Bali vs. Lembeh vs. Mabul, sipadan etc. for muck diving

[reubencahn]

Reading this thread led me to go back and look at my pictures from Lembeh. Every day's folder has pictures of several amazing, one of a kind creatures. Lembeh is a truly unique spot. Here are a few pictures taken at random from the first day's folder.

 

[LekicINC]

The more pictures I see of Lembeh, the more I want to go. I study invert zoology so i am all into the little creatures,especially the inverts. As much as I love the beauty of non- muck dives, seeing creatures like those in your pictures is what its all about for me. Thing is, being a student, I dont have unlimited resources. In fact, they are very limited. So, if Bali is at all comparable, it would help my wallet out a lot. BUT, if Lembeh is a CANT MISS then it would be cheaper to go now, rather than take the flight from US again.

Thanks again for sharing your pictures, they are fantastic.

 

[reubencahn]

So, if Bali is at all comparable, it would help my wallet out a lot. BUT, if Lembeh is a CANT MISS then it would be cheaper to go now, rather than take the flight from US again.

I've only surfed in Bali, never dove there, so I can't compare it to Lembeh. But it's hard for me to imagine it has anything like the same density of creatures. I can say that Mabul doesn't compare to Lembeh.

 

[jcclink]

http://www.pbase.com/jcclink
Check out some of my 2005 Bali pics minus PJ's, Tulamben & Seraya (which is where the best critters are like mimic octopus, boxer crab, harlequin shrimp, pygmies.....). Sorry - still editing. I know there's way too many pics posted in the galleries, but it gives you an idea of how much stuff is there. Saw even more critters last year.
Once again - how much you see depends on how good your guide is (unless of course you're really good at finding critters on your own in an unfamiliar dive site).

 

[LekicINC]

WOW Jcclink. How many dives did you do there???? I cant believe you saw all that stuff in Bali! If I see a 1/20th of the stuff you saw Id consider it the trip of a lifetime! I imagine you have done tons of dives in Bali? Have you dove Lembeh? Can you rec a dive guide in Bali? Thanks for sharing those hundreds of amazing pics.

 

[Indonesian_Diver]

As far as I know, Lembeh is D' place for muck diving. Even, local who live in Bali will go to Lembeh for it.

S-

 

[scottfiji]

I've never been to lembeh, but I've been to bali twice...

just got back from my 2nd trip a couple of days ago, say mantas, molas, napolean wrasse, large barracudas, 2 types of pygmy seahorses, croc. fish, leaf scorpionfish, frogfish, about 30 species of nudibranchs, 2 types of ribbon eels, bubble shrimp, harlequin shrimp, cuttlefish, lots of mantis shrimp.

I only made it to one of the 3 muck-diving sites.

wherever you go, I'm sure you'll enjoy it!

lembeh sounds like it has some great stuff. some of that will also be found in bali, some may not.

here's the photos:
http://scottfiji.smugmug.com/Underwater/312691

Scott

 

[Wisnu]

just got back from my 2nd trip a couple of days ago, say mantas, molas, napolean wrasse, large barracudas, 2 types of pygmy seahorses, croc. fish, leaf scorpionfish, frogfish, about 30 species of nudibranchs, 2 types of ribbon eels, bubble shrimp, harlequin shrimp, cuttlefish, lots of mantis shrimp.

Scott

During my trip early this months (menjangan, kubu, tulamben and amed only), I saw similar - except molas, mantas and croc. fish - but plus 5 types pufferfish, mimic octopus, gosh pipefish, small white tips and other common fishes - no, not really muck diving.

 

[LekicINC]

Sounds like Bali has pretty memrobale diving. I still cant seem to understand why/how much better lembeh is. mantas, molas, napolean wrasse, large barracudas, 2 types of pygmy seahorses, croc. fish, leaf scorpionfish, frogfish, about 30 species of nudibranchs, 2 types of ribbon eels, bubble shrimp, harlequin shrimp, cuttlefish, lots of mantis shrimp sounds unbeatable!

 

[wahlaoeh]

Hi LekicINC, here are two trip reports and some pixs from my Bali trip last year. I've seen the rare tiger, coleman, oatesii shrimps, frogfishes, harlequin ghost piprfishes and many different type of nudibranchs and so much more. My pixs do not do the place justice but I can certainly vote for the muck diving in Seraya. Go with an experienced guide and I'm sure you'll see alot more I'm planning to go back there in August if my schedule permits..

Bali (Mola mola and macro): http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=156597
Bali: http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=164608

Happy bubbles,
Jovin-