Dear Guests, Agents and Friends,
We received several messages in the last week and we appreciate your concerns about the situation in North Sulawesi.
A few days ago there was a small eruption of Mount Soputan. This is an active volcano which is located 40Km from Manado, and although it has erupted several times in the last 20 years, it has never been in any way dangerous to Manado, Bunaken, Gangga and Bangka or Lembeh.
This last eruption was no exception. It was a routine one with some ashes and smoke and a small amount of lava surfacing from the top of the volcano, and it has already cleared and become quiet again. We are now seeing blue skies and the diving is as great as ever!
Regarding the recent earthquake and tsunami, we are very fortunate that we didn’t feel the earthquake and tsunami, nor are we affected by it in anyway in Manado, Bunaken, Gangga and Bangka or Lembeh. Palu is in Central Sulawesi, this is another province that is almost 1000km from Manado and takes 24 hours to get there by car.
However, our thoughts and prayers go to the people in Palu and the surrounding areas who lost their lives and their houses and everything they had. As an association, NSWA are contributing & sending help in the way of food, water, clothes etc that is being shipped/flown by the army, and we will continue to support them as needed.
Please rest assured that North Sulawesi is as safe as it has always been and we hope that you keep diving with us in North Sulawesi. By visiting us you will actually be supporting the economy of North Sulawesi, and this in turn will support the people of Central Sulawesi in their time of need.
Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to welcoming you to North Sulawesi.
Eco Divers and NSWA – North Sulawesi Watersports Association (www.divenorthsulawesi.com)
