Be among the first to experience the remote reefs of Halmahera in northern Indonesia. On this snorkeling tour, we will spend our time gliding over the vibrant shallow coral reefs of this secluded corner of Indonesia while we indulge in all the amenities and comforts of our boutique tropical island resort.
Halmahera is the large odd-shaped island just west of the Raja Ampat area. The area we’ll be exploring is in the south around a small island called Kusu Island. This area is fantastic for snorkeling, offering us access to a truly amazing house reef and of course all the other nearby reefs which are only 5-20 minutes by boat. Halmahera is relatively new on the snorkeling scene, as the area just didn’t have the infrastructure to support tourism really at any level. Now, with several small airports and this one brand-new resort, we can indulge in the endless reefs, clouds of colorful reef fish, the lush tropical environment, and delicious food day after day.
This snorkeling safari is escorted by a Snorkel Venture team member.
Marianne. May 2026
‘This trip was amazing! Snorkel Venture knows the best places to take you for the most wonderful snorkeling experience possible. But on top of that, we were lucky enough to have Marcus as our guide. He made the trip seamless and the snorkeling an exciting adventure every day!’
Marine Life Guide
This tour is partnered with Thrive Conservation. Find out how we support Thrive Conservation via this tour here.
Day 1 - Arrive in Jakarta
Day 2 - Fly to Kusu Island Resort
Day 3 - 11/12 - Snorkeling from Kusu Island Resort
There will be local guides and your Snorkel Venture tour leader in the water on all snorkels, pointing out interesting things to see and assisting with whatever you may need. They will also enter the water to do a current check and decide if our plan should be altered slightly or if we will snorkel in that spot. If there is current, we will always drift with it. The snorkel boats can always pick us up down current at the end of the snorkel.
After our snorkel, we return to the resort for a delicious lunch. After a little post-lunch siesta we’ll prepare for the second snorkel session of the day, followed by more snacks! You will not go hungry on this safari. For those who are keen, we can also organize a sunset or night snorkel on the house reef or one of the other nearby reefs.
We will offer 2 guided boat snorkel sessions a day. You are not obliged to participate in them all.
Throughout our time at Kusu Island Resort the house reef is open for snorkeling any time you choose.
Dinner is a 3-course meal.
Evenings are spent looking through fish ID books, reviewing the day’s photos and sightings, chatting in the spacious lounge, or enjoying the night sky from your giant porch.
Day 12/13 - Return to Jakarta
On the final day of the trip will check out of the resort together and transfer to the Labuha Airport for a flight back to Jakarta where we will bid farewell to one another.
Please speak to a member of our team if you would like to extend your time in Indonesia, either for more snorkeling or land tours.
Kusu Island Resort
Kusu Island Resort occupies the southern portion of Kusu island and includes a white sandy beach, mangroves, a manicured pathway through the jungle which connects the resort’s water sports center next to the pier with all the villas and the restaurant. The resort also has a beautiful natural lagoon complete with a sort of “blue hole” as well as a trail that leads to a light trek around the island. Just off the shore is a stunning hard coral reef that surrounds the entire island.
At the moment there are eight villas with near-identical layouts. Four are built right over the water with mangroves on either side of each, and the other four are just around the corner and run along the white sand beach. All the villas feature a large porch with a set of stairs leading to the beach or right into the water. Each porch is equipped with a pair of sun loungers, a coffee table, and even a really clever and comfortable wooden hammock built right into the porch’s floor. There’s also a freshwater shower on each porch in case you decide to go for a quick dip and want to rinse off after.
Inside each villa, you’ll find a large comfortable bed with mosquito nets, a big sofa and coffee table, a wardrobe with ample storage, and a long wooden desk. Each villa has its own ensuite bathroom which features a stunning open-air shower made out of driftwood that looks right up at the jungle canopy above. One of the cool things about the villas, or the resort as a whole, is the woodwork. No detail was too small for the owners and nearly everything is hand-made right on the island and a lot of it is made from pieces of wood found washed up on the beach. If you appreciate good woodwork, the craftsmanship of this resort will give you something else to explore outside the beautiful reefs, islands, food, and beaches.
Kusu Island Resort also features its own restaurant which is also built right at the water’s edge and has a breathtaking view of the sea. Unless you want your meal delivered to your room, this is where all the meals will be served. This area also functions as a sort of lounge area as well where you can meet up for evening drinks or just relax with a book.
The water sports center features two buildings with a giant deck area nestled into the mangroves equipped with freshwater showers, sun loungers, and little tables to relax around between snorkel sessions. One of the buildings is a secure gear-up area where everyone has their own snorkel locker. In the other building, you have an air-conditioned camera room where everyone can keep and charge their cameras without cluttering up their own villas with camera bits and cables. Outside of this room is a sort of mini-bar/living room area where you can enjoy freshly prepared juices, ice water, or even sip on a chilled coconut straight from the tree between snorkel sessions.
Please note that Kusu Island Resort does not have 24-hour power. The resort turns off the generator that powers the resort at midnight and then back on again at 6:00 am. The rooms remain cool with the sea breeze throughout the night, particularly with the balcony doors open.
Snorkel Boats
Kusu Island Resort’s snorkeling boats are spacious fiberglass speedboats with enough room to easily store snorkeling equipment. The boats do not have a toilet on board but do offer a full canopy for sun protection and a ladder to help exit the water. The average distance from the resort is 5-20 minutes.
On this page you will find our Tour Dates & Pricing, a Request to Book Form and Details of Payment schedule including deposit and final balance.
My name is Graham and I’ll be your personal consultant for this tour, I’ll manage your booking right up until you meet our tour leader in destination. I’ll be on hand to assist with everything from additional nights before and after your tour and making sure you are on time for our ‘Welcome Dinner’ to guidance on what to bring and the snorkeling conditions you are likely to experience. We share an email inbox at Snorkel Venture, you can fill out the form below or drop me an email at hello@snorkelventure.com. I look forward to assisting you on this tour.
Make an Enquiry or Request to Book this Tour
2027 Tour Dates
1 – 12 August
Tour Price:
$6,950 USD Per Person (Twin/Double Share)
Single Person Supplement: $2,000 USD
2028 Tour Dates
7 – 19 August
Tour Price:
$7,650 USD Per Person (Twin/Double Share)
Single Person Supplement: $2,250 USD
How to book your place:
Initial deposit to secure your booking $400 per person
12 Months before departure interim deposit of $600 per person
6 Months before departure interim deposit of $1000 per person
Balance due 3 months before departure
Please note for single supplement bookings we ask for 2x the deposit for each payment.
Inclusions:
- 1 Night in a room in a Jakarta hotel, with breakfast
- Internal flights in economy class with 44lbs checked luggage Jakarta – Labuha – Jakarta
- Group transfers
- 10-11 nights (depending on the year) accommodation at Kusu Island Resort, full board (all meals) in Deluxe Villa / Twin Share
- 20 Guided Boat Snorkel Sessions
- Unlimited house reef snorkeling
- Accompanied by a member of the Snorkel Venture team
Exclusions:
- Snorkel gear rental
- Gratuities and sundries
- Alcoholic beverages
- Marine park fees are currently not applicable in this area. This is subject to change.
- Travel insurance (recommended)
- Health insurance (compulsory)
- Spa services
Please note our cancelation policy: All deposits are non-refundable.
1 Year or more: 150 USD penalty per person, the balance will be given as a credit note for use within 2 years
12 months or less: Loss of deposit and interim payment
90 – 28 days: 25% Refund (includes your final balance payment)
28 – 0 days: No Refund
*We recommend that you purchase travel insurance to protect your deposit in the event that you have to cancel your trip.
