North Sulawesi - Lembeh Strait

[shiri]

Hi,

After I got some recommendations here, I decided to go on a liveaboard to North Sulawesi for 6 days, including the following sites: Siau Island, Mahengetang Island and Underwater volcano, Para and Bawondeke Islands, Tagulandang, Ruang or Biaro Island, Talise / Bangka / Pulisan areas, and outer parts of Bunaken National Park.
According to this plan, we're not going to dive in Lembeh Strait.

What do you think about those dive sites? Is Lembeh Strait is a "must" and we should not miss it?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Rickg]

Hi,

After I got some recommendations here, I decided to go on a liveaboard to North Sulawesi for 6 days, including the following sites: Siau Island, Mahengetang Island and Underwater volcano, Para and Bawondeke Islands, Tagulandang, Ruang or Biaro Island, Talise / Bangka / Pulisan areas, and outer parts of Bunaken National Park.
According to this plan, we're not going to dive in Lembeh Strait.

What do you think about those dive sites? Is Lembeh Strait is a "must" and we should not miss it?

Thanks in advance!

Shiri,

LEMBEH IS MUST in my book. Last year we made a similar LOB trip on a MUREX boat named the Serenade. Lembeh was not in our original itinerary but it was added after the majority of us voted to go there and I'm glad we decided to go there. The Serenade's skipper and dive master were very good about trying to accomodate everyone's wishes. Here is the link to my dive trip report.

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=85481&highlight=Rickg


Here is the link to another trip report by "Albatross" who made a very similar trip.

http://www.digitaldiver.net/trip_reports.php?reportID=132


I just wish I had the time and the money to just pack my stuff and take off tomorrow for another trip over there. I'm sure it will be a memorable trip.

Rickg

 

[cjames]

After just coming back from spending a week just at Lembeh, I have to agree with Rick. It is so unique and has so much to offer, it would be a shame to go all that way and not see it.

 

[gabyne]

I've never been to Lembeh before but will go on my first trip there end of September. Can't wait! I heard so many fantastic stories and if you're into critter diving, I think you must go there. If you only like wall dives with pelagics and good visibility, then Lembeh seems not to be your place.

Gaby