Diving Manado/Bunaken/Lembeh

[tazzmeyer]

Hello,

A group of us are planning a dive trip end of April/begin of May and I have been reading lots of excellent info and posts about hotel recommendations, etc.

We have about 7 diving days and were thinking 3 in Bunaken and 3 in Lembeh with a dive/travel day in the middle. Anyone done this? Is it possible to travel from one spot to the other diving along the way instead of going overland?

Thanks in advance!

 

[TSandM]

I can't answer your last question, but we stayed five days at Tasik Ria and dove Bunaken, and then transferred overland (a couple of hours drive) to Kungkungen Bay Resort for the next five days. It's definitely worthwhile to get some time in both places, because the diving is VERY different.

 

[pelan-pelan]

I agree. You don't need a day to travel. Base yourself Manado-side for Bunaken walls and the new critter dive sites they are finding in Manado and then transfer overland, either late afternoon or early morning and that way you won't miss any time for diving.

 

[mcknight4]

I am with a photo group diving the Lembeh Straight in October and staying at the Divers Lodge Resort. Some of us may want to extend the trip. What would be the best alternative for another week of diving, a live-a-board or another another resort in a different location? We are all experienced UW photographers, but it's the first tome to Monado for most of us.

 

[OnTheSpot]

Hi McKnight

Another resort in Lembeh is likely just to take you to the same places. A resort in Manado or Bunaken however will be different - reefs and wide angle rather than macro and black sand.

There are liveaboards which take in Lembeh and Bangka (some also Bunaken and Sangihe)

So if you want more of the same then stay put. Otherwise either liveaboard or Manado.

 

[jcclink]

Depending on timeframe & budget you could also consider Wakatobi. (This stages in Bali.) I'm doing a Grand Komodo Tours liveaboard to Halmahera & Togian Islands in Oct which boards in Ternate (short flight from Manado) & ends in North Sulawasi. Also, Eco Divers run the the dive operations at Tasik Ria & KBR, so its easy to arrange time at both & transportation.

 

[pelan-pelan]

Transfer overland from Lembeh to Manado is straight forward. Any decent resort will organise that for you, probably pick you up themselves, no trouble at all. I would have thought time-wise and money-wise that basing yourself at a resort on Manado-side or Bunaken would have been the thing to do. If you stay Manado-side you have the possibility of going out in the evening, or even taking some side-trips to see the area, climb the volcano, or go up to Tangkoko to see the macaques and tarsier monkeys.

From the point of view of photography - take a look at Eco-Divers at Tasik Ria - they have considerable experience and knowledge when it comes to photography.

 

[carolsarinah]

I have been to both places and think that unless you LOVE muck diving 3 days is too long in Lembeh. I would spend the extra time in Manado.