Lembeh Strait

Lembeh Strait is a narrow sea strait separating mainland Sulawesi and Lembeh Island near Bitung City in North Sulawesi, Indonesia. Approximately 16 kilometers long, it is internationally renowned as a world-class muck diving destination. The strait is noted for its black volcanic sand seabed and exceptional marine biodiversity, hosting numerous rare and endemic critters. It is accessed by boat from Bitung harbour and is lined with dive resorts serving underwater photographers and divers.

Visitors can expect a narrow, sheltered strait with calm waters, black volcanic sand slopes and small islands. The main experience is boat-based scuba diving and snorkeling to observe rare small marine life such as frogfish, seahorses, mimic octopus and nudibranchs. The shoreline is lined with dive resorts and fishing villages, with views of Lembeh Island and mainland Bitung. Exploration is primarily by dive boat with guided dives at multiple muck diving sites.

Lembeh Strait has long served as a maritime passage and fishing ground for communities around Bitung, which developed as a port city in North Sulawesi. The strait gained international recognition from the 1990s onward as divers discovered its unique muck diving biodiversity, establishing it as a globally significant dive destination.

The strait supports traditional fishing communities on both the Bitung mainland and Lembeh Island. Local livelihoods are closely tied to the sea, and the area reflects the maritime culture of North Sulawesi with small fishing villages and boat-building traditions.