Murex Dive Resorts & Liveaboards

Humble Beginnings

Dr. Batuna, NAUI Instructor, and Mrs. Batuna, founded Murex Dive Resort & Live aboard. A lifetime seafarer and boat-builder, in the early 1970's Dr. Batuna was one of the first people to explore the underwater treasures of North Sulawesi.

Always curious to attempt something new, young Han Batuna asked some local pearl divers if he could join them. Using primitive SCUBA equipment, (no pressure gauge and no timing devise) these early dives ignited his passion that let to the eventual creation of Murex.

Dr. Batuna was responsible for organizing the first reef-protection measures at Bunaken National Marine Park in 1995. He has passed this torch of environmental preservation to his only son, Paul.

Murex -- acronym for "Manado Underwater Exploration" grew rapidly because of its reputation for professionalism and innovation. Many of our guests have come back time and time again over the years.

In 1992, Murex was the first dive centre in North Sulawesi to offer liveaboards so divers could venture farther a field. MV Serenade and MS Symphony have now made the Sangihe Island group to the north their territorial waters. No other operator knows this area like the Murex liveaboard crews do.

In 1976, Dr. Batuna earned his Masters degree in Public Health at Tulane University in New Orleans, and it was there that he took his first formal YMCA course. As a NAUI Instructor, Dr. Batuna has instilled safe diving practice in all of his Murex staff. Before retiring as Head of the Manado Public Health Department, Dr. Batuna also set up a re-compression chamber at the local hospital.

Innovations continue

Day excursions to Lembeh Strait, the muck diving capital of the world and an underwater photographer's dream, were started. More recently, the Batuna's bought land on Bangka Island and built another branch of Murex Bangka Resort.
Finally, Murex became the first dive centre in North Sulawesi to offer NITROX diving and courses. We also are the first centre able to produce trimix and support rebreather divers.

Nowadays Dr. and Mrs. Batuna take a more relaxed role although they still live at the Murex Resort located in Kalasey village. In 2005, they handed the day-to-day running of Murex over to Paul, PADI & SDI Instructor who, in turn was assisted by his wife Jo'ann.

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