Question Where to Dive in Lembeh

[raj_55555]

Hi Everyone, I'm traveling to Lembeh for three days from Canada. This is my first time there and I'm trying to decide between staying at cheap hotels in Manado and diving with smaller dive shops with a good rating (like Rumah Selam dive center) vs staying in resorts like NAD lembeh.

Will I have access to better dive sites with the resorts? I wouldn't mind spending the money if there is a material difference.

Any advice is welcome since it's my first visit there. Open to alternatives/liveaboard options if you think they are better than Lembeh in overall experience.


Itinerary:
Canada -> Phillipines (Apo) -> Bali (Tulamben/amed) -> Lembeh -> Canada

 

[matts1w]

Lembeh is about an hour or more away from Manado. Bitung is the small port city across from Lembeh Island, the main departure area for the resorts, and not the most attractive place in the world. It is busy, crowded, chaotic, and loud. Once you cross to the Lembeh side, it all gets much, much better.

I absolutely love Lembeh, and NAD is a very good option. Honestly, any of the resorts that have been around a while, survived COVID, and have solid reputations are good options. Competition is fierce, and word gets around the world pretty quickly if one isn't pulling their weight.

 

[cetacean]

@raj_55555

I've been to many of the Lembeh dive resorts (including several that didn't survive Covid). NAD is very good (we were there last summer).

Diving Lembeh from Manado would be a pain. Having met a couple of people who have done this before, the usual approach (diving Lembeh from Manado) is to take the 1 to 1.5 hour road trip to Lembeh, then dive it with one of the local operators, then do the return 1 to 1.5 hour roadtrip.

This would be the exact same trip you do exactly once if you stay at one of the Lembeh resorts instead (vs. doing this daily). How much would you need to save (in $) to make up for the ~3 hour transit each day? You are definitely giving up a dive each day doing it this way as well (all the resorts in Lembeh offer 3 dives/day + night dive).

Lembeh is a word class muck destination (many argue "the" world class muck diving destination). If you like critters, don't skip these dives.

Your trip sounds great - I'm assuming you're talking about Apo Island in the Philippines. Are you staying on the island, our along the Dauin coast? If the latter, the diving is very good, also mostly muck diving (like Lembeh). On our most recent trip to that area we spent one morning at Apo - the rest was along the Dauin coast. Other than the turtles and occasional frog fish, Apo is nice, but it's never amazed me.

I don't know how you have your (dive) days split - if you have flexibility I would consider ading a day (or 2) in Lembeh.

 

[Tippytoes12]

We have had three wonderful stays in Black Sand Duve Retreat, the most recent in April this year. It’s incredibly beautiful with amazing food and fabulous diving. One of the owners is Canadian.

 

[Centrals]

Itinerary:
Canada -> Phillipines (Apo) -> Bali (Tulamben/amed) -> Lembeh -> Canada

I would never go to Philippibes just to dive either Apo Island or Apo Reef. The direct non stop flight from YYZ or YVR to MNL is attractive but need an extra flight to Dumaguete for Apo Island and Apo Reef needs extra effort to get there.
If I were you I would just go to Manado as you have three different areas to choose eg. Bangka, Bunaken and Lembeh.
Flight from Singapore to Manado by Scoot(non daily and subsidary of SQ).

 

[Searcaigh]

I agree with @Centrals skip the Philippines and head to North Sulawesi

Check out Murex's Passport to Paradise.

Basing yourself in Manado to dive Lembeh is going to be a schlep traveling back and forth on a daily basis.

 

[JustinJRL]

Unless you're travelling well over a month, or are visiting friends or family in Philippines, you are better off saving Philippines for a separate trip!

As others have said, ZERO reason to stay in Manado to dive Lembeh. However, the dive shops in Manado will dive Manado dive sites, a mix of local muck sites perhaps with some trips to Bunaken. Nothing wrong with that, but they won't dive the same sites.

This past October I spent some time at TwoFish Lembeh, booked their cheapest room, and had a great time.

 

[ChrisM]

Only have one trip there but can confirm NAD Lembeh is fantastic

 

[uncfnp]

I can concur. Only one trip to Lembeh so far and our stay at NAD Lembeh was great. It was the slow season so just a few guests but even so the staff went all out. They were in the process of updating rooms and furniture. Excellent food including in house bread. Freshest fruit daily. Meals included either the owner or manager and often both, asking how our day was going and anything we needed. View from our bungalow was beautiful.

Their diver to guide ratio is 2:1 so dives tailored to each group’s needs. I highly recommend Rivo and we will ask specifically for him when we return. He was our guide for each of our 7 days diving, even night dives but I am sure they are all excellent.

 

[raj_55555]

This is excellent! Thank you everyone for your advice. I've decided to stay with Divers Lodge at Lembeh and dive with them. Also decided to take all of your advice and skip Philippines this time around and add that as part of the Lembeh trip.

Thanks again everyone, your responses were much appreciated. I'll make sure to post some photos and review after my trip.