Crazy Critter Heaven
Mention Lembeh diving in Manado to any serious underwater photographer and their eyes come over all misty and distant. Few places on the planet are as varied and give you the chance to see more shy critters such as the mimic octopus, flamboyant cuttlefish, harlequin shrimps, skeleton shrimps and innumerable nudibranchs.
The fish also include the usual tropical reef suspects but also the more bizarre: Ambon scorpionfish, snake eels, stonefish, sea robins, stargazers, devil fish and even the weedy scorpionfish. There are also beautiful seahorses including pygmies, pegasus, mandarinfish, ghost pipefish and the endemic Banggai cardinalfish. Manado diving resorts in the Lembeh Strait seem to have a higher than average rate of return customers as enthused first-timers return year upon year, never tiring of the wonders of this undersea paradise.
There are many diving places which claim to be the best and very few get close but it is difficult to imagine a better place in the world for critter hunting. No more than a few breaths go by between one bizarre and exhilarating sight and the next. If you've tired of night dives, then try one here - they are simply fantastic. We don't know of a better place for after dark encounters with extraordinary marine life.
Including the Lembeh Strait wreck, there are over 30 sites to choose from, all within six or seven kilometres of your dive resort, or just a few minutes boat ride across these calm, lake-like waters. It's easy to understand why scuba diving in the Lembeh Strait has a reputation that's hard to beat among discerning divers that want easy and convenient access to exceptional diving opportunities with bizarre marine life that you simply can not see in other destinations.
You can dive in Lembeh all year but the conditions do vary. January to June sees variable (but still fine) conditions and less divers. August sees the poorest visibility but the richest numbers of critters. September to October are probably the best two months overall.
Liveaboard season in the Lembeh Strait diving area runs year round.
Lembeh Strait Diving - Reef Basics
Great for: Small animals, underwater photography and advanced divers
Not so great for: Large animals, wall diving, drift dives and non-diving activities
Depth: 5 - 30m
Visibility: 10 - 25m
Currents: Gentle
Surface Conditions: Calm
Water Temperature: 26 - 29°C
Experience Level: Beginner - advanced
Number of dive sites: >30
Distance: ~45 km east of Manado (1½ hours)
Access: Manado diving and Lembeh resorts and liveaboards
Recommended length of stay: 5 - 10 days
Source : www.divetheworldindonesia.com
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