Booking5

Manado, Lembeh, Sambit & Sangalaki

Itineraries

Manado, Lembeh, Sambit & Sangalaki

On this expedition, we begin with world-famous diving in Lembeh. 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) 5pm. 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 Tarakan (sailing time 9-11 hours).  Plenty of time to wash & dry equipment, rest & relaxation, and if need be, an early flight on trip departure day.  Last night sleeping on White Manta in the Tarakan harbour.

Day 10. (0 dives) 5am-12pm.  Check out after light breakfast, farewells, and transfer to local hotel or airport.  Departure from Tarakan to Jakarta with Batik Air or Bali (via Subabaya) with Lion Air.

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

Embarkation / Disembarkation

  • Bitung Port, Manado (MDC) / Tarakan (TRK), North 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 Lion Air daily flights via Makassar/ Surabaya.  From Jakarta direct with Garuda Indonesia
  • International, from Singapore direct flights with Silk Air.  Or fly to Jakarta and catch early morning Domestic flight
  • 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 Tarakan (TRK), Indonesia

  • Back to Bali (DPS) with Lion Air, who offer daily morning flights via Surabaya (SUB), departing 07:00 arriving 11:05. 
  • Back to Jakarta (CGK) with Batik Air departing 14:15 arriving 16:05.  Citilink also offer flights (Sun, Mon, Wed & Friday only) back to Jakarta via Balikpapan (BPN) departing 13:00 arriving 14:45.
  • Back to Singapore (SIN), same day with Singapore Airlines from Jakarta.

Trip Schedule

  • Departure; 5pm, 1st day – Bitung Port, Manado, North Sulawesi. Or earlier if everyone arrives before and all trip preparations completed. Free transfer from local hotel or Sam Ratulangi Airport, Manado to White Manta on trip departure day (transfer time 1 hour).
  • Return; 6am, last day – Tarakan, North Kalimantan.  After a light breakfast and fond farewells, we take you to the Airport in time for check-in & flight or local hotel. Note: Latest WM check-out, midday.
  • Last dive ends; midday – 12pm, penultimate day.  Plenty of time for R&R while we sail back to Tarakan where we spend last night on White Manta. This also allows for your minimum 18 hours surface interval/ No Fly Time (as recommended by PADI) before flying 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, 5 dive guides (1x Instructor, 4x Dive Masters)

What’s excluded?

  • All flights & hotels stay
  • Marine Park & Harbour fee  
  • Dive & Travel insurance
  • Fuel surcharge (if applicable). 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, 15L tank rental, 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. 

New White Manta Reminders

Travel Documents

  • COVID-19 requirements & protocols in Indonesia and on your trip.  Please see our COVID-19 Travel & Visa Information page to help prepare and plan in advance for your travels and entry into Indonesia, as detailed by the Government of Indonesia.
  • Guest Info. We MUST receive guest’s details well in advance in the trip.  Note: Late receipt of passport details may very likely lead to delayed departure & significant changes to the itinerary.
  • 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 eligibity. If you are from one of countries not on the VOA or VEA lists, or if you simply wish to get a 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, has enough 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.
  • 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 & from start & end ports
  • 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 tour2@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 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.
  • Travel insurance is 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 related to COVID-19 issues, resulting in delay/ medical/ extraction/ quarantine/ or trip costs incurred due to potential positive testing / 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 occurance will affect all guests on trip. Please see our Booking Information page ‘Travel Insurance’ section for more details and recommended insurers.

Internet/ Mobile

  • Satellite Wi-Fi
  • Mobile signal; local Telkomsel is best local card to buy.  Not long after you leave port we have has intermittent/ limited mobile signal until we return.
  • Telkomsel prepaid card is the best value. Plus can add credit to top up!!!

Trip Extras payment onboard

  • By Credit card comes with 4.5% additional handling fee.
  • By Cash we accept US Dollars, Euro, 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.  Exchange rates differ for USD100/50 bills and USD20/10 bills. Current Exchange rate. ATMs available in town.

Trip Extras

  • Marine Park & Harbour fee; US$250 per person
  • Fuel Surcharge fee; US$200 per person.
  • Massage US$35/ hour, laundry services US$10/ basket
  • Nespresso coffee: US$2, beer US$4, wine US$30-50
  • Satellite Wi-Fi US$35 for trip per person.  Note: USD50 per person for trips 10 days plus.
  • Nitrox; US$20/ diving day or US$7/ fill.

Equipment rental

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

  • BCD US$15
  • Regulator US$15
  • Dive Computer US$12
  • 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 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.

Ready to Dive?

Checkout our our schedule and book your adventure today!

Check Schedule