Dive The Four Pearls of Indonesia with Lotus Hotels and Gangga Divers
Each of the properties in West Papua, North Sulawesi, Bali and Lombok are 5* PADI Certified dive resorts, each with their own Gangga Divers Dive Centre. Gangga Divers’ professional dive instructors are ready to teach and assist divers from true beginners to the most experienced.
Papua Paradise Eco Resort is Lotus Hotels’ most remote resort, located in the marine paradise of Raja Ampat, West Papua. This property is tailor made for guests to relax into the pristine environment and explore the astonishing variety of corals and marine species, as well as the abundance of natural life on land.
The draw to Papua Paradise is the superb diving in the area. 45% of Raja Ampat’s total area is designated a Marine Protected Area, and within this is also a marine sanctuary for dugongs, manta rays, sharks, and turtles. Add to this the fact that over 75% of the world’s coral species and a record-breaking 1,000 species of tropical fish live here and you will be in diving heaven.
Guests also fall in love with the over-water bungalows where they can sit and listen to the waves lapping gently underneath and watch the vivid sunset in the evening. Watching the reef sharks and other marine species swimming below is an experience that will never be forgotten. The rooms are built with locally-sourced, sustainable materials and are simply but elegantly furnished. After all the surrounding natural life is so grand, there is no need for extravagant interiors.
Papua Paradise also offers the first and only spa in Raja Ampat. Professional spa therapists use traditional Ayurvedic and traditional techniques from India and Southeast Asia to take guests on a journey to improve physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. Guests can also take time to unwind at the newly added bar and lounge area where they can have a cold drink and reflect on an amazing day of diving.
Less remote, but no less awe-inspiring is the diving around Gangga Island Resort & Spa in North Sulawesi. Just an hour and a half drive and 20 minutes by boat from the region’s capital Manado, Gangga Island is an easy escape to paradise. The island is small and Gangga Island Resort is the only tourist accommodation there. Beachside bungalows, white sand and incredible diving is what tourists come for and they are never disappointed.
Gangga Divers offer diving around the island and the house reef, as well as further afield around the Bangka Archipelago. The house reef features bioreef formations that have turned around a serious erosion problem affecting the island’s beaches and are now home to an incredible variety of marine life. From coral gardens, to muck diving for strange and unusual critters, there is diving of every sort here.
An evening trip to nearby Lihaga Island to witness the unique mating dance of the mandarinfish is a must-do. Bunaken National Marine Park to the west and Lembeh Island to the east are also accessible from Gangga Island and have world-class dive sites galore.
After diving your room is the perfect sanctuary of calm. 12 of the rooms are newly refurbished with tall glass windows for stunning views of the beach and ocean panoramas, stylish new bathrooms, comfortable day beds and unique textiles to reflect the culture of the area.
What is a trip to Indonesia without a visit to the famous Island of The Gods? Lotus Hotels’ Bali location is Lotus Bungalows Candidasa on the east coast of the island. Once a small fishing village, Candidasa now attracts divers from around the world. The atmosphere is very relaxed and friendly - a place where divers can socialize and talk about their experiences in the seafront restaurant or around the pool.
Diving with Gangga Divers here can include trips to the small islands of Gili Mimpang, Gili Tepekong or Gili Biaha, or further around the coast to the famous WWII shipwreck at Tulamben. It’s also a great starting point for diving around the islands of Nusa Lembongan and Penida where Manta Rays and Mola Mola are often seen.
For divers who just can’t get enough time underwater Gangga Divers at Lotus Bungalows offers a PADI Poseidon MKVI/SE7EN Rebreather course. Gangga Divers is one of the few dive centres in Bali to offer this course and even has its own in-house Rebreather trainer.
Not so far away are the Gili Islands of Gili Trawangan, Meno and Air off the northwest coast of Lombok. Reached in under 2 hours from Bali by fast boat, or around the same by airplane, car, and boat, Lotus Hotels’ Gili Trawangan property Villa Almarik offers an idyllic island escape.
This beachfront hotel is in an excellent location for walking or cycling to the more bustling part of the island, but allows you to get away from the more lively scene. With a pool for scuba training and a restaurant serving delicious fresh food and the best woodfired pizza on the island, divers can train, level up and socialize together. It is also the prime spot for sea turtle sightings, which makes for memorable first dives and snorkeling from the beach.
No cars or motorbikes are allowed on the islands, so relaxation and exploring the crystal clear waters are the most popular pass times. Divers will appreciate the wide variety of dive sites they can visit while diving with Gangga Divers. Over 20 sites are located within easy reach of the island, each a different experience. This also caters to all skill levels from those trying diving for the first time to seasoned divers.
Papua Paradise Eco Resort, Gangga Island Resort & Spa, Lotus Bungalows Candidasa, and Villa Almarik Gili Trawangan each offer a distinctive experience in an exotic location. Staff both in the hotels and Gangga Divers Dive Centres are trained to help guests make the most of their holiday and experience and make magical memories while diving.
Lotus Hotels are also committed to making as little impact on the environment as possible, giving back to the land and communities to make sure we make our influence in the area positive. It’s our aim to integrate our hotels into the local landscape and let guests experience the wonders that each location offers.
For more information, please visit http://www.lotus-hotels.com