Kusu Island Resort
Pulau Kusu, Desa Sabatan , Kec. Bacan Timur Kab. Halmahera Sealatan, Halmahera Selatan, MU, IDN
About the Center
Kusu Island Resort, located in Halmahera Selatan, Indonesia, is an SSI-certified dive center offering diving experiences in a paradisiacal setting. The resort is situated in the heart of the Coral Triangle, renowned for its exceptional marine biodiversity, featuring virtually untouched reefs and an abundance of marine life, including colorful reef fish, juvenile sharks, and sea turtles.
The facilities at Kusu Island Resort include luxurious Ocean Villas with private beach access, a beachfront restaurant serving Asian and international cuisine, a bar for sunset cocktails, a swimming pool, and a watersports center. For divers, the center provides equipment rental, air fills (including nitrox), and options for shore diving and night diving.
The resort also offers activities such as snorkeling, kayaking, and excursions to explore the tropical rainforest and mangroves, where butterflies, endemic birds, and other animals can be observed. Its remote location, surrounded by white sandy beaches, lush rainforests, and mangroves, coupled with a high standard of service, promises an unforgettable holiday where luxury meets nature.
Available Courses
2 cursosDiving Courses (all levels)
Kusu Island Resort offers diving courses across all experience levels, from first-time beginners through to divemaster and instructor certifications. The site works with both PADI and SSI, so the certification pathway can follow either agency depending on the student's preference. Because the resort is small and remote, instructors need to be confirmed in advance — the resort asks that you specify which course you want at the time of booking. Practical sessions take place on some of the most intact reef in South Halmahera. The house reef is directly accessible from the water sports center at the jetty, which is a straightforward setup for confined and open water exercises. With 40+ sites reachable in under 15 minutes, moving between learning environments doesn't eat into dive time. The underwater variety at Pulau Kusu means beginner courses aren't limited to sand patches and shallow rubble. The fringing reef offers calm, clear water with reef fish, baby sharks and turtles passing through — a richer environment than most open water training locations. For advanced and technical progression, the range of topography (walls, slopes, caverns, drift channels) provides natural progression through depth and condition profiles. Professional-level training up to instructor is available, which is uncommon for a resort of this size. The 5-mile marine protection zone and low diver traffic in the area make it a viable base for extended courses where site quality and repeatability matter.
Freediving Courses
Freediving courses at Kusu Island Resort are available on request. The house reef and selected dive sites are described as strong freediving spots, with calm shallows on the coral tops that allow for relaxed breath-hold sessions without heavy surge or current to manage. The fringing reef of Pulau Kusu gives freedivers access to coral structure close to the surface, with the option to drop deeper along walls and slopes as skill develops. The marine life — including sea turtles, baby sharks and dense reef fish populations — makes breath-hold sessions visually rewarding even at moderate depths. Because freediving courses run on request rather than on a fixed schedule, availability depends on instructor planning. Flagging your interest at booking is essential. The small, low-traffic nature of the resort works in favor of freediving sessions — sites don't have competing scuba groups, and the water surface stays clear of boat noise during dedicated freediving windows. The resort also caters to snorkelers who want an introduction to freediving technique, with professional staff available to guide first-timers through equipment and approach before their first real breath-hold dive on the reef.
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Frequently asked
What people ask before booking
Fly internationally to Jakarta or Manado, then connect to Ternate and onward to Labuha. From Labuha the resort takes you by car (20 minutes) and then their speedboat (40 minutes) to the island. Flag your arrival details at booking so the transfer can be arranged.
The protected reefs around Pulau Kusu hold over 3,000 fish species. On a given day you might encounter baby sharks, sea turtles, stingrays, mantas, dolphins and tunas, plus macro subjects like pygmy seahorses and nudibranchs in the muck sites. The channels between islands produce drift dives with pelagic action.
At least 40 known dive and snorkeling sites are within 15 minutes of the resort by boat. Many of them run directly along the fringing reef of Pulau Kusu, so surface time between dives is minimal.
Courses run from beginner level through to divemaster and instructor, working with PADI and SSI. Freediving courses are also available on request. Inform the resort at time of booking which course you want to take so instructors can be scheduled.
A limited amount of rental equipment is on site for both diving and snorkeling. Reserve what you need at the time of booking — availability is not guaranteed if you wait until arrival.
Yes. Each Ocean Villa has a large private deck with direct access to the water. The house reef runs right in front of the resort, so you can enter from your deck and be on the coral in a few fin kicks without needing a boat.
The water sports center at the end of the jetty includes a dedicated camera room. The site specifically highlights photography and videography as a strong draw, given the reef quality and macro life on offer.
Meals are served three times a day, plus afternoon tea. After the first morning dive, sandwiches and fresh baked treats are served dockside. If you're doing a night dive, dinner is still prepared fresh on schedule. Private dinners on your Ocean Villa deck are available on request. Special dietary requirements can be accommodated if flagged in advance.
How to get there
Pulau Kusu, Desa Sabatan , Kec. Bacan Timur Kab. Halmahera Sealatan, Halmahera Selatan, MU, IDN