Bunaken · Indonesia · Wall · Drift
Sachiko's Point
Whitetip sharks resting in caves down the wall
Area photo: Bernard DUPONT · CC BY-SA 2.0
Sachiko's Point is a steep wall on the north-east side of Bunaken Island, exposed enough that the current can run strong and draw in bigger schools of fish than the south side of the island holds. The face drops from shallow water to at least 40 metres, with the usual working depth 10 to 25 metres. Napoleon wrasse, trevally and green turtles are regulars, and whitetip sharks rest in caves in the deeper parts.
Where it is and how deep
1.6353° N, 124.7703° EPublished position for this site.
The dive
The exposed position is the point of the site. Current here ranges from none to strong, and when it runs the dive becomes a drift along the wall; that flow is what encourages larger pelagics and brings bigger schools of fish than are spotted on the south side of the island. Set a working band before you drop, because the face keeps going below it.
Working along the face, large massive corals give way to caves in the deeper parts where whitetip sharks rest, and blacktip reef sharks pass along the edge. It is very common to find yourself finning alongside a napoleon wrasse as it searches for small fish and crustaceans among the corals, and green turtles feed on the coral as you go.
Out in the blue, schooling bluefin trevally, easily recognised by their electric blue fins, hunt alongside giant trevally, the largest member of the Carangidae family at up to 80 kg. The site can be dived all year. It takes its name from a Japanese tour agent who was lucky enough to have her favourite dive site named after her.
Marine life and season
- Reef sharks
- Napoleon wrasse
- Trevally & jacks
- Sea turtles
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good | Good | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good |
Season follows Bunaken: May–October dry season gives the clearest water; some rain and runoff November–April.
Know before you go
- Current here ranges from none to strong: this is an exposed corner, and the conditions on the day decide whether it is a slow wall dive or a fast drift.
- The wall drops to at least 40 metres and the caves holding the resting whitetips are in the deeper part of the profile, which makes it easy to overshoot a recreational depth limit.
Dive videos
Sharks at Sachiko's, Bunaken National Marine Park · Living Colours Diving Resort on YouTube
Questions divers ask
How deep is Sachiko's Point?+
The wall drops from shallow water to at least 40 metres. Most dives work the 10 to 25 metre band along the face, with the caves that hold resting whitetip sharks in the deeper part of the site.
Can beginners dive Sachiko's Point?+
It is normally rated for advanced divers, but it can be a good site for beginners if the current is not strong. The position is exposed, so the conditions on the day decide: a strong current turns it into a drift along a wall that drops to at least 40 metres.
Sources
- Sachiko's Point dive site — Divezone
- Diving sites Indonesia: Manado, Bunaken — Dive The World
In The Logbook
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