North Sulawesi - The Lembeh Strait
- All Year
- Courses
- Nitrox
- DIN & Yoke
- Diving
- 14+ Days
This is THE muck diving capital of the world! Diving the Lembeh Strait is something that all divers should try at least once. These black sand bays and coral outcrops hold an outstanding amount of marine life. Especially if you are an underwater photographer, the Lembeh Strait should be on your “must visit list”. Likely multiple times! There is a tremendous variety of marine life, with every dive offering an opportunity to find a species new to science. There’s something here for everyone, even the most jaded of divers. Insider tip: Do the night dives!
North Sulawesi - The Lembeh Strait
All Year
14 Days From € 1800 / Person
16 Dives From € 800
(Based on double occupancy)
(All Flights Included)
The Lembeh Strait
The island of Lembeh (Pulau Lembeh) – which is 25 km long and 2 km wide – is situated east of North Sulawesi’s mainland. The mainland of North Sulawesi and Pulau Lembeh together form the narrow Lembeh Strait.
The strait is an important transportation hub for huge cargoships moving through the strait. The city of Bitung is right across Lembeh on the mainland and is the port of call for all these big ships.
Pulau Lembeh is only a short 5-10 minute boat ride across the strait and is a hilly, densely forested, rocky island with a small, twisting road going around its corners.
You can have some awesome views of the jungle, the Lembeh Strait with its big cargoships and the volcano Gunung Klabat towering in the background.
Tangkoko National Park
Across the Lembeh Strait on mainland Sulawesi beginning right at the outskirts of Bitung: The Tangkoko National Park is a protected forested area where you can witness wildlife.
For example: Tarsiers (one of the smallest known primates), black tailless monkeys, maleo birds, wild pigs, kuskus and many more. Tangkoko National Park is most definitely worth a visit during your holiday.
North Sulawesi
The city of Manado is a bustling big coastal city of around 500.000 people. Here are big cinemas, huge shopping malls, many cafes and restaurants. This is also where the airport of North Sulawesi is.
Locals are very welcoming and Manado is actually famous for being one of Indonesia’s most tolerant places. Here the majority of people are Christian living peacefully alongside the muslim minority.
Another attraction is the village of Tomohon in the Sulawesi highlands that surround Manado. Also reached in a few hours by car, It is known as the Flower City, and there are many flower Markets in the surrounding area.
Two active volcanoes surround Tomohon: Gunung Mahawu and Gunung Lokon. They offer some good walks, suitable for most people, of only one or two hours.
Lake Tondano in the highlands has floating restaurants that serve freshwater fish.
For two distinct dive destinations only 1-2 hours from The Lembeh Strait, check out the “Add Experience” tab to find: Pulau Bunaken for awesome wall full of turtles or Pulau Bangka for pristine white sandy beaches, coral gardens and pinnacles.
Intro
Between Bitung and Lembeh Island you find the Lembeh Strait, internationally famous for its amazing muck diving conditions. Lembeh Strait is a dive area rich with life. You can see more macro subjects here than you ever dreamed possible. The area of Lembeh is rich in dark volcanic sand, which is partially responsible for the rich marine life.
Larry Smith pioneered diving in Lembeh Strait in the early/mid 1990’s and he is the one who introduced the magnificent of muck diving to everyone and he claimed that Lembeh strait is one of the best muck diving destination in the world.
Divers visiting Lembeh are likely to see a vast list of must-see critters. Frogfish, Rhinopias, a huge array of Nudibranchs and Octopus, the Blue-Ringed Octopus and Mimic Octopus, being a highlight.
Lembeh also has some fascinating ship wrecks. They are covered in both corals and creatures making them fantastic to explore.
Last but not least, Lembeh is also surrounded by sites with small walls and slopes full of soft corals.
The Special “Thing” About Lembeh
Lembeh’s low surge and mild currents make it ideal for macro and supermacro photography. Visibility is usually never great, but is always good enough for macro. While most famous for macro, Lembeh also has a decent number of wrecks, and a couple wide-angle spots to the north. Although finding rare critters is easier in Lembeh than in most other dive destinations, the Lembeh Strait is much more than just the renowned muck-diving capital of the world.
The critters of Lembeh has been featured in almost any thinkable well-known media covering underwater life. From The Blue Planet to Discovery, there is a reason for the fascination of life that has been able to evolve here, without the normal threats of reef fish. Hence life has been able to evolve and survive – finding new ways of living.
Dive Site Map
Favourite Dive Sites
With more than 40 dive sites, you wont get bored in Lembeh. Here is a description of a merely few of them.
Nudi Falls: A beautiful mini-wall that gives way to a sand and rubble slope, this site is well known for its variety of nudibranchs, comet fish and pygmy seahorses. Depth: 3 – 28 meters.
Pintu Kolada: Situated in the middle of the straits, this shallow site is best visited at sunset where you can see the colourful mandarin fish mating! Depth: 2 – 12 meters.
Angel’s Window: This submerged pinnacle off the north coast of Lembeh Island rises to just under the surface. Visibility is usually good as the pinnacle has several swim-throughs at 25m where jacks and snappers hang out. It also has an assortment of critters like pygmy seahorses, devilfish, and leaf fish. Depth: 3 – 28 meters.
Hairball 1: This is a true “Muck” site that is home to some of our most unusual creatures. There are no corals, only black sand, algae and the occasional patch of sponges. Some of the critters found here grow skin filaments to blend in with the algae and we often seen frogfish, Ambon scorpion fish, snake eels, devilfish, dragonettes and even the flamboyant cuttlefish. Depth: 3 – 30 meters
Police Pier: Muck dive under the police pier – a gradual sandy slope that runs from the shallows. The bottom is covered with patches of sponges and rubble that conceal thorny seahorses and frogfish. Depth: 3 – 25 meters.
Nudi Retreat: This site is small protected cove along the Sulawesi coast. The reef slope starts at only 3m and gradually works its way deeper. A colourful wall abuts the slope in the shallows. It has resident cockatoo waspfish, and a pair of Pegasus sea moths. Frogfish often put in an appearance and on night dives a coral cat shark can be seen. 3 – 28 meters.
Season
Being sheltered, Lembeh can be dived year-round, though some critters are seasonal, meaning that there are different things to see depending on the time of the year.
We do get thermoclines moving in from time to time, which is beneficial as cold upwellings spur mating cycles in nudibranchs, pipefish and other species.
The visibility is also less than many dive destinations on average, owing to the nutrients in the water that are the reason for the wealth of biodiversity. Visibility averages 10-15 meters, though it can be a bit less
Water temperature varies. From October to March it lingers around 28-29 degrees Celsius (82-84 F). Then in April, May, June and September it drops slightly to 26-27 degrees Celsius (79-81F). July and August are the coldest months, with average water temperatures of about 25-26 degrees Celsius (77-79 F).
It is recommended to wear either a 3mm or 5mm full-length wetsuit depending on your sensitivity to cold and which month you will be here.
The air temperature is fairly constant at around 30 degrees Celsius (86 F) throughout the year.
Included
Included
- International Flights
- Airport pick-up from Manado International Airport
- Boat tranfer between Bitung and Lembeh
- 1 night in a 4* hotel w/ breakfast
- 10 nights in resort w/ full board and free mineral water + hot water for tea and coffee)
- It is recommended to pre-book the dives in order to get a special “diver’s discount” on the total price
- Full package tour – See the benefits of being covered by the Full Package Act and Regulations here
- *Fee to Rejsegarantifonden
*A Danish Travel Guarantee Fund covering all European citizens in case of bankruptcy: link
Not Included
- “Visa On Arrival” ~ €30
- Tips for the staff
- Airport departure tax ~ €10
- Personal Travel Insurances
- Dive Packages
- Anything not listed in “Included”
A Domestic Flight or Along the Way:
East Nusa Tenggara
Alor Archipelago
Vibrant coral reefs, strong currents, macro subjects, hammerhead sharks and culture. Two domestic flights.
Raja Ampat
Pulau Batanta
Explore frontier diving in Central Raja Ampat! Mantas, macro & waterfalls. Two domestic flights away. One domestic flight.
Kaimana
Triton Bay
Remote and worth it! Whale sharks and soft corals in the heart of the Coral Triangle. Two domestic flights away, but…!
East Nusa Tenggara
Komodo & Flores
Komodo dragons, strong currents, manta rays, sharks, macro, Unesco Heritage sites. Two domestic flights away.
Via Manado / North Sulawesi:
Easy to read, only 2 hours drive from Manado. Located at the foot of Dua Saudara Mountain, the Tangkoko Nature Reserve is comprised of rolling hills and valleys with a variety of hardwood trees and unusual plant life. The animal life is also quite varied, and one can often view Tarsius tarsier (one of the smallest known primates), black tailless monkeys, snakes, spiders and kuskus (marsupials). Tangkoko Batuangus Reserve offers a suitable protective environment to help prevent these animals from becoming extinct.
Only one hour away from Tangkoko Nature Reserve (on the way) is Tasikoki Wildlife Rescue and Education Centre (www.tasikoki.org). Here you can observe many unique species from Indonesia, as well as several endemic to Sulawesi. All animals have been rescued from the illegal wildlife trade. When taking a tour of the centre (1.5 hours) you will learn about conservation of wildlife and nature as well as the rampant wildlife trade. After visiting the animals you can enjoy a vegetarian meal (with fish) together with the staff as well as the many volunteers from all over the world.
Price: $45/person as add-on only to a Tangkoko Nature Reserve trip.
Visit the Vihara Buddhayana (Buddhist Temple) near Gardenia Country Inn, then heading for the small village of Woloan, where you can see the Minahasan Style Houses being built, knock down style, ready for delivery or shipping. Then continue to the base of Mount Mahawu where we begin the 1-hour trek to the crater’s edge. From that vantage point we can see Bunaken & Manado Tua Islands, as well as the bay of Manado. At the bottom of the crater, one can observe a steaming lake and experience the smell of sulfur from the pools.
Then it’s off to see the traditional food & flower market in Tomohon, surprises in store for you!
You will have lunch at Tondano Lake, close to the goldfish farm, where you will enjoy the serenity of the lake. Then we travel to Pulutan Village, a cottage industry for making pottery or choose the Toraget Hot Springs. At the weaving factories you can observe the local weaving traditions being practiced. Last stop is Lake Linow (the changing color lake), a one of a kind experience.
Gorontalo can be reached by a 1 hour flight from Manado or an 9 hour scenic drive. You would be surprised by what Gorontalo has to offer in its forests with its endemic fauna as well as the unique diving of the Togian Islands.
Nantu Forest is located in the heart of the Wallacea region in Gorontalo Province. Wallacea is the wildlife transition zone between Asia and Australia named after its founder, Alfred Russel Wallace (1823-1913), a famous British biologist, naturalist, and anthropologist.
A community of approximately 30,000 people live within the Nantu and Paguyaman river watershed and is completely dependent on these rivers for its water supply. Nantu’s carbon content is invaluable. Nantu Forest is famous because it is the only place in the world to reliably see its other endemic inhabitants: the Babyrousa celebensis.
The remarkable “prehistoric” appearance of these mammals is largely due to the prominent upwards incurving canine tusks of the males, which actually pierce the flesh in the snout.
One of the most spectacular and thrilling adventure tours in North Sulawesi. The most popular rafting route is on the Nimanga River in Timbukar-Sonder. The grade of the rapids is level 3. You will be picked up at your hotel at 9:00 AM and driven to the village of Sonder (about 1.5 hours from the center of Manado) located in the Minahasan highlands.
Your journey down the 9 km long river will take about one and a half to two hours through scenic forests with a coffee break including traditional cookies. Don’t be shy to scream along the rapids because at the end you will scream for more. Every raft can hold up to six persons including an experienced guide.
After this wet and wild experience, it’s back down the mountain with a lunch stop in a local restaurant. You will arrive at your hotel or the city of Manado (approximately 1.5 hour ride) at approximately 3:00 to 4:00 PM.
Q & A
Yes beginners can dive here. There is actually very little current in Lembeh.
Good buoyancy is always important, so you wont harm marine life and corals by kicking them – or stir up the sandy bottom.
A thing to consider is the subject of macro. If you are completely new to diving, you might want to do something involving more reef fish and coral gardens, as the macro world is mostly in black sand, searching for tiny tiny critters. Sometimes the size of a hair.
It is very fascinating, just keep the above in mind.
A combination of destinations would make a perfect dive experience. See our “combine” menu.
Located at the foot of Dua Saudara Mountain, the Tangkoko National Park is comprised of rolling hills and valleys with a variety of hardwood trees and unusual plant life. The animal life is also quite varied, and one can often view Tarsius tarsier (one of the smallest known primates), black tailless monkeys, maleo birds, wild pigs and kuskus (marsupials). Tangkoko Batuangus Reserve offers a suitable protective environment to help prevent these animals from becoming extinct.
The park is easily visited from Lembeh, but it requires half a day or full day. The resort can help coordinating a trip when you are there.
Great!
Contact us for further details – and we can arrange a course.
The prices for PADI OPEN WATER courses roughly start at €285 and takes 3-4 days.
The 3 day course will let you study via e-learning before you get here, which is smart if you want to be better prepared and spend your holiday time diving and relaxing instead of studying.
The 4 day course is the most popular and you start your studying once you get here.
The prices are almost identical.
Please book courses at the time of booking the whole trip.
You do not need to prebook the dives, but it is simpler to prebook a dive package.
You will spend most surface intervals on the dive boat or going back to the resort, depending on dive site and location.
The dive center have all the dive equipment you will need and in good condition.
Of course it is nice to bring your own dive gear if you can.
As a minimum we would recommend to bring your own dive mask – for a good fit.
Most dive places in Indonesia use the “International” Yoke connection for the regulators 1st stage.
If you have a DIN 1st stage you can buy a DIN to Intl. Yoke converter – which might come in handy every time you dive in South East Asia anyway!
Some resorts may have DIN tanks, but see that info on the accommodation menu.
There are plenty of ATM’s both in Manado when you arrive by plane and in Bitung accross from Lembeh.
Internet Access: There is fine wifi at the resorts.
Electricity: As elsewhere in Indonesia, electricity is 220-240Volt 50Hertz, using type C (CEE 7/16&17 Euro 2 pin) and F (CEE 7/4 “Schuko”) plugs and sockets.