Lembeh & Bangka Macro & Blackwater Workshop August 2027
Join Bluewater’s 12-night Macro and Blackwater Photography Workshop in Lembeh and Bangka, designed for photographers who want to elevate their skills while exploring two of Indonesia’s most diverse and rewarding underwater environments.
Great Night Dives
Macro Critters
Nitrox Included
Why Join This Trip
Dive and shoot in two of the world's best macro destinations, with free photo workshops included
Experience 2 blackwater dives and a bonfire dive included in the trip package
Nitrox is included for all EANx certified guests
Diver to Guide ratio is 2:1 at NAD Lembeh and 4:1 at Murex Bangka
25% off rental photo gear from Bluewater Photo
Fully refundable deposit until 12 months from departure
Trip overview
Bluewater’s 12-night Macro and Blackwater Photography Workshop in Lembeh and Bangka is designed for divers and photographers who want to elevate their skills while exploring two of Indonesia’s most diverse and rewarding underwater environments.
The journey begins in the world-famous Lembeh Strait, widely regarded as the global epicenter of macro diving. Here, you’ll spend 7 days immersed in critter-rich black sand slopes, searching for some of the ocean’s most fascinating and elusive subjects, from flamboyant cuttlefish and mimic octopus to hairy frogfish and rare nudibranchs.
As the sun sets, the focus shifts offshore for blackwater dives, one of the most exciting frontiers in underwater photography. Suspended in the open ocean at night, you’ll photograph a surreal parade of larval and pelagic creatures as they rise from the depths. These encounters offer completely different challenges and rewards, pushing your creativity and technical skills in a truly unique environment.
The second half of the trip takes you to Bangka Island for 5 nights, where vibrant reefs and soft corals provide a colorful contrast to Lembeh’s muck diving. Here, you’ll continue honing your macro techniques while also having the opportunity to experiment with wider compositions, including a bonfire dive experience.
To learn more about diving in the area, check out our latest Lembeh Trip Report.
Sample Itinerary
- Aug 28: Guests arrive at Manado Airport and transfer to NAD Lembeh
- Aug 29 - Sep 3: 3 dives per day (except for 2 dives on Sep 3) plus 2 blackwater dives = 19 dives total
- Sep 4: Transfer from Lembeh to Bangka, check in to Murex Bangka
- Sep 5 - 8: 3 dives per day plus 1 bonfire dive = 13 dives total
- Sep 9: Guests check out from Murex and transfer to Manado Airport
Guests have the option to add additional night or blackwater dives to their booking.
Daily Schedule
Guests can arrive any time on August 28 and leave any time on September 9. Here's the typical daily schedule for this 12-night trip:
- 6.30 Breakfast
- 7.30 Departure for two morning dives (snacks/ drinks during the surface interval)
- 12.15 Lunch at the resort
- 14.00 Departure for one afternoon dive
- 16.00 Snacks
- 16.30 Mandarin Fish Dive (only on Saturdays, minimum 2 pax)
- 17.45 Night Dive (minimum 2 pax)
- 18.00 Black Water Night Dive (minimum 2 pax)
- 19.15 Dinner
Diving Conditions
August is the end of the colder season, with water temperatures at their coolest. Wear a full wetsuit year-round to protect against cuts, jellies, and getting cold during long dives.
- Water Temperature: 77°F (25°C)
- Visibility: 30 feet (10m)
- Depth Range: 16 - 100 feet (5 - 30m)
Recommended Scuba Gear
Download our full scuba gear guide to Lembeh, Bluewater Travel guests receive 10% OFF!

Trip Inclusions
7-nights accommodation at NAD Lembeh (with air-conditioning)
5-nights accommodation at Murex Bangka
Full board meals
3 dives per day for a total of 17 dives at NAD Lembeh and 11 dives at Murex Bangka
2 blackwater dives throughout the week at NAD Lembeh (option to add more for an added fee)
1 bonfire dive experience at Murex Bangka
Nitrox is included for EANx-certified divers
Complimentary House Reef Dives at Murex Bangka (08:00 - 16:00)
Snacks, water, coffee, tea, chocolate drink, and espresso
Round-trip airport transfers from Manado Airport (MDC)
Transfer between NAD Lembeh and Murex Bangka on September 4
Free WiFi
Trip Exclusions
International airfare
Soft drinks, beer, and spirits
Bangka Conservation Fund (suggested donation, not compulsory from IDR 100,000)
Rental Diving equipment
Additional night/blackwater/mandarin dive surcharges
Crew gratuities
Travel Insurance - ask us about our preferred partner plan
Accommodation
About NAD Lembeh
Situated on the well-loved Lembeh Strait, this muck diving paradise is alluring to divers worldwide. NAD Lembeh offers knowledgeable dive staff with trained eyes and passion for diving and little critters, comfortable rooms, and excellent photography amenities. NAD prides themselves for having the largest. and some would say the most experienced, dive team in Lembeh today.
NAD Lembeh Facilities
- Open-air restaurant
- Sunbeds
- Small pool
- Jacuzzi
- Big and spacious camera room
- Business center
- Free public WiFi
- Laundry services
- Return airport transfers
- Multilingual staff
- Non-smoking rooms
- Open air bar
Read the reviews of the NAD-Lembeh Resort here.
Additional Information About The Resort:
- The resort offers 2:1 guest to guide ratio as a standard. Its 15 dive guides are permanent employees with local Lembeh diving experience (totalling at least 100 years between them). They are all underwater photography trained and proficient UW photographers themselves.
- Please note that the resort does NOT allow for our guests to wear gloves!
- The resort has a fleet of 4 dive boats that are at least 13m long with 2 x four-stroke engines. There are onboard toilets, Medical oxygen, and a Basic First Aid kit.
- There are a maximum of 8 guests per dive boat.
- It's the only resort on Lembeh island with a floating dock. This allows for easy access to the boats and dignified boarding, as well as easy entry to the house reef.
- The resort is on ground level with minimal steps to the bungalows. Beachfront rooms, restaurants, bar and camera room are all on the ground floor. Older guests or those with disabilities and knee/back problems find it easy to navigate.
- It's situated in a private bay and surrounded by lush greenery. Far from villages, thus offering a quiet and tranquil environment for a relaxing vacation.
- The resort offers 24-hour electricity and WiFi.
About Murex Bangka Resort
Set on the pristine shores of Bangka Island in North Sulawesi, Murex Bangka Resort is a tropical haven for divers and ocean lovers alike. The resort offers charming beachfront cottages and deluxe hillside ocean-view bungalows, each with en-suite hot-water bathrooms, air conditioning, and direct access to crystal-clear waters. Guests enjoy full-board dining with fresh local and international cuisine, a PADI-certified dive center with expert guides, night dives, and tailored dive itineraries. With thoughtful amenities like a camera room, beach loungers, paddleboards, and massage services, Murex Bangka combines exceptional diving, stunning natural surroundings, and warm Indonesian hospitality for an unforgettable stay.
Murex Bangka Resort Facilities
- Open-air restaurant
- Beach loungers and hammocks
- Massage services
- Designated camera room with prep areas
- Charging stations for dive and camera gear
- Free Wi-Fi in restaurant area (signal may vary)
- Laundry services
- Airport and boat transfers
- Multilingual staff
- Non-smoking rooms
- Beach bar
- Stand-up paddleboards
- Indoor and outdoor dining spaces
Connectivity
At NAD Lembeh Resort, Wi-Fi is available for guests throughout the resort, including in guest rooms and common areas. The connection is generally suitable for everyday tasks like email, social media, and light browsing, though speeds can vary depending on demand and diving operations — it may not always support heavy streaming or large file uploads.
Wi-Fi is available at Murex Bangka Dive Resort, primarily in the restaurant area, but due to the remote island location it is typically slow and intermittent, while mobile signal is generally available but can be patchy and unreliable.
For more consistent and faster connectivity, many guests choose to purchase a local Indonesian SIM card with a data plan. Major providers such as Telkomsel and XL Axiata offer reliable 4G/LTE coverage in the Lembeh region. SIM cards and data top-up vouchers can be purchased upon arrival at Manado Airport kiosks, convenience stores, or Telkomsel/XL outlets in Manado before the transfer to Lembeh. Just make sure your phone is unlocked and compatible with local networks before you travel.
Most major US mobile phone providers offer international “bolt-on” or add-on packages that let you use your phone abroad without changing SIMs. The details vary by carrier and plan.
Trip Price
Trip starts from $3,659 per person.
Payment Schedule
- Deposit: $800 to book your spot
- Payment 2: due 1 June 2027
- Payment 3: due 1 July 2027
- Balance: due 1 August 2027
Extend your trip
Lembeh Trip Extensions
Want to extend your trip? We can help with that! See more of Indonesia before or after your workshop in Lembeh with Bluewater. Here are some examples of packages we can add on to your reservation:

Trip Leader


Erik Lukas
Erik Lukas is an active diver and photographer based in Los Angeles, CA. He is a volunteer scuba diver at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, CA. You can expect to find Erik diving many of the amazing Pacific Ocean sites of Southern California, camera in hand, at any chance he can get.
See more of Erik’s photography at www.seeundersea.com or on Instagram @seeundersea.
"I am passionate about underwater photography in general and have a special love for macro subjects. For me the things that are hardest to spot hold the most interest. Documenting the commensal and symbiotic relationships is for me the most interesting…the smaller and more bizarre the better. I also have a passion for sharing my knowledge with others. My goal with all of my workshops is to ensure each guest leaves with a group of images that they are proud to share."
Current Camera Systems:
Erik shoots with a Canon 5D Mark III in a Sea & Sea housing using Zen 100mm and 230mm dome ports. The lenses he uses are the Canon 8-15mm f/4L, Canon 16-35mm f/4L, and Canon 100mm f/2.8L.
Check availability
and start planning your perfect trip
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