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Manado, Lembeh, Sambit & Sangalaki

Itineraries

Manado, Lembeh, Sambit & Sangalaki

On this expedition, we begin with world-famous diving in Lembeh and along Manado coastal islands.. Here, submerge yourself into a psychedelic underwater world filled with both the beautiful and bizarre. Each dive is an exhilarating treasure hunt for critters in every shape and size – some as tiny as your smallest fingernail. Keep your eyes peeled for the flamboyant cuttlefish, Lembeh seadragon, coconut octopus, pygmy seahorse, hairy frog fish, and more.

We will then cross the Celebes Sea to the islands of Sambit, Sangalaki, Kakaban, and Maratua, where you will explore gorgeous seascapes away from the crowds – diving as it was meant to be! Sheer drop-offs, thrilling drift dives, and colourful reefs form a spectacular back drop to breath-taking pelagic action – witness manta rays, schools of trevallies, barracudas, and sightings of hammerhead and thresher sharks.

Between dives, trek through a scenic tropical jungle to visit the beautiful freshwater jellyfish lake in Kakaban, or witness baby turtles hatching on the beach in Sangalaki.

10 Days / 9 Nights
Sample Itinerary

10 Days / 9 Nights

Note: All schedules are subject to changes according to weather, sea, diving, & local conditions.

Day 1. (0-2 dives) 1pm. Our staff will meet you upon arrival to Manado Airport & transfer you to White Manta.  Depending on arrival time, we can do 1-2 critter dives in Lembeh.

Day 2. (3-4 dives) Muck Diving along Manado coastal Islands

Day 3. (3 dives) Muck Diving along Manado coaster Islands, long over night crossing to Pulau Sambit

Day 4-5. (4 dives x2 days) Diving around Pulau Sambit.

Day 6.  (3-4 dives) Diving around Maratua island:  Huge schools of chevron barracudas, and big-eye jacks at the mouth of the channel.   Look out for the shark action with possible sightings of hammerhead sharks too!

Day 7. (4 dives) Diving around Kakaban with stunning wall dives & visiting the amazing fresh water Jellyfish lake.

Day 8. (3-4 dives) Diving around Sangalaki looking for manta rays, turtles & more! We also have a chance to visit the beach to watch hatching baby turtles make their dash to the sea!

Day 9. (1-2 dives) Looking for whale sharks at local fishing “bagans”, then sail back to Tg Batu Port Sailing time 5 hours.  Last night sleeping on White Manta in the harbour.  Plenty of time to wash & dry equipment, rest & relaxation, and if needed, an early flight the next day.  

Day 10. (0 dives) 5am-10pm.  Check out (between 5am-10am) after light breakfast & farewells, and transfer to local hotel or Berau Airport.

Diving days: 9 days (26 dives. Some dives may be substituted for island tour)

Embarkation / Disembarkation

  • Bitung Port, Manado (MDC) /
  • Tg.Batu pier, Indonesia, 2-2.5 hours transfer from Berau Airport (BEJ), East Kalimantan

How to get to Manado (MDC)

  • We will be there to transfer you to the White Manta.  Airport transfer to Bitung Port 1 hour.
  • From Bali: Direct flights with Lion Air daily flights, Citilink or Garuda Indonesia, via Jakarta/ Makassar/ Surabaya.
  • From Jakarta:  Direct flights with Batik Air & Citilink, or with Lion Air, via Surabaya.
  • International from Singapore, direct flights with Scoot if you arrive the day before trip departure day.  Or fly to Jakarta, stay 1x night, and catch an early morning domestic flight to Manado.
  • Note: If staying in Manado, please review our ‘Hotels in Manado’ section in the Celebes Sea Fact Sheet for included pickups for local hotel in Bitung area or Sam Ratulangi Airport, Manado (transfer time 1 hour).   Manado City hotels are NOT included in our free pickups.  If NOT local then OWN way from hotel to Manado Airport or Bitung Port.

How to get from Berau (BEJ), Indonesia

  • From White Manta/ Tanjung Batu pier, Indonesia.  2 hours 30 mins by car to Berau Airport (BEJ)
  • From Jakarta, direct flights with Batik Air & Citilink, or with Lion Air, via Surabaya.
  • International from Singapore, direct flights with Scoot.  Or fly to Jakarta, stay 1x night, and catch an early morning domestic flight to Manado.

Trip Schedule

  • Departure:  1pm, 1st day – Bitung Port, Manado, North Sulawesi. Or earlier if everyone arrives before and all trip preparations are completed. Free pickup upon arrival from Sam Ratulangi Airport, Manado (transfer time 1 hour) or local hotel* (10am) to White Manta on trip departure day.
  • Return: 6am, last day – Tg. Batu Pier, East Kalimantan.  We arrive back the evening before.  On last day after a light breakfast and fond farewells, we will take you to Kalimarau Airport, Berau in time for check-in & flight (transfer time 2-2.5 hours). Note: Latest White Manta check-out 10am, trip return day.
  • Last dive ends: midday – 12pm, penultimate day.  Plenty of time for R&R while we sail back to Tg. Batu pier where we spend the last night on White Manta.  This also allows for your minimum 18 hours surface interval/ No Fly Time (as recommended by PADI) before flying the next day.

Dive Site Information (Lembeh)

  • Water Temp: 27-30 degrees Celsius
  • Air Temp: 27-32 degrees Celsius
  • Visibility: 20-30 meters,
  • Currents: Mild ,
  • Level: Intermediate to advanced,
  • Best Time to Dive: All year round
  • What to See/ Highlights: Macro heavan with weird & wonderful critters all around

Dive Site Information (Sambit-Sangalaki)

  • Water Temp: 28-30 degrees Celsius
  • Air Temp: 28-30 degrees Celsius
  • Visibility: 10-30 meters,
  • Currents: Mild to medium ,
  • Level: Beginners to advanced,
  • Best Time to Dive: Start of May to end of October
  • What to See/ Highlights: Pelagic; Manta rays, hammerheads, barracuda, jacks, tuna, & more Reef; amazing soft corals, turtles, leopard & reef sharks, harlequin shrimps, pygmy seahorses, frogfish, ribbon eels, cuttlefish, nudis, & usual suspects

What’s included?

  • Round trip transfer local Hotel/Airport – Boat
  • All nights’ accommodation on Boat
  • All meals (Western & Indonesian) snacks, hot beverages, coffee, tea, Milo, soft drinks
  • Towels, toiletries, & cabin services
  • FOC replacement if equipment breakdown
  • Warm towel & drink after every dive
  • Regular air tanks, weights, belt, 6 dive guides (1x instructor, 5x dive masters)

What’s excluded?

  • All flights & hotels stay
  • Marine Park & Harbour fee
  • Dive & Travel insurance
  • Fuel surcharge. Please see our Booking Information page ‘Fuel surcharge’ section for more details and fees per person.
  • Massage services
  • Laundry services
  • Nespresso coffee, alcohol; beer & wine
  • Satellite Wi-Fi
  • Diving gear: Dive computer, torch, large tank, BCD, regulator, wetsuit, fins mask.
  • Nitrox Enriched Air fills
  • Note: Nitrox & diving gear Items priced per diving day and are subject to availability.
  • Note: Exposure suits; 3mm shorty wetsuits available ONLY.

Additional Trip Information

Travel Documents

  • Please find our updated Travel & Visa Information page, to aid you with your travels to Indonesia.
  • Visa On Arrival (VOA), single entry is now available for many countries and Visa Exemption Arrangement (VEP) for some ASEAN countries for stay up to 30 days. VOA cost: IDR 500,000 (approx. EUR 32/ USD 35). Payment can be done by: Visa, Mastercard or Debit Card or Cash Indonesian Rupiah (IDR).  Note: Please check here for eligibility & application. If you are from one of countries not on the VOA or VEA lists, or if you simply wish to get 60 day visa in advance, you MUST apply for an eVisa (B211A) online PRIOR to arrival before entering all other airports.
  • Passport. Please ensure your passport is in good order, at least 2 blank pages, is valid for at least 6 months, and that you are able to enter Indonesia. Check with your local Embassy of Indonesia if unsure.  Note: Late receipt of Passport details may very likely lead to delayed departure & significant changes to the itinerary.
  • Departure Tax. Indonesia Passenger Service Charge (IPSC) has changed (Mar-2015) to be included in your flight ticket price. Please check though as previously it was 200,000IDRp to leave Indonesia, & up to 75,000IDRp for Domestic flights. Carry small bills, Indonesia Rupiah preferred, as often no change given.

Domestic Flights

  • Please book BEFORE confirming your international flights to ensure you make your connection to Manado & from Berau.
  • Travel agent: If you require assistance with your itinerary: obtaining an e-visa, booking domestic flight tickets, hotels, transfers, and additional land arrangements etc, we can recommend local Indonesian Travel agents, our friends at Come2Indonesia.  Contact Rendy & the team here rendy@come2indonesia.com. Note: If booked with credit card please ensure the card is with you upon check-In or have an official Airline form filled in & signed by card holder authorizing the use of.
  • Our ticketing agents are not responsible for any flight delay or cancellation, luggage lost or delay. In any case, please contact our ground staff in Bali for assistance for flight delay issue.
  • Domestic Airlines normally have 20Kg allowance, although you may pay for 10Kg extra when booking, if needed (around US$3/kilo). With an additional 7kg carryon.

Health & Insurance

  • Dive Insurance: Compulsory for this trip.  We also strongly advise you to get adequate travel insurance. Please check your travel insurance policy for your diving needs.  If not covered, then we recommend DiveAssure for their single trip policy cover.
  • Dive Computer: Compulsory on this trip.  We have rentals onboard if you do not have.
  • Follow Safe Diving Practices at ALL times plus No Deco Diving and No Solo Diving.
  • Dive & Travel insurance are compulsory for our trips. Our trips are not inclusive of any form of insurance. White Manta Diving cannot be held responsible for any trip disruption or cancellation due to unforeseen circumstances beyond our control or any flight / hotel expenses. This includes any costs resulting in delay/ medical/ extraction/ or trip costs, refusal of admittance to the country or your trip, before, during or after. We strongly recommend all guests purchase adequate travel insurance, as such an occurrence will affect all guests on trip.   For more details see our Booking Information page, travel insurance section.

Internet/ Mobile

  • Satellite Wi-Fi
  • Mobile signal: Local Telkomsel is best local card to buy.  Not long after you leave port, we have intermittent/ limited mobile signal until we return.
  • Telkomsel pre-paid SIM or eSIM is the best value. Plus, can add credit top up!!!

Trip Extras payment onboard

  • By Credit card comes with 4.5% additional handling fee.
  • By Cash we accept US dollars, Euros, Singaporean dollars, and Indonesian rupiah.  Please ensure ALL bills are in good order; NOT worn or torn and unmarked or we are UNABLE to accept. Current Exchange rate to be determined onboard. ATMs are available in town.

Trip Extras

  • Marine Park & Harbour fee: US$250 per person.  To be settled in advance of trip.
  • Fuel Surcharge fee: US$300 per person.  To be settled in advance of trip.
  • Massage US$40/ hour, laundry services US$10/ basket
  • Nespresso coffee: US$3, beer US$4, wine US$40-50
  • Satellite Wi-Fi: US$35 per person/ 10Gb card.
  • Nitrox: US$20/ diving day or US$7/ fill.

 

Equipment rental

Diving gear: Full Set* US$50/ diving day (except large tank & torch) or if individual items then following rates apply per diving day**

  • BCD US$15*
  • Regulator US$15*
  • Dive Computer US$15*
  • Wetsuit US$10*
  • Fins US$10*
  • Mask US$10*
  • Large Tank US$15
  • Torch** US$15 per sunset/ night dive.

Diving gear items priced per diving day*. Please provide sizes in advance of the trip, as all gear is subject to availability. If not known then provide your height, weight, shoe size, where applicable.

  • Note**: Torch rental price is per use/ sunset/ night dive.
  • Note: Exposure suits: 3mm shorty wetsuits available ONLY.
  • Note: Large tank AL100, 100 cu ft (13.2 liters)
  • Note: Gear included, regular air tank AL80, 80 cu ft (11.1 liters), weights, belt.

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