Frequently Asked Questions
Quick Jump
- How do I get to Lembeh Strait?
- Do I need a visa to enter Indonesia?
- How easy is air travel within Indonesia?
- Is there an airport departure tax?
- How far is the resort from the airport?
- Is it safe to travel to North Sulawesi?
- What money / credit cards should I bring?
- Can I get a refund on unused pre-paid dives?
- What's the weather like?
- Is there malaria and dengue fever in the area?
- What is the voltage at the resort?
- Where is the nearest recompression chamber?
- What else to do in the area besides diving ?
How do I get to Lembeh Strait?
The best option is flying via Singapore. Silk Air (www.silkair.com), a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, offers four weekly flights to Manado from Singapore. The flying time is approximately 3.5 hours. If arriving domestically, there are numerous daily flights, some direct, from Jakarta on a variety of carriers, as well as daily flights (via Makassar) from Bali.
Do I need a visa to enter Indonesia?
Yes, you will need a tourist visa which can be issued on arrival at the airport for most nationalities. Eleven countries & territories - including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines & Hong Kong - are eligible for a 30-day free visa. Nationals of 52 countries – including Canada, the USA, the UK, EU countries and Australia - must pay US$25 for a 30-day visa or US$10 for a 7-day visa, issued at airport immigration.
Clean and new US dollars will help expedite the transaction at the airport and Rupiah are also accepted. Alternatively, you may apply for a visa before you leave home by contacting the Indonesian Embassy or Consulate in your country.
For further up-to-date information please visit Indonesia's Department of Foreign Affairs website: www.deplu.go.id, which also lists the location of Indonesian Embassies and Consulates.
How easy is air travel within Indonesia?
There are numerous options if you wish to fly domestically in Indonesia, but obtaining tickets outside of Indonesia is difficult or impossible; if possible fares are usually exorbitant. One can arrange tickets without difficulty once in Indonesia and last-minute bookings can be easily organized outside of any national or school holidays.
Is there an airport departure tax?
When you leave Indonesia from Manado the international departure tax is Rp 100,000. If your onward journey is within Indonesia, the domestic departure tax from Manado is Rp 35,000. These prices are subject to change and are paid at a special window following check-in at the airport.
How far is the resort from the airport?
Black Sand Dive Retreat is a 1.5-hour drive from Sam Ratulangi International Airport
Is it safe to travel to North Sulawesi?
Yes, it is safe to travel in North Sulawesi. This area has remained a bastion of calm and tolerance during unrest suffered in other parts of this widespread archipelago. The people here are one of the strongest selling points as their hospitality, good humor and generosity of spirit leaves a positive lasting impression on all visitors.
What money/credit cards should I bring?
We accept payment by Indonesian Rupiah, Euro or US dollars. It is important to note that foreign notes should be new and unblemished (no folds, staple holes or markings of any kind).
Indonesian banks and money changers will refuse or give a lower rate for notes that are old, damaged or marked. Traveler’s Cheques are not accepted in most establishments, including BSDR and can be difficult to cash at banks or money changers, so we do not recommend their use for travelers to this area. Only the owner of the cheque can cash it at the bank.
Bitung has a number of ATM machines, which can be used to withdraw Rupiah using your credit or debit card. Because of widespread credit card fraud in this part of the world, we also recommend that you notify your bank or credit card company that you will be visiting Indonesia prior to your departure, as there have been cases of cards being blocked by banks thinking that it has been stolen.
Can I get a refund on unused pre-paid dives?
No. Pre-paid dives are non-refundable and non-transferable.
What's the weather like?
Although Lembeh Strait is located only three degrees north of the equator, sea breezes moderate the temperatures and the climate is quite pleasant. Daily temperatures average 32°C (89°F), while the nights are cool, around 24°C (75°F).
The traditional wet season is November to April, leaving the traditional dry season from May through October. With frequent weeks without rain in the wet season and daily rains in parts of the dry season, it can be said that there isn’t much of a difference between them. It is rare to experience lengthy rainfall at any time of the day. Rains usually fall at night, ending by early morning, or arrive in the early afternoon as brief passing showers followed by a clearing of the skies.
We do experience a period of winds from the southeast, from June until mid-September. The winds start up mid-morning and result in small chop at exposed or southeast-facing sites, but they dissipate in the late afternoon, leaving calm seas during night dives.
Because of the many scalloped bays in the strait and the sheltering influence of Lembeh Island, there are always numerous calm spots to dive during any inclement weather.
Is there malaria & dengue fever in the area?
Being a tropical country, there is malaria and dengue fever in North Sulawesi. Cases are usually not contracted in oceanside locations owing to onshore breezes.
We provide mozzie spray and coils in our bungalows and restaurant and we recommend that you bring insect repellent and appropriate clothing for the late afternoon and early evening hours.
Before your departure we also recommend that you consult with your doctor for advice on anti-malarial drugs suitable for divers if you seek absolute protection.
What is the voltage at the resort?
Voltage in Indonesia is 220-240, using a two round-prong plug. In order to provide for those accustomed to 110 V, our camera room is equipped with both 220 and 110 volt outlets as well as adapters since we see a variety of plugs in use by our guests.
Where is the nearest recompression chamber?
There is a well-maintained recompression chamber in Manado at the Malalayang Hospital, a two-hour drive from the resort. The doctor in charge of the chamber recently (February ’07) underwent further hyperbaric medicine training in Australia.
What else to do in the area besides diving ?
Though diving is the primary reason visitors come to North Sulawesi, there are other things to do. The nearby Tangkoko National Park offers the best chance anywhere of seeing the rare Tarsius spectrum, the smallest primate in the world.
The park is also home to the endemic black crested macaque, cuscus and other interesting wildlife and unlike most parks in Southeast Asia, you actually do see wildlife quite easily with the help of the sharp-eyed park rangers who are mandatory guides for visitors.
The Minahasa Highlands offer easy volcano climbs and splendid scenery in cool temperatures, making for an interesting tour. There is river rafting as well and more options for those interested in sampling Minahasan culture and scenery. For further information, we recommend www.north-sulawesi.com and www.north-sulawesi.org
Filamented Ghost Pipefish
Clown Frogfish
Flatform
Mating Bullockii Nudibranchs
Juvenile Flying Gunard
Ornate Ghost Pipefish
Crinoid Squatlobster
Mollucan seahorse
Juvenile Painted Frogfish
Giant Frogfish
Bamboo Shark
Mating Lineolata Nudibranchs
Reef Lobster
