Crazy Critter Heaven
Mention Lembeh Strait diving to any serious underwater photographer and their eyes come over all misty and distant. Few places on the planet are as varied and give you the chance to see more shy critters such as the mimic octopus, flamboyant cuttlefish, harlequin shrimps, skeleton shrimps and innumerable nudibranchs.
The fish also include the usual tropical reef suspects but also the more bizarre: Ambon scorpionfish, snake eels, stonefish, sea robins, stargazers, devil fish and even the weedy scorpionfish. There are also beautiful seahorses including pygmies, pegasus, mandarinfish, ghost pipefish and the endemic Banggai cardinalfish. Manado diving resorts in the Lembeh Strait seem to have a higher than average rate of return customers as enthused first-timers return year upon year, never tiring of the wonders of this undersea paradise.
There are many diving places which claim to be the best and very few get close but it is difficult to imagine a better place in the world for critter hunting. No more than a few breaths go by between one bizarre and exhilarating sight and the next. If you've tired of night diving, then try one here - they are simply fantastic. We don't know of a better place for after dark encounters with extraordinary marine life.
Lembeh Strait scuba diving has over 30 sites to choose from, all within six or seven kilometres of your dive resort, or just a few minutes boat ride across these calm, lake-like waters. It's easy to understand why scuba diving in the Lembeh Strait has a reputation that's hard to beat among discerning divers that want easy and convenient access to exceptional diving opportunities with bizarre marine life that you simply can not see in other destinations.
Diving Season
You can dive in Lembeh all year but the conditions do vary. January to June sees variable (but still fine) conditions and less divers. August sees the poorest visibility but the richest numbers of critters. September to October are probably the best two months overall.
Manado liveaboard season runs from June to September.
Diving in Lembeh Strait Reef Basics
Depth: 5 - 30m
Visibility: 10 - 25m
Currents: Gentle
Surface Conditions: Calm
Water Temperature: 26 - 29°C
Experience Level: Beginner - advanced
Diving Season: All year round
PADI Course Compatibility: Great for underwater photography and enriched air nitrox
Distance: ~45 km east of Manado (1½ hours)
Access: Manado scuba diving and Lembeh resorts and liveaboards
Dive Sites
More detailed information on the Lembeh dive sites:
Dive The World Recommendations: Angel's Window, TK 1 and Hairball.
Other Manado diving sites:
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