Lembeh Strait is the undisputed capital of "muck diving" — the art of finding absurdly camouflaged critters in black volcanic sand and rubble. The strait runs between Sulawesi and Lembeh Island and looks, from above, like nowhere you would want to dive. Below the surface it is the single most biodiverse patch of critter habitat on earth. Nothing is dramatic about the diving — easy depth, light current, short swims — but everything depends on the guide, who will find animals you would not see in a lifetime of looking yourself. Year-round diving with drier conditions April through October.
The year at a glance
- Water
- 27–29 °C
- Viz
- 8–15 m
- Sea
- moderate
- Rain
- high
- Water
- 27–29 °C
- Viz
- 8–15 m
- Sea
- moderate
- Rain
- high
- Water
- 27–29 °C
- Viz
- 10–15 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- moderate
- Water
- 27–29 °C
- Viz
- 10–15 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- moderate
- Water
- 27–29 °C
- Viz
- 10–15 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 26–28 °C
- Viz
- 10–15 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 26–28 °C
- Viz
- 10–15 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 26–28 °C
- Viz
- 10–15 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 26–28 °C
- Viz
- 10–15 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 27–29 °C
- Viz
- 10–15 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- moderate
- Water
- 27–29 °C
- Viz
- 8–15 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- moderate
- Water
- 27–29 °C
- Viz
- 8–15 m
- Sea
- moderate
- Rain
- high
Signature dive sites
The sites you'll hear about in every briefing.
- 01
Hairball
Classic black-sand site for hairy frogfish, mimic octopus, and countless nudibranchs.
- 02
Nudi Falls
Small wall with resident pygmy seahorses and nudibranchs.
- 03
TK 1 / Teluk Kembahu
Mandarinfish dive at dusk.
What you'll see
Top species with their April status.
Frogfish
Pygmy Seahorse
Mandarinfish
Blue-Ringed Octopus
Marine life by month
Peak Present Rare
Getting there
Gateway
Fly into Manado (MDC). Visa: Visa on arrival for most nationalities, 30 days.
Best months
Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov