Dive Resort Accommodations on Bangka Island: Murex Dive Resort
Discover the Underwater Wonders of Bangka Island, Indonesia
Bangka Island, a lush paradise located within Indonesia, is renowned as one of the country's most famous dive areas. With over 30 world-class dive sites, this island offers a diverse range of underwater experiences, from pristine coral reef slopes to volcanic pinnacles teeming with marine life[1].
The dive sites around Bangka Island provide excellent conditions comparable to other renowned locations such as Lembeh Strait and Bunaken National Park[1][3]. While specific dive spot names around Bangka are not directly listed, the Bangka archipelago is well-known for its volcanic pinnacles, pristine coral reef slopes, sandy slopes ideal for spotting unique critters, mangrove areas supporting diverse ecosystems, and wall dives offering dramatic underwater landscapes.
For instance, Batu Goso on Bangka Island features steep pinnacles with two drift dives, ranging from 5-35m, and is home to White Tip & Black Tip Sharks, Turtles, Groupers, and various soft corals[2]. Sabora, another coral slope dive site, boasts a resident school of Blue Stripe Snappers, Nudibranchs, Pygmy Seahorses, and a variety of fish and critters, especially during night dives[2].
Murex Bangka Resort, the only resort on Bangka Island offering hot water, en-suite showers, and air conditioning, serves as an ideal base for divers exploring these underwater wonders. The resort's boats are spacious, covered, and equipped with an onboard toilet, ensuring a comfortable diving experience[1]. Murex Bangka Resort is a PADI facility and an Aqua Lung partner center, offering full dive equipment rentals, equipment rinsing/drying facilities, charging stations, and dive courses[1].
The dive crew at Murex Bangka Resort speaks English, and the resort's team of western-trained chefs can cater to special dietary requirements upon request[1]. Murex Bangka Resort offers buffet-style dining with a mix of International and Asian flavours, using fresh local ingredients[1].
Murex Bangka offers airport pickups in private air-conditioned vehicles, which take approximately 90 minutes to the local harbor and then 20 minutes by boat to the resort[1]. Rooms at Murex Bangka Resort feature en-suite hot-water bathrooms, air conditioning, and either king-size or twin beds[1].
Sam Ratulangi International Airport is the nearest entry point to Murex Bangka Resort, and it receives flights from major Indonesian cities including Bali, Jakarta, and Singapore[1]. Payment methods accepted at Murex Bangka Resort include Visa or MasterCard, Indonesian Rupiah, Euro, or US Dollar[1].
The House Reef right in front of Murex Bangka Resort is a must-visit for snorkeling and diving[1]. For those seeking more adventurous dive spots, Sabora, Batu Goso, and Sahaung, with their underwater boulders and pinnacles, offer dives on separate pinnacles with an abundance of fish, Big table coral, and White Tip Reef Sharks[2].
Batu Mandi on Sulawesi Mainland is another noteworthy dive site, featuring underwater pinnacles and a variety of hard and soft corals, Pygmy Sea Horses, Cuttle Fish, and Giant and Warty Frog Fish[1]. Nearby Lembeh Strait, famous as the "Critter Capital of the World," hosts unique macro life including multiple frogfish species, rare octopuses, and pygmy seahorses[1][3]. Diving conditions around southern Lembeh and Bangka are quite similar with excellent visibility and rich coral diversity[3].
With its diversity and abundance of marine habitats, Bangka Island is a prime diving destination within Indonesia, known for its volcanically formed underwater topography and vibrant ecosystems[1].
[1] https://www.murexbangkaresort.com/ [2] https://www.diveadvisor.net/dive-sites/indonesia/bangka/ [3] https://www.divesiteguide.com/indonesia/bangka-island/
