2 weeks - Lembeh + ??

[ChrisM]

so after nearly 30 years of diving wife and I are going to dip our toes into Indonesia. I would like a week in Lembeh.

Where should we spend the second week? We’d move twice for a really good reason but would prefer to only move once. Land based is fine. Would also like some topside experience, Tarsier monkeys, forests, etc. Order doesn’t matter either unless something makes more sense

Coming from LA so can come thru Singapore or Bali. Asking everyone I know and now you folks I don’t (mostly) know

Thanks in advance for thoughts and ideas.

 

[outofofficebrb]

What month are you going? I suppose it depends on that.

Komodo...Easy flight from Bali and great diving. That will give you some wide angle reef/large fish action (mantas, too!) to balance out the muck and small critters of Lembeh. The other option is Raja Ampat, but 7 days is not enough - 10-12 days is more ideal by liveaboard, though you could still do a 7 day liveaboard or land based. It is also more difficult to get to from Bali so it will suck up more transit time vs. Komodo.

 

[Indah]

Dear Chris M, we own and manage 3 places. One of them is Divers Lodge Lembeh. That would be a good start. We are having Tarsius living within our own 25 hectares of nature around the Lodge. T. We also offer day trips to Tangkoko National Park and the Minahassa Higland. Depending on the time of year you could combine your visit with our Weda Resort or Magic Bay Rao. We can very easily and without any hassle organize all transfers for you.

 

[BigJeff]

I would stay in the area around Manado, a transfer over to Gangga/Bangka Island is easy and gives the diving some variety.
You may even be able to make the transfer by boat, and not lose a days diving.

 

[Centrals]

Singapore Airlines should be able to sell you a through ticket from LAX to MDC.

North Sulawesi: meet people who eat dogs, monkeys, bats… - Kuuk&Travel
We did a one day land trip around Manado after diving in Bunaken. The "local" restaurant that we were taken into served us some really "interesting" food including bat and dog.

 

[Mike Veitch]

Shakes head...

 

[bowlofpetunias]

We have done Critters@ Lembeh and Siladen. We plan on going back to Siladen. They have a reciprocal agreement between the resorts and will arrange it so you can do both. Muck dives at Lembeh and some muck but also wall and coral dives at Siladen. Both resorts do a lot for the locals and the environment which is important to me when I spend my $.

 

[Madacub]

Hi Chris, regarding Lembeh, some people don't like muck diving, so you you should be aware that that is what Lembeh is for (more or less). I say that just because you mention not having been to Indonesia, and wanting to "dip our toes into Indonesia".

If you have only two weeks, definitely don't move more than once. Ideally, stretch it to 3 weeks, including travel time, which would give you two good diving destinations, plus some land activities. Take a LOB to Raja Ampat (if in the winter) for 10-12 nights, or to Komodo (if in the summer) 4-7 nights. Bali is excellent for diving (muck as well as wide angle) as well as land activities.

You could also consider Ambon. Excellent for muck diving. But if you dive with Dive Into Ambon, you will also get to dive on the other side of the island, which has some terrific wide angle diving, amazing corals, etc. And also an excellent wreck inside the bay. (In fact, extend your trip to 4 weeks..... heh heh) I enjoyed Ambon topside as well, historic forts, spice farms etc.

In Bali, I have used Aquamarine Diving several times and am very happy with them (theyl'll also organize flights etc if you want). I see Indah's post above, I have stayed at his Weda resort twice - it is definitely classified as a "remote" location, but they organize the trip very well, you can get there best from Lembeh. I would certainly recommend Weda, but I'm not sure it would fit with your timing, unless you want a pretty secluded place, then that's your ticket, plus the diving. Plus there is birding to be had there, including a species of bird of paradise.

Manado/Bunaken is very close to Lembeh, (you'll use the Manado airport, in fact) and has some decent huge turtles, cuttlefish, etc, if you want to dive there for a few days. I was a bit disappointed with Bangka/Gangga, but others have liked it. Overall, your best bets would be Raja Ampat, Komodo, Lembeh, Bali, Ambon, Weda.

Hope this helps.

 

[Darnold9999]

My last trip was a week at Lembeh and a week at Papua Paradise. Excellent trip. Did a couple of days in Bali before and after for topside stuff. To do all that took three weeks.

There is not much to do but dive in both Lembeh and RA. PP is on a very small island and there are a couple of land tours but otherwise you pretty much have nothing to do but dive.

Ambon, as mentioned, has some interesting top side things to do. Bali has some excellent diving and you can spend a few weeks exploring the island and not run out of things to do.

 

[Mr.Poseidon]

Chris,
The second time we visited Indonesia, on the same time table, we dove the Bali area with Aquamarine and then caught a flight to Manado to dive Lembeh. Some folks loved that we visited two different areas of the country. Other wished we just stayed in one region. Thus, IMO, if this will be a one and done you should try to visit Bali and then Lembeh. If this will be one of many visits, I would suggest only staying the North Sulawesi area.

For what its with, we now visit Indonesia annually so be prepared.