Lembeh Resort: Muck Magic and More

Anyone familiar with the term “muck diving” has probably heard of Lembeh Strait. But just in case you are unfamiliar with the term, muck diving is not about big walls and spending reefs. It's about the discovery of all manner of weird and wonderful marine life that lives on unremarkable, sediment-landed seabeds. And Lembeh is considered the best place in the world for this type of aquatic pursuit.

Lembeh Island is located just off the far northeastern tip of the major Indonesian Island of Sulawesi. The Strait that separates these islands was originally famous for the parade of pelagic species that transited this narrow passage.  But by the late 1990s, divers were discovering a very different reason to put Lembeh on their must-do list. Lurking in the otherwise unremarkable volcanic sands of the sea floor where a veritable menagerie of rare and unusual marine life. As muck diving continued to gain popularity in the diving community, Lembeh gained notoriety as a critter-rich environment, and has earned the nickname of “the muck diving mecca.”

Lembeh Resort is the gateway to the underwater treasures of its namesake waters. This boutique property is tucked into lush tropical landscaping on the shores of the strait. Nature takes center stage, but guests also enjoy a full range of modern conveniences, includes air conditioning, satellite television and WiFi connectivity. Accommodation choices include the premier Cliffside Villa, which includes panoramic sea view from private terraces, Luxury Cottages and well-appointed Garden View Rooms are located close to the resort's restaurant and dive center. The grounds also include a freshwater pool and a day spa.

All accommodation plans at Lembeh Resort include full board, with meals served in a dining room with ocean views. Farm-to-table menus are created from fresh local ingredients, and all seafood is also of local origin. To facilitate diving activities, breakfast and lunch are usually served buffet style, while á la carte dinners provide a chance for the resort's chefs to showcase their skills with a wide selection of international & Indonesian cuisines. Morning and afternoon snacks are served between dives, and teas & coffees are available throughout the day in the dining area as well as at the pool bar. In addition to the daily menu, the resort features Indonesian BBQ nights where guests can enjoy a delicious spread of authentic Indonesian dishes and traditional entertainment.

As you would expect from a world-class dive resort, Lembeh Resort's dive center offers expected amenities such as private lockers, nitrox fills and concierge gear management. But there's more. It is also a place where divers can relax before and after a dive with a coffee or tea at the Genus Bar while perusing an extensive collection of marine life reference books, or discussing their experiences with the resort's full-time marine biologists, in-house photo pro and highly-experienced guides. Photographers are provided with a spacious camera room with dedicated rinse tanks, air guns and private workstations with both 110 and 220V power plugs. The Photo Center has a wide range of underwater photography and video equipment is available for rental, including point-and-shoot, DSLR and video systems.

A fleet of custom-built dive boats gives access to 50-plus sites that are a short boat ride away from the resort. Guests are provided with three boat dives daily, and can also take advantage of unlimited guided shore dives, scheduled night dives and a range of specialty dives that includes night dives and florescence dives. A maximum guest-to-guide ratio of 4:1 ensures each diver receives personal attention and will benefit from the finely-honed creature spotting talents of the guides. The resort offers a private guide and private boat services, as well as camera caddies. Guests can also arrange for underwater naturalist dives customized to their individual interests, and lead by the resort's our in-house marine biologist.

Due to its protected location, Lembeh diving is suitable for all skill levels, and conditions are good year-round. Seas are always calm and most sites have little to no current. Lembeh’s classic muck sites feature gentle slopes of volcanic sand scattered with bits of debris, sponge, algae or rubble. Much of this diving takes place in mid-level depths, and are conducted at a relaxed, methodical pace that allows ample time for discovery. These sites are prized for their abundant biodiversity new finds and discoveries are continuously being made. For example, the area is home to 8 different species of frogfish, 12 species of octopus, three species of pygmy seahorse, and endemic species such as the Banggai cardinalfish and the Lembeh seadragon. Divers can identify hundreds of varieties of nudibranch, and search for numerous crustacean species that cannot be found anywhere else on earth. Some of Lembeh’s most iconic species include the hairy frogfish, pontohi pygmy seahorse, wunderpus, mandarin fish, mimic octopus, rhinopias scorpionfish, flamboyant cuttlefish, blue ring octopus, and more

Muck may be the central attraction at Lembeh, but there are also reefs sporting a colorful assortment of hard and soft corals. There are a number of sites close to the resort that blend reefs and muck, and a few miles farther away is Bangka Island, where the underwater topography includes pinnacles, gorges and swim-throughs, with blue waters that bring in sharks, rays and schooling fish. All-day trips to this small island give divers access to some 25 additional sites.

We offer a unique program that combines the muck-rich sites of Lembeh with a wider variety of underwater environments in North Sulawesi. Known as the Passport to Paradise, this package encompasses three dive resorts and four unique dive areas that showcase the full extent of the region's stunning underwater riches. The schedule begins at the Murex Resort Manado, which sits on the shores of Manado Bay, which offers a wide range of reef, wreck, muck diving and species-rich seagrass beds. The dive operation at Murex Resort Manado also gives diver’s access to Bunaken National Park, where underwater walls plummet to depths of 3,000 feet. After diving Manado, divers are transferred by boat to the Murex Resort Bangka and have an opportunity to make one or more dives during the two-hour boat ride. Stays on Bangka Island provide a chance to fully explore the area. For the third leg of the adventure, an additional one-hour boat ride brings divers to Lembeh Resort.

Want to discover the weird and wonderful world of muck diving in Lembeh Straits, and maybe take in the region’s colorful reefs as well. We can make it happen, and we'll arrange all the details of travel and transfer logistics. To get started, just give us a call at 800-330-6611 or send a note to sales@caradonna.com.