WITA). There are cases of malaria and dengue in North Sulawesi, and the resort recommends repellent and covered clothing in the evenings. There is a recompression chamber in Manado.