There are 3 relatively close diving spots in north Sulawesi :
- The island of Bunaken is right in front of Manado. Highly praised by the Lonely Planet. It’s the most popular in the region. Good for diving and snorkeling.
- Lembeh is an island right in front of Bitung. Fantastic site for muck diving. Not much to do otherwise, including for snorkelers.
- Bangka island : off Likupang. Some very good reviews but all options are pricey.
![](http://thespicerouteend.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Diving-Sulut-1024x750.jpeg)
I dived Bunaken in 2015, Lembeh in 2022 and researched Bangga.
Lembeh
Lembeh is the best Indonesian site for muck diving (together with Ambon). I can definitely return again in the future. There is so much to see underwater.
I visited once in October 2022. We had several frogfishes :
![](http://thespicerouteend.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/20220921-P9210874-RSZD-1024x768.jpg)
![](http://thespicerouteend.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/20220921-P9210905-RSZD-1024x768.jpg)
![](http://thespicerouteend.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/20220921-P9210880-RSZD-1024x768.jpg)
![](http://thespicerouteend.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/20220921-P9210857-RSZD-1024x768.jpg)
![](http://thespicerouteend.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/20220923-P9231081-RSZD-1024x768.jpg)
Lembeh is also a good place to spot octopus, including the blue-ringed octopus :
![](http://thespicerouteend.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/20220923-P9231076-RSZD-1024x768.jpg)
![](http://thespicerouteend.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/20220922-P9220999-RSZD-1024x768.jpg)
![](http://thespicerouteend.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/20220922-P9220996-RSZD-1024x768.jpg)
![](http://thespicerouteend.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/20220922-P9221000-RSZD-1024x768.jpg)
![](http://thespicerouteend.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/20220922-P9220943-RSZD-1024x768.jpg)
I had my fair share of nudibranches :
![](http://thespicerouteend.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/20220922-P9221057-RSZD-1024x768.jpg)
![](http://thespicerouteend.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/20220922-P9220958-RSZD-1024x768.jpg)
![](http://thespicerouteend.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/20220922-P9221025-RSZD-1024x768.jpg)
![](http://thespicerouteend.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/20220922-P9221041-RSZD-1024x768.jpg)
![](http://thespicerouteend.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/20220921-P9210916-RSZD-1024x768.jpg)
![](http://thespicerouteend.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/20220922-P9221017-RSZD-1024x768.jpg)
![](http://thespicerouteend.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/20220921-P9210867-RSZD-1024x768.jpg)
![](http://thespicerouteend.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/20220921-P9210817-RSZD-1024x768.jpg)
![](http://thespicerouteend.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/20220921-P9210781-RSZD-1024x768.jpg)
![](http://thespicerouteend.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/20220921-P9210862-RSZD-1024x768.jpg)
![](http://thespicerouteend.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/20220922-P9221014-RSZD-1024x768.jpg)
As well as other critters :
![](http://thespicerouteend.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/20220923-P9231142-RSZD-1024x768.jpg)
![](http://thespicerouteend.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/20220923-P9231135-RSZD-1024x763.jpg)
![](http://thespicerouteend.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/20220923-P9231115-RSZD-1024x768.jpg)
![](http://thespicerouteend.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/20220921-P9210891-RSZD-1024x768.jpg)
![](http://thespicerouteend.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/20220921-P9210810-RSZD-1024x768.jpg)
![](http://thespicerouteend.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/20220921-P9210906-RSZD-1024x768.jpg)
![](http://thespicerouteend.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/20220923-P9231104-RSZD-1024x768.jpg)
Lembeh is not a very fishy place, but you are almost guaranteed to see Banggai cardinal fishes, endemic to Indonesia and one of my favorite tropical fish :
![](http://thespicerouteend.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/20220922-P9221030-RSZD-1024x768.jpg)
![](http://thespicerouteend.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/20220922-P9221045-RSZD-1024x768.jpg)
![](http://thespicerouteend.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/20220922-P9221046-RSZD-1024x768.jpg)
![](http://thespicerouteend.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/20220921-P9210927-RSZD-1024x768.jpg)
![](http://thespicerouteend.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/20220922-P9221012-RSZD-1024x768.jpg)
![](http://thespicerouteend.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/20220922-P9220964-RSZD-1024x768.jpg)
![](http://thespicerouteend.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/20220921-P9210931-RSZD-1024x768.jpg)
![](http://thespicerouteend.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/20220921-P9210826-RSZD-1024x768.jpg)
![](http://thespicerouteend.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/20220921-P9210910-RSZD-1024x768.jpg)
![](http://thespicerouteend.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/20220921-P9210898-RSZD-1024x768.jpg)
Dive resorts are built on isolated beaches and you cannot really go anywhere from here. As I had good experience in the past with 2Fish in Bunaken, I dived again with them in Lembeh (and I was again satisfied).
In October 2022 (including the returning guest discount) I paid :
- 1’923’000Rp for 3 nights of food & accomodation (about 43€ per day).
- 4’419’000Rp for 7 dives.
- 630’000Rp for 3 days of gear rental.
- 400’000Rp for the transfer from and to Bitung.
So overall about 500€ for 3 days.
![Lembeh](http://thespicerouteend.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/20220922-IMG_1131-RSZD-1024x683.jpg)
Bunaken
I dived there in 2015 taking advantage of a 3 days weekend while I was living in Jakarta.
I dived with 2Fish Divers that were very professionals. Back then they had a budget room that was charged around 300’000Rp per day with 3 meals which was good to keep a reasonable budget.
Diving was good but I didn’t kept a long-lasting memory of it either. Never felt the urge to go back to Bunaken as opposed to Raja Ampat, Komodo or Wakatobi for instance.
Here is what I saw during 3 days based on my notes back then. Actually I realize that it looks pretty good :
- Lots of wall diving
- Some good macro life including nudibranchs, crabs and shrimps + ornate ghostpipe fish and pygmy seahorses.
- The usual tropical reef fishes
- An eagle ray, some white tips reef sharks, turtles.
![](http://thespicerouteend.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/27112015-IMG_0643-RSZD-1024x683.jpg)
Bangka
Bangka is a more upscale diving destination that has good reputation but only expensive resorts offer diving there. Last time I was in north Sulawesi I checked :
- Bastianos (they also have a resort in Bunaken and Lembeh) : 110€/day for accommodation. 47€ per dives + 20€ per day for gear.
- Murex : 110€/day for accommodation, diving more expensive than Coral Eyes.
- Coral Eyes : 110€/day for accommodation, 35€/dive + 20€/day for gear rental.
- Blue Bay Divers : also 110€/day for accommodation.
It’s possible to get better deals by contacting directly the resort out of high season but it remains expensive.
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