Thalassa Dive & Wellbeing Resort Manado

My friend and I went to both Thalassa Manado and Lembeh... after an easy flight from Brisbane into Manado via Singapore we did a total of 23 dives and were very impressed with the operation and the diving was fabulous ... especially if you are into Macro photography. The accommodation at both locations was very clean and comfortable and the staff were very attentive and genuinly friendly. The food was also of a very high standard and there was a good selection of interesting tropical fruits to try. The dive guides were very good at finding the most tiny of creatures from many kinds of Frogfish, nudibranchs, Ornate Ghost Pipefish and Mandarin Fish to the fantastic Flamboyant Cuttlefish. It is not surprising that Lembeh is regarded as one of the best places in the world for macro photography. I would not hesitate to recommend both these locations and this dive operator.

If you want to be treated like a queen/king, you definitely have to come to Thalassa. It starts from the moment that you arrive. Just ask and things will be done immediately. Diving is great, but there are also a lot of things to see and do in the surroundings. This year we went rafting and it was absolutely fantastic. But also a walk around mount Tumba gives you a nice impression of all the islands around the northern part of Sulawesi. Thank you, dear Thalassa-team, for your hospitality and much more than that!

My wife and I do a lot of traveling and I must say the Thalassa Dive Resort does it right. The food is plentiful and fresh, the grounds are well kept, the bungalows and villas are comfortable, and there is world class wall and muck diving minutes away. However, the real gem at Thalassa are the genuinely friendly staff. The manager Arjen personally took the time to find out our interests and provided with top notch concierge service arranging all of our activities during our stay, along with joining us for some meals and taking us on a tour of Manado. The rest of the staff made us feel like part of their family with endless smiles and lots of conversation. One of the young ladies even joined us on a dive on her day off work. We can’t wait until our next visit.

When we met Simone at a diving fair, we had the immediate feeling that this is the intimate and warm place we want to go to. And the reality was even better. The personnel are very friendly, everything we asked was taken up right away. All trips we booked were arranged perfectly. Very nice to stay at Lembeh as well. The food is honest, very tasty and has a large variety. The set-up of large tables where everybody just sits with other guests makes every meal different and surprising in a fantastic way. Great talks, lots of laughter and sharing travel and diving stories is never boring. Diving is wonderful. The diving staff is experienced, very friendly and they make sure you have a great experience. The bungalows are designed to be very convenient, cozy and spacious in a lush and green environment. And on top of all that, Simone and Arjan are the warm and professional center of this small universe. Simone’s vision of giving back to their community is present in many different ways and left us with the feeling, that we also contributed a little bit. And yes, where guests leave as friends, so true!

great place, people very friendly, great dives, food really good. staff very professional and so kind. room confortable, clean excellent. dive site really amazing, dive guide very professional. absolutely suggested

What a marvellous holiday at Thalassa. I was greeted at Manado Airport with warm smiles and laughter which put me at ease in an otherwise unfamiliar environment. The resort is new and situated in the jungle on the edge of a semi-remote village about a 10 minute boat ride to your first diving sites. It's a large block of land with delightful villas, a traditional style round house/dining area and a welcoming pool area. My villa was super large and airy, well appointed with a super comfy bed and pillows for a great night sleep and gorgeous verandah to soak up the glorious atmosphere at sunrise with a coffee. Simone, the incredible owner and her staff are A1**** with obvious deep loyalty and respect between them. A few key points: - The food is served three times a day and you can expect freshly prepared locally sourced cuisine that is super healthy and varies day to day. It's perfect for the diver's diet! Splash out on a bottle of the Twin Island's Cabernet Sauvignon - it's divine. Friday nights are pizza night and lots of fun. - The dive team and instructors are world class which is as you would expect in a world class destination like Bunaken Marine Park. - A special mention of the day excursions which include Tangkoko Nature Reserve, The Minahasa Highlands, early morning market tour and cooking school plus opportunities to muck dive in. the twin resort in Lembeh, Bitung. I had a marvellous eight days and really enjoyed making new friends from all over the world. I miss them already! Thank you Thalassa for the priceless memories and for making this girl's dreams come true.

Five out of five for Thalassa. -Super friendly and caring staff. -Comfortable, clean villas in a serene jungle setting -Healthy meals (ideal for the diver’s diet) -Lots of laughter - World class diving instructors and guides - World class diving sites around Bunaken Marine Park -Focused on sustainable eco tourism -A give-back project supporting the education, training and employment of the local community.

Wow! Where do I even begin? The goal was to travel solo, disconnect, explore the Manado highlands, forests, dive sites around Bunaken marine park & of course the bustling city. In 1 week - I managed to get it all done without rushing + gained my first open water dive certificate. The resort made me feel like I never left home. *Meals* Meals were all inclusive and being in culinary myself - I could see the detail being put in keeping them fresh /organic and mostly healthy packed. You are able to customise based on your needs as well. *Rooms* Stayed in a twin bed villa for 4 nights & a shared 2 bedroom villa for the remaining 3 nights. Both rooms were fantastic and had amazing bed quality. Found no issues with Wifi or water. *Tours & Dive* 5 star Padi service. It was amazing to see that most guides / instructors are actually homegrown from the hotel's school foundation which they built about 10 years ago in support of the local villages. I managed to explore Tangkoko, the City tour and also the dive sites around Bunaken National Park post my Course. *Service* Everyone was hospitable and took care of all my needs. Even when I was unwell in between for a couple of days. Nothing was rushed. Everyone was super friendly. *Guests* Finally 'Where guests leaves as friends'. This tagline is absolutely spot on. Thank you for the amazing hospitality Simone, Arjen & team. Will surely be back ;)