Follow Us:
Snorkeling in Lembeh Strait
Snorkeling boat in Lembeh Strait
Coral Reef Snorkeling in Bangka
Romantic Cruise in Lembeh

EXCLUSIVE SNORKELING IN LEMBEH

CRITTERS AT LEMBEH RESORT

Critters at Lembeh Resort offers exclusive snorkeling experiences in the Lembeh Strait. Critters at Lembeh Resort snorkeling guides have years of experience, are trained in marine biology and are passionate about sharing the rare and unusual critters which the Lembeh Strait has to offer. Snorkeling in the Lembeh Strait is one of our passions and we hope to share it with you.

Lembeh’s location, just off the tip of North Sulawesi, is at the heart of the Coral Triangle which is the most diverse marine environment on Earth. In Lembeh you can easily combine snorkeling over vibrant coral reefs with experiencing Lembeh’s world famous muck.

Muck snorkeling is a thrilling experience with every critter just waiting to be discovered. Our Critters at Lembeh Resort guides will be by your side to point out some of the numerous critters which make this such an iconic region of Indonesia.

Our world renowned diving and snorkeling center, Critters at Lembeh Resort, prides themselves on their exclusive snorkeling services. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned pro Critters at Lembeh Resort aim to provide you with the snorkeling experience of a life time.

If you are accompanying a diver at Lembeh Resort we can arrange your schedules so you enjoy being out on the water together. We strive to not only meet your needs but to exceed them.

Guided Snorkeling in Lembeh
CORAL REEF SNORKELING

Join Critters at Lembeh Resort for a 2 or 3 site day trip to discover the rich and vibrant coral reefs which surround Bangka Island, the north of the Lembeh Strait and the east coast of Lembeh. These lesser known coral reef sites are teeming with life and bursting with kaleidoscopic colors.

Snorkeling in Lembeh
MUCK SNORKELING

The volcanic sand which banks the Lembeh Strait supports shallow coral reefs and an abundance of rare marine life. Our professional, Critters at Lembeh Resort, snorkeling guides will be by your side to highlight the wonderful critters which make Lembeh such a world famous destination.

Night diving in Lembeh
NIGHT & DUSK SNORKELING

For some of the unique marine creatures of the Lembeh Strait the action is just getting started when the sun goes down. Dusk or night snorkeling in Lembeh is an absolute must for anyone who wants to see some of Lembeh’s most unusual, and unique, nocturnal critters.

DIVE SITE MAP
Hover over a dive flag to explore a dive site or choose one from the menu below:
Lembeh Straight Diving Map by Lembeh Resort & Critters@Lembeh

AIR BAJO

  • Description:
    Air Bajo is one of the premier muck dive sites located on Lembeh Island. In Indonesian, Air Bajo means Sea Gypsy. Air Bajo is a large area that is broken up int three dive sites. Each of the three sites begins with a shallow sandy flat 4-6 m deep, then a gentle sandy slope to a depth of 20m where the bottom gradually flattens out.
  • Depth:
    5 m – 25 m
  • Boat Ride:
    12 minutes away
  • Critters:

    Coconut Octopus
    Painted Frogfish
    Ornate Ghost Pipefish
    Common Seahorse
    Flamboyant Cuttlefish

AIR PRANG 1, 2, 3

  • Description:
    “Air” means water and “Prang” means war. Air Prang was named after the jetty offering fresh water from an uphill aquifer, installed by the Japanese during WW2. Air Prang is a large, spread-out gradual sandy slope, which is popular for night diving but also potentially great during the day.
  • Depth:
    25 m maximum depth
  • Boat Ride:
    7 minutes
  • Critters:

    Giant frogfish
    Yellow Ribbon Eel
    Rhinopias Paddle-flap
    Wonderpus Octopus
    Broadclub Cuttlefish

ANGEL’S WINDOW

  • Description:
    A twin-peaked coral pinnacle comes within a meter of the surface. A large cave offers a swim-through for divers on the deep end of the pinnacle. This site got its name from the sunlight that shines through the cave opening in the early morning. One side is a coral slope leveling out onto a sand flat at 15 meters and on the other side is a wall to a shelf at 8 meters, then a small plateau and another drop-off, down to 20-32 meters.
  • Depth:
    30 m maximum depth
  • Boat Ride:
    20 minutes
  • Critters:

    Bargibanti Pygmy Seahorse
    Xeno Crab
    Bubble Coral Shrimp
    Reef Octopus or Day octopus
    Leaf Scorpion Fish

AW SHUCKS

BATU ANGUS

  • Description:
    This is a sheltered series of lava bowls offering good hard coral growth (especially lettuce corals) in shallow depths, no current and visibility better than anywhere else in the Strait. The dive site is named Batu Angus because “Batu” means rock and “Angus” means burns, signifying the hardened lava rock in the water. Although there are few schooling fish, this is an excellent place for snorkeling. For divers this site is known for mandarin fish, which can be seen mating and fighting at dusk.
  • Depth:
    28 m maximum depth
  • Boat Ride:
    25 minutes
  • Critters:

    Giant Moray
    Reef Octopus or Day octopus
    Broadclub Cuttlefish
    Banded Messmate Pipefish
    Pajama Cardinal Fish

BATU KAPAL

  • Description: In Indonesian, “Batu” means rock and “Kapal” means ship. From a distance, the rocks of this site resemble a ship. These rocks are a set of pinnacles off the northern tip of Lembeh Island. This is the best big fish dive in North Sulawesi, but severe multi-directional currents prevent all but only the most experienced divers from venturing there. Turtles, white-tip and grey reef sharks, as well as eagle rays are also sometimes seen.
  • Depth: 30 m maximum depth
  • Boat Ride: 30 minutes
  • Critters:

    Eagle Ray
    Blue-Spotted Stingray
    Six Banded Angelfish
    Humphead Wrasse
    Midnight Snapper

BATU MERAH

  • Description:
    In Indonesian, “Batu” means rock and “Merah” means red, as this site has a red tint to the slopes. This site offers two dives: a rich coral slope or a steep sandy slope with coral bommies and a sunken fishing boat. There is much to see here. A cleaning station at 24 meters is a focal point, but there is a wide array of nudibranchs, pipefish, crustaceans, and cephalopod species.
  • Depth:
    28 m maximum depth
  • Boat Ride:
    20 minutes
  • Critters:

    Ornate Ghost Pipefish
    Boxer Crab
    Chromodoris kunei
    Flying Gurnard
    Estuarine Stonefish

BATU SANDAR

  • Description:
    In Indonesian, Batu Sandar means Leaning Rock. The dive site is named after a rocky pinnacle that leans above the water. A finger of shallow hard coral extends out into the Strait down to 20 meters on a white sandy slope. Sheltered shallows have excellent soft coral and sponge growth, and the deeper flat sand has many scattered coral bommies. A good site for Pygmy Seahorses in the 20-25m depth range. The shallows are good for snorkelers.
  • Depth:
    27 m maximum depth
  • Boat Ride:
    18 minutes
  • Critters:

    Banded Coral Shrimp
    Bargibanti Pygmy Seahorse
    Wonderpus Octopus
    Pegasus Sea Moth
    Broadclub Cuttlefish

BIANCA

  • Description:
    This dive site is beside police pier 2 so it is quite similar to Police Pier 2. A sandy and rubble slope with soft coral area with many orange sponges, as well as a small muck area. “Pantai” means beach and “Kecil” means small, so this site is named after the nearby beach, which is very small.
  • Depth:
    28 m maximum depth
  • Boat Ride:
    10 minutes
  • Critters:

    Giant frogfish
    Mandarin Fish
    Painted Frogfish
    Ribbon Eel
    Risbecia tryoni

CALIFORNIA DREAMING

  • Description:
    This stunning site is a seamount out from the island of Pulau Putus. It features twin coral peaks with a sand flat in between. The shallows are good for giant frogfish and tiny boxer crabs. The coral slopes down on either side, but the most exposed section is a series of steps formed by boulders and sand shelves which descend into the depths. A kaleidoscope of soft corals make this Lembeh’s most colorful dive site. Large mackerel and tuna pass by and the scenery is a big draw.
  • Depth:
    can be more than 30 m maximum depth
  • Boat Ride:
    19 minutes
  • Critters:

    Candy Crab
    Boxer Crab
    Bargibanti Pygmy Seahorse
    Pontohi Pygmy Seahorse
    Harlequin Crab

CRITTER HUNT

  • Description:
    This dive site has a self-explanatory name – it is a lovely dive site, which offers some spectacular critter hunting. It has a nice and healthy reef in the shallows with many different species of anemones. A little bit deeper, there is a gentle rubble slope. Patches of coral rubble, goniopora and alvepora corals live at around 22 meters.
  • Depth:
    25 m maximum depth
  • Boat Ride:
    8 minutes
  • Critters:

    Warty Forgfish
    Tiger Shrimp
    Ornate Ghost Pipefish
    Emperor Shrimp
    Banded Pipefish

DANTE’S WALL

  • Description: This site is named after a dive guide named Dante. At the very northern tip of Lembeh Island, this dive site has a beautiful wall going down to 30-35 meters, covered in black corals and sea fans. Where the wall ends at a slope, in the shallows there is small opening to a huge cave with shrimp, lobsters, and flashlight fish.
  • Depth: 35 m maximum depth
  • Boat Ride: 20 minutes
  • Critters:

    Giant Frogfish
    Bornella anguilla
    Blacklip Butterfly Fish
    Bargibanti Pygmy Seahorse
    Butterfly Fish

GOBY A’CRAB

  • Description:
    This site is named for the extensive variety of gobies and crabs that can be found there. One of the few dive sites situated far south in Lembeh Strait. Excellent coral growth in the shallows, with a steep white sandy slope below. Visibility is generally better than in the middle of Lembeh Strait. A good mix of muck and coral species.
  • Depth:
    28 m maximum depth
  • Boat Ride:
    25 minutes
  • Critters:

    Algae Octopus
    Ornate Ghost Pipefish
    Twin Spot Goby
    Pygmy Cuttlefish
    Halimeda Ghost Pipefish

HAIRBALL 1, 2, 3

  • Description:
    This is one of the most famous of the muck sites in the Strait. The sandy slope here is exceptionally rich. The position on a point means that the mix of currents brings more nutrients than on most other nearby sites. A sandy slope to 30 meters with scattered reef in the shallows and at the far north end of the dive site.
  • Depth:
    16 minutes
  • Critters:

    Hairy Frogfish
    Long Arm Octopus
    Leafy Filefish
    Emperor Snapper
    Flamboyant Cuttlefish

HEYNUS

  • Description:
    When first exploring this site, three divemasters; Terry, Ronald and Nus were trying to come up with a name when Terry said, “What about Hey, Nus?”. And that is how it got its name. It is a muck site with a gentle sandy slope that drops down to coral patches in about 14-20 meter depth. There are lots of scattered Physogyra corals and rope sponges along the slope.
  • Depth:
    25 m maximum depth
  • Boat Ride:
    16 minutes
  • Critters:

    Crocodile Snake Eel
    Giant Frogfish
    Snowflakes Moray
    Cockatoo Waspfish
    Emperor Shrimp

JAHIR 1, 2

  • Description:
    A muck site that can be exceptional rich in critters. Coral patches on the shallow sandy flat to about 5 meters depth and a black sandy slope that continues down to 28 meters. Few concrete blocks that the mooring line is attached to and some sponge areas along the slope attracts a lot of interesting finds.
  • Depth:
    28 m maximum depth
  • Boat Ride:
    11 minutes
  • Critters:

    Hairy Frogfish
    Long Arm Octopus
    Robust Ghost Pipefish
    Painted Frogfish
    Flabellina rubrolineata

JIKO YANSI

KAPAL INDAH

  • Description:
    A wreck dive in the central Strait. Kapal Indah was a large fishing trawler that now rests upright on a 30m sandy bottom. The main deck of the wreck is at about 20m. Shoreward of the wreck, a rubble slope rises to the shallows providing a good place to finish off the dive looking for small critters.
  • Depth:
    30 m maximum depth
  • Boat Ride:
    15 minutes
  • Critters:

    Flabellina exoptata
    Bubble Coral Shrimp
    Bargibanti Pygmy Seahorse
    Painted Frogfish

LEMBEH RESORT HOUSE REEF

  • Description:
    “House Reefs” are traditionally located in front of the resort. The house reef is a shore dive, which can be dived any time. A sand and sea grass bed in the shallows at 2-7 meters leads on to a slope from 8-15 meters depth. Maximum depth is 25 meters. The substrate is mostly sand with colonies of corals and rubble areas at 7-8m. At 15 meters there are “reef balls” – artificial reefs which attract additional life. The house reef can be easily self-guided by means of a buoy system, which starts from 2 meters, continues down to 15 meters and brings you right back to shore.
  • Depth:
    25 m maximum depth
  • Boat Ride:
    shore dive
  • Critters:

    Pinnate Batfish
    Blue Ribbon Eel
    Black Ribbon Eel
    Pygmy Sea Dragon
    Twin Spot Goby

MADIDIR

  • Description:
    A southern muck site, this is a shallow (2-3 meters) flat sandy area leading to a slope down to 20+ meters where the bottom reminds you of the craters of the surface of the moon. All sand. A cargo ship had been sunk on the shallow sandy flat. A bit different from sand sites within the Strait, it is hit-and-miss here, but there can be an exceptional variety of venomous fish, and pipefishes and their relatives. The site is named after the nearby village.
  • Depth:
    28 m maximum depth
  • Boat Ride:
    30 minutes
  • Critters:

    Common Seahorse
    Mimic Octopus
    Joruna funebris
    Common Seahorse
    Devil Scorpionfish

MAGIC CRACK

MAKAWIDE 1, 2, 3

MAWALI WRECK

NUDI FALLS

  • Description:
    Nudi Falls is named after the fact that the bubbles from the divers sometimes cause nudibranchs to fall off the wall above and drift down. One of the most popular sites in the Strait. It consists of a beautiful sheer wall with a rocky slope below, then a sandy slope, levelling out into the main channel of rubble sprouting a deep forest of large soft corals. Scenically, this site is unlike any other in the Strait.
  • Depth:
    20 m maximum depth
  • Boat Ride:
    7 minutes
  • Critters:

    Flabellina rubrolineata
    Nembrotha kubaryana
    Glossodoris cincta
    Painted Frogfish
    Pygmy Seadragon

NUDI RETREAT 1, 2, 3

  • Description:
    One of the most heavily-dived sites in the strait, this is a lovely coral bowl in the shallows, turning into a sandy slope with encrusted boulders down below with two mini walls stretching out to either side, sporting healthy soft coral growth right up to only 2 meters in depth. The prime attractions here are pygmy seahorses and sea moths along with the attractive underwater scenery and general variety. Nudi Retreat is named for the large variety of nudibranchs that can be found there. When the visibility is good and a bit of current is running to open up all the soft corals, Nudi Retreat is a good Wide Angle dive.
  • Depth:
    28 m maximum depth
  • Boat Ride:
    10 minutes
  • Critters:

    Bargibanti Pygmy Seahorse
    Pegasus Sea Moth
    Winged Pipefish
    Electric Clam
    Pontohi Pygmy Seahorse

PANTAI PARIGI

  • Description:
    “Pantai” means beach and “Parigi” means well, so this site is named after the fresh water well on the nearby beach. A white sand muck site with healthy and dense coral cover in the shallows, then a gentle white sandy slope that is a good alternative to the predominantly black sand in the Strait.
  • Depth:
    28 m maximum depth
  • Boat Ride:
    8 minutes
  • Critters:

    Blue-Ringed Octopus
    Halimeda Crab
    Ambon Scorpionfish
    Flamboyant Cuttlefish
    Stick Pipefish

PANTE ABO

  • Description:
    A 5 minutes trip away from the resort, this site has a coral area in the shallow parts around 5 until 7 m. It continues with black sandy slope until 20 m and rubble in the deep area. This is a nice site for night dives. “Pante” means beach and “Abo” is the name of a local girl who passed away near the site.
  • Depth:
    6- 25 m
  • Boat Ride:
    5 minutes
  • Critters:

    Warty Forgfish
    Wonderpus Octopus
    Robust Ghost Pipefish
    Chromodoris willani
    Chromodoris annae

PANTAI JIKO

PINTU COLADA

PINTU KOTA KECIL

  • Description:
    To the right side of the resort, this site has a nice coral area surrounded by black sand and coral rubble. “Pintu” means door or gateway, “Kota” means town, and Kecil is the name of the nearby village.
  • Depth:
    25 m maximum depth
  • Boat Ride:
    3 minutes
  • Critters:

    Banggai Cardinal Fish
    Ribbon Eel
    Twin Spot Goby
    Fingered Dragonet

PINTU KOTA BESAR (SEAGRASS)

POLICE PIER 2

  • Description:
    A sand and rubble slope with soft coral area with many orange sponges, as well as a small muck area. There are some pearl farm shacks on stilts in this site – a lot to see under the shack. Police Pier 2 is named for its proximity to the pier of the police station that monitors Lembeh Strait.
  • Depth:
    28 m maximum depth
  • Boat Ride:
    10 minutes
  • Critters:

    Banggai Cardinal Fish
    Baramundi Cod
    Painted Frogfish
    Bigfin Squid
    Harlequin Shrimp

PULAU ABADI

PULAU DUA

  • Description:
    A small island off the southeast coast of Lembeh on the open ocean side of Lembeh Island. This dive site features a slope with fingers of reef down to 30 meters. Good visibility, although can be subject to strong current, attracting the bigger fish.
  • Depth:
    25 m maximum depth
  • Boat Ride:
    1 hour
  • Critters:

    Fusiller
    White Tip Shark
    Midnight Snapper
    Crocodile Fish
    Ribbon Eel

PULAU PUTUS

RETAK LARRY (LARRY’S CRACK)

ROJOS

SARENA BESAR

  • Description:
    This site is at the Sarena Island group in the center of the strait. Since it is located at the “big” island, and the word for big in Indonesian is “Besar” the site is called “Sarena Besar”. The site is a combination of coral, rubble area, and a sandy bottom. In the shallow, there is some nice coral area, whereas the deep area is sandy bottom.
  • Depth:
    3 m -20 m
  • Boat Ride:
    5 minutes away
  • Critters:

    Wonderpus Octopus
    Blue Ribbon Eel
    Algae Octopus
    Harlequin Shrimp
    Nembrotha kubaryana

SARENA BARAT

SLOW POKE

TANDURUSA

  • Description:
    This dive site is named after the nearby village and means ‘deer horns’. It is a gentle sand and rubble slope.
  • Depth:
    25 m maximum depth
  • Boat Ride:
    10 minutes
  • Critters:

    Hispid frogfish
    Whiskered /Okinawa Goby
    Phyllodesmium magnum
    Hairy Shrimp
    Robust Ghost Pipefish

TANJUNG KUBUR

  • Description:
    This site is named after the cemetery in the nearby village on the cape, as “Tanjung” means cape and “Kubur” means cemetery. A slope with nice hard corals in the shallows down to 15 meters, leading on to sand and rubble with small reef patches to 30 meters.
  • Depth:
    30 m maximum depth
  • Boat Ride:
    15 minutes
  • Critters:

    Painted Frogfish
    Hairy Octopus
    Robust Ghost Pipefish
    Blue-Ringed Octopus
    Thorny Seahorse

TANJUNG KUSU-KUSU

  • Description:
    “Tanjung” means cape and “kusu-kusu” means tall or wild grass, so the dive site is named for the tall grass growing on the cape near the site. A shallow coral/rubble site with a residential population of mandarin fish. A good place for dusk dives to observe courtship and mating behavior of this elegant fish.
  • Depth:
    20 m maximum depth
  • Boat Ride:
    5 minutes
  • Critters:

    Mandarin Fish
    Giant Frogfish
    Wonderpus Octopus
    Pinnate Batfish
    Halgerda batangas

TANJUNG TEBAL

  • Description:
    This stunning site offers huge boulders, creating canyons and shelves which stretch well out into the Strait. Strong currents are usually found here, demanding planning for slack tide. “Tanjung” means cape and “Tebal” means wide or thick, so this dive site is named for the thick part of the cape on which it lies, as seen from above.
  • Depth:
    25 m maximum depth
  • Boat Ride:
    15 minutes
  • Critters:

    Pontohi Pygmy Seahorse
    Wonderpus Octopus
    Bargibanti Pygmy Seahorse
    Nembrotha purpureolineata
    Xeno Crab

TK3

  • Description:
    ATK 1, 2 and 3 are short for Teluk Kembahu. “Teluk” means bay and Kembahu is the name of the nearby village. An excellent muck site with a sandy slope that starts at 5 meters and continues down to about 22 meters. Patches of rope-sponges attract various marine life as well as some small coral bommies in the shallows.
  • Depth:
    28 m maximum depth
  • Boat Ride:
    12 minutes
  • Critters:

    Hairy Frogfish
    Mimic Octopus
    Painted Frogfish
    Black Ribbon Eel
    Blue Ribbon Eel

The marine life of Lembeh Strait