Cocotinos resort Manado Indonesia.
Cocotinos is a fabulous resort/spat .
We stayed there on week two of a Lembeh/Manado trip and the change was refreshing.
This resort/spa was very people orientated, and the guides were very knowelageble in the area's diving, the guest quirks, and with the gear as well.
The rooms were comfortable and all on ground level (refreshing after the hill climbing at Lembeh resort) and there was a pool in the courtyard.
The air conditioning worked well, and the rooms were close to boats, resturant, and camera room.
The camera room was great, and spacious.
everyone had plenty room and we were a large group.
There was a decent diveshop onsite for any needed gear, and staff was knowalageble about gear, fixing a few things for our group.
The maintence staff actually took my Ikelite charger and stripped the plug down to re-connect a broken wire so that I could charge my strobes.!
Our Guide (James Mamato) was exceptional, and knew where to find all the local critters.
We had a mix of diver stylles onboard, with some phiotographers and some sight-seer's and he was able to keep us all on subjects .
The diving was a mix of wall/reef/and a little muck.
The vis was better here than Lembeh at 50-100 feet, and warmer too. I saw my computer at 90º one day in shallow (I got a pic of it too !
The diving was more feef fish than small critters, but our guide knew we loved macro and led us to many types of nudi's and other small wonders.
This resort's staff made everyone feel special, and within the first day, knew all our names.
The food here was 4 starish and better than most dive resorts.
They had a party / BBQ for us one night near the end, and all the staff, and guides were dancing and playing music.
My birthday was during the trip, and when they found out, they threw a little party with cake, ice cream and everyone on staff signed a Cocotino's T-Shirt that I will cherish for a long time .
Thier love of life was great to see and left a lasting memory for me.
The diving was done off comfortable boats and the sites were a 30-45 minute ride away, so they brought 3 tanks each and lunch.
We were given oppurtunities for night diving every night.
