Snorkeling Lembeh, Bunaken NP, and Bangka!

Sulawesi is one of 17,000+ islands in Indonesia, but aside from its large size, it remains one of the more unique islands within the archipelago. Most of the islands in the Indonesian archipelago were created due to tectonic plate interaction and subsequent volcanic activity millions of years ago. Submerged vents spewed magma to the surface and as it cooled, formed islands in the warm tropical seas. Most of these islands reside on the tectonic plate on which they were made. Sulawesi, however, is a mash-up of several different islands that formed on different tectonic plates in the region. As ‘their’ plates continued to interact and move, the islands were violently pushed together to create the one land mass that is Sulawesi. This exceptional island became home to a variety of unique and rare terrestrial animals and plants that once existed in relative isolation but now shared the same space on the planet.

The marine environments around Indonesia’s fourth largest island are equally fantastic. Sulawesi is nearly centered within the coral triangle and possesses some of the richest and diverse reefs on the planet. While there are several world-class snorkeling destinations around the island, few areas showcase the diversity of marine life better than Lembeh, Bangka Island, and Bunaken National Park.

Lembeh is known as the ‘critter capital of the world’, and it more than lives up to its reputation. Snorkelers with a keen interest in rare, cryptic marine life will especially love this area as the combination of black sand and colorful coral makes for the ultimate ‘critter-hunt’.

Bangka Island sits five miles off the northeastern tip of Sulawesi and benefits from being at the border of two different bodies of water, the Molucca Sea to the east and the Celebes Sea to the west. Different current patterns in each sea converge to create good water flow and nutrient upwellings around the Island. As a result, lush, vibrant reefs comprised soft and hard corals dominate the shallow water.

Bunaken National Park was established in 1991 as the flagship marine reserve in Indonesia. The park is nearly 350 square miles of mostly marine habitat and possesses over 390 species of coral and close to 2000 species of tropical reef fishes! Extensive fringing reefs slope sharply into the blue, and with over 30 years of protection, sightings of sharks and turtles are common.

Our focus, of course, is on snorkeling, but we wouldn’t feel right if we didn’t offer the chance to visit one of Indonesia’s oldest nature reserves, Tangkoko National Park (est. 1919). This magnificent park is 33 square miles of lush jungle and contains some of the magnificent terrestrial animals Sulawesi is known for including spectral tarsiers, crested black macaques, and cuscus. And don’t forget the birds, 80 endemic species including hornbills, parrots, and kingfishers. Please join us for this special 15-day snorkeling safari to North Sulawesi, Indonesia, November 22 – December 6, 2024!
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ITINERARY

Our snorkeling adventure in north Sulawesi begins and ends in Bali, Indonesia. One internal flight, Bali to Manado. We’ll begin our safari at Lembeh Resort, moving northward to Murex Resort on Bangka Island, and finishing at Murex Resort in Manado. Internal transfers between resorts will take place by boat or a combination of land and boat. Please note that this is a general itinerary and that weather, tides, and other unforeseen or unavoidable circumstances may affect the schedule at any time.

Day 1: Bali / Sanur
Meals provided: D
Arrive in Bali and transfer to Sanur to check in at the group hotel/resort. Welcome dinner and trip orientation at the resort. Overnight Hyatt Regency Bali.

Day 2: Manado / Lembeh Resort
Meals provided: B,L,D
Planes, trains, and automobiles! We have a morning flight to Manado followed by a one-hour land transfer, followed by a short 20-minute boat ride to Lembeh Resort. While it may seem adventurous, the travel time should have us in Lembeh Resort by lunch. After lunch, a brief orientation to the resort and then our first snorkel on the house reef. Overnight Lembeh Resort.

Day 3 – 4: Lembeh / Tangkoko National Park
Meals provided: B,L,D
Lembeh is known for its mixed black sand and coral habitats that seem to attract a wealth of bizarre and other-worldly type critters including flamboyant cuttlefish, harlequin shrimp, frogfishes, nudibranchs, mimic and blue-ring octopuses, and Banggai cardinalfish just to name a few! Most of our snorkel sites are located in Lembeh Strait and are just a few minutes boat ride from the resort. Along with our time snorkeling the shallow habitats of Lembeh, we’ll also spend an afternoon at Tangkoko National Park. Our guided exploration of the park includes a mixture of scenic drives through lush jungle at the base of towering volcanoes and short hikes to look for rare birds and plants. Overnight Lembeh Resort.

Day 5: Lembeh Resort / Murex Bangka
Meals provided: B,L,D
We won’t miss a beat in terms of snorkeling on our transfer day. We’ll load up the boat and visit two snorkel sites on our way to Murex Resort – Bangka and our next destination, Bangka Islands. Overnight Murex Resort – Bangka.

Day 6 – 8: Bangka Island / Gangga Island
Meals provided: B,L,D
The next few days of our snorkeling safari takes us to Bangka Island and Murex Resort – Bangka. If Lembeh was all about crazy critters, Bangka Island is all about the pageantry of soft coral. Steep fringing reefs begin right from shore and the exposure to oceanic currents bring in larger pelagic marine life like sharks, dolphins, and whales. Another special marine mammal we might have the chance to see are dugongs. Among the variety of habitats we’ll visit will be mixed sand and sea grass in search of dugongs that often rest along the sandy slope. We’ll also visit snorkel sites on nearby Gangga Island. Overnight Murex Resort – Bangka.

Day 9: Murex Bangka / Murex Manado
Meals provided: B,L,D
Like our first transfer between resorts, after breakfast we’ll board our private boat and visit two snorkel sites before getting dropped off at Murex Manado. Overnight Murex Resort – Manado.

Day 10 – 13: Bunaken National Park / Manado
Meals provided: B,L,D
Our final leg of the safari ends in one of the top snorkeling destinations in Indonesia. Bunaken Marine Park is famous for its healthy, shallow reefs and dramatic walls! We’ll get a nice mix of big animals and small critters as we explore many of the marine habitats of Bunaken National Park. We also plan to visit sites around Siladen Island and Manado Tua Island as well as a land tour to Kali waterfalls. Overnight Murex Resort – Manado.

Day 14: Manado / Bali / Sanur
Meals provided: B,L,D
After a leisurely morning, we’ll transfer to the airport for our afternoon flight back to Bali. We’ll have our farewell dinner at the group hotel. Overnight Hyatt Regency Bali.

Day 15: International flights or extensions
Meals provided: B

Lembeh Resort is nestled away in a private cove surrounded by exotic flora and fauna in a central part of Lembeh Island. The secluded location of the resort ensures a quiet and tranquil experience, while the warm-hearted team offer service with a smile to make certain that your experience of Lembeh will be the best that it possibly can be. Perched slightly above the beautiful waters of Lembeh Strait and surrounded by lush tropical gardens Lembeh Resort was built to blend into the natural landscape. West views of extinct volcanoes and fantastic sunsets await you. Experience the warm hospitality, tropical beauty and unique wonders of our home. The resort is centered around an ocean front deck and swimming-pool which is the perfect place to enjoy a sundowner cocktail at the end of a busy day of snorkeling. If you’d prefer to be pampered our spa offers a range of beauty and massage treatments.

Our main dining area is located centrally within and is on the upper level of the main building. Breakfast is served as a buffet with a wide variety of fresh tropical fruits, healthy juices, freshly baked breads, imported cheese, cereals, yogurts & oven-fresh pastries. The breakfast menu is a mix of both western and local dishes. Pancakes, waffles, french toast and eggs of any style is made á la minute to your liking. Lunch is served as a buffet with an assortment of fresh salads, soup, western and Indonesian hot dishes, and homemade desserts. Our buffets are plentiful and special dietary needs or preferences can be catered for. Our daily á la minute cooking station prepares an incredible array of specials cooked to order. We aim to offer you the best possible dining experience in Lembeh. Dinner is served á la carte. Our chefs prepare a wide selection of international & Indonesian cuisine catering to all tastes. In the evenings you will be presented with a four-course menu which offers several options for all courses. Morning and afternoon snacks are served between dives. A range of teas and coffees are available throughout the day in the dining area and at the pool-bar. Read more about Lembeh Resort.

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WHAT TO EXPECT

Northern Sulawesi is located just a couple of degrees above the Equator and enjoys a tropical climate with temperatures that hover around 85º F (29º C) during the daytime and fall slightly at night. Afternoon and early morning showers are common but the sun generally shines throughout the day creating a perfect environment for swimming in the clear, blue seas. Water temperatures average 82º F (28º C), but we may experience transient moments of cooler temperatures due to currents, rain, or wind.

Each day of snorkeling revolves around a schedule that boasts plenty of water time. Aside from the snorkel on our given house reef, all of our sites will be accessed via our private speed boat that has a good ladder for entry back into the boat. With the daily goal of snorkeling some of the best reefs in the world, our schedule generally includes two snorkel sessions and a presentation before dinner. Our first snorkel session begins after breakfast and can last up until lunch. We generally budget for at least three hours of water time so it is up to you! About an hour after lunch, we jump back in the water for another session. We plan to do at least one night snorkel as well as visit Tangkoko National Park. On these days, we will adjust the schedule to include these activities, but still include one snorkel during the day.

Many of the reefs we will snorkel upon are subjected to currents associated with the large tide cycles that prevail in the area. While we often schedule our session during a time when the currents are minimal, there will be planned drift snorkels. These types of snorkels take advantage of the water movement and allow us to float over the reef without having to actively swim. This activity usually becomes an instant favorite among our guests as it is very exciting and yet very passive at the same time! In some cases, however, the unpredictability of the tides may expose us to strong water movement. This may require a bit of effort though we will always have our dinghies standing by to help if needed.

For our visit/walk in Tangkoko National Park and Kali waterfalls we suggest comfortable clothing for being active in tropical environments (cottons or quick-drying materials), a hat, shoes for walking on established, but uneven trails, and a packable light-weight rain jacket.

Please read more about our daily schedule here.

WHAT TO BRING

The following list is a suggestion of things to bring and applies to almost all of our trips (specific items on a particular departure will be noted on the departure information).

-A good fitting mask, snorkel, and set of fins. If your equipment is brand new, please try it out in the pool. Determining the fit and function of your equipment in the pool includes doing several laps with all of your equipment on. Doing several snorkel dives is also very beneficial. It is also important to clean your new equipment, especially your mask. Cleaning procedures for your mask include light scrubbing with toothpaste or dishwasher soap to remove the light layer of silicon that is used to preserve the mask during shipping and storage. All areas of the mask, both inside and out, need to be addressed. Doing this greatly reduces the chances of having your mask fog. Not doing this, even when using mask de-fogger, usually results in a fogged mask.

-A wetsuit, rash guard, diveskin, or any type of clothing that can be used for thermal and/or protection form the sun. We suggest bringing a full 3mm wetsuit and some type of core insulation like a vest or shirt made of 1 – 2 mm neoprene (e.g., Lavacore or Sharkskin shirts or vests). These items will not only provide thermal protection but protection from the sun as well. For those who feel that a 3mm suit may be too warm, please consider a full body skin or rash guard to ensure protection from the strong sun. With regards to thermal protection, remember the saying: it is better to have and not need, than to need and not have. One that note…

-Head protection in the form of a wetsuit hood, a cap, or even a bandana. Anything that can keep the sun off of your head is extremely important. It is the most exposed part of our bodies when we are floating on the surface.

-Biodegradable sunscreen lotion. Okay, this is a tricky suggestion. Even many biodegradable sunscreen lotions have been shown to harm and even kill tiny larvae (baby marine life ranging from fish to all types of invertebrates especially coral). It is fine to wear on land, but we highly discourage the use of sunscreen lotions in the water. Having a full wetsuit or skin will do the job of protection from the sun much better than lotions and the suits also help with thermal protection. It is truly a win-win for everyone and the marine environment.

-Casual, lightweight, tropical clothing
-Sunglasses (and a spare in case you lose your main pair)
-Comfortable footwear such as active sandals (Teva, Keen, Merrell, etc.)
-Hats. We cannot stress the importance of a hat in the tropics!
-All of our boats provide items like shampoo, soap, towels, etc. We bring this up because these items represent added weight and if they leak, less-than-fun times during the unpacking stage of the trip.

Other items that may be considered:
-Lightweight rainwear to protect from the occasional afternoon shower