Question Planning for Holiday in Indonesia July 2025

[Indah]

Doing the Lembeh, Bangka, Bunaken "triangle" is very popular and certainly a great introduction to Indonesia. Each spot is unique, and you will find a number of opinions about which is better and how long one should stay at each. For instance, eight days in Bunaken is way too much for me, but I could easily do ten days in Lembeh. I really only enjoy muck diving anymore; walls and turtles are not my thing. Then again, I have numerous friends who think muck is a total snore fest... You get the idea.

Anyway, a number of the ops have resorts in all three locations and offer packages that are convenient and easy. Murex and Bastianos offer this option. I'm sure there are others. You might look into those.

Lastly, if you enjoyed Fiji and the Maldives, Raja Ampat or Komodo are certainly doable. Diving down the east side of Bali and concluding in Komodo would be a heck of a three+ week dive trip in Indonesia. Just sayin'...

The transfers between these 3 locations are always completely hassle-free. Wherever you stay. Just pick the resorts which fulfill your wishes and budget best.

 

[jodhatindas]

Hi all,
me and my wife we are looking at our next trip which is planned for July 2025.
After visiting Fiji and Maldives we would love to visit Indonesia finally !
Since we are more a kind of "Vacation Diver" type, we would like to avoid places with strong currents, (although Raja Ampat remains a dream sooner or later ).
Not enough experience yet to enjoy this type of dive.

Currently I am looking at North Sulawesi and I am leaning toward a 8 day stay (more or less) in each of the following places:

-Lembeh
-Bangka
-Bunaken

The main reasons for choosing these three places are, firstly, we would like to see three different dives environments and different type of dives, with different species of fishes, corals, etc.
Secondly we would prefer to spend the days diving, snorkelling and relaxing at the resorts instead of "spending" precious time by flying to other parts of Indonesia.

What you think ? My reasoning is good or not ?
About the main differences of the three places... do you agree that they offer almost three different types of environments ?

We are looking at resorts, and currently we are evaluating Siladen Resort, Coral Eye and Lembeh Resort.
One thing that "bother" me is that apparently at Siladen you cannot snorkelling from the resort beach, only during high tide.
Is that true ?
How about the other two resorts ?

Do you think 3+ weeks around there is "overkill" ?
Any suggestion or experience would be very welcome.

Thank you very much !

hey,, im city base dive center in manado , that operated day trips to bunaken lembeh and bangka ,,,
the weather should be ok for bangka,and lembeh,,, but foir bunaken usually a bit windy,,,, because of the west wind coming,,,,

for more info, you can contact us

email : manadodiveclub@gmail.com
whatsapp +6282196902249

regard
jodha

 

[PaulRiley]

Gibo69​

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My wife and I have been going to North Sulawesi since 2012. Our trip next year will be our 9th. We know many dive guides in both Bunaken and Lembeh and have experienced several resorts, Two Fish, Murex, NAD. They are at different price points we've had great holidays with all of them. Your plan is a good one and it depends what you want to see.​

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Bunaken has some spectacular walls, with lots of pretty corals and lots of turtles, plus the odd shark and the odd passing creature like a tuna or a mobula ray. Lembeh is, well the Muck diving capital of the world, make sure you have researched the critters you want to see and give your guide a list, in Lembeh many creatures like Frogfish, Rhinopea, Sea horses, Coleman shrimps, Harlequin shrimps etc. don't move far so the guides can find them easily, whereas others such as Octopus it is the luck of the draw. In terms of the creatures do do your research, we have seen 6 hairy octopuses (incredibly rare) in over 200 dives in Lembeh, on one occasion a guest on their first trip swam away not knowing what the fuss was about, they were quite unhappy in the bar later when they realised what they had missed.​

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The first time we went we spent a week at Bunaken and then moved to Lembeh, we asked the owner of the resort on Bunaken, "if we don't like this muck diving can we come back?", "you can, but you won't". She was completely right, we have returned to Bunaken twice, but each time after 2 or 3 days, we are ready for Lembeh.​

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Bunaken is a short boat ride (from memory 30 mins) from Manado, which is 2 hours by car from Bitung, may be quicker now the toll road is open, but have only used the toll road from the airport to Bitung. Once you get to Bitung most dive resort are at most ten minutes by boat away, or a short drive if on the mainland.​

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You can as others have said transfer by boat, I know Murex offer this and I think Bastianos may as well.​

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We have only been to Bangka once, but saw three incredible rare nudibranchs cyerce negra, dotto nudi and the Melibe Colemani, which we have also seen in Lembeh, but is still an good spot.​

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All in all three weeks is a good amount of time to see North Sulawesi, plus if you want to do something other than diving there are things to see on the mainland as well, the tiny Tarsier monkey, some great birdlife, active volcanoes, the market at Tomohon etc.​

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Enjoy Sulawesi, it is a great place and the diving is truly world class.​

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[fantarara]

For a first visit to Indonesia, I think the Bunaken-Bangka-Lembeh is a very good option, and I second everyone's recommendation for Murex. I've stayed at their place in Manado numerous times (they are on the mainland and not Bunaken Island unless this has changed from how it was before pandemic). I've also stayed at Lembeh Resort, highly recommend with great vibes, good food, and a resident photography expert. From both these places, you can snorkel from the beach (Murex's cottage and Lembeh Resort). I haven't been to Murex in Bangka but from pictures seems that you can snorkel from the beach.

Murex runs a very efficient dive operation, they are pioneers for diving in the area and also support many conservation initiatives. Their guides are the best.

As an Indonesian I can also say the food in this triangle is the best - rest of Indonesia doesn't hold a candle.

I wouldn't recommend Wakatobi for a first time visit to Indo - it is not a relaxed visit. And Bali-hopping takes a lot of energy.

 

[CF L]

I have been to Murex Bangka and Lembeh Resort and would definitely recommend both, the dive operation at the latter is also run by Murex.

I wouldn't recommend Wakatobi for a first time visit to Indo - it is not a relaxed visit. And Bali-hopping takes a lot of energy.

I have not been to Wakatobi yet so I'm a curious why it is not recommended for first-timers?

 

[JonnieB]

I have been to Murex Bangka and Lembeh Resort and would definitely recommend both, the dive operation at the latter is also run by Murex.



I have not been to Wakatobi yet so I'm a curious why it is not recommended for first-timers?

It's a PITA (and expensive) to get to for starters; there's so much easier accessible great diving in Sulawesi/Indonesia.

 

[fantarara]

I have not been to Wakatobi yet so I'm a curious why it is not recommended for first-timers?

I guess if you go with Wakatobi Resort it is not much of a hassle but that's out of my budget that when I wrote the above didn't remember them.
My one experience was a few years before the pandemic so things might have changed but it was hard to arrange. Let me find a thread on Wakatobi and maybe write it a bit more as it's oot here.

 

[kelarnold]

We spent about three weeks on North Sulawesi islands a couple of months ago, staying at Bunaken Oasis, Murex Bangka, and Lembeh Resort.

The Bunaken diving is virtually all walls. Nice, healthy walls, of course, and many turtles. Bangka has some wild topography; canyons, swim-throughs, etc. We dove three days at Bangka and it wasn't enough; a week at Bunaken and it was enough diving, but not too much; and a week at Lembeh, which was barely enough but we saw all (well, many of) the things.

You likely know that in Lembeh, there is very little to do besides dive, and there is nothing to dive except muck, with a few interesting reefs. At LR, there is excellent food, lovely rooms, a nice pool, and a well-operated dive op. Bunaken Oasis is a jewel--gorgeous, large pool; remarkable restaurant, lovely cottages; very nice day boats--really, the entire package. And at all three, the staffs are terrific.

Because we did not stay at Murex Manado, we didn't qualify for the "Passport to Paradise," which is exclusive to the three Murex operations (Manado and Bangka are owned by the same family, who really opened up North Sulewesi diving; they also own the dive concession at LR). Nonetheless, we did have day boat transfers from Oasis to Bangka and Bangka to LR. We did not dive between Bunaken and Bangka, because the Ruang volcano erupted in the wee hours and things were dark and ashy; we dove twice between Bangka and LR, and it was great.

We agree that the three types of diving, and the quality of the resorts and their dive ops, makes North Sulewesi a great destination, and are already scheming a return. Not that you asked, but here's a batch of images from the three locations.

Hi Rick, your pictures are beautiful, thanks for sharing!

 

[Anbaric Cog]

We spent about three weeks on North Sulawesi islands a couple of months ago, staying at Bunaken Oasis, Murex Bangka, and Lembeh Resort.

The Bunaken diving is virtually all walls. Nice, healthy walls, of course, and many turtles. Bangka has some wild topography; canyons, swim-throughs, etc. We dove three days at Bangka and it wasn't enough; a week at Bunaken and it was enough diving, but not too much; and a week at Lembeh, which was barely enough but we saw all (well, many of) the things.

You likely know that in Lembeh, there is very little to do besides dive, and there is nothing to dive except muck, with a few interesting reefs. At LR, there is excellent food, lovely rooms, a nice pool, and a well-operated dive op. Bunaken Oasis is a jewel--gorgeous, large pool; remarkable restaurant, lovely cottages; very nice day boats--really, the entire package. And at all three, the staffs are terrific.

Because we did not stay at Murex Manado, we didn't qualify for the "Passport to Paradise," which is exclusive to the three Murex operations (Manado and Bangka are owned by the same family, who really opened up North Sulewesi diving; they also own the dive concession at LR). Nonetheless, we did have day boat transfers from Oasis to Bangka and Bangka to LR. We did not dive between Bunaken and Bangka, because the Ruang volcano erupted in the wee hours and things were dark and ashy; we dove twice between Bangka and LR, and it was great.

We agree that the three types of diving, and the quality of the resorts and their dive ops, makes North Sulewesi a great destination, and are already scheming a return. Not that you asked, but here's a batch of images from the three locations.

Wow great images. Thank you for sharing
I aspire to be that good someday!