EXPLORING THE SEA WITHOUT GETTING WET: THE GLASS-BOTTOMED KATAMARAN IN BUNAKEN

Bunaken is one of Indonesia’s most famous marine parks, located in North Sulawesi. It’s globally renowned for its breathtaking underwater beauty—where colorful fish, vibrant coral reefs, and sea turtles swim freely in clear blue waters.

Since 2022, PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Persero), or Pelindo, has supported Bunaken Village as part of its community development program. Pelindo has been actively involved in marine conservation—from coral planting and turtle preservation to the installation of fish aggregating devices (rumpon) and coastal clean-ups. They’ve also supported local residents with scuba diving certification programs. Beyond that, Pelindo has invited Bakti BUMN volunteers and its own staff to participate directly, even donating playground equipment for the local school.

Once a highly popular attraction, glass-bottomed Katamaran boats offered a unique way to experience the magic of Bunaken’s marine park—especially for those who couldn’t swim or dive. These boats made the wonders of the sea more accessible to everyone.

A glass-bottomed Katamaran features a clear panel built into its floor. As it glides over the sea, passengers can gaze directly into the underwater world through the glass, as if riding above a giant aquarium.

But times have changed. Technological advances and modern tourism trends have slowly pushed these boats aside. Snorkeling and diving, though exciting, have overshadowed the humble glass boat—bringing new challenges to its survival.

Today, only one glass-bottomed Katamaran remains in operation on Bunaken Island.

Seeing this, Pelindo Regional 4 Manado, together with the North Sulawesi Literacy Association (Perkumpulan Literasi Sulut), took meaningful action: they featured the story of this boat in a children’s book series: Stories from the North.

This isn’t just a storybook—it’s a collection of heartfelt writings from coastal children of Bunaken, expressing their hopes and dreams for the sea in their own words.

Through this book, perhaps the simple charm of the glass-bottomed boat—once a bridge between people and the ocean—can shine once again. Because a beautiful ocean needs a friendly bridge. And the glass boat is that bridge.

For Indonesian children, the story of the glass boat is more than a tale of the sea—it’s a lesson in environmental love and a source of pride for our marine heritage.

So, let’s protect the ocean, just like Pelindo and the people of Bunaken—so it remains beautiful, sustainable, and accessible to all… forever.