Dive Review of Thalassa Dive Center/Santika/Grand Luley in
Indonesia/Sulawesi

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Thalassa Dive Center/Santika/Grand Luley, Oct, 2012, by Scott Seidman, CA, US ( 2 reports). Report 6739.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation		Shore Diving	N/A
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	This was my second visit to Santika – now the Grand Luley Resort – over the past five years. The resort has just changed ownership, and they were clearly in a transition phase with new computers, staff and more. None-the-less, for a hotel that is really an aging Queen, the accommodations remain superior. We were in a Garden Bungalow, and our friends in a Deluxe Room. We were all very satisfied. The rooms were clean and comfortable, with complimentary bottled water and plenty of contemporary amenities. The restaurant menu was extensive and all inclusive except for drinks, although it did begin to wear thin at the end of a week. Thalassa Divers remains a class act. On arrival there is an orientation, and then your gear is labeled with tags. Every day it is transported and set up on your boat, which is welcome, as the walk down the endless path over the mangroves to the jetty would be daunting carrying dive gear daily. It is then returned to the shop and rinsed. Multiple daily dives are offered, and you select how many you would like each day. Thalassa now provides nitrox, a new addition. The guides are fun and friendly, and do their best to find the unique. Most of the boats are spacious, and they are in good repair. There is plenty of potable water, and large camera tanks. Because of the location of the resort, the trips out to Bunaken are brief, often no more than 15-20 minutes. Diving in Bunaken is a combo of walls and sloping reefs. There are plenty of healthy hard corals, and moderate amounts of soft corals. Currents are variable, from none to the proverbial “washing machine”, although most of the time the current is mild and fun. Guides are attentive to this, and try to avoid the nasties. There are clouds of pyramid butterflies, immature triggers, and fusiliers. Larger species are scarce, although there are plenty of turtles. Nudibranchs, stonefish, lionfish and such are present to a moderate degree. But, as with most of the underwater world, there has been some decline in the health of the reefs compared to 5 or 6 years ago. If considering a visit in 2012 or 2013, remember that the resort is to be undergoing major renovation. New buildings are to be built, and current structures are expected to undergo major renovations. From our discussions with staff and management, it sounds like the intent of the new owners is to create a very upscale resort, themed less for the diver and more towards conventioneers and non-diving vacationers.
Websites	Thalassa Dive Center
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	Over 1000 dives
Where else diving	Worldwide
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny, dry	Seas	calm, surge, currents, no currents
Water Temp	82-84°F / 28-29°C	Wetsuit Thickness	3
Water Visibility	40-90 Ft/ 12-27 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	?
Enforced diving restrictions	Fingerless or no gloves. Depth and time per briefing. Most dives about 60 minutes.
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	yes
What I Saw
Sharks	None	Mantas	None
Dolphins	Schools	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	> 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics	N/A
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	Good rinse buckets on boats. No dedicated camera platform, but plenty of space on enclosed seating areas. I took my camera back to the room each day.

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Dive Review of Thalassa Dive Center/Santika/Grand Luley in Indonesia/Sulawesi

Thalassa Dive Center/Santika/Grand Luley, Oct, 2012,

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Dive Review of Thalassa Dive Center/Santika/Grand Luley in
Indonesia/Sulawesi