Up Close and Personnel: Senior Dive Guide, Basrah Tan
For nearly three decades, Basrah “Bas” Tan has been a calm and constant presence at Murex Resorts, guiding guests through the towering walls and corridors of Bunaken, the soft coral gardens of Bangka, and the extraordinary macro world of Lembeh.
For many who visit, diving into this underwater world is a voyage of discovery. For Bas, the past 30 years have also been an unforgettable experience; a journey that began at the far eastern edge of the Indonesian archipelago and then carried him to his current role as the senior dive guide for Murex.
Basrah’s story has been defined by personal dedication and a commitment to learning, exploration, and kindness – three key qualities that define Murex Resorts. His experience bridges the gap between Murex’s early days, as one of the first resorts in North Sulawesi, through our evolution to become one of the region’s most respected dive operators.
From then until now, Basrah has been with us all the way. This is his story.
From Banda Neira to Bunaken: A Journey Begins
Bas was born in Banda Neira, North Maluku; a sleepy, unassuming island that was once the epicenter of global trade. In the Dutch colonial era (c. 1602-1942) and the fabled age of the spice wars, this remote outpost drew European empires into a tangled mix of conflict, conquest, and diplomacy that would shape the world we live in today.
Like his homeland, Basrah is a quiet and unassuming presence – an island of quiet and dignified calm, with countless stories hiding just beneath the surface. In the late 1990s, he set off for North Sulawesi, where he first made his living as a fisherman. He joined Murex on 1 November 1997, as a security guard on the front gate.
From Guard to Guide: Diving In to New Experiences
At that time, Basrah had never dived before. But everything changed when he met Angelique Batuna, daughter of Murex’s founding father, Dr. Hansie Batuna. Together with her husband and co-owner, Danny Charlton, she noticed something special about Basrah, and offered him the opportunity to train.
“They taught me everything,” he remembers. “How to dive, how to guide, all the safety procedures. Angelique was my first instructor.” Within a year, Basrah transitioned from guarding the resort to guiding its guests – a transformation that would shape the rest of his life.
“I was very happy,” he recalls. “I could learn diving and meet guests from different countries… Now, even though I only know a little English, it makes me very happy to make these connections with people that visit North Sulawesi, just as I did many years ago.”
Safety First: The Foundation of Every Dive
Ask Basrah what matters most in diving, and he answers without hesitation: Guest safety. “It is by far the most important thing,” he says. “If people are safe, we can build on this to provide excellent, unforgettable service. But their safety must always come first.”
This commitment can be seen in Basrah’s daily activities as Senior Dive Guide, in detailed briefings, current checks, equipment protocols, and emergency preparedness. “Every day we carry oxygen on the boat, along with extra tanks, first-aid kits, everything. All of this is for safety.”
This commitment ensures that both beginners and experienced divers feel confident when diving in North Sulawesi.
Local Knowledge, as Deep as the Ocean
After thousands of dives, Basrah knows where to find pygmy seahorses, peacock mantis shrimp, and rare and elusive critters like the ghost nudibranch. “We must know where animals live,” he explains, before adding that “each guide in our team knows all the dive sites like their own backyard.”
This intimate familiarity is part of what makes diving with Murex special: small groups, bespoke experiences, and a sense of discovery that larger, more crowded destinations cannot offer. “In some places, like the Caribbean, there can be 30-40 divers at one site,” says Basrah, who believes Murex is an outlier in the age of mass dive tourism. “Here, if a site is crowded, we move on; diving here is safer and more intimate.”
Commitment to Conservation
Having worked in Bunaken since the late 1990s, Bas has witnessed encouraging environmental changes – especially the return of turtles. “In the past, you could only see turtles at certain sites, but now you can see them almost everywhere… the population has noticeably increased.”
He credits this biodiversity boom to a combination of long-term conservation efforts and growing local awareness. “People now understand that the ocean must be protected and not exploited,” he says. Through their role at Murex Resorts, Basrah and his team contribute to ocean conservation through regular reef clean-ups and community initiatives designed to reduce plastic pollution and protect marine life.
For more information about Murex Resorts’ sustainability initiatives, and our commitment to ocean conservation, please click here.
Why Divers Fall in Love with North Sulawesi
Basrah believes North Sulawesi offers something rare: Diversity, safety, and intimacy. Here, through Murex’s Passport to Paradiseprogram, guests can experience three distinct marine environments in one journey:
- Bunaken: dramatic walls, turtles, and schooling fish
- Bangka: white sand beaches and vibrant soft corals
- Lembeh: world-famous macro life and muck diving
“In one holiday, guests see three different worlds,” explains Basrah, who regularly guides visitors through these distinct environments – helping them identify and photograph rare marine species, and providing a personal touch to the experience through his deep knowledge and appreciation for the region.
The Heart of Murex: Hospitality and Human Connection
This commitment to guest satisfaction extends beyond the diving experience. Bas believes the secret to Murex’s success lies in its people. “We always try to be polite and warm… little things like remembering guests’ names and personal preferences – it helps them feel at home.”
This relationship works both ways. Some guests have returned after more than 20 years away, and they still remember Basrah – many know him as ‘Batman’, due to the pointy-eared hood he wears when diving! Two recent visitors from the USA, called Janis and Bob, first visited back in the 1990s when Bas was still a security guard. He was the first person they recognized on their return. They also recognized the same level of care and safety consciousness he puts into his work in the new generation of dive guides, and attribute this to Basrah’s teaching.
“Today, our dive guide was the best we’ve ever had,” explains Janis. “He was very slow and methodical, and did everything by the book. He was very safety conscious – constantly asking, ‘are you okay?’, or ‘what’s your air?’ – as a diver, that makes you feel very comfortable and confident, but also relaxed.”
“Diving Is My Life”
Now 50 years old, Basrah remains as passionate as ever. “Diving is my life,” he says. And his loyalty runs just as deep. “Murex made me who I am. I don’t want to move elsewhere… My life is Murex.”
When looking back on his journey from Banda Neira to Bunaken, Bangka, and Manado, Basrah is typically humble. “I would like to express my deepest thanks to Mrs. Angelique Batuna and Mr. Danny… I will never forget their kindness.”
For guests, a dive with Basrah is also defined by kindness. It is an invitation into a lifetime of knowledge, care, and passion – and into the heart of a destination that continues to inspire divers from around the world.
Want to plan your own diving adventure to North Sulawesi? For more information about our Passport to Paradise program and the many other unforgettable experiences provided by Basrah and his team, please explore our website or get in touch.
Further Reading
- Conservation Success Story: Dr Batuna and Bunaken Marine Park – When Basrah first joined Murex, he joined the first generation of marine conservation pioneers
- The Murex Hospitality Internship Program – Find out how Murex Resorts is nurturing the next generation and helping them begin their professional journey
- Top Five Marine Animals in Bunaken – explore some of the natural wonders that Basrah and his team get to experience every day
- Family Diving Reunion With Kat & Johan – Read about two marine biologists who recently returned to Murex Resorts with their young family
