dick the diver
Registered
i am looking to dive lembeh strait in july this year. i have a non diving partner, so i suppose i am looking for things to keep her happy while i am diving.what resorts can anyone recommend
diving lembeh
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Does she snorkel?
We stayed at Kungkungen Bay Resort, which is absolutely beautiful. They have a swimming pool, and a fantastic house reef that you can snorkel. They do field trips to a national park where there are Spectrum tarsiers, and also a tour of the local villages, but I'm not sure how many people have to sign up for those to go. The resort is on the coast, which is quite a long way from town, so it's not someplace where you can walk to restaurants or anything like that (and I don't know what's available in Bitung, because we didn't go there).
We stayed at Kungkungen Bay Resort, which is absolutely beautiful. They have a swimming pool, and a fantastic house reef that you can snorkel. They do field trips to a national park where there are Spectrum tarsiers, and also a tour of the local villages, but I'm not sure how many people have to sign up for those to go. The resort is on the coast, which is quite a long way from town, so it's not someplace where you can walk to restaurants or anything like that (and I don't know what's available in Bitung, because we didn't go there).
AlanWald
Contributor
This is a tough question.
Even the fanciest of resorts will probably have very little for a non-diver to do and most of the guests will be out diving or sleeping. The Kungkungan Bay Resort (KBR) web site shows a swimming pool.
And nearby Bitung town is really only interesting if you like to study the palm oil industry.
There is the Tangkoko Nature Reserve nearby that is known for the little Tariser primate and birds.
Where I stayed was very basic. Food, shelter and diving. The divemaster and staff like to play guitar and sing at night.
Try http://www.north-sulawesi.com/ to see what things can be done in the vicinity (river rafting etc)
as well as
http://www.divenorthsulawesi.com/
Write to the various resorts and get ideas from them about various day trips from Lembeh.
A lot can be seen snorkeling in the shallows at some dive sites.
July is peak season for Bunaken and Lembeh (mainly because of European summer vacations) so you should inquire about accommodation now if you want to go in July.
From California, the airfares are cheaper before March 31 and after mid-September. I just came back last week and was in Bunaken and Lembeh for the month of April, we had no rain in the daytime except on the way to the airport to leave. It did rain heavily one night. Water temps ran from 81 F (27 C) - 84 F. (29C)
Don't forget your international departure tax at Manado airport of 75,000 rupiah payable in cash after check-in (less than US$8) (different rate for domestic, and other airports)
Even the fanciest of resorts will probably have very little for a non-diver to do and most of the guests will be out diving or sleeping. The Kungkungan Bay Resort (KBR) web site shows a swimming pool.
And nearby Bitung town is really only interesting if you like to study the palm oil industry.
There is the Tangkoko Nature Reserve nearby that is known for the little Tariser primate and birds.
Where I stayed was very basic. Food, shelter and diving. The divemaster and staff like to play guitar and sing at night.
Try http://www.north-sulawesi.com/ to see what things can be done in the vicinity (river rafting etc)
as well as
http://www.divenorthsulawesi.com/
Write to the various resorts and get ideas from them about various day trips from Lembeh.
A lot can be seen snorkeling in the shallows at some dive sites.
July is peak season for Bunaken and Lembeh (mainly because of European summer vacations) so you should inquire about accommodation now if you want to go in July.
From California, the airfares are cheaper before March 31 and after mid-September. I just came back last week and was in Bunaken and Lembeh for the month of April, we had no rain in the daytime except on the way to the airport to leave. It did rain heavily one night. Water temps ran from 81 F (27 C) - 84 F. (29C)
Don't forget your international departure tax at Manado airport of 75,000 rupiah payable in cash after check-in (less than US$8) (different rate for domestic, and other airports)
If you do a search on lembeh, you will get a lot of results for places to stay. There was just a thread on good resorts. That said, through my research I found that there is nearly nothing to do other than sit at the hotel and dive in Lembeh. I think a lot of resorts will take you to the nearby national park in Sulawesi for a day trip, or other things like this. But, I opted for Bali because of my non-diving partner, my girlfriend. Someone told me you can go to lembeh and find the critters, and she can go to bali and find a new boyfriend. Point taken, and Bali is my place this august. They have 3 great muck dive sites, check out the website in my sig, plus other good sites. Probably not the answer you want to hear. Again, to find the hotels, simply search lembeh and there will be many many threads with suggestions, though I am sure people will be eager to suggest their favorite place in this thread! I was looking at Nomad Adventure Divers when I was thinking about going, before the decision to go to Bali.
pelan-pelan
Contributor
What does your partner like to do?
Sun, pool, reading in tranquil surroundings - pick a lembeh resort with a pool.
Learning to dive - lembeh would be fine, research the resort carefully.
Going out to see local sites, nature reserves, walking up volcanoes - lembeh is also fine, but check with the resort what they offer in the way of guided tours.
Casinos, designer clothers, discos - lembeh would be a no.
In fact, Sulawesi would be a no.
Sun, pool, reading in tranquil surroundings - pick a lembeh resort with a pool.
Learning to dive - lembeh would be fine, research the resort carefully.
Going out to see local sites, nature reserves, walking up volcanoes - lembeh is also fine, but check with the resort what they offer in the way of guided tours.
Casinos, designer clothers, discos - lembeh would be a no.
In fact, Sulawesi would be a no.
Another recommendations , please visit http://www.bastianoslembeh.com. Its a new resort.
pelan-pelan
Contributor
Local villages, Tomohon market, volcanoes, nature reserveLekicINC:
So would it be wrong to say that Lembeh has a bad rep for having NOTHING to do? Because, on sipadan say, where you are on an oil rig, or a fancy resort, there is a little village but thats it. The nature reserve and volcanoes are an option to do instead of diving. How about doings and dive too in same day? Is it possible to go to Lembeh, and not eat everymeal with your hotel, or other hotel resteruants? Not trying to hi-jack , hopefully this helps the original poster who seems to be MIA
pelan-pelan
Contributor
It depends on whether you want to make the effort to get out and about a bit after diving. If you are not used to Indonesia, or SE Asia, then it might be daunting. If you are comfortable with the environment then seek advice from the resort and get a taxi and get out and about locally. Bitung is a dusty, noisy, busy SE Asian town - that isn't to say that it isn't interesting although perhaps not scenic in a cutesy way. When we were there the locals were friendly and helpful, if rather shy and many not speaking much English. So go pratice your Indonesian.
For the very best advice - email the propsed resort with your questions. If they don't reply - book somewhere else. They should reply and give you some ideas of what they would recommend. Please note that the resorts that are diving the Lembeh Straits are in differing locations - so the responses may well be different.
For the very best advice - email the propsed resort with your questions. If they don't reply - book somewhere else. They should reply and give you some ideas of what they would recommend. Please note that the resorts that are diving the Lembeh Straits are in differing locations - so the responses may well be different.
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