Level: Free shore access This spot have a free shore access: you can go snorkeling there freely and without having to book a tour or pay an entrance fee. Resort nearby
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Last updated on February 29, 2024
If your interest in snorkeling is not limited to spectacular underwater scenery brimming with coral, then Liang Beach is a spot to potentially include in your Bunaken itinerary. On the seagrass beds, mixed zones and slopes of this shore access location, you can easily spot Ocellaris clownfish, a variety of starfish, shrimp, lionfish and turtles.
Liang Beach is not a sandy beach per se, but rather a shore area on the south coast of Bunaken Island.
This spot can be reached from the main road, either via the path alongside the Bunaken Oasis Dive Resort and Spa (access 1 on the map) or via the path leading to the south jetty at the Rental Mercy store (access 2/jetty 3 on the map).
The location can also be reached from nearby hotels, including the Bunaken Oasis Dive Resort and Spa, the Happy Gecko Dive Resort and the Bastianos Bunaken Dive Resort.
The recommended water entrance is from the beach, at the northernmost jetty (jetty 1 on the map). Underwater visibility is rarely excellent at Liang Beach.
In terms of coral health, Liang Beach is nowhere near the level of other snorkeling sites on the island, particularly Bunaken Timur. But its mangroves, seagrass beds, pontoons, and reef slopes are home to equally exciting underwater life.
A large part of the Liang Beach snorkeling area is made up of shallow flats (↕2-6 feet/0.5-2m). These are partly covered with seagrass (especially in the western part of the snorkeling area) and partly by areas with a mix of sand, small corals, and seagrass.
At the edge of the flat, reef slopes gradually descend to deeper areas (↕6-20 feet/2-6 meters), but their coral is in average condition.
Mertens’ anemones, with their very short tentacles, can be seen in the sand or the seagrass beds. These are usually inhabited by communities of Ocellaris clownfish or Orange-skunk clownfish.
Lionfish gather in numbers around the jetties’ structures, while large starfish of several species (see list at the bottom of the page) lie on the bottom. If you have a keen eye, you may spot small Thor amboinensis shrimps in the anemones or corals.
The reef slopes are richer in colorful fish, attracting a dozen different butterflyfish, triggerfish and schools of damselfish. Small green turtles are not uncommon in this area.
Liang Beach features a choice of accommodations. The most important are the Bunaken Oasis Dive Resort and Spa, the Happy Gecko Dive Resort and the Bastianos Bunaken Dive Resort.
These snorkeling spots are accessible to beginners and kids. You will enter the water gradually from a beach, or in a less than 3ft. deep area. The sea is generally calm, shallow, with almost no waves or currents. These spots are usually located in marked and/or monitored swimming areas. It is not necessary to swim long distances to discover the sea life. This level only apply when the spot experiences optimal sea and/or weather conditions. It is not applicable if the sea and/or weather conditions deteriorate, in particular in the presence of rough sea, rain, strong wind, unusual current, large tides, waves and/or swell. You can find more details about the definition of our snorkeling levels on our snorkeling safety page.
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Snorkeling spots are part of a wild environment and their aspect can be significantly altered by weather, seasons, sea conditions, human impact and climate events (storms, hurricanes, seawater-warming episodes…). The consequences can be an alteration of the seabed (coral bleaching, coral destruction, and invasive seagrass), a poor underwater visibility, or a decrease of the sea life present in the area. Snorkeling Report makes every effort to ensure that all the information displayed on this website is accurate and up-to-date, but no guarantee is given that the underwater visibility and seabed aspect will be exactly as described on this page the day you will snorkel the spot. If you recently snorkeled this area and noticed some changes compared to the information contained on this page, please contact us.
The data contained in this website is for general information purposes only, and is not legal advice. It is intended to provide snorkelers with the information that will enable them to engage in safe and enjoyable snorkeling, and it is not meant as a substitute for swim level, physical condition, experience, or local knowledge. Remember that all marine activities, including snorkeling, are potentially dangerous, and that you enter the water at your own risk. You must take an individual weather, sea conditions and hazards assessment before entering the water. If snorkeling conditions are degraded, postpone your snorkeling or select an alternate site. Know and obey local laws and regulations, including regulated areas, protected species, wildlife interaction and dive flag laws.
