Where Is The Lembeh Strait?

The Lembeh Strait is located between the Indonesian islands of Lembeh and Sulawesi. The strait falls under the administration of the town of Bitung, which is part of the province of North Sulawesi in Indonesia. The Lembeh Strait has a length of approximately 10 miles and a width of only 0.7 miles. Despite its small size, the strait is renowned for its diverse aquatic life and is a population destination for scuba diving. The strait is also important for local transportation and contains a natural laboratory and fishery.

Tourism

Tourists from all over the world are drawn to Lembeh Strait to experience its impressive natural beauty. The strait offers scuba divers the choice of 88 diving spots, including Nudie Falls, TK3, and Police Pier. Most dive sites have depths ranging between 49 ft and 82 ft. Additionally, the waters in Lembeh Strait do not have strong currents and temperatures are usually within a favorable range, between 75.2 °C and 86 °C.

However, the visibility in the waters of Lembeh Strait is not high, and therefore divers must be mindful of corals in the water. Diving can occur throughout the year, although the period between December and February is generally rainy. The coldest months are July and August, while January and February are the warmest. Additionally, the strait is often considered to be the world's best site for muck diving.

Tourists are also drawn to nearby features such as a DC3 plane of the Indonesian Air Force and the Trikora (Tri Komando Rakyat) monument. The two monuments are situated on the coastal region of Lembeh Island and commemorate the wars fought during the 1980s to recover land from the Dutch East Indies’ Papua.

Marine Life

Lembeh Strait contains diverse marine life. For example, certain giant fish species live exclusively in the strait, and therefore Lembeh Strait is a popular attraction among marine life enthusiasts and underwater photographers. Unique marine species that inhabit Lembeh Strait include the flamboyant squid, mimic octopus, furry frogfish, mating Mandarin fish, and spine-cheek anemonefish. Other notable species include cuttlefish, razorfish, demon stingers, and cuckatoo waspfish.