Happy Gecko Dive Resort

Great place to dive and relax on bunaken. The owner Willeke and the whole crew are supper welcoming and make you feel at home. The room is basic but gives you an instant vacation vibe (not the right place if you look for luxury or 5 Star Resort). Food is great and diving fantastic.

Definitely recommended.

We spent 3 nights at Happy Gecko. The rooms were basic and clean with a very nice view. The owner Willeke was super friendly and so were the other people at the resort, the vibe was just perfect. The whole Happy Gecko team was excellent, the kitchen staff cooked very tasty food and also huge portions, so you don’t have to worry about being hungry during the day. The dive instructors were always in a good mood and tried to give you the best experience during the dives but also finding the dolphins on the tour. So when you want to visit the Bunaken that’s the place to go :)

I have stayed at the Happy Gecko Dive Resort begining of September 2023. Willeke, her Husband Jerry as well as the whole team instantly made me feel at home! The Resort is situated at the quieter, and in my view, more beautiful side of Bunaken and enjoys great views and sunsets. The houses are clean, comfortable and Price-Value is exceptional! I really enjoyed snorkeling from the shore as the steep coral wall, for which Bunaken is famous for, is just a short swim away from the beach infront of the resort. I also really enjoyed the food which is typical indonesian, very tasty and different every day. I especially liked that there was also plenty of vegetables on the menue and fresh sambal was prepared by the kitchen crew. The sulawesi fish curry dishes I enjoyed a lot as well! Dives are very well organized and the guides are very knowledgable of the area (especially the currents) and just in general very helpfull! I highly recommend this place and will try to visit it again myself soon!

Thanks to Willeke and the whole team for a fantastic stay! We enjoyed the tranquility of the island. There was amazing food which came in big portions. The staff was really friendly and the dives were stunning.

I just left from my second trip to the Happy Gecko Resort and the experience was fantastic again. I probably don't have to explain the diving, as Bunaken is one of the best locations in the world, but the prices for diving at the resort are cheap compared to other resorts on the island. The guides are very patient and their English is excellent. I'm an experienced diver myself, but a first time (and very nervous) diver on the same boat was super happy with his experience as well. Snorkelers are welcome to join the boat and they will come to pick you up when there's a strong current pulling you away from the boat.

The food is included in the price of the stay so you don't expect much, but it were some of the best dishes I've had in Indonesia.

The private houses are quite basic, but offer everything you need including a fantastic view. Do prepare for some sweaty evenings though, as there is no AC, just a fan.

The (Dutch) owner is very welcoming and made the place feel quite homely. Her English is excellent and she can explain a ton of things about the island, surroundings and Sulawesi.

I gave it a lot of stars, but I must add that this is how I feel about the place. I'm not into luxury. The cabins are basic (no airco, no hot water) but very nice. The food is good, but there is no menu. You eat the Meal of the Day.

The people working there are all very nice and the boat crew is very helpful.

You go here to dive, not to be pampered. And under water it is very beautiful.

Recommended, really nice place to stay! We felt at home the days we have stayed there, thank you! Facilities are good and clean, for a very fair price. Owners and staff very kind and supportive! When you go here, Dutch/european snacks are much welcomed by the owner if you have some space in your suitcase left:) (cheese/chocolates/cookies etc).

Warm, Loving and truly Over & Above!! Happy Gecko is a family run dive resort located right on the beach in Bunaken. It's run by the matriarch Wilenke, her husband Jerry alongwith their 2 kids Set & Lily and a staff of lovely ladies in the kitchen and dive guides Jimmy & Rando and Gabriel on the boat.
Facility wise, they have these colonial style wooden cottages spread along the hill slope. The rooms are basic but clean, good beds, a ceiling fan, charging points and they also have a balcony with a hammock. You get fresh towels and linen. But thats it, there is no ac, no hot water, no TV, etc.. so if you can't do without creature comforts, this isn't for you. Their reception hall, overlooks the sea. This is where you have your meals and drinks and there is a wifi internet connection.
So what's special? Well, it's just the human connect, loving people, easy coversations, really awesome food.. they make you feel at home and literally pamper you.. from Chai to BBQ pork ribs, I mean what else could you ask for! It's the perfect place to cut off from the outside world and just dive and relax.
The diving in Bunaken is spectacular.. its mostly wall diving, the reefs are pristine and beautiful, you see nudis at almost every meter, and orangutan crabs every few meters, the corals are thriving and literally you're spoiled for choice on what to see. They also have mandarins and cardinals on their house reef. And dugongs swim these waters too...
So thank you guys, we had a wonderful time and if you do visit India, pls do give us a chance to return some of your hospitality. Cheers.

We liked it so much that we came back for a few more days enjoying the excellent and professional diving (Thanks to Jimmy!), the lovely fresh food (Thanks to the kitchen staff!) and the relaxed atmosphere (Thanks to Willeke and Jerry!).

I came here on 7 th july and this place is a paradise run by Willecke and Jerry. If you are looking for Aircon and other 5 star facilities it's not for you just serious hardcore diver and nature lovers. Diving here is pristine, it's a wonderland with thriving corals, most dives are wall dives. I love their kid Set who is always on the boat and he is like 8 , we also have this shy dog called snoops. I will visit again with
teams. Their hospitality is excellent, feels like home.

Just spent 5 lovely days with happy gecko dive resort, very sad to leave. The location on bunaken island is superb. Right on a sandy beach. Easy access to all of the amazing dive sites bunaken offers. I was really surprised by the size and comfort of the cottages. We had a beautiful view for sunsets from our balcony.
The lagoon and house reef right outside the resort offers some nice snorkeling and it's just 5 euro to join the diving boat for snorkeling. Dive guides and equipment are great. I really recommend them for fun dives or certification. Dive highlights included lots of shark spotting, an eagle ray, countless turtles and beautiful corals.
Overall a great stay in a lovely environment where it really feels like a home from home.

We stayed over a week here and even extended our stay. The reason why we like it so much were:

The diving was great because:
-the equipment was very well maintained, some of the best we have seen on our travels
-the dive guide (Jimmy) was superb. We had long dives around 70min (or more if you’re good on air consumption). We felt really comfortable with him and saw a lot!
-we started at 8am and were always the first people on the dive sites. We could also wish where to go.

The Bungalows were perfect because:
-nicley made, balcony, comfortable bed, big room and a private setting
-ask if you need a mosquito net (there were only mosquitos at certain times before dawn and sunrise)

The Food was delicious because:
-like our mama at home would prepare it, just indonesian style.
-plenty of good food, always with fruits as a dessert

The owners were nice because:
-helpful, around for any questions, honest and very friendly!

Furtheremore, if you need a break from diving, there is excellent snorkelling in front of the resort!

Jerry, Willeke and Set are just an amazing family and even more amazing hosts- we were a group of 8 and they were just amazing. Dive sites are amazing, guides are super knowledgeable and the food is out of this world, home cooked and delectable. All the best! Nish

I can totally recommend this place to anyone. The owners and staff are super friendly and do anything within their power to make your stay as comfortable as possible. Great view, it's quiet, diving is amazing, delicious food and all this in authentic island life. Go, just go!

In Bunaken there are several diving centers. My election was Cicak Senang. And I was not disappointed. A center with a family atmosphere, very attentive instructor. Simple accommodation for comfortable and quiet. The food is more than correct. And the very friendly couple owns it.

affordable price for our dive trip, we had nice villa with sea view. Jimmy, the dive master, have really good eye on spotting little creature.

Lovely family business..best diving & snorkelling in Indonesia. ..amazing full board meals.

Incredible place to relax and dive! I love the staff and the environment that is here. Really cheap price for the quality of holidays that we spent.

Great place. Great people. We loved staying there. You do it so good Willeke and Jerry.

Great Restaurant view right on side of the Beach