Born as a pioneer at the edge of the map, Sali Bay is the first dive resort in South Halmahera and a true hideaway for divers, underwater photographers and explorers seeking Indonesia at its most untouched.
Sali Bay is a unique eco resort on the little island of Sali Kecil in South Halmahera, North Maluku. Built over two years in a protected bay of the Patinti Strait, it opened as the very first dive resort of the region and has remained wonderfully alone there ever since: no crowds, no other dive boats, just the bay, the jungle and the reef. Since 2024 the resort is officially eco-certified, and it shows. A state of the art solar plant powers the whole resort 24/7, with not a single diesel generator disturbing the silence.
Sixteen rooms line the beachfront in two categories. The spacious Beach Front Villas invite with a private veranda, a cozy lounge corner and the sand right at the doorstep, while the charming Beach Front Diver’s Lodges at the quiet end of the bay keep things simple and comfortable, just steps from the water. All rooms feature air conditioning, en-suite bathrooms with hot water, king or twin beds and a mini fridge. A freshwater pool with bar service, a lovely spa and free Starlink WiFi throughout the resort complete the picture.
Meals are served in the open-air restaurant overlooking the bay, an exquisite daily fusion of Indonesian flavours and Western cuisine on full board. Dinner is a relaxed, social affair under the stars, and special dietary wishes are happily taken care of.
Sali Kecil is a densely forested island of just 2.5 kilometres, floating in the Patinti Strait between Bacan and southern Halmahera. The region belongs to the legendary Moluccas, the original Spice Islands, and remains one of the last truly undeveloped corners of Indonesia: fishing villages, rainforest and endless sea. Getting there is part of the adventure, via Labuha Airport (LAH), reached from Jakarta, Manado or Ternate, followed by a short drive and a scenic boat ride across the bay.
With more than 40 dive sites within easy reach, the Patinti Strait offers everything from richly-colonized walls and pinnacles to pristine soft coral slopes and first-class muck diving, and new sites are still being explored. Southwest Halmahera alone counts an astonishing 450 species of coral and over 800 species of fish. Macro lovers will find pygmy seahorses, frogfish, flamboyant cuttlefish and the famous walking shark, while reef sharks, turtles and schooling fish patrol the drop-offs. The 600 metre house reef begins right at the jetty. Diving is done in intimate groups of maximum six divers, with Nitrox, a dedicated camera room and a comfortable fleet of dive boats.