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Bunaken and Lembeh

Three sites from Manado in North Sulawesi. Bunaken has steep coral walls with many turtles, while Manado Bay and the Lembeh Strait are muck dives for unusual critters. All three are Intermediate.

match

Strong fit for September

28°C+

Medium confidenceDay boat only

Strength: Water 29°C in September
Strength: 3 of 3 sites are in season in September
Strength: Calm seas on almost every day

Pack a shorty or 3 mm wetsuit for September.

Why this match: 40 + 27 + 20 + 10 = 97

Season40 / 40: 3 of 3 sites are in season in September; calm on almost every day.
Water27 / 27: Average 29°C; your minimum is 28°C. Pack a shorty or 3 mm wetsuit.
Your level20 / 20: No level picked, so all 3 sites count.
Weather10 / 13: Rain on about 1 day in 3; no real storm risk.

Compare with other places in September

Month by month

Season: best April to November.

Bunaken and Lembeh by month: season, marine life, water temperature, rain days and storm chance
Month	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Season	January: Off season	February: Off season	March: Off season	April: Best	May: Best	June: Best	July: Best	August: Best	September: Best	October: Best	November: Best	December: Off season
Mantas	January: Possible	February: Possible	March: Possible	April: Possible	May: Possible	June: Possible	July: Possible	August: Possible	September: Possible	October: Possible	November: Possible	December: Possible
Whale sharks	January: Possible	February: Possible	March: Possible	April: Possible	May: Possible	June: Possible	July: Possible	August: Possible	September: Possible	October: Possible	November: Possible	December: Possible
Hammerheads	January: Possible	February: Possible	March: Possible	April: Possible	May: Possible	June: Possible	July: Possible	August: Possible	September: Possible	October: Possible	November: Possible	December: Possible
Reef sharks	January: Likely	February: Likely	March: Likely	April: Likely	May: Likely	June: Likely	July: Likely	August: Likely	September: Likely	October: Likely	November: Likely	December: Likely
Turtles	January: Reliable	February: Reliable	March: Reliable	April: Reliable	May: Reliable	June: Reliable	July: Reliable	August: Reliable	September: Reliable	October: Reliable	November: Reliable	December: Reliable
Dolphins	January: Likely	February: Likely	March: Likely	April: Likely	May: Likely	June: Likely	July: Likely	August: Likely	September: Likely	October: Likely	November: Likely	December: Likely
Water	29°	28°	29°	29°	29°	29°	29°	29°	29°	29°	29°	29°
Rain days	29	25	27	25	24	21	16	10	11	19	27	29
Calm days	31	28	31	30	31	30	31	31	30	31	30	31
Storm risk	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–

Storm risk: – means under 5%.

Dive sites here

3 sites on Divetip.

Getting there

Fly to Manado (MDC). Boat from Manado to Bunaken, or road to Bitung and a short boat to Lembeh: about 1 h 30 min.

Day boat only.

What diving costs

A day of diving from about €82

A day of diving

Two Fish Divers Bunaken: IDR 1,650,000 for 2 dives (about €82)
2 morning dives; includes tanks, boat, guide, water and snacks on the boat; excludes equipment rental (full set Rp 250,000/day); Bunaken Marine Park entrance fee Rp 150,000 pp listed separately.
Two Fish Divers Lembeh: IDR 1,650,000 for 2 dives (about €82)
2 morning dives in the Lembeh Strait; includes tanks, boat, guide, water and snacks on the boat; excludes equipment rental (full set Rp 250,000/day); Lembeh fee not mentioned.

Prices checked 8 November 2026; park fees and equipment often extra.

Non-divers: snorkeling from the shore and by boat

In Bunaken Marine Park you can snorkel off the beach near Siladen Resort, and resorts in both Bunaken and Lembeh let snorkelers join the morning dive boats for a small fee.

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