Lembeh - White Sands Beach Resort - Eco Divers

Located in North Sulawesi, Indonesia, Eco Divers operates from the White Sands Beach Resort, the only resort situated on a white sands beach within the Lembeh Strait. This unique positioning provides a comfortable base for exploring the legendary black sand slopes that define the region.

The centre has been a fixture of the North Sulawesi diving scene since 2001. It is well-regarded for its commitment to environmental responsibility and active involvement in local conservation projects. For those looking to combine destinations, they also offer seamless diving holidays to Raja Ampat through their 'Dive Into Raja Ampat' operation.

The centre is a PADI 5 Star operation managed by Andrea Bensi, a PADI MSDT instructor with over 26 years of experience in the Indonesian diving industry. The team is highly specialised, with dive guides possessing the expertise required to work alongside major nature documentary channels and professional photographers.

Safety and personalisation are central to their service, maintaining a strict ratio of no more than four divers per guide. This ensures you receive focused attention while searching for the minute details of the local marine life. The staff are proficient in English and Indonesian.

Eco Divers offers a comprehensive range of PADI courses catering to every level of experience. Beginners can start with Discover Scuba Diving or the Scuba Diver and Open Water Diver courses, with Advanced Open Water Diver and Deep Diver training available to expand your capabilities.

For those looking to specialise, the centre provides Enriched Air Diver (Nitrox), Night Dive, and various other PADI Specialty courses. Professional training is also a core component of their programme, with paths leading from Rescue Diver through to Divemaster and the PADI Instructor Development Course (IDC).

The centre utilises fast and comfortable fiberglass speedboats for dive excursions. These vessels are equipped to handle full-day diving trips and are outfitted with essential safety and comfort features, including navigation lights, a VHF radio, a compass, and life jackets.

Onboard, you will find a shaded salon with comfortable seating, a sundeck, and toilets and showers. The boats are also stocked with fresh towels, fruit, snacks, and unlimited tea and coffee to keep you refreshed between dives. Nitrox is available for use on the water.

The professional dive centre is fully equipped to support your diving needs. Safety is prioritised with oxygen and first aid kits available both on the boats and at the resort.

For those staying at the White Sands Beach Resort, the facilities include air-conditioned oceanfront cottages with ensuite bathrooms, hot water, and a dedicated space to relax after a day in the water. The resort also features a swimming pool and a professional spa.

The Lembeh Strait is a global icon for macro life. You will find an incredible array of cephalopods including the wonderpus octopus, mimic octopus, coconut octopus, blue-ringed octopus, and various reef octopuses. The sandy bottom is also home to flamboyant cuttlefish, various nudibranchs (Chromodoris willani, Coryphillina exoptata, Nembrothas), and several species of cuttlefish.

For photographers, the area offers a vast collection of specialised organisms such as the Mimic octopus, hairy frogfish, Ambon scorpionfish, Ornate ghost pipefish (Solenostomus paradoxus), and various sea moths. You can also encounter the elusive pygmy seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti), pontohi pygmy seahorse, and various species of pipefish and seahorses (Hippocampus kuda).

The wider region and deeper sections feature larger residents such as Wobbegong sharks, walking sharks, reef sharks (Carcharhinus), and Whitetip reef sharks (Triaenodon obesus). You may also spot various rays, turtles, and pelagic fish including Napoleon wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) and large schools of reef fish.

The marine scenery is composed of diverse habitats including hard corals, soft corals, sponges (Porifera), sea fans (Gorgoniidae), and whip corals, providing the structure for a complex ecosystem of crustaceans, molluscs, and various tropical reef fish.

The best time to visit the region is during the sunniest season from April to October. While the Lembeh Strait is known for its unique habitat, the Raja Ampat areas are noted for excellent currents that contribute to high visibility.

In North Sulawesi, the environment is described as off-the-beaten-track, offering a quiet experience away from mass tourism. While malaria is not officially present in the area, standard precautions are advised.