Lumba Lumba, Pulau Weh
Lumba Lumba Dive Centre – Pulau Weh
Situated on Gapang Beach, a small bay on the inside of the Eastern arm of Pulau Weh; Lumba Lumba Dive Centre offers guided dives, equipment rental & affordable accommodation.
The dive shop itself is spread over 2 levels with a lower ‘wet’ level large enough to allow big groups of divers to kit up in plenty of space. Outside through large doors a raised tank station has been built up so divers can put their gear together and then step straight into their BCDs without the need to crouch around on ground level if diving the House Reef. Staff carry gear to the Bankas if boat diving, leaving an effortless wander 5 metres to the beach. There is a higher dry area with computers, Tea & Coffee station and comfortable outdoor seating for relaxing and working.
I took my own gear but noticed the rental equipment is modern and very well looked after.
The accommodation is built behind the dive centre with stand-alone bungalows and a block of rooms spaced over a gentle hill leading up to the forested hills. We stayed in a double room in the block; the room was spotlessly clean, the bed incredibly comfortable and the balcony looking over the trees towards the bay was both relaxing and a great place to hang various wet clothes and gear.
Operating 3 large Indonesian ‘Bankas’, the shop operates 2 main dives a day, returning to the shop after the first dive allowing a much more comfortable surface interval. Boats were kept in good condition, though can be a lot of fun to get back into when the swell is up, and guides were watchful while not being overbearing. The centre tries their hardest to ensure each diver is looked after and receives as much, or as little supervision as required.
The majority of the sites visited are situated in the Marine National Park encompassing the Northern part of the Island where commercial fishing is prohibited – interestingly enough, with Aceh Province being a majority Muslim area the spectre of Sharia Law is alleged to have contributed to this marine park having a much higher success rate than other protected areas in Asia. The mountainous shore is also protected and the heavily wooded slopes add to the pristine feeling.
The sharp, hilly terrain continues under the water with most dives featuring steep drops & boulders with a covering of coral. The Island is well known for its current with most dives featuring at least gentle water movement, regardless which part of the tide, and can go all the way up to ‘hold your mask to your face and crawl up the wall’ conditions. This current stimulates the flora and fauna which has produced some enormous Sea Fans as well as bringing in a wide variety of large fish. The National Park status ensures that there are plenty of predatory fish, Sharks & Rays around the place.
Memorable dives included ‘Batee Tokong’, famous for its proliferation of Moray Eels and large family of circling Giant Trevally & ‘Pante Peunateung’ further round the North point of the Island with a huge drop to 70 metres featuring brisk currents feeding huge Gorgonian Fans.
