Are you thinking about traveling to North Sulawesi for the dive trip of a lifetime, but have no one to travel with? No worries! Traveling solo can be one of the best opportunities to learn, meet new people, and also enjoy your own company. I’m going to tell you why Indonesia is one of the best countries in the world to travel to on your own.

Rumors Abound

It’s amazing how many people think Indonesia is an unsafe country to travel to. There are often media stories about travel warnings due to natural disasters, terrorist attacks or being ripped off or robbed. Once you’re in Indonesia you’ll most likely find that you don’t hear anything about any of this. People go about their days just as they would anywhere else in the world while the news media outside the archipelago blows up stories for ratings.

Of course this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be aware that natural disasters like earthquakes and tsunamis do occur from time to time. It’s always good to have a small emergency kit ready with basic first aid supplies, but chances are you won’t need it.

When it comes to traveling solo and being ripped off, you need to keep your wits about you as you would anywhere else in the world. Keep copies of your passport and other important documents on you and leave the originals in the safe at Gangga Island Resort & Spa as much as possible. You’re likely to find that people are kind, generous, and helpful in North Sulawesi especially when they find out you’re traveling alone.

Arriving in North Sulawesi

When you arrive at the airport in Manado you’ll see that it’s small but modern and well laid out. The domestic terminal can get busy but it’s nothing like arriving in Bali or Jakarta.

When you stay at Gangga Island Resort & Spa you’ll be met by a driver at the airport and taken to the pier at Serei for your boat to Gangga Island. You may have a lot of drivers jostling for your attention outside the airport but you can simply tell them you have a driver waiting for you and they will leave you alone.

If you choose to stay in Manado before your trip to Gangga Island there are registered Blue Bird taxis that are generally trustworthy. Just make sure you see them turn the metre on when you get in. You can also use a local driver but make sure you determine the price before you even get in the car.

Diving and Snorkeling

 

The biggest worry most solo dive travelers have is not having a dive partner. When it comes to diving this is simple. All your dives with Gangga Divers will be guided so you will never be short of a dive buddy. This also means your guide/buddy will be able to show you the best of every dive site because they know them so well.

It’s also possible that you could be paired with another guest who is traveling solo or in a group with odd numbers. Gangga Divers instructors and guides will always make sure you and your buddy have compatible skill levels.

If you join a dive boat to do some snorkeling you will always have a guide around and most likely other guests as well. This means you don’t have to worry about snorkeling alone.

It is also possible to go snorkeling off the beach at Gangga Island, so if you do decide to do this it’s great to have a friend to go with. Thankfully, it’s really easy to make friends when you have diving and snorkeling in common. Gangga Island Resort & Spa draws marine enthusiasts from around the world so there are always interesting conversations going on and connections being made. If you do decide to go alone, we recommend that you tell one of the dive centre staff before you head into the water.

Land Tours

Gangga Island Resort & Spa offers land tours to a number of interesting places. If you’d like to join a tour but being a single traveler you don’t meet the 2-guest requirement, just ask at reception. There are always tours going out with other guests, who are likely to be happy to have you along. The more the merrier, right?

Just think of all that great alone time you could have on your dive holiday if you’re traveling solo. You really can enjoy Gangga Island to the full without having to bring a friend or partner with you. Do you like to travel alone? Tell us all about it in the comments box below.