Join underwater photographer Saeed Rashid in Indonesia as he returns on this laid-back adventure. Dive into the incredible marine life of two exceptional regions of North Sulawesi with critters camouflaged among the black sands and reef outcrops acting as a haven flamboyant fish.
Muck & Magic returns to Lembeh Strait - one of Saeed's favourite locations - for nine nights of photography and fun at Dive into Lembeh Resort. The muck diving capital of Indonesia, this underwater world hides coconut octopus, hairy frogfish, and nudibranchs galore. Black volcanic sand sites dominate the topography, there are patch reefs, sand and rubble sites and even a couple of wrecks.
Enjoy two dives a day and unlimited, unguided house reef diving included, with great company and informal presentations from Saeed. Subject to weather the group may conduct a full day trip to Bangka Island too, so expect pinnacles, soft corals and mangrove shores. This promises to be a spectacular adventure for marine life enthusiasts and budding photographers to hone their photography skills.
“My second home is North Sulawesi. I’ve been coming here for the last 16 years, whenever I land at Manado Airport, I get that warm, fuzzy feeling knowing I’m about to see old friends, eat incredible food, and dive into some of the richest waters on the planet. Those in the know will tell you that taking time out of your busy life to visit is always an absolute treat, especially when it involves the weird and wonderful Lembeh Strait. This small stretch of water is home to some of the most incredible creatures you’ll ever point a camera at; these critters are just as spellbinding in their own way. We’re talking about the small, the unusual, and the beautifully curious subjects that inhabit the muck. Words (and even award-winning photos!) can barely do justice to how wonderful this area is.
For several years now, my workshops here have been centred around the fabulous Dive into Lembeh. This small, family-run resort is absolutely perfect for the intimate groups I bring out, making everyone feel like part of the family. From the service to the food, everything is spot on. And for us underwater photographers, the guides have some of the sharpest eyes in the business. They’ll help you frame up that elusive nudi, the perfect pygmy seahorse, or my absolute favourite, the ever-playful coconut octopus.” - Tour leader Saeed Rashid
Typical Itinerary
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Day 1:
Depart the UK
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Day 2:
Arrive in Manado and transfer to Lembeh
Transfer by road to Dive into Lembeh Resort on the shores of the Lembeh Strait; a photographers’ paradise famed for its wonderful diversity of weird and wonderful marine life.
Located in Kasawari Bay, this intimate dive resort offers panoramic views of Lembeh Island and easy access to the muck dive sites of Lembeh Strait, two of which are the house reef. The owner-managed, diver-dedicated resort features three economical longhouse rooms and nine identical sea view bungalows built from locally-sourced materials.
Facilities include an open-air restaurant and bar serving local and international cuisine, a swimming pool, a dedicated camera room, spa and fire pit overlooking the Lembeh Strait where you can sit comfortably and talk about the amazing critter encounters of the day.
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Days 3-10
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Enjoy two dives per day and house reef diving in the Lembeh Strait
Our itinerary includes up to two daily boat dives in the Lembeh Strait, with house reef diving also available. Nitrox is included.
The range of marine life found here includes numerous species of seahorse, nudibranch, shrimp and crab, octopus, eel, frogfish, pipefish, cuttlefish, scorpionfish and mandarin fish. Any photographers will not be short of subjects to practice, and there's arguably no better place to develop your macro photography skills. Divers without cameras can also enjoy the treasure hunt of finding these creatures, which are often perfectly camouflaged, with the help of expert local guides. The northern dive sites of the Lembeh Strait are also home to some exceptional coral reef dives to provide a balance of diving styles.
During the tour a day trip to Bangka Archipelago is scheduled. The diving here's one of contrasting styles. Fringing reefs are dominated by hard corals and have very high biodiversity. Volcanic walls and pinnacles adorned in soft corals make beautiful dive sites for experienced divers, while the area also has black volcanic sand sites similar to Lembeh, and areas of mangrove forest. It's possible to see pygmy seahorse, leaf fish, frog fish, white and black tip reef sharks, nudibranchs, and dugongs in these rich waters.
Saeed is on hand to guide you through your time at Lembeh, providing some informal talks tailored to the interests of those on the trip.
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Day 11:
Continue with the optional extension or depart Indonesia
For a fully rounded underwater photography experience, join the optional extension for an additional three nights focusing on wide angle photography. These extra days allow travellers to capture the full underwater world and enhancing their overall photography experience. For the non-photographers, these extra days provide a wide range of dive sites, showing the full variety the area has.
Contact us for full details of the group trip and optional extension.
Otherwise, your Indonesian adventure comes to an end today, and after saying goodbye, you're transferred back to the airport by boat and by road.
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Day 12:
Arrive UK
Please note: For an insight into a previous underwater photography workshop, check out Saeed Rashid's blog Diving Indonesia: A Magic Muck Dive Experience.
You can also travel with Saeed on his Muck & Magic Philippines trip.
