Sulawesi - Suggestions Reccomendations

I'm looking at setting up a trip to Sulawesi in Sept, Oct or Nov and was wanting to get some recomendations as to what resorts and dive operations people here have used and would recommend? Also why you recommend it please?

Looking for a bit of muck diving, gotten bite by the muck bug, but also want to get some reef diving in also.

Thanks!

Are you looking at North Sulawesi in particular or Sulawesi as a whole? The standard places to dive in Sulawesi are Bunaken and Lembeh, then to a lesser extent the Gangga, Togians, Gorontalo. These are all in the northern part of Sulawesi Island.

In the south there is Wakatobi, and many new smaller islands that people are diving although as they are new they aren't well known, and i few places in central Sulawesi.

If you want a Lembeh/Bunaken combo then there are many places to suit your budget. On wetpixel there is the management from Bastianos, KBR and NAD-Lembeh and probably some others too. I'm sure they'll post something when they see the thread. Most of our photographers that come through our resort stay in Lembeh for most of their stay and tack on a few days on the beaches in Bunaken 'to please the wife' (Not my quote!)

I went to Lembeh in January, and stayed at NADS with my husband for 10 days and had a wonderful time there and would definitely recommend it. The majority is muck diving but my husband, who is not a photographer and not into muck diving, needed something a bit more and there are some nice sites further along the coast and on the other side of Lembeh island so we did a day trip to the other side and went to sites like California Dreaming - that satisfied his need for reefs and bigger things )

For muck diving and photography it was great! The wet and dry camera and computer room at NADs was very convenient and Mike and Simon who manage the place were a wealth of knowledge. Wonderful to have one guide for us who was our guide for the duration, he knew what we wanted to see and where we'd already been, really helpful and a great spotter of small things. I'll definitely go back, and not just because by strobe wasn't playing ball (that's a whole other thread on Subtronic Nova...!).

Fiona

Hi Jay

I will do my best not to turn this into an advertising pitch for KBR.....

Lots of our guests like to make the most of what North Sulawesi has to offer by spending some time diving Bunaken National Park on the west side of Sulawesi - and then switching to Weirdcritteristan in the Lembeh Straits.

Bunaken is classic diving: reefs, walls, great viz, turtles, the occasional shark. Lembeh Straits isn't. It's a freakshow. Viz of maybe 15-20m. If muck diving is your thing, I'd suggest 2-3 days diving in Bunaken (you may as well do it when you've travelled all this way) and then a week in Lembeh. Any of the major resorts will organise transfers for you. We all work together pretty well.

As for Lembeh resorts, modesty forbids me from overly promoting KBR - there are lots of good places to suit all budgets: NAD, Lembeh Resort, Lembeh Divers, Kasawari, Two Fish, Lembeh Hills - they're all good. (apologies, colleagues, if I havn't included everyone - no offence intended at all) And KBR of course - the first resort in Lembeh. Home of Fine Diving. Good nosh too

The diving is just wicked!

U could consider Gorontalo. There is a daily flight from Manado (just started in late Jan 10). But the dive season is very short Nov to Apr only, guess it is good for the reef! There is only one operator - Miguel's Diving.

Dived there at the end of 2009 & really loved it - beautiful, pristine reef (the salvador dadi sponges were especially impressive) & several wonderful muck sites too! Beautiful coastal landscape...

Oasis Hotel is quite basic but diving at Gorontalo is value for money!

We had 11 dive days (total 2 wks) & did a Gorontalo (7days), Manado (3days) & 1 day trip to Lembeh & had the best of all worlds.

Hi there,

Im Louise, Stew's wife (Thought I better say that before anyone thinks this is his opinion!!)

Having been to both KBR and NAD Lembeh in the Lembeh Strait, its NAD Lembeh we chose to return to.

We loved both of our visits to KBR and NAD. At both resorts you would be looked after and fed very well. However, KBR is very highly priced in comparison to NAD Lembeh. NAD has all the charm of KBR without the high price tag to go with it.

The house reef at KBR is second to none and is an awesome dive (you can only dive it if you stay at KBR), however, in my opinion, KBR is not worth the extra cost just to dive their house reef (the dive sites all around Lembeh are amazing).

I would suggest doing longer at Lembeh and then going over to Bunaken to see the fantastic walls. The house reef in front of Froggies at Bunaken was gorgeous, however we didnt stay there unfortunately so cannot comment on accommodation.

whatever you decide, you wont be disappointed.

Lou

Thanks for the information on the area. I booked a trip in Oct between KBR, most of my time is here, and Kima Bajo for the shortest period. That way I will hopefully get a good cross section of diving in the area.

Again thanks!!

I've been to Kima Bajo and KBR, you picked excellent resorts and ECO divers has excellent guides. You just tell the guides what you want to photograph and they will find the critter for you.

Also in traveling from Bunaken to Lembeh you do not have to break down your photo rig, its carried in a basket fully assembled.

I did 5 days in Bunaken, 5 in lembeh and I found both places to be fantastic. Transfer from bunaken to lembeh was easy and I still got 4 dives in that day.

My preference is to find resorts that are fairly close to the best diving. Most places in Lembeh should fit that bill.

I would have recommended Gangga Island Resort. It's halfway between Lembeh and Bunaken, and in the midst of the Bangka area which is not to miss. (Sahaung, Batu Mandi or Paradise pier are legendary dives in Northern Sulawesi)where you've got both critter and coral dives and easy access to either places on day trips.

The resort managed with italian flair has a lovely beach, probably the best around, and one of the most comfortable dive centres I've been too.

Even though I might sound very enthusiastic about the place I am in no way in relation with the management, I spent a week there in feb2009, I was really impressed with the settings and the dive organization who made everything possible to fulfill my wills, like for instance going out in Lembeh with a specific boat only for myself and two guides.

On the downside, quite upmarket prices but worth every cent.

I've been to Kima Bajo and KBR, you picked excellent resorts and ECO divers has excellent guides.

just an FYI, Eco Divers is no longer at KBR. KBR is running their own dive centre now.

Check out the Eco Divers website for more information about their Lembeh operation

just an FYI, Eco Divers is no longer at KBR. KBR is running their own dive centre now.

 

Check out the Eco Divers website for more information about their Lembeh operation

Its also worth mentioning that 7 out of the 11 diveguides pictured on their website have left the operation in the last 12 months. It is very important to ensure u have an experienced guide for Lembeh not a converted captain with a few months experience.

Hey guys

Can we not carried away please with the idea that there are no experienced dive guides left at KBR! Yes there have, inevitably, been departures. The photo referered to by musiotunya is, shall we say, a tad old..... The dive team remains in fine shape and contains some incredible sets of eyes. If you have any doubts about their spotting abilities do check out Trip Advisor for the views of recent guests. Some of our dive guides are indeed former KBR boat captains. And I for one am delighted they are with us: excellent people and incredible guides.

I should add Black Sand. Henke is an amazing guide; please request him in advance though. His knowledge from working at KBR for many years in the early days allowed me to capture critters I could only dream of on several past trips. If you like mimicry, he is your guide.

Cheers,

Marli

Hey guys

 

Can we not carried away please with the idea that there are no experienced dive guides left at KBR! Yes there have, inevitably, been departures. The photo referered to by musiotunya is, shall we say, a tad old..... The dive team remains in fine shape and contains some incredible sets of eyes. If you have any doubts about their spotting abilities do check out Trip Advisor for the views of recent guests. Some of our dive guides are indeed former KBR boat captains. And I for one am delighted they are with us: excellent people and incredible guides.

I am sure your newly trained dive guides are very nice. The point that i am trying to get over is that if your serious about Lembeh then u really need to be asking the operation about the level of experience of your guide as they can really make or break a trip. I have found the best way these days for getting great photo results is to book a private guide for my trips to Lembeh. Most operations can provide this service for a small surcharge.

Tim i am looking forward to seeing the new picture of the dive team.

Its also worth mentioning that 7 out of the 11 diveguides pictured on their website have left the operation in the last 12 months. It is very important to ensure u have an experienced guide for Lembeh not a converted captain with a few months experience.

Make that 8 out of 12 pictured in the dive team photo, new management arriving in April

Good luck on the next challenge Tim.