Lembeh Strait
The macro diving capital of the world is across the North Sulawesi
peninsula, an hour's drive from Manado. Lembeh Strait, formed by
North Sulawesi and Lembeh Island, passes nutrient-rich water between
the Maluku and Sulawesi Seas.
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Lembeh Strait , Sulawesi,
Indonesia |
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Frogfish |
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Harlequin Shrimp |
©Denise Nielsen
Tackett & Larry Tackett |
The Strait has few coral vistas but divers come here for the extraordinary
critters-it's muck diving at it's very best. The best diving is
in small bays away from the current where many juvenile fishes
and invertebrates are found. Most dives are under 30m (100ft) and
good dive guides are essential.
Water temperatures run 24-27ºC (78-84ºF). Diving is
good all year but December-March is overcast while July-August
is sunny and windy.
Best Feature
Lembeh's best feature is unusual marine life. If you want to see
ornate ghost pipefish, frogfishes, mandarin fish, seahorses, stargazers,
Banggai Cardinalfish, mimic octopus, Wunderpus, flamboyant cuttlefish,
nudibranches, and pygmy seahorses, this is the place for you.
Highlight
The Banggai Cardinalfish is a beautiful fish previously known
only from the remote Banggai Islands in eastern Sulawesi where
they lived among the spines of sea urchins in 3m (10ft) of water.
This fish is special because of its breeding habits. Other male
cardinalfish are oral brooders, meaning the male holds the female's
egg mass in his mouth until they hatch. The Banggai Cardinalfish
is the only one that continues to harbor the young hatchlings in
its mouth until they're old enough to survive on their own.
Several years ago some Banggai Cardinalfish were accidentally
introduced into Lembeh Strait. Since then, they've established
thriving colonies. They've expanded their territory to include
sea anemones and mushroom corals in addition to long-spined sea
urchins.
Dive Sites
Hairball
Hairball is a featureless black sand slope occasionally overtaken
with algae. Among the sand and rubble are animals that blend in
incredibly well with their environment - hairy frogfish, ghost
pipefish, flamboyant cuttlefish, sea slugs, etc.
Angel's Window
A submerged pinnacle with a swim-thru at 25m (82ft), this site
has good visibility and lots of fishes. Sergeant majors and butterflyfish
inhabit the shallows.
California Dreamin'
This site boasts a crevice and a reef slope full of gorgonians,
sea fans and orange tree corals that bloom in the current. Fish
life is good. Visibility can exceed 25m (82ft).
Nudi Falls
Nudi Falls is a wall that drops away to a field of rubble. Nudibranches,
weedy scorpionfish, Cometfish, and pygmy seahorses are the highlights
here.
Nudi Retreat
A deep cutout in the reef provides a sheltered spot for a pair
of resident sea moths. Expect to see nudibranches, pygmy seahorses,
ornate ghost pipefish, and sea fans.
Mawali Wreck
This 100m (330ft) Japanese freighter lies on its side at 30m (100ft).
Sunk during WWII, the ship is intact and heavily overgrown. The
port side is at 16m (55ft). Cargo holds are open and empty. Marine
life is excellent.
By Denise Nielsen Tackett & Larry Tackett
Boats visiting these areas | Ocean
Rover |
