Lembeh or Bunaken - with SO/non-photographer

[watboy]

Its time for my mid-year mini scuba trip. In the past, I take a week off once or twice a year for a quick trip to Lembeh for some muck diving and macro photography (its great to live in Bangkok). However, now I have GF who dives. We've gone to Maldives and Raja Ampat last year, and she got to see her first Manta... and her next 40 mantas, as well as her first whale shark.

Guess my question is would 5 days of muck diving bore her to death?

I'm trying to justify going to Lembeh over Bunaken with
1. We've already seen spectacular reefs in R4
2. We've seen a plethora of sharks, mantas and whale sharks in Maldives 6 months ago
3. I haven't used my macro lens in over a year <- most important to me

Or does Bunaken offer something really special for me? GF has about 100 dives, but mostly in Thailand. I've been showing her much better diving.

 

[Searcaigh]

There are some really interesting critters in Lembeh

I took my daughter to Lembeh last year and she was amazed at some of things she saw, having dived at Sipadan, Seychelles, and Mexico to name but a few.

Lembeh is weird, she needs to experience it

 

[Harley1962]

From your post, it certainly sounds like you are committed to "trying something new" in terms of seeing / photographing animals that you will (probably) NEVER see elsewhere! For sure Lembeh is a GREAT place for that, and very few people leave Lembeh disappointed. (especially photographers)

Does your GF also shoot UW Photos / Video yet? If not, Lembeh is a perfect place to learn / start! NO current, animals move VERY slowly (if at all) and there's a lot of room to maneuver around the subject to obtain the best angle / lighting / shot.

What some neglect to realize is that Lembeh ALSO has some wonderful coral / reef sites, such as Angel's Window, California Dreaming, Dante's Wall and even a 100 meter WW II Japanese wreck right in the middle of the Strait, so there's really something for everyone in Lembeh!

Based on where you've already dived, Bunaken may be a bit "repetitive" for you both--having already done Raja 4, but for sure a day trip to Bunaken can be organized VERY easily (2 dives, lunch, out and back in 8 hours total), and that way you'll get your wall / reef dives in.

If you have further questions, please feel free to PM me. I've got a few thousand dives in Lembeh, and for me there's NOTHING that comes close. While I certainly love colorful reefs, walls, etc...it's the variety (and rarity) of the critters you see here that really makes it unique and sets it apart from anything else. If you like night dives, then you guys will LOVE Lembeh...best night dives in the World (12,000 dives in every corner of the Planet and counting)

Harley

 

[AlMitch]

Amen to everything said above. Lembeh all the way.
I thought my wife would hate muck diving but Lembeh has become our favourite place to go!
We think muck diving (especially in Lembeh) is like hunting for rare treasure.
If your GF has 100+ dives under her belt then she certainly should be a be able to add a camera to the mix.
A canon S110 in the canon housing with a focus light and she will be good to go and it wont completely break the bank. Although as you know underwater photography is a black hole to your bank account!
Book into Black Sands Dive Retreat and your GF will love it.

Alternatively you could head to Tulamben, Bali. Muck diving is pretty darn good (about 80% as good as Lembeh in my personal opinion) and there are some stunning coral dives and the wreck to mix things up. I'll be there next week for my second time. Can not wait for some bubble therapy.

 

[Luko]

I would say Bangka has the best of both places. Better corals than Bunaken, great fishlife, LOTS of macro and even dirty muck diving like in Lembeh (Paradise pier). One of the good thing in Bangka is also the environment, there's a remote feel, great beach, wooden bungalows and hardly any other diveboat on your dive site, unlike Bunaken/Lembeh.

Personally I get a little tired of diving Lembeh after 4-5 days diving, yes even in Lembeh you may have ups and downs with the diving, and coral sites like those "advertized above" are not sufficient for my taste for variety. Hence I always return to Bangka or couple it with no more than 4 days in Lembeh (you can also dive Lembeh from Bangka, the operations usually cater for day trips to Lembeh with petrol supplement).

And oh yes, I am a photographer too.

 

[watboy]

Thanks Luko.

From Bangka can you dive Bunaken? I was going to go back to LembehResorts, but if i recall correctly, the dive shop and hotel are actually two separate businesses. The diveshop has an operation on Bunaken too correct?

 

[Searcaigh]

Hi watboy,

Lembeh Resort is associated with Murex who operate from Manado and Bangka.

My daughter and I are booked to their Passport to Paradise deal next month although it covers more than 5 days due to multiple locations, I'll be posting a trip report on my return late July.

 

[Luko]

Thanks Luko.

From Bangka can you dive Bunaken? I was going to go back to LembehResorts, but if i recall correctly, the dive shop and hotel are actually two separate businesses. The diveshop has an operation on Bunaken too correct?

You are correct but as Searcaigh answered, Critters@Lembeh (Lembeh resort diveshop) is owned by Murex Bangka and Murex Mainland Manado owners.
They will certainly be happy to offer you a combined package, personally I also did that last April, a couple of days in Manado to dive Bunaken and Manado bay, 4 days in Lembeh resort and almost a week in Murex Bangka, the one I prefer.

 

[Wingy]

Another vote for Bangka, as above Murex will be able to organise a split Lembeh Bangka trip. the offer Searcraigh is about to leave for (Mainland Manado, Lembeh and Bangka package) would be my recommendation. Do Bangka now rather than later - Sauhong Pinacles is a spectacular site.

 

[Harley1962]

Going back to the OP, and taking into consideration that you both have been to R4 and Maldives, there is not a lot to be seen in Bangka area that you haven't likely already seen in your previous trips. Although, if you are not certain that your GF will enjoy the muck sites of Lembeh (and she will not take UW photos) then a "mixed" trip covering several areas around N. Sulawesi will keep you both "satisfied". So in that sense I also agree with the above recommendations.

And as mentioned above, Bangka does indeed have a more "isolated" feel to it and is a more "boutique-ish" locale, and it is true that the dive sites there are generally less busy.

But as you mention "5 days" you may wish to consider how much time you want to spend going to / from the dive sites--and the convenience of being on land between dives, etc...
From Bangka to either Lembeh or Bunaken does require some length of time, so only the Bangka sites are truly within a "short boat ride".

It really depends on what your focus (and that of your GF) will be. If a "taste" of several types of diving is what you are after (and don't mind moving / packing-unpacking a few times over 5 days' time) then by all means stay in Bangka to access all. But if you want to experience a true muck diving environment (and be less than 10 minutes boat ride from the majority of dive sites), then pick a place in Lembeh and enjoy. It's virtually guaranteed that you WILL SEE critters there that you and your GF will never see elsewhere (including Bangka, Bunaken, Bali, etc..)