Cocotinos at the WTM London travel show

We would like to thank all of the agents who came to see us ( TM and Iwan) at the recent World Travel Mart at the Excel Center in London. The weather was mild, not to cold at all. We enjoyed the event and the London street life. The fish and chips in the pub was great.The show was a success as we now have UK agents who are keen and committed to selling the Cocotinos brand of resorts.We also met agents from other parts of Europe, Denmark especially and the USA. And also entered into partnerships with more companies with strong on-line travel connections.

As you can see from the photo it was not all hard work, with our owner Mr Wong playing the guitar with a beautiful lady on another stand. Hopefully this will translate into good business for all of us, which is music to everybody's ears.

Cocotinos at ITB Asia

What a great poster of Bunaken and North Sulawesi right behind our table at the recent ITB Asia travel show. It was great to catch up with our old partners in the travel industry and meet new ones. We are looking forward to another great year.

Owner of Cocotinos Interviewed at WTM London 2011

ASIA Travel Tips.com interviewed TM, owner Cocotinos Boutique Beach Resorts & Spas - Mr. Wong Thiam Meng, while he was at the ongoing World Travel Market (WTM) at ExCel, London. You can catch the interview at AsiaTravelTips.com youtube channel.

Cocotinos' first attendance at World Travel Market in London!

Staged annually in London, World Travel Market - the leading global event for the travel industry - is a vibrant must attend four-day business-to-business event presenting a diverse range of destinations and industry sectors to UK and International travel professionals. It is a unique opportunity for the whole global travel trade to meet, network, negotiate and conduct business. By attending World Travel Market, participants efficiently, effectively and productively gain immediate competitive advantage for their business and stay abreast with the latest developments in the travel industry.

Cocotinos Boutique Beach Resorts & Spas will be participating our first World Travel Market (WTM) held in ExCel London from 7 to 10 November 2011. Iwan Sitompul, GM Cocotinos Sekotong, together with Mr Thomas Wong, the owner will look forward to meeting all our appointed buyers and if you are interested to set up an appointment with us, please do not hesitate to email iwan @ cocotinos-sekotong.com. 

The next show will be Asean Travel Forum will be held in the city one of Cocotinos' locations - Manado, North Sulawesi (12 to 15 January 2012)! If you would like to make an appointment now, please email to info.desk @ cocotinos.com

New Airport at Lombok is Open for Business

Since October the 1st 2011 the new airport at Lombok Island is open for service which should greatly improve not only access to the island but give all of our guests a better experience when arriving and leaving Lombok. The travel time from the new airport to Cocotinos Resort is around the same time as from the old airport at around 1 hour 15 minutes but maybe shorter as the new road connection to the resort is located south of the city meaning we do not have to travel through the town to reach Cocotinos.

ODEX 2011 Brisbane Australia! - 5 More Days to go!

Cocotinos Boutique Resorts & Spas will be exhibiting in the coming Oceanic Dive & Ecotourism Expo (ODEX) in Brisbane next month! ODEX is a spring consumer and trade show that is co-hosted with Blue Edge and the 5th annual Underwater Festival from 7 to 9 October 2011 in Fortitude Valley, RNA Showgrounds in Brisbane (More info on ODEX). Our Booth Number is 143, listed as “Cocotinos Boutique Beach Resorts”. Jim and Andrew will be manning our booth and they will be available to provide more information on our destinations, resorts, and packages to all visitors as well as tour operators.

We have a special guest, our good friend and Cocotinos’ avid supporter, Dave Harasti helping us at the booth together with Jim and Andrew. Dave is an internationally known Australian marine scientist and underwater photographer as well as Scuba Diver AustralAsia field editor. Dave will also be giving a talk on diving in South West of Lombok and North Sulawesi, Indonesia (Special Interest Stage @ 1300Hrs, 09 Oct 2011) on our behalf having dived extensively in both our resort locations. Dave was also part of the exploration team when we opened our resort and dive centre in Lombok (read: Dive sites of Sekotong).

For appointments and any other inquiries regarding Cocotinos @ ODEX 2011, please email to info.desk@cocotinos.com

Review us on scubadviser.com!

You heard of tripadviser.com, now our scuba industry has our very own scubadviser.com!


Having been ranked number ONE in Wori, Manado, North Sulawesi and always among the top 10 in Sulawesi on tripadvisor.com, we are calling for more reviews of Cocotinos and Odyssea Divers to be added to our listing on scubadviser.com to help potential visitors to make a better choice in picking their resort, dive centre and most importantly, their hosts (our staff!) in a foreign country. Everyone can read about destination dive sites from published articles on print or the internet but can only rely on a few sources for information from discerning paying guests on resorts, dive centres and their service ethos. So why not share your experience with everyone? 


You can add your review here on scubadviser.com and those who have already put their reviews on tripadvisor, help us reproduce it on scubadviser.com and make your review seen by more than one site! Share a something good with someone today!


PS: You can also add a review to our tripadviser.com page here if you had not done so!

Photo Clinic with Aaron Wong!

Cocotinos & Odyssea Divers Manado :: For those that missed out on his first Photo Clinic back in May 2011, here's your chance again to take part in his photo clinic in Cocotinos Manado! Between 14 to 19 October 2011 at Cocotinos Manado,  Aaron Wong, the Wizard of Light & Shadows, will show you how he creates his amazing images with unique perspectives, how to give your subjects that "WOW" factor and tell a long, beautiful story in just one instance. He will share his progression on how he managed to bring the stylish and sophisticated world of fashion photography into his foray with the underwater realm. He'll also help you hone your craft and present your images in a new, creative way.

This Clinic is organised by Divers Outfitter (Singapore) any interest or questions can be emailed directly to them (info@diversoutfitter.com). For more information and photo clinic package rates, please visit the event page on Facebook.

Latest News & Updates

New Room Category Introduced – Due to popular demand and our commitment to always listen to feedback and suggestions, Cocotinos Manado has introduced a new Room Category (Standard Room - Single Beds only) to cater for groups of 3 or 4 sharing a room! Greater value for the same signature Cocotinos hospitality and service.

The new Standard Room is an upper storey room with the layout similar to our garden rooms, but with two bunk beds, and view of the tree top. The high timber ceiling makes the room an airy and comfortable space beautifully appointed for your enjoyment, even with two bunk beds. Bathrooms are spacious and conveniently designed for quad-sharing guests.

Upgrade in Room Facilities – We have recently completed an upgrade to all of our room categories to have TV sets in all rooms. So now you can enjoy 10 channels of popular entertainment, sports, children and current affairs content at the comfort of your own room! Channels include HBO, Star Movies, AXN, ESPN, Star Sports, Disney, E! Entertainment, NHK, DWTV and Trans 7.

Quad-Sharing Special Dive Packages - With the new introduction of our quad sharing standard rooms, Odyssea Divers and Cocotinos Manado is pleased to announce an update to our Cocotinos Manado Special Dive Package Rates!

Available for immediate bookings, our Quad-Sharing packages for 4 Days 3 Nights is 400USD with every additional Night thereafter 160USD per Diver. For more details of the package, please visit our Dive Packages page here or simply email us!

1st Quarter of the Year Promo Dive Packages – In tandem with the release of our new room category and dive packages, we have also launched our 1st Quarter of the Year Promo Dive Packages! As much as 25% discounts on some packages! Available for immediate bookings for the check-in dates from 5 January 2012 to  04 April 2012 (except for the period on and between 18 January to 28 January). Please visit our Dive Packages page here or simply email us!

Staff News: Since 1st July, we welcomed into our staff team 2 experienced individuals, Agus Krisnayana and Mika Sitorus (better known as Ika). Both are bringing with them years of experience and management in the leisure market, as well as having a great enthusiasm for scuba diving! Ika will be handling sales and marketing, while Agus will be taking care of the front office and front office systems. Some of you may remember them from Cocotinos Lombok where they were first introduced to the Cocotinos Family. So, on your next visit to Cocotinos Manado, you will not just be able to meet up with them again,but maybe go on a dive with them too!

Also, Cocotinos and Odyssea Divers will be at ODEX 2011 in Brisbane Australia (07 Oct to 09 Oct 2011) and our booth number is 143. If you are thinking of attending the show. Please do drop by and see us and have a chat .

Quad Sharing Cocotinos Manado Special Dive Package Rates!

Cocotinos Manado :: With the new introduction of our quad sharing standard rooms, Odyssea Divers and Cocotinos Manado is pleased to announce an update to our Cocotinos Manado Special Dive Package Rates!

Available for immediate booking, our Quad-Sharing packages for 4 Days 3 Nights is 400USD with every additional Night thereafter 160USD per Diver. For more details of the package, please visit our Dive Packages page here or simply email us!

Another reason for you and your friends to come experience the Odyssea and Cocotinos' brand of hospitality which everyone is talking about!

Cocotinos Sekotong Gets Power from PLN!

Cocotinos Sekotong :: After a long wait, on 18 June 2011, Cocotinos Sekotong finally gets connected to the Lombok National power grid! Now, our two on-site generators acts as a backup to provide continuous electricity to our operations for the comfort of our guests.

Cocotinos Manado - New Room Category Introduced!

Due to popular demand and our commitment to always listen to feedback and suggestions, Cocotinos Manado has introduced a new Room Category (Standard Room - Single Beds only) to cater suit groups of 3 or 4 sharing a room! Greater value for the same signature Cocotinos hospitality at greater value from now!

The new Standard Room is an upper storey room with the layout similar to garden rooms, but with two bunk beds, and view of tree top. The high timber ceiling makes the room an airy, comfortable space beautifully appointed for your enjoyment even with two bunk beds. Bathrooms are spacious and conveniently designed for quad-sharing guests.

PLUS! Just released lower Internet Room Rates for all other categories!

Look out next week for the Cocotinos Manado Dive Package rates for Standard Room for triple and quad sharing!

ADEX 2011

Cocotinos and Odyssea Divers, together with the owner, TM would like to thank the organisers especially Jonathan Lin, Aaron Wong, Priscilla Ang, James Ng (ScubAddiction), LivingSeas and all our fantastic supporters for a hugely successful ADEX2011.

Besides the highlight of our Dive Guide, James Mamoto (Odyssea Manado) winning the best individual award, there was an overwhelming response to our ADEX Promotion as well as a tremendous show of support from our previous guests living in Singapore by bringing their friends whom have not experience our hospitality and resorts to recommend them to choose us if they were to go to Manado or Lombok in future. Nothing sells better than having our regular guests be our promoters!

You have till 14 May to take advantage of our ADEX 2011 Promotions if you have not done so. If you cannot decide the dates yet, just put the deposit down to lock in the promotion and leave your dates open. Once you have your dates, let us know and we will follow up with you. It is an offer not to be missed, and perhaps not to be repeated. Email us today!

ADEX 2012 will be in Singapore, but this time it will be held in Marina Bay Sands. Dates have yet to be confirmed.

We have some exciting news to release soon that will give divers who always travel in groups a chance to experience Cocotinos and Odyssea Divers at a better value package! Be the first to know by joining our mailing list. Sign up here

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Cocotinos from ITB Berlin to Italy and France - A promotional road trip to Europe

After 5 days in Germany at ITB, and 4 days in Italy with the Mappamondo road show, TM & Iwan are very happy to have met over 80 agents, who expressed great enthusiasm for our new Cocotinos resort in Lombok. Some agents were also very interested in our first Cocotinos Resort in Manado. We wish to thank all agents who came to see us and gave us the chance to introduce our Cocotinos brand of service. Many agents have already arranged to visit us in the coming months and we welcome them with open arms. We are also encouraged that a few big European agents have already committed to feature Cocotinos in their brochures. 

After the Mappamondo road show, Iwan the General Manager of Cocotinos-Sekotong, Lombok, continued visiting dive agents in Paris, Frankfurt, Munich, Stuttgard and Bremen and we are thankful to all agents who positively received Iwan with the kind introduction by Ms. "Vita" Debelius. 

So, many thanks to all who gave us their time and helped us make this European sales trip by TM and Iwan a success. We look forward to a fruitful business relationship with all agents whom we met as our "partners" in the future.    

Cocotinos | Odyssea Divers @ DEEP Indonesia 2011 - WNI & KITAS Promotion!

Cocotinos & Odyssea Divers will be at DEEP Indonesia (Booth B113) which will be held in Jakarta Convention Centre from 31 March 2011 to 4 April 2011. More info on DEEP Indonesia

Deep Indonesia Promo for WNI and KITAS holders is back! This year's promotion includes a bonus complimentary Laleina Spa Massage or Night Dive on top of heavily discounted rates*!

Promotion details will only be released from the 1st day of the event on the 31 March 2011... Do drop in and get the details and make your bookings!

Divers Den North (USA) - Thank You!

Cocotinos Manado: Many thanks to Paul Highland and the divers from Divers Den North group (USA) for making Cocotinos Manado and Odyssea Divers your hosts for your North Sulawesi dive trip! We look forward to welcoming again some day or see all of you in Cocotinos Sekotong, Lombok!

Cocotinos for another "Excellence in Service" Ocean Award!

ScubaDiver AustralAsia Magazine's 2011 Ocean Awards :: In 2009, Cocotinos Manado was awarded the "Excellence in Service" Ocean Award. After a Hiatus in 2010, it is back!

The reviews and comments that we have received since has given us the confidence of winning it again but we need your support by nominating/voting us. Please go to the nomination page (direct link here) and vote of us! You can even put 2 nominations in for Cocotinos and Odyssea Divers!

What is most important however is that you keep giving us your feedback and suggestions because our service commitment doesn't stop when we are at the top, we keep on improving ourselves and our services in order to be better hosts to you and your friends.

For more information, please do not hesitate to email us.

Lombok Audax 200KM makes a lunch stop at Cocotinos Sekotong

Cocotinos Sekotong: Lombok Audax is a cycling event organised by cycling enthusiasts around the Lombok Island.  "Audax" are not races. Audax is non-competitive, time-limited long distance cycling. The term 'Audax', meaning audacious, is given to a movement which starts in 1897 when a group of Italian cyclists rode 200 km between sunrise and sunset and became known as "les Audacieux". These days classic ride lengths ... read more .....

Special Thanks to Tenn Permatasari & Axel Moller from Lombok Audaz for sharing this event with us and choosing Cocotinos Sekotong as one of your stops. Look forward to your next visit!

Cocotinos @ ITB Berlin Germany 2011

Cocotinos Resorts & Spas will be participating in this year's ITB in Berlin, Germany from 9 to 11 March 2011. Cocotinos will be represented by Pak Iwan Sitompul (GM, Cocotinos Sekotong) as well as the Owner (of Cocotinos & Odyssea Divers), Mr Wong.

Cocotinos will be with the Indonesian Pavilion in Hall 26A (Booth 120). If you are attending ITB Berlin, please drop us an email us to organise an appointment or simply come by the booth and say hello!

PhotoClinic with Aaron Wong! - Curriculum is Out!

Cocotinos & Odyssea Divers Manado :: Between 13 to 18 May 2011 at Cocotinos Manado,  Aaron Wong, the Wizard of Light & Shadows, will show you how he creates his amazing images with unique perspectives, how to give your subjects that "WOW" factor and tell a long, beautiful story in just one instance. He will share his progression on how he managed to bring the stylish and sophisticated world of fashion photography into his foray with the underwater realm. He'll also help you hone your craft and present your images in a new, creative way.

The great news on this Clinic is that there is no extra charges to pay! Just come on our Cocotinos Manado Special Diving Package rate for 6 Days 5 Nights (minimum). The starting (room upgrades are available) package rates are as follows:

Triple Sharing : 820USD per Diver | Twin/King Sharing : 885USD per Diver | Single : 1180USD

Rates include Garden Room Accommodation, Full-Board Meal Plan, up-to-12 Guided Boat Day Dives... Please go to our package rates page for complete inclusion and exclusion details.


Room upgrades are also available, please refer to our Cocotinos Manado Special Diving Package rates page or for more details, email info.desk@cocotinos-manado.com

Cocotinos Manado Dive Packages - Save more than 20%!

Cocotinos Manado introduces Promotional Package Rates for the months of January to March. Save more than 20%! on Packages + 20% Discount for Laleina Spa!*. Download the package details here! For more information, please email us today!

Goodbye Cambodia... See you in Manado!

Cocotinos Boutique Beach Resorts & Spas at the recently concluded Asean Travel Forum (ATF) 2011. Iwan and Martinus had a successful time promoting Cocotinos to buyers from around the world. Thanks to all the buyers and associates and see you again in 2012!

The city to host the next Asean Travel Forum (ATF2012) is Manado, North Sulawesi! Manado is where Cocotinos and Odyssea Divers first rooted and has evolved from a dive centre business to what it is today building, managing and operating our own resorts, spas and dive centres.

Make sure you keep in mind the dates 9 to 15 January 2012 and make sure you book your stay with Cocotinos!

Cocotinos and Odyssea Divers - The Venue for Underwater Festival 2011

Cocotinos and Odyssea Divers Manado are proud to be one of the venues for the first AustralAsian Challenge as part of the Underwater Festival 2011. From 2nd to 11th of September, Resorts, including Cocotinos Manado & Sekotong, will be the venue where participants of the AustralAsia Challenge will stay and dive with taking photos or video and submitting their best in various categories to the challenge for the judges to pick the winners! The Australasia Challenge is simultaneous photo and video shootout competition like no other with over U$100,000 in prizes to be won! More...

Cocotinos and Odyssea Divers will be launching early bird special promotional packages with itinerary specific to the AustralAsia Challenge soon. During the challenge period, we will be hosting 1 or 2 in-house accomplished (celebrity) photographers where you will be able to consult and gain some valuable tips to help you take winning shots!

Still tuned for more press releases, in the mean time... drop us an email and let us know you will be keen so that you will be the first to get the promotions and updates!

William Tan's Photography Workshop Time-Table

Here it is...

Saturday
Understanding your camera equipment’s limits
Simple shooting skills
UW etiquette
Buoyancy control
Discussion on image composition
Slide show - Night

Sunday Night class
Going through participants’ images
Discussion on shooting problems
Macro photography techniques

Monday Night class
Going through participants’ images
Discussion on shooting problems
Wide-angle photography techniques

Tuesday Night class
Participants’ slide show
Final discussion on images shown

Although William's Workshop Modules are scheduled across from Saturday to Tuesdays, the flexibility of William's Workshop time-table allows anyone to check-in on any day of the week during his stay from 29 January to 12 February for any number of nights to participate any one of the modules. You may also request for a repeat of the module on site and if time and availability of William permits, he is more than happy to share with you again.


For more information, please do not hesitate to drop us an email info.desk@cocotinos-manado.com





--- Press Release ---

Cocotinos Manado :: Once again, Cocotinos Manado and Odyssea Divers will host William Tan and offer our diving guests an opportunity to dive and participate in the workshops that William will be conducting during his stay.

From 29 January 2011 to 12 February 2011, William will be our guest resident celebrity photographer with his assistant Noldy. Dive Packages remains the same and the 1st quarter diving package promotion if you check-in on or after 6 February 2011.

If you had missed his last workshop in Cocotinos Manado, this is your chance again and this time, it is over the Chinese New Year holidays!

For more information and reservations, please drop us an email.

:: William Tan - Singapore ::

Widely recognised as a master of underwater macro photography, William Tan is a violinist with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra and accomplished marine life photographer. Between concert seasons, he spends his time studying and photographing marine animals throughout the Asia Pacific region. His patience and determination has resulted in many rare images such as his sequence of a male jaw fish releasing its brood of hatching eggs into the sea. Catching the extremely shy fish at the moment it is releasing its hatching eggs is quite an accomplishment.

William Tan has been fascinated with the creatures of the sea since childhood. While studying at the Johns Hopkins University (USA), much of his spare time was spent gazing at the extensive marine collection of the National Aquarium in Baltimore. A violinist with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, William earned his scuba diving certification in 1994.

Thereafter, without his prized antique Italian violin, he travels extensively between concert seasons throughout the Pacific region photographing marine life for tourism organizations, dive magazines and resorts.

His most recent book, Gorontalo: Hidden Paradise, published under the commission of the Indonesian government, is a collaboration with Hong Kong's leading underwater photographers Stephen Wong and Takako Uno.

Diving with William Tan... in Cocotinos Manado! Workshop Details Coming Soon!

Cocotinos Manado :: Once again, Cocotinos Manado and Odyssea Divers will host William Tan and offer our diving guests an opportunity to dive and participate in the workshops that William will be conducting during his stay.

From 29 January 2011 to 12 February 2011, William will be our guest resident celebrity photographer with his assistant Noldy. Dive Packages remains the same and the 1st quarter diving package promotion if you check-in on or after 6 February 2011.

If you had missed his last workshop in Cocotinos Manado, this is your chance again and this time, it is over the Chinese New Year holidays!

For more information and reservations, please drop us an email.

:: William Tan - Singapore ::

Widely recognised as a master of underwater macro photography, William Tan is a violinist with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra and accomplished marine life photographer. Between concert seasons, he spends his time studying and photographing marine animals throughout the Asia Pacific region. His patience and determination has resulted in many rare images such as his sequence of a male jaw fish releasing its brood of hatching eggs into the sea. Catching the extremely shy fish at the moment it is releasing its hatching eggs is quite an accomplishment.

William Tan has been fascinated with the creatures of the sea since childhood. While studying at the Johns Hopkins University (USA), much of his spare time was spent gazing at the extensive marine collection of the National Aquarium in Baltimore. A violinist with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, William earned his scuba diving certification in 1994.

Thereafter, without his prized antique Italian violin, he travels extensively between concert seasons throughout the Pacific region photographing marine life for tourism organizations, dive magazines and resorts.

His most recent book, Gorontalo: Hidden Paradise, published under the commission of the Indonesian government, is a collaboration with Hong Kong's leading underwater photographers Stephen Wong and Takako Uno.

Cocotinos @ Asean Travel Forum 2011

Cocotinos Boutique Beach Resorts is at the ongoing Asean Travel Forum 2011 head in Cambodia! Do drop by our Booth (510) and meet with Iwan and Martinus, our GMs from Manado and Lombok!

The next travel show that Cocotinos will be at is ITB Berlin (9 to 11 March 2011).

Cocotinos Manado New Year Party

Cocotinos Manado :: Cocotinos Manado Welcomes 2011 with Guests from Singapore, Japan, U.S.A, Norway and Indonesia!

In true tradition to Cocotinos' Manado New Year Celebration, our staff entertained our guests with songs, dance, fancy costumes and the finale fire works show! The Dinner Extravaganza besides the signature BBQ dishes of Cocotinos Manado, a whole roast pig was also served to the delight for all our guests!

This New Year, Martinus had the opportunity of hosting once again, Mr Nick Colacino after 9 years of losing touch since the last Dive Centre where he worked! Many Thanks to Nick, Joan, James and his ScubAddiction group of divers, Callia, jeremy, Maddie, Reiko, Noriko, Saori and especially Kei who makes his 3rd trip this year to Cocotinos manado from Tokyo to spend his New Year with us!

A Big THANK YOU to all the staff also for putting the event together and making it a wonderful evening even with the weather threatening to ruin the evening!

Happy New Year!

Cocotinos Sekotong and Odyssea Divers Featured in Dive Log (Australia)

Cocotinos Sekotong :: Our first feature article on Dive Log (Australia) by Dave Harasti has been published! Click on the image for full sized image to read.