Manado, capital of North Sulawesi, is the gateway to some of the finest diving on the planet: the wall reefs of Bunaken National Marine Park rise from 1,500-metre depths just forty minutes offshore, alive with turtles, Napoleon wrasse and swirling schools of fish, while the Lembeh Strait on the far side of the peninsula is the world capital of muck diving and critter photography. On land, the Minahasan highlands around Tomohon offer volcano hikes up Mahawu and Lokon, flower markets and the famously fearless local cuisine. Sam Ratulangi International Airport connects the city directly with the rest of Indonesia and East Asia.