Kungkungan Bay Resort - Lembeh Strait

As a forum for underwater imaging I would be remiss if I didn't highly recommend Kungkungan Bay Resort in N. Sulawesi. I am the designer of their website and spent 5 weeks last year and 2 months this year at the resort. This year I was the "guest photo pro" and conducted digital still & video workshops for the guests.

There is another post on the forum which describes in words that which is impossible to describe. I suggest anyone interested visit the website http://www.kbronline.com Kungkungan Bay Resort./

There you will find all you ever wanted to know about this area and the resort. I have also posted an 80 image all digital porfolio on the site ( that eric cheng has promised to post here on wetpixel...one of these days ....are you listening eric?).

So as they say, if a picture is worth a thousand words, you can see 80,000 words real easy on this website.

My suggestion, visit this resort located in the area of the world's greatest biodiverstity.

Rod Klein

Rod's Website

Hi Rod,

I have heard a LOT about KBR - all good. What is the best way to get there? What is a good time of year to go?

Cheers

James Wiseman

I was diving last week in Lembeh Strait. BTW there are now two more choices of dive resort actually in Lembeh Strait:

- Sulawesi Dive Quest

- Murex

I suspect you get what you pay for, when comparing these 3 resorts; but I expect the diving itself would not be much different!

I stayed at SDQ, which I would say is still rather "under construction" but the only significant downside from the diving point of view was that there was no electricity except 17:00-24:00 every day. Don't know what it would be for the others.

The divemaster at SDQ said there are different things to see at different times of year; and that having visited in Jan/Feb I should come again both in August and November, to see some other things.

Some photos (small images only, I'm afraid) at uk.photos.yahoo.com/d3m2m (look in Lembeh folder, of course).

-David

James read my article in dive destinations!

I am not sure if I like the tone of this original post.

Firstly I am in no way comparing myself or my photgraphic experience with the authors.

Since this is a forum on which to express opinion, here is mine. I have seen the Kungkungan Bay resort website and whilst I agree with the author that this resort is located in an 'area of the world's greatest biodiverstity' I believe the website design and its content let it down (too much fancy flash and poor design layout). I believe the website is distinctly average, and the quality of photos posted on a daily basis on THIS forum are far superior than those used on this or the authors website (my opinion).

So if pictures DO tell a thousand words then I would suggest browsing e a few of the Wetpixel (non pro) members galleries.

Mark

I believe the website is distinctly average

I think maybe you've been spending too much time on the board with us Yanks Mark. And to think that I was accused of being "blunt" during a meeting in the UK.

Tom

Hi Rod,

 

I have heard a LOT about KBR - all good.  What is the best way to get there?  What is a good time of year to go?

 

Cheers

James Wiseman

We went there (combined with Irian Jaya) in fall of 2001. Our (planned) itinerary for the trip was DC-LA-Singapore-Ujung Padang-Sarong (Irian Jaya) -Ujung Padang-Manado (KBR). Things turned out a bit different (worst flight screwups ever - and all the problems were in the US).

I believe there are direct flights from Singapore to manado.

KBR is fantastic. I'd recommend combining it with a more "conventionally beautiful" destination - while the muck diving and ciritter hunting in the lembeh strait is very rewarding , particularly from a photographic standpoint, it would be a shame to travel that far and not also sample parts of indonesia featuring beautiful reefs and fish.

I'd travel to indonesia again in a heartbeat (been there twice) , but recent events, particularly the Bali Bombing, make it too frightening to travel with my wife and son.

I'd travel to indonesia again in a heartbeat (been there twice) , but recent events, particularly the Bali Bombing, make it too frightening to travel with my wife and son.

IMO the probability of injury or death in the road transfer from the airport to the resort and back again (a relaxed attitude to taking risks when driving, and no seat belts) is far far higher than the probability of being caught up in a terrorist incident.

I won't go to any areas where there seems to be a reasonable chance of open fighting or riots. But isolated terrorism doesn't affect my travel plans in the slightest.

That's a result of my personal assessment of the risks. Of course, I have no dependants, and that clearly affects my decisions about what risk is acceptable.

-David

IMO the probability of injury or death in the road transfer from the airport to the resort and back again (a relaxed attitude to taking risks when driving, and no seat belts) is far far higher than the probability of being caught up in a terrorist incident.

 

...

 

-David

Yea, but that's because you've been on that bus ride! Seriously, KBR is a fantastic dive experience but it is unusual and some may like it less than others. We did 4-5 dives a day for 11 days, each lasting at least an hour and I can honestly say I loved every dive. Adding more traditional diving to balance it out will be good for some but not necessary for all. It is personal taste and I'd do KBR only. The dive masters are so good you won't believe it, although I've heard some have left for another resort.

KBR is a macro destination only. No wide angle, no beautiful reefs and no 100 foot vis. You do get an incredible density of unusual creatures. Sometimes 4-5 frogfish on one dive. I saw not one but two different blue ring species there as well as a mimic on three separate dives and a wonderpus on one. Flambouyant cuttlefish, a hermit crab bigger than a basketball (very creepy), pygmy seahorses on demand. It goes on and on. Any diver with the means needs to have it on their short list. All that said, my travel agent won't go there now but will go to Bali.

We have a trip leaving at the end of September LIVE ABOARD which will alow 4 days in Lembeh (16 dives) + 6 touring the amazing gin-clear outer island reefs & volcanoes.

I handle everything including flights ex. UK or Singapore at a better rate than anyone!

If I wasn't already booked in September! I'd really like to do that trip.

CG,

What boat will you be using?

Cheers

Either this one

Or this one

....

I'll be using this one in July

We should compare notes.

Cheers

They sure leave those beds messy!

I'll be using this one in July

Send me details of company please.

CGF,

Send me your email address and I will send you their details + Indo trip schedule

You can see more pictures here Damnam trip

Cheers

TheHamburger@damnam.org

Click on the email button below!