Lembeh Island

Lembeh Island

Text Klaudyna Brzostowska

Photos Jakub Degee

The variety of diving destinations in Indonesia inspires those who have had the opportunity to see at least a bit of this country. Thousands of islands and an area of 93,000 km2 of inland waters provide a huge array of underwater experiences. There is one absolutely unique place that attracts lovers of marine fauna and flora as well as underwater photographers.

Asmall but irresistible strait in the heart of the Coral Triangle. The Lembeh Strait, since we are talking about this spot, is a special place in terms of macro diving and muck diving (dirty diving). The one who has dived at least once there is bound to return there regularly.

The area around the Lembeh island has been known for many years to biologists and divers from all around the world, luring them with thousands of unusual species of animals living in the local waters. It is considered the world centre of macro diving, thus being the Mecca for photographers who want to capture the camouflage masters.

According to the researchers of the underwater fauna and flora, this area is characterized by the greatest biological diversity in the world and it was found that it is in the Lembeh Strait that extremely rare colonies of marine animals live. The channel separating Celebes from Lembeh island is full of places vibrant with life developed at the volcanic bottom of the sea. Diving in this type of a bottom is

called 'dirty diving' (muck diving). However, nothing is dirty there and the name just refers to the colour of the sand. While immersing you are looking at the grey and black bottom covered with kind of poppy seeds and wondering what you are really doing there. After a while, you have no doubts. In front of your eyes appears the first strange creature, after a while another, and you instantly get hooked on this type of diving. Muck diving is characterized by shallower submerging and spending time on the sandy bottom, where you entertain yourself finding hidden strange creatures. Diving sites in the strait are mostly sand substrates with handfuls of scattered coral structures, sponges and sea anemones. It is thanks to the rich in nutrients volcanic waters that such lush marine life developed here. Residents of the local waters perfectly blend in the topography of the landscape. Some of them are ultra-predators, who, thanks to dazzling colours and adaptive shape, have a guaranteed high position in the food chain. The kaleidoscope of the amazing creatures of this region is stunning – cuttlefish, scorpionfish, nudibranchs,

cotyledons, Hippocampus bargibanti seahorses, Metasepia pfefferi, young pinnate spadefish (Platax pinnatus), ghost pipe fish (Solenostomus) and various species of octopuses. Most of these creatures can be admired already at the first dive. The essence of local dives is the chance of meeting unique species. In the Lembeh Strait, the guides ask very specific questions: What type of seahorses do you want to see? Have you seen the mimic octopus yet?

Muck diving in Lembeh is a guarantee of a brilliant portfolio. It surprises with the unique multitude of species that are hard to find anywhere else.

What is worth noting, are the night dives available in the vicinity of the strait waters. Each diver in mystical concentration, in the beam of flashlight, can observe the wonders of nature. During the night muck dive we are witnessing the high activity of sea creatures. It is at night that you can find the Metasepia prefferi cuttlefish, which in a place named Jahir have their breeding place. Here they spawn in the shells of coconuts. Sometimes hatched young or freshly laid spawn can be observed. Another creature that uses the shell in an interesting way is octopus, specifically Amphioctopus marginatus. Commonly known as coconut octopus, it took a liking for the coconut shells as a mobile place of refuge in case of danger. An interesting thing to observe is the way this invertebrate moves with a shell. This sea creature travels using elongated tentacles, hiding the coconut shell under the trunk. This is the first recorded invertebrate using a tool in a planned way.

The Lembeh Strait has been made famous as the world centre of extraordinary creatures and has been attracting renowned underwater photographers for over ten years. Due to its potential, around the strait have been developed facilities dedicated to divers and underwater photographers. Some of the centres offer training and regular photography events. Compared to others, the Lembeh Resort is particularly distinguished with a diving centre, a rental shop and photo and video equipment service. It is here that conferences, photo workshops and meetings of enthusiasts from all over the world take place. Grey and black sand is the perfect background for capturing creatures living there. Muck diving in Lembeh is a guarantee

(…) warm waters, moderate currents and relatively shallow dives make it an ideal destination for both amateurs and professional photographers.

of a brilliant portfolio. It surprises with the unique multitude of species that are hard to find anywhere else. I mean such specimens as: Rhinopias scorpionfish, mimic octopus and creatures of Hapalochlaena type and Antennariidae family, pipefish or Ambon scorpionfish. In addition, warm waters, moderate currents and relatively shallow dives make it an ideal destination for both amateurs and professional photographers. Each of us, after dozens of diving hours, finds their own diving path. For those who treat underwater photography seriously or want to try their hand at taking pictures, the Strait of Lembeh is unmatched.

The adventure at Lembeh does not finish at muck and macro diving. Those looking for diversity will certainly not be disappointed by the rich structures of table corals, walls full of gorgonias and the Mawali wreck from the World War II. The wealth of the northern Sulawesi, however, offers much more than that. Not far away, to the west of the narrow strait, there is the Bunaken National Marine Park. It is an ideal destination for lovers of steep walls of soft and hard corals, strong currents and pelagic animals, in particular reef sharks and green sea turtles. Beyond the park's borders is the Bangka Island. It is a point on the open sea that lures divers with a group of spears reaching above the surface of the water. Around the spears a lot of schools of horse mackerel, barracudas and Caesionidae can be observed.

For several years Indonesia, including the north of Celebes, has been extremely popular. However, it

is this narrow and dark strait that particularly attracts enthusiasts of diving and sea creatures. It is not surprising, therefore, that after Lembeh experiences it is difficult to find a place that will satisfy the curiosity of muck- and macro-diving fans. Maybe it is worth coming back every now and then?

Jakub Degee – our editorial colleague at Perfect Diver, best known for shark photography, for which he won prizes in competitions in England and Germany, returns to the roots and invites to macrophotography workshops in Indonesia. Lembeh gives you the greatest opportunities to expand your portfolio thanks to the largest number of species, the most photographer-friendly substrate and small depths. Check out the Activtour.pl offer.