Weda Dive Resort, Halmahera, North Maluku

This eco-friendly resort on the large island of Halmahera in North Maluku is an ideal setting for keen divers, bird watchers and nature lovers. Providing some of the best diving and snorkelling in the heart of the coral triangle, this is a very special place indeed. What’s more, the owners of Weda Dive Resort make a conscious and important effort to conserve the surrounding forest and reefs. They started the Sawai Ecotourism Foundation, conceived originally to conserve the the ‘lek’ or display trees used by Wallace’s Standard Wing Bird of Paradise there, but subsequently growing to include local village communities and over 700 acres of rainforest.

Home to incredible bird life, including many endemic species, the resort organises bird watching trips to see a pair of these famed bird of paradise on their display trees in the early hours of the morning. You’ll also wake to the pleasant sounds of an exotic dawn chorus. As for snorkelling, you can swim right off the shoreline amongst lovely coral. You also do not have to travel far off the shore for wonderful diving opportunities to experience beautiful reefs, rich marine life and coral. You’ll have them completely to yourself and consider yourself lucky to be alive.

Food is served in an open-air restaurant with views of the ocean and forest and is excellent quality, with fresh vegetables, fish and fragrant sauces. The service is very warm friendly, though limited by the very remote location.

There is no beach as such in front of the resort, though all the rooms enjoy sea views of one type or another. The 8 bungalows are eco-friendly, with walls and roofs built from dried sago palm leaves and painted by the locals. Rooms are simple, with comfortable beds, warm showers and limited wifi. They aren’t fit with air conditioning, however the tiled floors and ceiling fans keep the bungalows reasonably cool.

The journey to the resort is quite arduous, with a 30 minute drive from the airport to the dock, a speedboat ride and another 3 hour drive. It should also be noted that there is no diving available from June until mid-September due to strong winds and waves.