Frequently Asked Questions

We opened all year around. You can dive whole year around at Lembeh Strait. All of our boat comes with two engines of 40PK in each boat in a good and well maintained.

The air temperature in North Sulawesi stays around 29-32C all year-round. The water temperatures at Lembeh Strait between 25-27C, not too much serious protection is required, so we suggest a 3mm one-piece of long-suit for diving is fine which also can give you a protection against jelly fishes and any stinging hydroids or 5mm plus hood when you get cold fast because sometimes the water can be colder than normal water temp.

We have two seasons for Indonesia :
Dry Season: From April until October. This is the time for sunbathing, but can be also getting some warm rain at anytime of the year. If you’re coming to visit the rainforest or go rafting, we actually prefer the rainy season (but again it is year-round) because that is when the forest and highlands are watered and are at their most lush. Visibility at Lembeh Strait 10-15m.

Wet / Rainy Season: From November to March with cooler winds from north-west which can bring heavier rains and rougher seas but you will not find rough seas at Lembeh Strait since we are inside the strait it self covered by mainland and a huge lembeh island. Visibility is about 10-15m but can sometimes drop to 10m for a few days when there is heavy rains.

For land clothing, normally shorts and t-shirts are sufficient for the day (even if it rains, because it’s warm tropical rains), and light trousers at night, perhaps with a long-sleeve shirt. Do not forget sun lotion and sun glasses for the day time. We’ll provide towels in the room, but guests also able to bring their own.

North Sulawesi in general and Manado especially is tropical and so malaria cannot be discounted but there is no malaria in the region. When you are traveling to our reagion, we suggest you follow your doctor’s advice regarding malaria tablets.

Officially, North Sulawesi is non-malarial, but if the tablets don’t bother you too much it’s always best to bring on the side of caution. There are cases of malaria and dengue fever in North Sulawesi; however, there have been no reported cases specifically at the resort.

We do recommend you bring plenty of repellent and appropriate clothing and that you consult with your doctor before your trip for the most up-to-date advice on anti-malarial drugs, as well as recommended vaccinations. At Lembeh Island there’s some mosquitos ( but not to many ) and we also recommend that you spray anti-mosquito spray for your arms and legs mostly from afternoon until evening. There is mosquito net in every room at Bastianos.

The odd case of dengue fever has been reported in North Sulawesi, though these tend to be in the villages where rubbish is sometimes not properly cleared.

There are plenty of chemists and dentists in Bitung and Manado which can provide drugs. The General Hospital in Manado ( Prof. Dr. Kandou Hospital ) has a good recompression chamber (around 90 minutes from Bitung to the hospital. Also there is another recommended private hospital which is Pancaran Kasih hospital at the down town of Manado if you require a doctor.

There is no public health service, and everyone has to pay so before you are going to the doctor or hospital, be prepared by taking some Rupiah (IDR) cash with you.

There are always many reports of problems and conflicts in Indonesia and this is very frustrating us since Indonesia is a big country with many islands which actually not all the areas in Indonesia have problems and conflicts as always reports in the overseas newspaper and TV channels.

For people that has been traveling to our country, they know better what is the conditions and the atmosphere like, especially in North Sulawesi since North Sulawesi is one of the safe province in Indonesia for travelling.

At Lembeh Strait it’s mainly for scuba diving. Also you can snorkel, sun-bath, relax, and take a walk to the villages. For snorkeling, you can joining our dive boat following the diving schedules. We can arrange trips to the other attractions in North Sulawesi for you, like tp the Tangkoko Nature Reserve or to the volcanics higland.

Manado can be reached by plane via Sam Ratulangi International Airport and from airport it’s only 30 minutes by car to Manado City. Manado is the capital of North Sulawesi, Indonesia. Sulawesi is East of Borneo and to the South of the Philippines. Manado also can be reached by sea via International Port of Bitung with PELNI ships and it then from Bitung only 10 minutes boat ride to our resort at Lembeh Island.

As from February 2010 there will be a Dive Fee per diver for diving in the Lembeh Strait. As the purchase of the Ticket is connected to new dive regulations (which previously not existed), it helps protecting the Lembeh Strait and it’s dive sites. We hope you understand the benefit of this dive permit – we are convinced that this is a good way to help protecting the legendary Lembeh Strait.

This permit system will require a 50,000 Rupiah (around US $5 / 3 Euro) payment on the day of check in at all resorts in Lembeh including Bastianos Lembeh. This 50,000 Rupiah will be payable one time per visit and will be valid for your entire stay in the Lembeh Strait.