Updated May 14, 2022
Are you looking for your dream dive vacation? This is the fifth in a series of reviews of the best liveaboard dive safaris. In this post, the focus will be Bunaken Island and Lembeh Strait, Northern Sulawesi, Indonesia. Below is a description of the diving and a review and comparison of the best dive resorts and liveaboards with photos, videos, and maps.
To check out other liveaboard and resort reviews, click on Liveaboards/Resorts on the menu at the top and choose a title.
Have you ever been diving on Bunaken Island or Lembeh Strait before? If so, I’d love to know about your experience. What dive shop or liveaboard did you use? Which dive spots are the best and what are the conditions there regarding the visibility, current, water temperature, sealife attractions, etc.? Please post your response in the comments section at the bottom and we’ll all learn something we can use.
Bunaken Island Diving
On the western side of the northernmost tip of Sulawesi Island is the city of Manado. Just out of Manado Bay is Bunaken National Marine Park, typified for the scuba diver as having tremendous biodiversity, varieties of fish, macro, and great walls. The park, made up of the five islands – Bunaken, Siladen, Manado Tua, Montehague, and Nain, covers 75,000 hectares and has a couple of dozen excellent dive sites.
The healthy reef has a bit of drift caused by ocean currents and is suitable for beginner to advanced divers. This current brings nutrients that help nourish the great diversity of life there.
A great many species are permanently anchored like corals, sponges, tunicates and giant clams and others are always there like blacktip sharks, barracuda, tuna, dugongs, and a tremendous variety of reef fishes. The dugongs like to feed in the grass beds in the south of the park. 33 species of butterflyfish and 70% of all Indo-Pacific reef fishes reside in the park. Macro enthusiasts also have a vast palate of shrimps, nudibranchs, anemones, crabs, and many other smaller critters. In June pelagic sharks start arriving and in July the prevalence of dolphins and whales increases. July and August see the arrival of sperm whales in migration to Sangihe, to the north, for calving.
As a point of interest, the coelacanth (the famous living fossil) was found in lava tubes off of Manado Tua.
Diving is possible year-round with some limitations. It is best from March to October. Winds and rain can create rough surface conditions with 1-2 meter swells from November to February. The water temperature is fairly constant at 27-30°C (81-86°F) and visibility good ranging from 20-35m (65-115ft).
Bunaken National Park Reef Conditions Summary
Depth: 5->40 m (16 ft-130 ft)
Visibility: 20-35 m (65-115 ft)
Currents: usually mild, but can be strong
Surface Conditions: calm (March to October)
Water Temperature: 27-30°C (81-86°F)
Experience Level: beginner-advanced
Number of Dive Sites: ~50
Distance: 18 km (11 miles) north of Manado Bay (40 mins)
Lembeh Strait Diving
Due east of Manado off the eastern coast of northern Sulawesi in the Molucca Sea is Lembeh Island, with its narrow strait separating it from the bigger main island.
It too is renowned for its biodiversity and is particularly noted for its muck diving. A near-encyclopedia of fascinating and quirky creatures reside there including this list: mimic octopus, flamboyant cuttlefish, harlequin shrimps, skeleton shrimps, many varieties of nudibranch, Ambon and weedy scorpionfish, snake eels, stonefish, sea robins, stargazers, devil fish, pygmy and Pegasus seahorses, mandarin fish, ghost pipefish and Banggai cardinalfish.
The diving is suitable for beginners and advanced divers and possible year-round.
Water temperature is warmest from October to March at 28-29°C (82-84°F) and coolest at 25-26°C (77-79°F) in July and August. This cooler season is also the time of more sightings of macro critters primarily due to it being the season of reproduction.
At the time of warmest water temperatures in January and February, visibility is at its lowest. The best vis is from October to December.
The southeast monsoon winds are in effect from June to September, sometimes creating a choppy surface. In the season of heaviest rains in January and February, some sites in the north end of the Lembeh Strait may be too rough for diving.
Lembeh Strait Reef Conditions Summary
Depth: 5-30 m (16-100 ft)
Visibility: 10-25 m (35-82 ft)
Currents: mild
Surface Conditions: calm (with the above-described exceptions)
Water Temperature: 25-29°C (77-84°F)
Experience Level: beginner-advanced
Number of Dive Sites: ~55
Distance: ~45 km (28 miles) east of Manado (1½ hours)
Bunaken Island and Lembeh Strait Liveaboard Dive Boats
There are 3 liveaboard dive boats cruising Northern Sulawesi. They all make trips there, as well as tours to other relatively nearby diving locations that include Raja Ampat, Komodo, Banda, Sangalaki, and Komodo. They devote a small number of tours to Bunaken Island and Lembeh Strait. Here are the 3 vessels and the number of tours annually that they run on their current schedule to Northern Sulawesi:
- KM Raja Manta – 5 tours
- MSY Seahorse – 5 tours
- SMY Ondina – 1 tour
- Includes Raja Ampat, Banda Sea, Sangalaki and Lembeh Strait
- Five 7 and 9-day tours that include North Sulawesi
- Sulawesi itinerary includes: Lembeh – Aw Shucks, Hairball, Nudi Retreat, Bangka: Sabora, Tanjung Toto, Tiga Batu, and Sangihe: Biaro, Ruang, Tagulandang, Siau, and Mahengetang Island.
- Most cabins have ensuite bathrooms, sea view windows
- Indonesian and international meals
- Outdoor dining
- Indoor saloon
- Laundry service
- Camera station, separate rinse for u/w camera
- Charging stations
- Massage
- Audio & video entertainment
- Air-conditioned saloon, aircon cabins
- Sun deck
- Separate rinse for u/w camera
- Hot tub
- Shaded diving deck
- Non-diver (snorkeler) friendly
- Experienced English-speaking divemasters (4 divers per guide)
- Certification courses available including PADI Advanced Open Water Diver, Rescue, EFR, specialties, and Gas Blender
- Nitrox available
- 2 motorized dinghies
- Visits Raja Ampat, Banda Sea, Sulawesi, Wakatobi
- Five 13 day tours that include North Sulawesi
- Sulawesi itineraries include: Lembeh – Nudi Retreat, Angler’s Window, Bangka Island: Batu Gosoh, Tanjung Toto, Batu Tiga, Para, Karaketang, Nenung, Siau, Riau, Ratatotok, Tanjung Flesko, Bolsel, Gorontalo, Togian Islands – Una Una, Apollo, Kadidiri, Waleabahi, Pulau Dua
- Cabins with ensuite bathrooms
- Air-conditioned restaurant – Indonesian and international main meal dishes
- Wet room with table for cameras, rinse tanks
- Camera room with table and charging point
- Charging stations
- Laundry Service
- Daily housekeeping
- Audio & video entertainment
- Library
- Air-conditioned saloon, aircon cabins, en-suite bathrooms
- Sun deck
- Indoor saloon
- Non-diver (snorkeler) friendly
- Warm water showers
- Dives are made from one of the 2 aluminum tenders accommodating 10 divers each, in comfort, 2 x 100 HP Yamaha 4 strokes engines VHF radios, and depth sounders
- 14 crew for a maximum of 16 divers
- Free nitrox
- Visits Raja Ampat, Komodo, Banda, and North Sulawesi
- One 12 day tour that includes North Sulawesi
- Sulawesi itinerary includes: Green Light, Kri, Mioskon, Sardine Reef, Cape Kri, Yembesser, Red Bird of Paradise, Mikes Point, Air Borek, Misool, Farondi, Fiabacet, Boo, Wayibatan, Pelee, Batuanyer, Pulau Pisang, Patintie Straits, Rics Rock, Goraici Islands, Reenies, Rock, Pantai Sago, Lembeh Straits, Angels Window, WWII Japanese Wreck, Hairball, Bangka Island
- Indonesian, Chinese, Italian, and Japanese main meal dishes and desserts
- Specialist photography and exploratory cruises
- Camera station
- Leisure deck
- Massage
- Daily housekeeping
- Audio & video entertainment
- Library
- Air-conditioned saloon, aircon cabins, en-suite bathrooms
- Sun deck
- Indoor saloon
- Photography station
- Separate rinse for u/w camera
- Camera room with table and charging point
- Charging stations
- Shaded diving deck
- Non-diver (snorkeler) friendly
- Small dive groups and flexible itineraries
- Experienced English-speaking divemaster(s)
- Nitrox available
- 2 x Solas life rafts
- 3 x rigid and semi-rigid 40 & 25 HP motorised dinghies
Northern Sulawesi Liveaboard Dive Boat Comparison Table
| KM Raja Manta | MSY Seahorse | SMY Ondina | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
|
| Length | 36 m | 33 m | 32 m |
| Guests | 20 | 16 | 16 |
| Crew | 19 | 14 | 15 |
| Equipment | $50/day | $40/day | $34/day |
| Nitrox | $6/fill | Free | $11/day |
| Snorkeling | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Dive Courses On Board | Yes | Not Reported | Not Reported |
| Single Supplement | +90% | +65% | +65% |
| Price/Day | $277 | $379 | $339 |
| KM Raja Manta | MSY Seahorse | SMY Ondina |
Hotels and Dive Shops
If a liveaboard doesn’t suit you, in the Manado area of Northern Sulawesi there are well over a hundred lodging options ranging from $5 to $311 per night and more than 40 dive shops in operation. They offer a full range of services that include equipment rental, diving certification classes, dive guides, and boat tours.
The website linked below has the details for the lodging and can arrange a booking. You can easily find the location on the map provided on their site. The rates are guaranteed to be the lowest and it is free to cancel or change dates.
Photography in North Sulawesi
With the colorful coral reefs, intriguing macro critters, variety of fish, sharks, rays, whales, and beautiful onshore targets, as well, there are many excellent photo opportunities. For information and reviews of dive cameras, click here:
Scuba Diving Trip Insurance
A cushion for emergencies provides peace of mind when on vacation. I recommend this diving insurance as they have worldwide coverage and provide scuba divers quality insurance and medical assistance service.
Feedback and Comments
I hope you found this post on Bunaken Island and Lembeh Strait scuba diving interesting and useful. If you have any questions or ideas, please feel free to share them in the comments section. I’d love to know of any experience you have diving there. If there is no comments section directly below, click here: >>comments<<
Really informative article on scuba diving – you managed to clear up a few questions I had about planning our upcoming trip.
From a beginners point of view, and a family who are not all exactly confident with the idea of scuba diving, would you suggest taking on one of the trips that offers the snorkeling routes as well as the scuba diving? Is this a good way to build confidence in the water?
Hi Chris,
Thanks for you kind comments and question.
A liveaboard is an expensive proposition for a family some of whom won’t be diving. I would suggest to go to a dive resort like the ones I introduce in my post. Non-divers can participate in many land based and shallow water activities and have a great time. In addition, they could do a dive course or a discover scuba diving experience if they are inclined to try it. An instructor would methodically introduce the student to diving in a nonthreatening and fun way. A basic beginners open water diver class takes about 4 days and includes some study, 5 shallow water classes to learn the skills and 4 open water dives to practice the skills and have a supervised introduction to the undersea world. Short of that is the discover scuba diving that can be done in less than a day. It involves some instruction on land, a pool session and an extremely closely supervised open water dive in relatively shallow water.
If you would like suggestions on places to dive closer to home or anything else related to diving, please let me know.
Best regards,
Joe
Thanks Joe, Your post on this unheard of diving location in this beautiful planet we live on is awesome.
Your provide such great detail about the temperature, visibility, water/swell to really help readers decide when is the best time to go and offer great description of all the wonderful sea-life that is there. Also breaking down the places to stay into Low, Mid and High Budgets for the resorts and the boats is so helpful. With a little infant, I won’t be getting away to such an exotic location so soon, but when I am ready for an adventure I really know where to go – to your site to find out more and will refer others if I meet divers. Thanks
Hi John,
Thanks a lot for your kind comments and for referring others to my site.
A small child can tie you down quite a bit. I do hope you will have a chance to try something like this at some point. I didn’t start diving myself until my late 30s and it has been a real eye opener for me.
If you ever have any further questions or comments, please let me know.
Best regards,
Joe
The pictures of the resorts you displayed in your post are so attractive that I am currently wishing to be there right now just relaxing and enjoying myself with my loved ones. Though it would be nice to be there, I have to say being able to relax and have fun in such places does come at the a high price.
I never knew Indonesia had such nice places to visit. I would like to know out of Bunaken Island & Lembeh Strait which do you feel is more ideal for children to be around because this is a place I would like to one day bring my family to.
Hi Jay,
Thanks a lot for you interest and kind comments.
Unfortunately the liveaboards can be pretty expensive. I would suggest that the dive resorts starting at $50 per day are fairly reasonable at that price and the kind of place for the whole family to have a great time.
The resorts at both locations, Bunaken Island and Lambeh Strait would be great for kids and the whole family. Each has a nice seafront and is situated in a woodland setting. Diving, beach activities, boat trips and land tours are all activities available.
If you have any other questions about diving, please let me know. I urge you to check some of my other posts with reviews of other liveaboards and diving locations.
Best regards,
Joe
Hi, Joe. Wow, a great and nice article. I’m just a swim beginners, I have never learned about dive, but I won’t give up ever though I don’t know how to dive. I also liked the resorts and liveaboards that you mentioned because I have never been to a vacation for a long time, haha. I also like the Lembeh Strait Scuba Diving that you mentioned, because there are a lot of fascinating and quirky creatures that I can be enjoy with like snakes, stonefish, marine robins, stargazers, and devil fish. Even if I don’t know how to dive, I will look for a coach to learn some basic diving methods, so that I can also get close contact with these mysterious creatures. And I also like the resort of Lembeh Resort, because I prefer to fun in this type of holiday home, have a feeling of relaxation and can get some creative of ideas in our mind. I will back to your article again if I have a resort need, thanks for sharing.
Hi Tee Teng,
Thanks for your interest and kind comments.
Diving is pretty exciting allowing you to get close to and observe so many otherworldly creatures.
The basic open water diver class takes about 4 days and includes some study, 5 shallow water classes to learn the skills and 4 open water dives to practice the skills and have a supervised introduction to the undersea world. You can take a class like this in many places. It’s possible to do it in Lembeh, if you like. If you would like some help to find a good spot for you to do it, please let me know. I’d love to see you get started.
Best regards,
Joe
I greatly appreciate all your experience and the research you have put into this post. Here we truly have the best dive resorts and liveaboards!
It has been very useful to subdivide these resorts in correspondence to low, mid and high budget. And I’m also pleased you pointed out the months of the year it’s better to visit each one of them: October to December for Lembeh Strait Scuba Diving, and March to October for Bunaken National Marine Park Scuba Diving. Thank you very much!
Hi Henry,
Thanks a lot for your kind comments.
If you have any questions about my website or scuba diving, please let me know. I hope you have a chance to go to Sulawesi or one of the exciting places out there and do some diving.
Good luck!
Joe