Lembeh or Bunaken - with SO/non-photographer

[AlMitch]

I'm with Harley.
Personally I hate hopping from resort to resort. I want to just sit back and relax get to know the people and and enjoy my diving.
If you only have 5 days just pick a spot and enjoy it. Seen as you have been to Lembeh multiple times you may want to give Bangka a bash. Check out Murex or Blue Bay Divers.
Bangka is great and Lembeh is great. Can't really go wrong with either.

 

[watboy]

Thanks for all the tips everyone...

After much consideration... GF informed me that she requires a spa and creature comforts, so we're going back to Lembeh Resorts. I personally want to focus on macro photography. I've been to Lembeh 4 times, and there are still things to cross off my list (rhinopia, long haired frog fish, i really want to see a hairy octopus). I also picked up Nauticam iPhone 5 housing on sale for half off. Which is perfect for her instagram addiction. I set it up with a pair of Keldan lights.

Hoping to go to Palau end of the year, so we'll save our shark watching for then.

 

[Luko]

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.

Looks like you've not been diving Bangka that much...

you WILL SEE critters there that you and your GF will never see elsewhere (including Bangka, Bunaken, Bali, etc..)

Hmmh hmmh.... what would you see in Lembeh you don't see elsewhere? Pls be specific : your posts are too much advertisement like. As a matter of fact, al of the things I've seen in Lembeh I've seen them in Ambon, Bali, Anilao or elsewehere. To my knowledge there eise no Lembeh specific/endemic animal, but I'd be delighted to know more or to be corrected, pls enlighten me....

Tell me for instance where you would see that critter below in Lembeh? don't spend to much of your time you will only find it in Bangka or PNG, a little humility or less definitive assertons on your side regarding Lembeh may not harm...

 

[Harley1962]

Well Watboy, I think you're gonna be 100% OK, especially since I JUST came from a dive this morning where I saw (in one dive) : 1 Rhinopias, 2 Hairy Frogfish (black, with a HUGE amount of hair), 1 Mimic Octopus, 1 Coconut Octopus, 1 Ambon Scorpionfish, various species of nudi, etc....

---------- Post added June 28th, 2015 at 12:17 AM ----------

Luko,

Perhaps you are being a bit "sensitive" over this subject, but I have OVER 1,200 dives IN BANGKA (alone) so I am "ONLY" going by what I have (and have not) seen there as compared to Lembeh.

If you took the time and effort to understand the topographical history and underlying geology of the Lembeh Strait itself you would appreciate that the FREQUENCY of sighting various creatures which are considered "rare" or unusual IS something which makes Lembeh unique. It is NOT meant to be a "dig" on Bangka, Anilao, Ambon, Dauin / Dumaguete (in Philippines) or ANY other place where I've accumulated my 11,000+ dives of experience. (That's 10X the number of dives you have, according to your own profile)

Every dive destination has its' own unique features and attractions, but if I had to list the number of critters that are frequently seen in Lembeh that are not regularly seen in Bangka I could literally fill the page! I am not debating your point about there being a certain amount of "critter crossover" , but simply responding to the OP's question.

Your photo is lovely, but apart from seeing that in Bangka, I have also seen it in Flores and Timor Leste--but that does NOT make it any less beautiful or less rare!
For a relatively-short 5 day trip, and based on the OP's details and stipulations I only made a suggestion from my previous personal experience--which is exactly what you did.

I am not "advertising" Lembeh any more than you are promoting Bangka--as I wrote from the start, they are BOTH lovely places to dive, but there are additional factors and extenuating circumstances which do come into play in considering where would be BEST for THIS particular couple.

Feel free to post your comments and experiences as YOU see them, and I will do the same.

 

[Luko]

If you took the time and effort to understand the topographical history and underlying geology of the Lembeh Strait itself you would appreciate that the FREQUENCY of sighting various creatures which are considered "rare" or unusual IS something which makes Lembeh unique. It is NOT meant to be a "dig" on Bangka, Anilao, Ambon, Dauin / Dumaguete (in Philippines) or ANY other place where I've accumulated my 11,000+ dives of experience. (That's 10X the number of dives you have, according to your own profile)

Harley, I don't take the global number of dives as an indicator of your knowledge on other places than the one you put on your location (ie. Lembeh), I've dived with instructors who had more then 15000 dives but just knew about Thailand and a few other places around, their knowledge in biology was zilch. Figures impress me less than the correct content of what is written, see. If profile numbers are your kind of stuff then you can also compare the number of thanks/likes I get from my effort to give SB members correct and unbiased information and yours.
To me there are a couple of thing you are saying which look more like advertizement to the place you either own or that you dive for but please don't let this Indonesia board become like a huge ad board as Thailand's.

With that thing in mind, yes you are right, I am generally a bit sensitive on BS voiced by resort owners,I will point you a couple of things you wrote that are untrue or too general assessments to be true:
- "best night dives in the world", "a thing for everyone" your words for Lembeh sound like the dullest advertizing that consumers may usually read in the glossies. Let's come back to the OP situation: my wife is a non photographer too, she prefers Bangka by a mile, as most of my non photogs friends who have stayed at both locations Bangka and Lembeh. In some of the resorts in Lembeh 80% of the divers carry a camera which can really be a pain for the other customers (I came to the conclusion that you shouldn't dive Lembeh without a private guide), especially when all the divers on the boat only want to shoot macro on muck.
- pretending the OP has already seen everything can be seen in Bangka after a stay in Maldives and R4 is a little quick as for an assumption. What do you know from them? What do you know from what they've seen? It would be a lie to say there is not enough macro in Bangka to content any photographers for a 5 day stay.
- pretending there are critters you cannot see anywhere in Indonesia or elsewhere is just in terms of biology completely untrue, you will not be able to mention even one, while I can mention in endemic critters from other parts of Indonesia.
- And in your "faithful & honest" description of Bangka vs. Lembeh you should have also pointed that there are indeed real muck sites 15-20 minutes boat ride from Bangka resorts, and that depending where you stay in Lembeh some of the sites (let's take Goby & Crab or California dreaming) may take more than 20 minutes to access.

Probably it would be better if like most of the diving professionals in this board you would state upfront your credentials and which resort you are working for. btw, being in the tourism business for so long, I am not sure who you would be more qualified for stating which is the "BEST" (sic, your words) place for them.
Now if you have bio facts to share re Lembeh that are not advertizing driven I'd be more han happy to read them.

 

[Harley1962]

Luko,

I am not going to waste further time (and energy) debating this; you expressed your Bangka / Lembeh opinions based on YOUR OWN experience and I stated MY opinions based on MY experience.

If you believe that your experience "trumps" mine, then congratulations to you--but I am NOT going to get into a "pissing match" over such absurdity.

If you really took the time to re-examine your posts and "advice" about Bangka it sounds like you are ALSO either affiliated or associated with some tourism business or resort there----it's clear you love Bangka and myself and the entire readership recognize that.

We are both expressing our OPINIONS, nothing more than that----but to be frank, your statements can also be interpreted as VERY opinionated (and not based on fact):
"my wife is a non photographer too, she prefers Bangka by a mile, as most of my non photogs friends who have stayed at both locations Bangka and Lembeh. In some of the resorts in Lembeh 80% of the divers carry a camera which can really be a pain for the other customers (I came to the conclusion that you shouldn't dive Lembeh without a private guide), especially when all the divers on the boat only want to shoot macro on muck."

You explained your wife's preference and OPINION, based on your / her experiences--nothing more and nothing less. I do not try to minimize your experiences, nor express that they are invalid.

Your "conclusion" about needing a private guide is solely based on YOUR personal experience in Lembeh---again, I don't know how many dives you have in Lembeh but in the end it all comes down to EXPERIENCE! (and how you felt having had that experience, positive or otherwise)

By recognizing that in your OWN words and understanding that I have a right to MY opinions--which for example----are that I believe night dives in Lembeh ARE indeed the best ANYWHERE" is perfectly fine and in no way is "selling" anything to anybody. I am excited to describe my experiences and share them; this is NOT selling anything. I do not have to do that--Lembeh sells ITSELF for a REASON!

You happen to disagree with me, which is fine and within your right--but by taking this thread totally OFF topic it only wastes people's time--including my own.

If you do not value another's experience or opinion that is YOUR choice---but to be so aggressive and confrontational when your opinions differ only dilutes the entire thread and shows your insecurities.

Maybe next time you are in the Lembeh area we can meet for a beer, and I will be HAPPY to SHOW you documented evidence of 4 different species I've identified that (so far) have ONLY been seen in the Lembeh Strait. They are currently under verification from three different marine biological societies and will hopefully be recognized as endemic within the next few months. I do not need to boast of my background at WHOI, or how many degrees in Marine Biology and Marine Ecology I have...because this thread is not about me (or you) at all, and for some odd reason you feel the need to "justify" yourself in such a competitive manner?

My friend, I have NOTHING to prove to you, or anyone else..I simply expressed my opinion based on past experience, of which I have a considerable amount.

Good Luck to you and I hope you find Peace.

HB

 

[watboy]

I do appreciate everyone's thoughts. For me, there's good diving, great diving and then there is special diving.

At best, there is good diving in Thailand (what a shame it's so overrun with cattle boats). I've had great diving experience in Philippines, but nothing special yet.

night diving with mantas in Maldives was special. I've done 2, 2 week liveaboard trips to R4, and it was magical. And for me, Lembeh is also special. I have had great trips to dumagette and anilao...but there's just something about Lembeh that keeps me wanting to go back. I do believe that my gf will enjoy it, she loves seeing new things (though I am biased).

from the research I've done, bunaken and bangka sound like great diving, but I didn't get the special feeling. I could be wrong. I wish I could dive more. When I was younger I had time but no money. Now I have money, but no time.

 

[Luko]

Just a quickie, This is getting a little personal and sometimes it feels like the pot calling the kettle black...

it sounds like you are ALSO either affiliated or associated with some tourism business or resort there

You certainly missed some of my past threads, this is completely untrue.
I have no interest in whatsoever dive/hotel/resort operation based in N/Sulawesi, Indonesia nor in the largest Indo-Pacific.
Like I said I am trying to give the most unbiased information with my experience in diving and traveling.
1st thing to remember : diving is a leisure, a leisure diver is always closer in experience to another leisure diver than a dive Professional is. Don't forget the main difference is that we are paying for this while some like you are getting paid for it.

Talking about "ALSO" (sic, your words) you still don't mention which resort in Lembeh you are working for.

 

[Searcaigh]

you still don't mention which resort in Lembeh you are working for.

Well Luko, perhaps that's a good thing, it's not like he is trying to promote where he works over any other resort.

 

[Luko]

Well Luko, perhaps that's a good thing, it's not like he is trying to promote where he works over any other resort.

Fair enough.