Lembeh Dive Resort & Spa

This was our third visit to Lembeh resort and as soon as we arrived we wondered why it had been nine years since the last time (oh right, travel time/distance from the US and limited vacation days). If we could, we would make this an annual destination. From booking through email, to our drop off at the airport after our two week stay, every single staff member we met went above and beyond to exceed our expectations. We would like to specifically mention Solene for making our stay so comfortable and not only listening/responding to our every need, but anticipating them as well. The resort is extremely lucky to have her on staff. We stayed in a Garden View room, and although they are showing their age, are still perfectly adequate accommodations; close to everything, minimal stairs, and a beautiful view of the incredible landscaping and trees around the resort. The grounds crew really does an excellent job. There was quite a bit of construction going on during our stay but staff were very conscientious about the noise and the loudest activity was while the boats were out on dives. The food is even better than before and they have complete vegetarian and vegan menus, as well as lots of vegetarian options on the breakfast and lunch buffets. Plus we could request tofu to be added to any meal if we needed a little more protein. We had a little difficulty in the beginning getting our food without spice (chili flakes) added to everything, but working with Solene made it happen. You will miss the food when you leave. Queen was a delight and always greets every guest with a smile while making sure your water glass never gets empty. Tip: if you are vegetarian, request to see the regular dinner menu as well to scope out the desserts. Usually the better desserts, in our opinion, were on that menu and not the vegetarian menu (even though all desserts were vegetarian, they put different ones on that menu). We did the Birdwatching Tour at Tangkoko National Park. Sno accompanied us from the resort and made sure everything went smoothly. He also carried extra water and bug spray, and often the large scope. He was really the unsung hero of the excursion. The guide who joined us for the day was incredible in both his enthusiasm for birds but also his ability in finding and identifying them in the rainforest. He could spot birds an incredible distance away and had an awesome scope for us to use to see them. We decided to head back to the resort after lunch (it was an all day tour) as it was hot and mosquitoes were fierce but would highly recommend the tour to anyone interested in wildlife, particularly birds. If you stay for the afternoon you go to see the monkeys and tarsiers. Lunch was delicious and plentiful and you have use of a day room at a small local hotel for a shower and nap after lunch if you choose. If we had known that we could shower, change clothes, and start fresh for the afternoon portion we likely would have planned/packed differently and done the whole day, but that wasn’t clear until lunchtime. Regardless, we had a great time and felt like we got our moneys worth doing just the morning. Tips if you do the tour: bring good walking/hiking shoes. We had closed-toed sandals and they worked, but hiking shoes and socks would have been much more comfortable. You are walking off path in the rainforest, do not wear regular sandals. Plus they have biting ants which will get your unprotected feet. Bring lots of bug spray and sunscreen. This tour includes a boat ride in an open boat without shade for at least an hour. They bring water refills for you (you need to bring your own water bottle which the resort provides at check-in) but we brought extra water as well and didn’t regret it. You can leave extra stuff in the van so you aren’t carrying everything you bring. Schedule as far in advance as possible to get the best company/tour guide to lead the birding section. Critters@Lembeh was the well run dive operation we remember. Doni and Sandro were excellent guides, shout out to Opo K for the best night dive of our lives, and thanks to Charlie for taking us to one of the most unbelievable wall/coral sites we’ve ever seen. Who knew this was hiding there the whole time?!? The muck is exceptional diving, of course, but if you are there for several days, be sure to request a dive or two on the wall. Also, do a dusk dive. Or five. They are hands-down the best dives to see octopus and witness behavior. We are already planning when we can get back.

We ended our Indonesia dive trip at Lembeh Resort, and honestly, it was the perfect place to wrap things up. Our suite was gorgeous, peaceful, and had a view that made us stop in our tracks every time we walked outside. The staff? Incredible. Every single person we met was kind, professional, and somehow remembered our names from day one. But Solene at the front desk—oh my gosh, we adored her. She’s the kind of person who makes you feel completely at home right away. We had the best chats with her, and anytime we even hinted at something, she took care of it before we could ask. She’s an absolute gem and a big part of why the place felt so special. The spa was amazing—some of the best massages we’ve ever had. And I don’t say that lightly… my husband is a massage therapist and very picky. We both floated out of there. Food was delicious with plenty of variety. Every morning there was a chef ready to make eggs or pancakes, and at lunch, fresh grilled catch of the day was always an option—and always fantastic. Now let’s talk diving. The Lembeh Strait is basically the Disneyworld of diving. Every dive brought something weird, wild, and totally new to us. We were blown away. Our dive crew was split between Lembeh’s staff and the incredible team from Murex—Charley , Romey, Jardi, Eldo, and especially Rein, who was with us the whole journey. These folks are seriously some of the hardest-working, most gracious dive professionals we’ve ever met. They made every day underwater feel easy, safe, and unforgettable. Tarkan and Kathrin, the resort managers, were warm, thoughtful, and clearly love what they do. That energy runs through the whole resort. We left feeling relaxed, cared for, and already dreaming about when we can come back. If you’re on the fence—go. You’ll be so glad you did.

This was our second visit to this resort and while the first visit (2019) was very good, the current trip was even better. Critters, dive sites, dive guides, food variety and presentation, bungalow and resort staff were all excellent. Tom and Sheila

There is a good reason this is such a highly rated resort! It’s hard to find anything to criticize. Outstanding staff, rooms, and top notch diving. The warmth, caring and professionalism shine through. Even as a “non-muck” diving kind of person, I was mesmerized and converted.

Amazing experience for a bucket list destination. It is worth mentioning that the dive guides are proficient in many underwater photography systems and are very helpful in getting the perfect shot. Also, there is a Backscatter Photo Shop on the premises. The level of service we received from every single staff member we interacted with throughout the resort, dive shop, and photo center was 5 star. We were greeted with a warm welcome at every corner. The rooms are immaculate, spacious, and comfortable. The food is top notch with a wide variety for all palates and diets. The dive shop is phenomenal with small groups and incredible guides. We were looked after by not only our guide but every single crew member. I recommend this location and would return if given the opportunity.