Manado & Lembeh Straight, SULEWESI

morgand@cix.compulink.co.uk wrote:
> I will be staying in Sulewesi through December 2005, i would like to dive
> and stay in the Lembeh Straight area, can anyone recomend a dive operator
> who can offer a complete package of accomodation and diving on one resort
> that is close to the Straights so as not to have too much travelling by
> boat to get to the diving, in other words is there a resort at the best
> dive sites for macro photography ?

Haven't been there myself yet, but a couple friends of mine swear by
Kungkungan Bay Resort (KBR).

http://www.kungkungan.com/

In article <o4GdnXqnv-6BB8XenZ2dnUVZ8t2dnZ2d@pipex.net>,
morgand@cix.compulink.co.uk wrote:

> In article <1129863111.784828.138610@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups .com>,
> mossman@qnet.com (Greg Mossman) wrote:
>
> > Haven't been there myself yet, but a couple friends of mine swear by
> > Kungkungan Bay Resort (KBR).
>
> Thanks, yes i have their literature and prices, i just wanted some first
> hand knowledge as to where the resorts are in relation to the diving, i
> was looking for a resort that was actually on the "dive site", dont want
> long boat rides out to dive sites if i can help it.
>
>
I was at KBR in April 2004, and at Lembeh Lodge in Nov 2004.

Both are very close to dive sights, KBR is 100 metres from Nudi Falls
(one of the best dives for Nudi's). Lembeh Lodge is 50 Metres from its
house reef ( a wonderful night dive).

KBR has fast boats to get to the more remote sites (max 20 mins to
a mandarin dive, and you return after each dive. Lembeh Lodge boats are
slower, but you stay on them between dives.

KBR is upscale and expensive, but very good, and often has large groups.
Lembeh Lodge is small and fairly basic, and caters to the European
market.
Both offer excellent diving.

Froggies on Bunaken Isle has a basic liveaboard that goes to Lembeh
Straits for a 3 day trip.

On Wed, 19 Oct 2005 06:49:35 -0500, morgand@cix.compulink.co.uk wrote:

>I will be staying in Sulewesi through December 2005, i would like to dive
>and stay in the Lembeh Straight area, can anyone recomend a dive operator
>who can offer a complete package of accomodation and diving on one resort
>that is close to the Straights so as not to have too much travelling by
>boat to get to the diving, in other words is there a resort at the best
>dive sites for macro photography ?
>
>Also want to know the same thing for the other side of Sulewesi,
>Manado/Bunaken.

I am not sure whether it is too far away from where you are staying,
but I spent 10 days in Walea, Togian islands, central Sulawesi (BTW,
is southern Sulawesi still off-limits because of some sort of
guerrilla rebels?).

It was in August, had been raining (unusually, according to the
residents) for days and viz was quite low, although things changed
after our arrival. Not much of the big stuff, yet I guess that greatly
depended on the low visibility. Great, great macro and corals. Food
was excellent, beautiful island (a large one, with a couple of
fishermen's villages).

The other side of the coin: a bit of a trouble to get there (the only
foreigners we met on our way being mining and oil engineers); very
basic resort (no warm water, though they were planning to introduce
it); quite expensive.

According to those who had stayed in Manado, Walea was way much better
in terms of macro, pristine environment and being just a very small
resort (12 rooms, I guess) out of the world; not pricewise. Let's say
I would go back there, but it is not at the top of my priority list in
that region (I would first return to Layang, Sipadan, Mabul); at the
end of the day, however, I am sure diving would not disappoint you.

Vic

In article <bajhl191e77ce5uesnvj779fdkesr5a41t@4ax.com>,
nonmispammi@nospam.it (Vic) wrote:

>
> According to those who had stayed in Manado, Walea was way much better
> in terms of macro, pristine environment and being just a very small
> resort (12 rooms, I guess) out of the world; not pricewise. Let's say
> I would go back there, but it is not at the top of my priority list in
> that region (I would first return to Layang, Sipadan, Mabul); at the
> end of the day, however, I am sure diving would not disappoint you.

Thanks for that........after the last couple of trips, and the bother we
had with cancelled flights and immigration "house arrest" trying to get to
Sangalaki my wife has virtually insisted we get off the flight and dive...

I was put of LL by the apparrent smell of amonia from the migrating birds
in their millions, dont know how true that is though ?
But Sipadan and Mabul.......we thought we would give that a miss this
trip, done 100+ dives off Mabul and Sipadan.......

I just have to decide between a dozen or so resorts on Sulewesi, we will
do a week on the Straights and a week on the Bunaken side then off to Sing
and Bang for some shopping.....so she tells me.

Thanks to those who commented.

Dave Morgan @ Work in the UK
Take out the "goes diving" bit....
Trip photos on line at www.morg.co.uk

In article <pbridges-569BEB.10075722102005@news.isp.giganews.com>,
Paul Bridges <pbridges@magma.ca> wrote:

> In article <H7mdnUXpeO8VT8XeRVnyiA@pipex.net>,
> morgand@cix.compulink.co.uk wrote:
>
> > In article <pbridges-064A2D.06252021102005@news.isp.giganews.com>,
> > pbridges@magma.ca (Paul Bridges) wrote:
> >
> > >
> > > Both are very close to dive sights, KBR is 100 metres from Nudi Falls
> > > (one of the best dives for Nudi's). Lembeh Lodge is 50 Metres from its
> > > house reef ( a wonderful night dive).
> >
> > Does Lembeh Lodge have a web site ??????
>
> http://www.diving-on-sulawesi.com/gb/index.php
>
> > > KBR is upscale and expensive, but very good, and often has large groups.
> > > Lembeh Lodge is small and fairly basic, and caters to the European
> > > market.
> > > Both offer excellent diving.
> >
> > You say the lodge is "BASIC"..... is it clean.....good food etc
> > Dont I dont want to travel to these "remote" places and find loads of
> > people, it would suit me if me and my wife were the only ones there....so
> > quiet is what i'm after......just need good bed, good food and of course
> > good diving for my camera......
>
> It is clean, very well run, lovely site. On a hillside with lots of
> steps.
>
> As regards food: I have not had excellent food in the places I have been
> to in Indonesia. Meat and fish seem to be always overcooked, and
> everything is served only warm. The fruit is plentiful and delicious
> though.
>
> Pelagian was mediocre
> KBR was half good, and half mediocre
> Lembeh Lodge was fairly good
> Froggies was mediocre

After talking to my wife, I am changing the Lembeh Lodge food to mediocre

In article <pbridges-569BEB.10075722102005@news.isp.giganews.com>,
pbridges@magma.ca (Paul Bridges) wrote:

> > > Both are very close to dive sights, KBR is 100 metres from Nudi
> > > Falls (one of the best dives for Nudi's). Lembeh Lodge is 50 Metres
> > > from its
> > > house reef ( a wonderful night dive).
> >
> > Does Lembeh Lodge have a web site ??????
>
> http://www.diving-on-sulawesi.com/gb/index.php
>
> > > KBR is upscale and expensive, but very good, and often has large
> > > groups.
> > > Lembeh Lodge is small and fairly basic, and caters to the European
> > > market.
> > > Both offer excellent diving.

Paul, thank you very much for the info, i have been a little confused by
some of the names used by these dive centers and their web address's.....

There is.....Lembeh Lodge......
And Divers Lodge Lembeh.....http://www.diving-on-sulawesi.com/gb/index.php

Lembeh Lodge is i think a little more upmarket from Divers Lodge, but
priced accordingly.

Its good to hear your remarks about Divers Lodge Lembeh as that is where i
have decided upon for our "straights" diving, for diving the Bunaken side
i am still undecided as to whether to go with Thalassa Diving and the
Santika Hotel or the Tasik Ria and Eco Divers........i like the facilities
of Tasik Ria but think it may be a little crowded or busy for what i like,
6 - 8 other guests would be as much as i could handle, after that it gets
noisy for me.

> I am changing the Lembeh Lodge food to mediocre

They appeared to rated best on your scale, does that mean that they were
worse than others or nowhere came up to "good"......

Thanks again.....

Dave Morgan @ Work in the UK