Diving Lembeh Strait & South Lembeh
At Divers Lodge Lembeh, we specialize in dives around Lembeh Island, an area famous worldwide for macro photography and muck diving. With our private boat and guide service, you can explore the diverse marine life at your own pace, focusing particularly on the smaller, rare species that make diving in Lembeh unique. We do not offer dive courses at the resort.
Diving Lembeh
Lembeh Strait is famous and referred to as the Critter Capital of the World, for its abundance of unique macro critters. This includes an extraordinary range of macro life, such as a vast variety of octopuses, nudibranchs, cuttlefish, seahorses, crustaceans and much more. These underwater critters provide an exceptional experience for divers, especially those interested in macro photography.
You can see more underwater photos taken from Lembeh Strait in our Underwater Gallery page, and for videos in our Underwater Video Gallery. Many thanks to our guests who contributed to the gallery!
Video by bugDreamer Marcelo Johan Ogata
Diving at Southern side of Lembeh
While most diving in Lembeh focuses on the Strait’s famous muck diving sites, the southern side of Lembeh Island (accessible from November to April) offers a different experience entirely – with extensive coral walls, gardens, and large schools of fish. The diving conditions here are comparable to those found in Bangka and Bunaken, with excellent visibility and rich coral diversity.
Dive site diversity of Lembeh
The dives sites in Lembeh Strait range from volcanic sandy bottoms to coral gardens, walls, and shipwrecks. There is no additional surcharge for dives at any of the dive sites.
Map of Dives Sites
Quite often critters move between dive sites and as such the underwater life of the dive site changes. Our dive guides are best informed and will know which dive site is the best depending on what you’d like to find and your preferences. We can dive in all the dives sites below.
For Scale: Lembeh Strait is 22 kilometers / 13.6 miles long. It takes 15-30 minutes to reach the dive sites at the center and Northwest tip of Lembeh.
We also have an interactive dive map available on our Map of Lembeh Dive Sites page!
Experienced Dive Guides
Every diver at Divers Lodge Lembeh, whether solo or in a buddy team of two, is provided with a guide at no additional cost. Every two divers is provided with one guide. Furthermore, every guide has made at least 500 dives and gained extensive experience working with underwater photographers.
For extra assistance, divers can opt for an additional guides at a reasonable surcharge of IDR 275,000 per dive. This flexibility is ideal for solo divers who prefer two guides or groups wanting a lower diver-to-guide ratio.
Photo by Faycal Chabini at Immersedlens Photography
The House Reef and Mandarinfish
Our House Reef is a highlight, since the implementation of a strict no-fishing policy in 2007, the reef has become a home for a diverse range of species such as the Blue Ringed Octopus, Wonderpus, Hairy Squat Lobster, Tiger Shrimp, Hairy Octopus, and Ghost Pipefish, including the Mandarin fish.
The dive depth of the reef varies between 2 and 30 meters, accommodating a range of diving experiences. The reef itself is a mix of coral formations and sandy slopes, interspersed with coral bommies and rubble. Patches of sea grass can be found in the shallower areas.
The reef begins at a shallow depth, suitable for snorkeling during calm weather. In certain areas, the reef extends to depths of 30-35 meters, where divers can observe schools of fish, including mackerel, triggerfish, and trevallies.
An Impression of our House Reef by Ocean Storyteller
Swimming and Snorkeling
In addition to diving in Lembeh, we also offer swimming and snorkeling activities, via private boat on dive sites or from our beaches and house reef! Providing a relaxing alternative for those who wish to explore the vibrant marine life near the surface.
Snorkelers at Dive/Snorkeling site Pulau Dua
Private Dive Boat, Always
Each guest or group gets their own dive boat and guide for IDR 1,550,000 (EUR (EUR 81.13, USD 94.08) per day, per boat, in addition to the cost of dives. Our private boat service lets you set your own dive schedule, choose your dive sites, and dive without time limits (within safety standards).
If other guests are available and agree to share a boat, the cost is split equally among all divers on that boat. However, we cannot guarantee that others will be available or willing to share. This fee applies to all divers, whether alone, with a buddy, or in a group.
If there are no other guests that could share a boat with you, we can offer you a smaller, but still very comfortable boat at the rate of IDR 990,000 per day.
Cost examples per-person, per-day:
- 4 persons sharing the private boat, having 3 daytime dives per day.
| Private Boat Shared with 4 People | IDR 1,550,000 / 4 = IDR 387,500 |
| 3 Daytime dives | IDR 500,000*3 = IDR 1,500,000 |
| Total Cost of Dives + Private Boat, Per-Person This includes your own boat, personal dive schedule, and 2 guides. | IDR 1,500,000 + IDR 387,500 = IDR 1,887,500 (EUR 98.80, USD 114.57) |
- 1 person using the smaller private boat, having 3 daytime dives.
| Smaller Private Boat Used by 1 Person | IDR 990,000 |
| 3 Daytime dives | IDR 500,000*3 = IDR 1,500,000 |
| Total Cost of Dives + Private Boat This includes your own boat, personal dive schedule, and 1 guide. | IDR 1,500,000 + IDR 990,000 = IDR 2,490,000 (EUR 130.33 USD 151.14) |
Our custom-built boats are spacious and have everything you need – towels, water, tea, coffee, snacks, and safety equipment. If you make more than two dives during the day, we highly recommend enjoying our convenient and delicious boat lunches, allowing you to maximize your diving time and experience the best of Lembeh’s underwater wonders without interruption.
We manage all aspects of your diving logistics. Our staff will transport your dive and camera equipment from your accommodation to our dive boats. This ensures a seamless and worry-free diving experience for you.
Dive Requirements & Rules
Diving is fun! And it is even more fun (and safer) if our guests oblige to the following dive rules.
- You have to be at least 16 years old and certified for scuba diving by a recognized organization.
- You will be asked to sign a “Standards of Safe Diving Statement” and a Medical Statement, before you start diving with us.
- You will need your dive certification and dive log. If you have any medical problems that may affect diving, you will need written confirmation from your doctor that you are able to dive.
- We offer unlimited dive times, but we ask that you do not exceed decompression limits. We do not allow decompression dives or dives deeper than 30 meters.
- You are expected to dive according to the buddy principle.
- You must dive with a dive computer, because it is likely you will be diving more than once a day and on consecutive days.
- Do not to touch anything underwater, not only for the protection of the underwater environment, but also for your safety as many poisonous creatures inhabit these waters. If you are going to rest any part of your body on the sand, first make sure that it is safe to do so. Beware of spiny poisonous creatures, such as the devil fish, hiding in the sand! Wearing gloves is not forbidden.
- Please do not ask the guides to manipulate the animals in any way. Observe the underwater environment from a reasonable distance and do not frighten the creatures.
- We have an agreement with other dive centers that there is a limit of 15 divers, including the dive guides, in the same dive site underwater.
- Take nothing but good memories. Leave nothing but bubbles.
Dives Rates
Below are the rates for diving, also available in our Rates and Booking page.
Please note: All our prices are based in Indonesian Rupiah (IDR). The USD and EUR prices provided are approximate and may fluctuate with changes in exchange rates. The IDR price will remain constant.
For payments in EUR or USD, the final amount will be calculated based on the exchange rate at the time of payment.
Private boat service: IDR 1,550,000 (EUR 81.13, USD 94.08 ) per day, per boat, in addition to the cost of dives. Boat sharing is available upon request and subject to availability. The cost is divided among the number of divers on the boat. This fee is required for all guests, whether diving alone, with a buddy, or as a group.
| Dive Type | Price per-person, per dive (IDR) | Price per-person, per dive (EUR) | Price per-person, per dive (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daytime Dives (08:00-17:30), 2 divers per guide | 500,000 | 26.17 | 30.35 |
| Night Dives (17:30-20:00), 2 divers per guide | 700,000 | 36.64 | 42.49 |
| Skin-diving/Snorkeling (Cost is per day, guide and gear included, free at House Reef if without guide) | 250,000 | 13.09 | 15.17 |
| Guided House Reef Dives (daytime, Private Boat is not required) | 500,000 | 26.17 | 30.35 |
| Self-guided House Reef Dives (07:00-17:30, min. 2 persons, with shore supervision) | 150,000 | 7.85 | 9.10 |
| Additional Private Guide | 275,000 | 14.39 | 16.69 |
All dives must be conducted between 07:30 and 20:00, with a maximum of 5 dives per day. Nitrox 28% – 35% is available. Dive without time limits, as long as it is within the safety standards of no decompression diving.
Rental Diving Equipment
We provide top-quality rental equipment, including tanks with Int valves and a range of sizes, including Nitrox 32%. Divers using DIN regulators should bring their own adapters. The water temperature in Lembeh Strait is typically pleasant with temperature of 27°C-29°C, however we would recommend a 3mm or 5mm full-length wetsuit based on individual comfort and seasonal variations.
| Other items | IDR | EUR | USD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrox 28 — 35 (per tank) | 75,000 | 3.93 | 4.55 |
| Large Tanks (13.25 L and 15.5 L) (per tank) | 60,000 | 3.14 | 3.64 |
| Kayaking per 2 hours (per boat) | 150,000 | 7.85 | 9.10 |
| Rental Dive Equipment (price per day) | IDR | EUR | USD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Complete set (Includes: Dive Suit, BCD, Breathing Regulator, Mask, Fins and Booties) | 195,000 | 10.21 | 11.84 |
| BCD Jacket | 85,000 | 4.45 | 5.16 |
| Fluorescent Torch and Filter | 250,000 | 13.09 | 15.17 |
| Breathing Regulator | 75,000 | 3.93 | 4.55 |
| Dive Suit | 35,000 | 1.83 | 2.12 |
| Fins and Booties | 20,000 | 1.05 | 1.21 |
| Mask and Snorkel | 30,000 | 1.57 | 1.82 |
| Dive Computer | 45,000 | 2.36 | 2.73 |
| Weight Belt | 7,000 | 0.37 | 0.42 |
| Dive Light | 85,000 | 4.45 | 5.16 |
| Din/Int adapter | 5,000 | 0.26 | 0.30 |
Page last updated November 30, 2025
