Lembeh Resort

We are so lucky to have found the Lembeh Resort as our virtual second home in Indonesia. Our first visit was in 2017. We have just returned from our 8th wonderful time there and we have already booked our 9th, 10th, and 11th visits at the Lembeh Resort among people whose warmth and hospitality are like a loving family. Of course, behind the friendliness is a high degree of professionalism and expertise. And it also helps that this resort is home to the finest land-based dive operation we have ever seen: Critters-at-Lembeh (Critters@Lembeh). Diving is the main attraction here. Lembeh Strait is on every serious diver's bucket list for good reason. Many people come to see their first Blue-ring Octopus or Wonderpus or Mimic Octopus, and we have seen these and many others multiple times. But we have learned that is best to approach each dive as a new adventure to see what presents itself to a patient observer. The guides here are not just leaders--they are eagle-eyed spotters, naturalists, marine biologists, taxonomists, and photography coaches. At the end of each dive, you will be presented with a list of about 20-30 names of the creatures you have seen, most with their Latin names! Our photo collections provide hours of enjoyment reviewing shots of nudibranchs, fish, octopuses, corals, worms, tunicates, and crustaceans. The dive crew and photo staff all cooperate to take excellent care of all the guests. Gitti, Julz, Pettri, and Glen in the dive shop, Ross, the photo pro along with Fandy, Opo K, and Sandro leading the photo team and also guiding, all of the dive guides and tank technicians (too many to name, but all fantastic), the boat crews including Jonly, Ifer, Tommy, Yongki, Rafel, Rein, and especially Momo work hard and cheerfully together to make your diving easy and fun. If you are not diving, there are several fascinating day trips available. We once went to Tangkoko National Park and had a blast with Snou from the front desk along with us. Videos of this excursion and dive videos are available on our YouTube channel (Fugawe Travel International). It is not easy to get to Lembeh, but the Resort takes good care of their guests as soon as they exit the Manado Airport. Your escort holds a sign with your name and once you connect, you're given a cold towel and ice-cold water in a keepsake aluminum bottle. After a smooth 45-minute drive and a 10-minute boat ride to the resort, guests are escorted to their rooms where their bags have already been delivered. There are orientations to the resort and the dive operation, but I cannot give details since my wife and I have been there so many times that we skip these formalities. But we see new guests participating with amazement in their faces and we remember what that was like our first time there. The garden areas are beautifully manicured to look balanced in a natural way. The walkways are routinely maintained for safety. The buildings are perched like precious gems in a jungle. The food is amaz

We joined a group of divers for 9 days of diving. We were in Room 2-a very nice cottage with plenty of space and a great porch! Food was served buffet style at breakfast and lunch and plated at dinner- you chose your entree during lunch. The dive operation was outstanding- fantastic guides and boat crew, with excellent focus on safety. Jenly was our dive guide and Momo headed the boat crew. Jenly carried cameras to and from the camera room and the boats. There was always one or more people making sure boarded and disembarked safely. As experienced divers already know, Lembeh is legendary for world class muck diving! We saw about 7 species of octopi! I had a new camera and the camera pro, Ross was fantastic in helping me use it. I had two absolutely invaluable sessions with him! Hellen took us on a very informative tour of her village where we saw spices growing, and we met her family. The village was spotless! We also learned about the resort’s focus on sustainability and the excellent work of the Lembeh Foundation, sponsored by the resort!

The best place to stay in Lembeh. This is my third trip to Lembeh, and I have stayed at a different hotel each time. Lembeh Resort is by far the best and when we go back to Lembeh, we will be staying there again. Fantastic diving crews, not just the dive guides (ours was excellent) but the rest of the boat crews had a passion for making sure we saw everything Lembeh strait had to offer. Every meal was delicious and the rooms were clean and comfortable. Everyone at Lembeh Resort looked after us, adding personal touches on several occasions. After five days of diving it was sad to leave. We will miss everyone and hope to get back soon.

As always, The Lembeh Resort in Indonesia is incredible. We stopped there between liveaboards for some outstanding service and accommodations. The experience from pickup at the airport to delivery at the resort is flawless. We stayed in room 6 and it was magnificent. The "outdoor" shower after a day of diving is so incredibly relaxing. The food is the best in Indonesia and the service from all the staff is better than anywhere else. When it comes to the dive operation, they ensure an incredible experience. The boat crew and dive shop folks are professional and very helpful. Our private guide (Sandro) was amazing. We've used him two visits in a row and if he's willing...we will keep using him. My underwater photography skills increase exponentially when he's with me teaching and mentoring. I feel guilty taking credit for any of my Lembeh photos since he's the real reason any of them are good at all. Overall, Lembeh Resort is a "must visit" dive resort for any underwater photographers!

Lembeh Resort is one of the most welcoming places I have been in the world. The diving is top-notch, but everyone on the staff of the resort, dive center and photo center make the experience one-of-a-kind. This was my second visit, and I can't wait to get back.

We had such a great time at Lembeh Resort! The staff are so friendly from the front desk team to the housekeeping and restaurant teams. Great food too (we loved the BBQ night). We did our PADI OWC course with the dive centre and they were very professional and patient. Even as beginners, we saw cute fish / critters and the Wonderpus Octopus. Would highly recommend Lembeh Resort and we’ll be back!