To Lembeh or Not To Lembeh?

[BikerManiac]

I am going to Raja Ampat for 11 days in December. Trying to decide whether I should go to Lembeh Strait and do more diving. My time is short and If I really want to make it; I would have to squeeze a few days here and there. At most I could go there for only 2 or 3 days.

1) Is muck diving that much different/better in Lembeh than what I could experience on the liveaboard?
2) To the divers who have done both of the trips. What do you recommend?
3) Mermaid I arrives back in Sorong in the morning. How many flights are there to Manado? Is overnight required in Sorong or Manado?

If I had time, I would definitely do it. But need to weight the rewards vs punishments.
I assume I will be exhausted after the liveaboard if I do 4-5 dives days/10 days.

 

[WetPup]

The direct flights from Sorong to Manado are not daily. So it will entirely depend on what day of the week you get back to Sorong, and whether there's a direct flight that day. Alternatively, you could fly out from Sorong to Makassar and get a connecting flight to Manado the same day. It'd be tight trying to get much diving in, but I guess it could be done.

And yes, the muck diving in Lembeh is significantly different to what you will see in Raja Ampat. More weird and wacky critters than what you will see on your liveaboard.

I can't recommend one over the other - they are both entirely different styles of diving. If you can afford both, do both.

 

[Freewillow]

YOU WILL LOVE IT IN RANJA ON YOUR LIVEBOARD; nEVER BEEN IN lEMBEH? ALTHOUGH IT IS ON MY SHORT LIST; Sorry Captital lock on when I typed the beginning ;

 

[Lorenzoid]

I haven't been to RA, so I can't compare with Lembeh, but I have seen others ask how to split their time between Lembeh and Bunaken, which is also in North Sulawesi. Most people who ask this question are not die-hard muck divers and so are thinking they want to spend more days in Bunaken to see the bigger stuff and then tack on a couple of days in Lembeh just to see what all the fuss is about. A common reply to this question by people who have been to both is to consider reversing it, and spend more time in Lembeh than Bunaken. Lembeh is truly other-worldly. I have never read a report from anyone saying he wished he'd spent less time in Lembeh and more time somewhere else. Of course, RA is one of those bucket-list destinations as well--one I am still dreaming of doing. Tough decision.

 

[dirtfarmer]

Are you a photographer? If so go. Do you like great visibiliy, pretty coral reefs, and big animals? Yah I know who doesn't , watch some videos on YouTube and see what it's all about. It's not everyone's cup of tea, some come, love it and return for more ( I'm here for the 4th time) others find muck isn't for them. Going to Indonesia takes quite a bit of time effort and money, I spend as much time and money as I can afford on my trips there and maximize my experience for the effort.

 

[Wingy]

Considering that you will have a totally different style of diving on your LOB in RA, and you are in the neighbourhood so to speak, if you can jag a flight schedule that fits nicely then why would you not do it
Theres nothing you are going to see in Bunaken (ok, theres a bigger turtle in Bunaken than any ive seen at RA) that you wont see (given the ocean is playing nice) in RA so it kinda makes sense to do Lembeh over Bunaken. Weird critters for two or three days seems a perfectly nice way to end your trip - or you could take another weeks leave and do Bangka as well.

 

[jake11]

If it works out then do it for sure!!! The muck diving is fantastic in Lembeh! We have been several times and still want to go back! Try and squeeze it in if you can!

 

[billt4sf]

OK, so I was on the Mermaid in RA in November. One perspective is that many of us felt that 10 days was a little long. Before everyone jumps in and says how crazy I am, I am simply observing that at least a third of the boat felt that way. People were anxious to get back to their lives.

The Mermaid people treated us *very* well, it's not because we didn't like the boat. Ten days of 3 or 4 dives per day is plenty for some of us.

- Bill

 

[BikerManiac]

The direct flights from Sorong to Manado are not daily. So it will entirely depend on what day of the week you get back to Sorong, and whether there's a direct flight that day. Alternatively, you could fly out from Sorong to Makassar and get a connecting flight to Manado the same day. It'd be tight trying to get much diving in, but I guess it could be done.

Thanks. Great info. I did some research and I won't have direct flights to Manado. :-( I will have to go through Makassar first and then to Manado. (I think total travel time will be 6+ hours). Basically wasting one day to get there.

Are you a photographer? If so go. Do you like great visibiliy, pretty coral reefs, and big animals? Yah I know who doesn't , watch some videos on YouTube and see what it's all about.

Amazing videos on Youtube.

OK, so I was on the Mermaid in RA in November. One perspective is that many of us felt that 10 days was a little long. Before everyone jumps in and says how crazy I am, I am simply observing that at least a third of the boat felt that way. People were anxious to get back to their lives.

The Mermaid people treated us *very* well, it's not because we didn't like the boat. Ten days of 3 or 4 dives per day is plenty for some of us.
- Bill

Don't think you are crazy at all. I have felt the same way sometimes. December holidays (x-mas and new years) makes it harder.

 

[scorpiofish]

1) Is muck diving that much different/better in Lembeh than what I could experience on the liveaboard?

Yes, it is better. RA liveaboards don't hit too many muck sites on their normal itineraries.

2) To the divers who have done both of the trips. What do you recommend?

First, if this is your one and only trip or one of two trips ever to Indonesia, AND you can get at least two days of diving in, then do it. It will make your trip a bit more hectic, but better to be a little frazzled and dive Lembeh than to have never dived it at all.

3) Mermaid I arrives back in Sorong in the morning. How many flights are there to Manado? Is overnight required in Sorong or Manado?

Answered by someone else. This is where it can get hectic.