Faces of Lembeh: Muck Diving in Indonesia's Lembeh Strait
Lembeh doesn’t look promising when we arrive at the rustic dock, fresh from the busy streets of Bitung in North Sulawesi, Indonesia. The waters of Lembeh Strait may be calm, but they are not the crystal blue that I usually associate with tropical diving.
Alex MustardA guide fanned some sand away to reveal a reticulate stargazer.
The first few minutes of our first dive are dubious: The visibility is more akin to a murky lake back home, and the landscape, at this typical site, consists only of mud. Then our guide pings his tank with his metal wand and conjures up the first of many wonders that make diving here so addictive. Lembeh dives are not about scenery but subjects — warty frogfish, seahorses, mimic octopuses, devil scorpionfish, ornate ghost pipefish, blue ring octopuses and nudibranchs galore. Divers regularly come out of the water laughing after experiencing such an embarrassment of riches.
Alex MustardThis paddleflap rhinopia glows in a guide's spotlight.
These fabulous macro subjects are known as critters, and it is no surprise that Lembeh Strait, a 10-mile stretch of sheltered water, is a true mecca for aquatic photographers who appreciate the smaller things in life.
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Check out more amazing photos from Lembeh Strait here:
Alex MustardJewel-like tiger shrimp used to be called nus shrimp after one of Lembeh's famous guides.
Alex MustardLife on the open sand is an eat-or-be- eaten world. A hairy frog-fish waves its distinctive worm-shaped lure to entice prey into striking range; frog-fish engulf their victims with a lightning-fast 6-millisecond strike.
Alex MustardA pink-eared mantis shrimp checks that the coast is clear before emerging from its burrow.
Alex MustardA veined octopus opens the clamshell trapdoor that secures its burrow.
Alex MustardA flamboyant cuttlefish shows off its exotic colors, a warning that it’s poisonous to predators.
Alex MustardHidden in plain sight. A pair of giant frogfish, each as large as a volleyball, perch on sponges, where their unusual shape and coloration allows them to blend in perfectly. The strait has a mix of habitats from coral reefs to pure black volcanic sand.
Alex MustardA male Denise’s pygmy seahorse hides among the branches of a sea fan.
Alex MustardA pink rhinopias waddles across a sandy slope.
Alex MustardThe eye detail of a painted stingfish.
Alex MustardAttractions in Lembeh come in many shapes and sizes: A tiny emperor shrimp hitches a ride with a T-bar nudibranch as it moves across the open sand.
Looking for more information on Lembeh? Check out these other great articles:
• Divers Guide to Lembeh
• Divers Day off in Lembeh
• Photography Tips: Shooting Muck Photos
