Lembeh Resort Reviews & Specials - Bluewater Dive Travel

Lembeh Resort

4.75
(8 REVIEWS)

Destination: Indonesia

North Lembeh, Pintukota, Lembeh Utara, Kota Bitung, Sulawesi Utara 95500 | Full-board + 2 dives from $266/ppn

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Lembeh Resort Quick Pitch

Lembeh Resort is nestled away in a private cove with a wealth of 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 warmhearted team offers service with a smile to make certain that your experience of Lembeh will be the best that it possibly can be. The cottages are charming, spacious, and comfortable with a wealth of modern amenities. Lembeh Resort is committed to delivering North Sulawesi hospitality at its best and making guests' stay enjoyable and memorable both above and below the water.

 

Quick Information 

  • No of Rooms: 20
  • Dive Center: On-site
  • Amenities: AC, ensuite bathrooms, restaurant, bar, pool, spa, on-site photo pro, stocked mini-bar, Nitrox
  • WiFi: Yes, free
  • Nearest International Airport: Sam Ratulangi International Airport
  • Airport shuttle: Yes, surcharge
 

 

How to Get There

To get to North Sulawesi, fly into Manado International airport which is serviced four times per week by Silk Air, (Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat) direct from Singapore. There are also several daily non-stop flights from Jakarta and services from Bali. Once arrived, guests are picked up and transferred to Lembeh Resort are carried out using the resort’s comfortable air-conditioned vehicles. Transfers from Manado Airport take approximately 90 minutes by road, followed by a short 10-minute boat journey to the resort. For guests staying at another location in North Sulawesi before visiting Lembeh Resort, a point-to-point transfer will be arranged by the resort.

 

Dive Overview

The Lembeh Strait is widely recognized by marine biologists as having the Worlds highest concentration of rare and unusual marine life. The practice of Muck-Diving, also known as Critter-Diving, began in Lembeh Strait in the mid-nineties when marine biologists started to explore the black sand slopes of Lembeh Strait to identify the amazing diversity of animals that inhabit the underwater realm of Lembeh Strait. Today, 20 years later, divers who enjoy both macro as well as wide-angle underwater photography travel from all over the world to experience this magical place in North Sulawesi.

[Read More: Lembeh Dive Travel Guide]

 

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Accommodations

Types of Rooms, Amenities and Photos

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Lembeh Resort Accommodation Overview

Guests of Lembeh Resort have a choice of 3 different categories of accommodations, Deluxe Ocean View Cottages, Garden View Rooms, and Cliffside Villa. Due to Lembeh Resorts' remote tropical island location, accommodations come with a full board meal plan – 3 sumptuous meals daily, along with snacks, coffee, & tea. Rooms are equipped with:

  • 24 hours electricity
  • Minibar
  • Air-condition
  • Complimentary tea, coffee & mineral water
  • Complimentary refillable aluminum water bottle
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi
  • Hairdryer
  • Safe
  • King Size bed (all rooms can be set as a double or twin)
  • Resort information folder

 

Lembeh Resort Lembeh Resort

Cliffside Villa

The fully air-conditioned one-bedroom villa offers a spacious lounge with an espresso machine, minibar, flatscreen TV, and a comfortable desk. The bedroom has floor-to-ceiling windows, a kingsize canopy bed and is through sliding doors connected to an elegantly decorated bathroom with two sinks, one indoor shower as well as one Balinese style open-air shower from which one can directly access one of the pool-side sundecks. The two sundecks and one covered veranda offer privacy and 180° panoramic views of volcanoes, sunsets, and the calm waters of Lembeh Strait. The large 27m2 infinity pool offers the best spot in the resort to enjoy a leisurely swim or a chilled sundowner cocktail with a loved one.

The Cliffside Villa offers the “Standard room features” plus the following features:

  • Private infinity pool (3x9m)
  • 1 bedroom, 1 living room, 1 bathroom, 1 sun deck, 1 patio, 1 balcony
  • 1 outside shower
  • 1 inside shower
  • Air conditioning & ceiling fan
  • Flat-screen TV and Blue Tooth Speaker
  • Nespresso machine & French press
  • Cookies, tea, 1 complimentary bottle of wine
  • First fully stocked minibar is complimentary
  • Butler service
  • Room service
  • Room-to-Room telephone

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Lembeh Resort Lembeh Resort

Luxury Cottages

These beautiful cottages provide a slice of tropical living with their semi-open-air bathrooms and modern amenities. Our cottages are designed to ensure that you experience Lembeh with a touch of luxury. All cottages offer stunning sea views and offer spacious living with large double beds, sofas, and both indoor and outdoor seating. Enjoy the dramatic sunsets over the Strait from your verandah after a day of diving.

The Luxury Cottages offer the “Standard room features” plus the following features:

  • Ocean Views
  • Ceiling fan
  • Semi open-air bathrooms
  • All Luxury Cottages can hold an extra bed, four are suite-style and suitable for quad-share
  • Room-to-Room telephone

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Lembeh Resort Lembeh Resort

Garden View Rooms

Constructed in 2012, the Garden View Rooms are located close to the restaurant and Dive Center and are nestled in lush tropical gardens. Wander along the groomed walkways or just sit back and relax on the verandah and enjoy the tropical sounds, local fauna, and flora that the Garden View Rooms offer. These rooms are perfect for single travelers or those guests with a smaller budget.

The Garden View Rooms offer the “Standard room features” plus the following features:

  • Fully enclosed bathrooms
  • Garden views
  • Note: Garden View Rooms can hold maximum 2 guests

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Resort Facilities

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 Lembeh Resort Lembeh Resort

Restaurant & Bar

Lembeh Resort Lembeh Resort

Pool & Spa

 

Lembeh Resort Features

  • Restaurant & bar
  • Pool
  • Pool bar
  • Spa
  • Dive center
  • Photo center

 

Lembeh Resort Food & Drinks

All-inclusive meals featuring international and local cuisine. 

 

Lembeh Resort Activities

  • Diving
  • Hiking
  • Cooking class
  • Land excursions & tour 

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Packages & Rates

Lembeh Resort Rates

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accommodation rates

All rates are in USD and per person. Valid from April 1, 2024 - March 31, 2025.

AccommodationsDoubleSingleExtra Bed
Cliffside Villa$450$630$175
Premium Luxury Cottage$280$395$125
Hillside Luxury Cottage$240$335$118
Garden View Room$150$210N/A

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diving RATES

All rates are in USD and per person. Valid from April 1, 2024 - March 31, 2025.

Diving PackagesAirNitrox
Guided Boat Dives$58$65
Night / Mandarin Fish Dives$76$83
Blackwater / Bonfire Dive$79$86
Private guide$120 per day
Private boat$336 per day
15 ltr / 100c ft. tanks$11 per day
Bangka Island - Day Trips Beyong Lembeh Straight$394 / boat - shared between participants
Eastern Lembeh - Day Trips Beyong Lembeh Straight$336 / boat - shared between participants
Guided Boat Snorkeling w/ Own Rental Equipment$34 per person

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accommodation & DIVING RATES

All rates are in USD and per person. Valid from April 1, 2024 - March 31, 2025.

NightsDivesCliffside VillaPremium Luxury CottagesHillside Luxury Cottages
Garden View Room
48$2,344$1,664$1,504$1,144
511$2,968$2,118$1,918$1,468
614$3,592$2,572$2,332$1,792
717$4,216$3,026$2,746$2,116
820$4,840$3,480$3,160$2,440
922$5,406$3,876$3,516$2,706
1024$5,972$4,272$3,872$2,972
1126$6,538$4,668$4,228$3,238
1228$7,104$5,064$4,584$3,504
1330$7,670$5,460$4,940$3,700
1432$8,236$5,856$5,296$4,036
1534$8,802$6,252$5,652$4,302

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inclusions

  • Roundtrip airport transfers
  • Breakfast, lunch & dinner
  • Morning & afternoon snacks
  • Free-flow mineral water
  • Free-flow brewed coffee & tea
  • Wi-Fi throughout the property
  • Welcome drink & fruits
  • All taxes & fees
  • 1 free unguided house reef dive per day

 

RATES & AVAILABILITY 

For information on rates, availability and to book, drop us an email at bookings@bluewaterdivetravel.com or call us at +1-310-915-6677 and we will gladly help you plan your dream dive vacation! 

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Dive Information

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Dive Overview

The resort follows a policy of “Dive as You Like”. Guests can take three boat dives one day, and two morning dives on the house reef plus a night dive the next. Lembeh offers a flexible dive schedule determined by their guests. The dive center has an optimal location in the middle of Lembeh Strait and there are about 35 sites are accessible by boat in 15 minutes or less. Lembeh Resort’s dive center offers a variety of dive opportunities every day:

  • Guided house reef dives any time early morning until late night
  • Guided boat dives at 08:00 / 10:45 / 14:30
  • Guided Mandarin Fish boat dive at 16:45
  • Guided night dive at 18:30
  • A guided late-night dive (after 20:00)
  • Self-guided house reef dives are available any time

 

Muck Diving in Lembeh

The “Critter Capital of the World”, a “Muck Diving Mecca”, and the “Twilight Zone” are just a few of the names that have been given to Lembeh over the years – but is it really that good? Absolutely. Lembeh is famous for having the world’s best macro and critter diving for good reason and Lembeh “muck” is probably the most famous “muck” in the world!

Lembeh isn’t just home to frogfish, it’s home to 8 different species of frogfish, 12 species of octopus, numerous crustacean species that cannot be found anywhere else on earth, 3 species of pygmy seahorse, countless numbers of nudibranch species, and new finds and discoveries are continuously being made. Some of Lembeh’s most iconic species include the Hairy Frogfish, Pontohi Pygmy Seahorse, Wunderpus, Mandarin Fish, Mimic Octopus, Rhinopias Scorpionfish, Flamboyant Cuttlefish, Blue Ring Octopus, and the list goes on – take a look at our Critter Log to see the weird, wonderful, and bizarre species that await you.

Muck diving is at its best in Lembeh, where the sheer abundance of biodiversity and unique critters is greater than it is anywhere else; every dive reveals countless “special finds!” The particular excitement in muck diving lies in finding rare, camouflaged, and breathtakingly beautiful critters in the strangest of places. For beginners, the marine life found by your guide is simply intriguing, unique, and downright weird all at once. For more experienced divers, the exhilaration of making “special finds” for yourself gives a rush of adrenaline that can’t be matched. And for underwater photographers, a great photograph speaks many millions of words.

Muck diving offers something for everyone and it develops unparalleled attention to detail like no other style of diving can: With nothing to distract, the smallest of details begin to surface. That’s why when we muck dive we go at a slow pace and look to find the most camouflaged and often smallest of critters. Slow and relaxed diving also offers you the opportunity to observe and photograph the wondrous marine life that our expert-trained dive guides are so adept at finding.

Going slowly also allows us to witness fascinating and often quite hilarious behavior, such as an irate blue-ring octopus flashing its rings at a sand-perch that has just landed on an octopus’ head or a flamboyant cuttlefish stalking, catching, and eating its shrimp prey.

Lembeh’s classic muck sites feature gentle slopes of volcanic sand scattered with bits of debris, sponge, algae or rubble. If you aren’t already in the know, Lembeh will convince you that the most beautiful animals are sometimes seen in the strangest habitats!

We also have many combination dive sites within minutes of the resort that offer the best of muck diving together with lovely corals in the shallows, perfect for enjoying a leisurely safety stop

We spend quite a lot of time between 18-22 meters (60-75 feet), so Nitrox is ideal, and Enriched Air Nitrox courses are also available on-site.

Due to Lembeh’s protected location, diving is good year-round, seas are always calm and most dives have little to no current. Lembeh diving is suitable for all levels; from beginner to the most experienced diver, you will certainly see something you have never seen before!

 

Wide-Angle Diving

Although we often return to the dive center in between the two-morning dives to offer maximum flexibility and convenience for our divers, we also offer some double-dive morning excursions that depart at 8:00 and return at lunchtime. These excursions allow us to explore a little further afield and sample some of Lembeh’s stunning coral reefs. The Lembeh Strait sits in the heart of the Coral Triangle – this area boasts the widest range of marine species and coral diversity of anywhere else on Earth. It is no wonder that some of our favorite reef sites such as California Dreaming, Angel’s Window, and Batu Kapal are just as famous as our muck diving slopes! Lembeh’s reef dive sites boast healthy coral, blue water, and a host of different critters to those found on the black sand sites.

Pygmy seahorses decorate the fans, allied cowries are nestled on the soft corals and you’ll find a host of different nudibranchs and flatworms.

If you want to focus on bigger fish and reef scapes, then these sites also offer excellent wide-angle photography opportunities. During surface intervals, depending on the location chosen, you can enjoy cruising through mangroves or just relaxing with a hot beverage, fresh fruit, and snacks.

 

Passport to Paradise

Passport to Paradise is a unique diving experience that allows you to explore three distinct diving destinations in one trip. You’ll have 150 dive sites to choose from and with seamless boat diving transfers from resort to resort there’s no gear packing, no wasted transfer days, just relax, enjoy and dive, dive, dive. North Sulawesi is a diver’s paradise situated in the heart of the coral triangle. Imagine 500 species of coral, more than 3,000 species of fish, 6 out of the 7 world turtle species, a migratory route for over 30 species of marine mammals, and home to more than one-third of all whale and dolphin species.

You’ll explore Bunaken Marine Park which is home to some of Indonesia’s best wall diving sites, Bangka Island which offers such an explosion of color it will leave you spellbound and the Lembeh Strait which has the undisputed best muck diving in the world.

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Dive Center Information

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Lembeh Resort Lembeh Resort

Dive Boat (LEFT) & Camera Room (RIGHT)  

 

Lembeh Resort Dive Center Overview

The resort’s dive center – Critters@LembehResort – is a fully operating facility. Each diver has its own spacious, personal locker area with drying pegs for boots and hangers for suits and BCs. There are long benches for kitting-up and a briefing area with big whiteboards to help you plan your diving program and keep an eye on the day’s events.

 

Dive Center Features

Before your first dive of the day, your gear will be loaded onto the boat and assembled ready to use. After your last dive of the day, dive valets will see that your equipment is carried, rinsed with fresh water, and properly stored. Wetsuits are washed in special soap every two or three days or on request, and after the last dive of your trip. There are dedicated rinse tanks for cameras, dive gear, and wetsuits.

A full range of high-quality dive equipment (AquaLung, Suunto, Intova, and others) is available for rent. Additionally, you can rent a torch/flashlight for a night dive, or a special U/V light for viewing luminescent critters and coral – a must-try if you have never seen this before!

The Genus Bar is located just next to the Dive Center where you can relax in or out of your wetsuit, enjoy a complimentary tea or coffee, and peruse our library of dive magazines and identification books. A great place to chat with fellow divers as well as Lembeh’s professional guides and marine biologists who can help identify those critters captured in pixels.

All resort dive boats are custom-built with divers’ comfort and convenience in mind. There are amply padded areas for your camera and hooks and storage areas for dive accessories. All boats are covered for protection from the sun and have a toilet, emergency oxygen, first-aid kits, and lifejackets. Lembeh staff is trained every year in CPR, first aid, and emergency rescue procedures.

All boats are fully equipped with spare tanks and spare dive equipment as well as towels, drinking water, fresh fruit, and candies. Dive boats are also equipped with hot water for coffee or tea as well as snacks and biscuits.

Lembeh Strait is the premier muck diving destination in Indonesia for divers who love not only critter diving, but also underwater photography, macro photography, and wide-angle photography. Cameras@Lembeh Resort is the first and only dedicated photo & video center in Lembeh Strait with full-time on-site photo professionals.

The photo center was started in 2010 by renowned Photo Pro Steve Fish and is currently operated by Sascha Janson. An expert in all types of underwater photography, Sascha has years of experience and can provide instruction and equipment repairs in all areas. He is originally from Germany but has worked and lived in Indonesia for nearly 10 years. Sascha is available for critiques, photo coaching to help you solve problems with your photo equipment or improve your technique to capture unforgettable images from your macro diving adventures in Lembeh Strait.

A wide range of underwater photography and video equipment is available for rent at the photo center. If you have a problem with a balky piece of gear, repairs are available onsite. Small parts can even be fabricated with our 3D printer to replace broken, lost, or forgotten pieces.

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Other Information

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Practical Information

  • Electricity: 220 V
  • Time zone: UTC+8
  • Languages: Indonesian, English, Spanish, German, Japanese, Italian & French
  • Accept Credit Cards?: Yes, VISA, MasterCard & American Express

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GOT QUESTIONS? READY TO BOOK?

Call us today at +1-310-915-6677 or email us bookings@bluewaterdivetravel.com

And let us book your dream vacation!

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Underwater Gallery

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 Lembeh Resort Lembeh Resort

Lembeh Resort Lembeh Resort

Lembeh Resort Lembeh Resort 

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Reviews (8)

5
5
5
5

To get to the Lembeh Resort you will need to fly to Manado airport, then you will be picked up by the resorts van for a 80-90 minute ride, then a very short boat ride and you have arrived. I traveled to the resort in Oct of 2013, all transfers went smoothly and all luggage arrived with me. I decided to rent a BCD from the resort, it was in great shape and fit like a glove. I placed all my scuba equipment in the locker provided, and then I went to the camera room to unload my equipment. Wow, what a nice room dedicated to the underwater photographer! Lots of room for your camera, electricity and room to store extra stuff under your table.

The rooms are lovely with air-conditioning and all the amenities you would use at home, blow drier, alarm clock,shampoo, soap, etc. The food was outstanding and varied each day, they also can accommodate special diets. Wine and beer was also available for a cost and snacks are available during the day by the swim pool. The laundry service is at a very low price, so don't over pack.

This was my first time with muck diving and the guides were wonderful explaining the correct way to dive, so when I entered the water I looked like a pro. Most of the dive sites were 15-45 minutes away from the resort on nice size boats, so I never felt crowded. The dive staff are so helpful, and very careful with your equipment. Nitrox is available and can be purchased in your dive package when you book your trip. You have to look beyond the rubbish in the water, and many different critters became apparent to me. Some live in the rubbish, a leather slip on shoe was the home to a coconut octopus, a sprite bottle supported a blenny and half a basketball contained a Devil Scorpion Fish.

My favorite dive sites were Nudi Falls, Hairball 1 thru 3 and Tek 3. Frogfish and unusually nudibranchs was my goal for the week but what a surprise when I kept finding many types of Octopus. The list of small critters I found during my stay is too long to post, instead I think you should experience the muck diving yourself, then we can compare our lists.

Visited on 10/2013 - Submitted on 03/03/2014
5
5
5
5

When we finally arrived in Manado at nearly midnight, we were greeted by Roy, who handed us bottles of water and cold towels to refresh ourselves us with. When we got to the resort around 1am, they had put together some sandwiches and fruit for us. This level of attention to detail was only the beginning of a fantastic stay.
The next morning the staff greeted us by name, and the dive staff got our equipment ready for our 8am dive. And what a dive it was….I know we were lucky, but two hairy frog fish on our first dive! Amazing! This was just the start of a series of amazing dives and service from our new friends at Critters @ Lembeh.
The personal touches here are just amazing. Once the staff knew how I liked my coffee, I never had to ask again! Our dive guides asked what kind of critters we were interested in, so we targeted particular sites. We also got to meet the management of the resort and dive center, and I am glad that we did. What a great group of people, incredibly helpful and dedicated to making our stay fantastic!
I was really impressed with this organization on so many levels, the friendliness of all of the staff, their dedication to the environment, their dedication to allowing all of the employees learn to dive, and letting their employees grow within the organization. This is really a top-notch place.
What can I say, the diving is fantastic, the people are fantastic, and most likely, if you are like me, you will leave with an entire group of incredibly awesome new friends! I cannot wait to come back!

Visited on 03/2014 - Submitted on 03/12/2014
  • Top Reviewer
Pacific Palisades, CA
United States
4
4
5
4

Excellent resort and dive operation. Seperate companies so will get two bills at the end. All the dive sites were within 15 minutes of the resort. Had dives at 8, 10 ish and 2:30 ish after Lunch about 1 pm or so. Breakfast and Lunch buffets were great and dinner was ordering off a menu that changed daily. Foot was always great. Night diving on request at about 6:30 pm. Went twice & was easily the best night dives I have ever done. Was very impressed with the dive guides and the dive operations. Have 5 boats that can handle about 10 divers each but had much less when I was there.

House reef was a good option if hanging around resort or trying out camera equipment. Lots of Nudi's there.

Macro critters at all the dive sites were fabulous and plentiful. All kinds of Nudibranchs, flamboyant cuttlefish, frogfish of all types, pygmy seahorses, ghostpipefish---you name it & chances are they have it all!

Ana and Miguel were great hosts and managers of this resort. Pickup and transfers from the airport and the other resort at Bunnaken were punctual and no hassles. I am already planning a return trip back.

Rooms very nice on the hill. Bit of a hike with a great view as reward or ask for a room not far up the hill. the dives at 8 am were a great civil time---not so early. Sacha and the photo shop there was great & he can fashion many parts using his custom 3-D printer.

Overall a very nice resort and a very professional dive operation.

Visited on 07/2014 - Submitted on 08/11/2014
5
5
5
3

Lembeh Resort is a beautiful, high-end resort for divers. It is designed with respect for nature in mind and the rooms are built around the trees and vegetation. The practices are eco-friendly, with no plastic bottles on the premises and minimal waste. Rooms are comfortable and clean. The staff is very friendly and well trained. The food is plentiful but I thought it was so so.

The dive operation, Critters@Lembeh, is professionally run and is a high quality operation. The dive guides are truly excellent – they are very knowledgeable about the local species, try hard to find good subjects, and are passionate about what they do. The boats all run smoothly and you don’t have to worry about carrying anything yourself or setting up your own gear as they do that all for you. The camera room is great, with individual table space for each photographer. There is plenty of room for gear, accessories, and battery charging. Between the dive operation and camera room, Lembeh Resort takes care of all of a serious underwater photographer’s needs. But perhaps the most differentiated aspect of the resort for photographers is the fact that they have a photo pro, Sascha Janson, based there full-time. I found him invaluable for his advice, local knowledge, and resourcefulness in dealing with camera issues.

Marine life in the Lembeh strait is legendary. There is an incredible abundance and diversity of critters living among the lush reefs and black sands. This includes all types of reef fish, cephalopods, crustaceans, sea slugs, etc. It is a good place to search for rare critters such as the blue ring octopus, rhinopias, stargazer, frogfish, etc. Most of the marine life in Lembeh is small. It is rare to see large fish or pelagics.

Visited on 10/2013 - Submitted on 08/26/2014
5
5
5
5

I have visited Lembeh Resort a few times and each time it did not disappoint. When you arrive after a long day of travel, you are greeted by friendly staff offering cold water and cold wet towels to cool down and freshen up prior to the boat crossing. The accommodations, diving, food, camera room-with plenty of clean towels to service your gear, are all anyone could ask for in order to have a great dive vacation. Don't forget to do a few night dives as you get to see even more variety of critters.

Visited on 03/2013 - Submitted on 03/11/2021

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