Kategorie: News
New opening in paradise
Away from the international tourist crowds at the southern tip of Sulawesi, diving.DE opened its new gem in Bira on March 1, 2026, with access to some of the most beautiful dive sites in Indonesia.
The new diving.DE dive center is located in the German-run AKASHA BEACH CLUB Resort above a long bay with its own beach access and a fringing reef directly offshore, which is considered one of the longest house reefs in Indonesia.
The coastal region of Bira, with its offshore islands including the large island of Selayar, offers a variety of different dive sites that can be reached by the resort's own dive boat, which departs directly from the beach in front of the dive center. As great importance is attached to individuality, the number of divers is limited to a maximum of 25, guaranteeing a family atmosphere.
The Akasha Beach Club Resort offers five new rooms, two pool cliff villas, and a family suite, providing ample space for groups. Thanks to its manageable size, this small luxury resort always feels intimate and ensures a relaxed vacation environment. Whether in the private pool in one of the two villas or on the fine sandy beach directly in front of the resort, water and sea lovers will find their paradise here with fantastic views and unspoiled landscape. In addition, the highly acclaimed restaurant at the Akasha Beach Club Resort provides culinary highlights.
diving.DE also at the Mangga Lodge
Also at the beginning of March 2028, just one and a half kilometers away from the Akasha Beach Club Resort, friends Elvis and Achim will hand over the Mangga Lodge diving center in Bira to the diving.DE team after more than 20 years of successful work in the region.
Elvis in particular has shaped diving around Bira, the insider tip in southern Sulawesi, in recent years. When Elvis first set foot in Indonesia in the late 1990s, he was immediately captivated by the unique underwater world and Indonesian culture. In 2001, he arrived in the small village of Bira on the southern tip of Sulawesi, only about 200 kilometers from Makassar with its international airport, and since then, the waters off the coast of Bira have never let him go. Over the past few years, Elvis has discovered over 20 dive sites in the region – one of which even bears his name and will continue to do so. The steep walls, shallows, and coral gardens are teeming with schools of barracudas, mackerel, and turtles, but sharks, dolphins, rays, and a group of large Napoleon wrasse also make an appearance.
Of course, macro lovers will also get their money's worth at the dive sites around Bira. After their pioneering diving work, Elvis and his long-time friend Achim supported the Mangga Lodge team in opening their new resort, which still welcomes many regular guests and divers today. After many wonderful years in the region, Elvis and Achim now want to pass on the baton and their experience in the waters around Bira to the professional team at diving.DE.
In the future, diving.DE will take care of the continued operation of the Mangga Dive Center and offer divers their professional services there as well. The actual diving.DE Bira dive center was newly built at the Akasha Beach Club Resort. Guests of the Mangga Lodge can conveniently take the short trip by dive boat to the Akasha Beach Club Resort, keeping travel distances short at both locations.
The Mangga Lodge, popular with divers, is now run by Bobby Reinhard, the brother of Stefan Reinhard, the owner of the Akasha Beach Club.
Further information on diving
www.diving.de as well as at www.akasha-beach.com and www.mangga-lodge.com
You can book a stay at diving.DE Bira through almost all well-known dive tour operators.
The diving centre for both resorts on Taucher.Net
diving.DE - Akasha Beach Club