We have been in Lembeh since 2007, in fact we were the 3rd operator in Lembeh after Lembeh Resort and Kungkungan Bay Resort! Over this time we have come to consider that October is probably the best time to dive Lembeh, here are some of the reasons why we think this is so.

Less visitors

October is not a peak time for visitors, so sites are less crowded. This is especially significant in lembeh. For a long time we have been worried about the affect of many divers on the critters – can you imagine what its like for a pygmy seahorse to be photographed 20 times by each diver, with 20 divers per dive and 3 dives per day this works out at 1200 flashes per day!!
Due to the impact like this to the critters of Lembeh, since around 2008 we and the other members of a local environmental organisation the North Sulawesi Watersports Asociation (NSWA) have been campaigning to encourage all dive operators in Lembeh to respect a limit of 15 divers per dive site (guests and dive guides). At first this was adopted only by the members of NSWA but now most of the operators in the area follow this rule, NSWA members and non-members alike.
What this limit means is that sometimes we have to move sites if there are already lots of divers on a site, with less visitors this becomes less of a problem.

Best weather conditions

We think that October has the best weather conditions. Firstly, there is not much rain as its still the dry season, and as the rain can affect visibility this means that the viz is generally better.
It is also not as windy as in July-Sept. This is not a problem under the water, but during the surface interval it can get quite chilly until you dry off!
Perhaps the most significant aspect for Lembeh divers is that, at 26oC the water is still cool so the critter numbers are very high, but water is not as cold as July / August when it can reach 22oC!

Why is it that there seems to be more critters when the water is colder?

It is quite possible that the critters are always around, living in the colder, deeper waters, and that they come up to the shallower depths when it cool enough.
It also might be to do with sex!! According to Orton, he concluded that “a temperature stimulus of some kind is the normal impulse for inducing sexual activity in marine animals (Sea-Temperature, Breeding and Distribution in Marine Animals, J.H.Orton D.Sc, Plymouth Laboratory, 1920, p360)”. If we assume that critters are more sexually active in colder the water, then at 26oC we may be seeing more critters because they are more active looking for sexual partners!!

Great critters

Colder waters may mean more critters, but what critters will there be? Its hard to say exactly what, but if we look at the following blog posts from last October we can see that the critters were amazing!

Blueringed-tastic in Lembeh

This week in Lembeh our guests have been having a Blueringed-tastic time in Lembeh, nearly every day we have been having sightings of these rare octopus. As well as these we have also been having a lot of the usual suspects as well, coconut, log arm, starry night, mimic and the lovely wunderpus octopus.

Ghost Pipefish Bonanza

This week in Lembeh we’re having a Ghost Pipefish bonanza! The dive sites have gone crazy with them and we’ve seen all of the species known to this area.

Two Fish?  Two of everything!

This week in Lembeh we have been living up to our name with not one, but two of everything from our guest critter wish list!  Some times we joke when people ask “Why the name Two Fish Divers” and we reply “Because we guarantee to show you at least two fish on every dive”!

Other great reasons to visit Lembeh

Here are some other good reasons to visit Lembeh.

Visit Tangkoko

On your last diving day you can add on a half-day tour of Tangkoko National Park, and maybe be lucky to see the Tarsiers.
If you leave the resort after lunch at 2pm, you can get a 2-hour trek and still be back at the resort for a cold beer at 9pm! Find out more about Tangkoko National Park.

Combine Lembeh with diving in Bunaken

Its only a 3-hour boat/car/boat ride to Bunaken Island, another world-famous location that offers big walls with stunning reefs and lots of fish life. Its a completely different type of diving to Lembeh so is a perfect complement.


As we own both Lembeh and Bunaken dive resorts, you can book both these stunning world-class scuba diving locations with the same operator in one holiday. One booking contact, one reservation process, one deposit. Contact us now for an amazing dive holiday in Indonesia.
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