Lembeh Strait
Indonesia · Southeast Asia
The world capital of muck diving: a narrow strait in North Sulawesi where volcanic black sand conceals a rotating cast of rare and bizarre macro life found nowhere else in such density.
How this reef is doing
ⓘ How we measure thisReef state
Live coral covers 52% of this reef.
Coral cover
Fish life
Heat
Fishing
Open to fishing, and the water is fairly quiet.
Sources · MERMAID and the survey teams · Global Fishing Watch and reef gravity
Coral cover over time
Live coral cover, by survey year
Across 5 survey years from 2016 to 2025, live coral cover here has risen from 32% to 52%. Every point is a real survey reading, never a projection.
Live coral cover, percent by year
| Year | Coral cover |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 32% |
| 2021 | 71% |
| 2023 | 40% |
| 2024 | 52% |
| 2025 | 52% |
What you will see
14 species across the dive sites here
Bargibant's pygmy seahorse
Seen 2 months ago
at Hairball
Least concern
Batangas Halgerda
Seen 2 months ago
at TK (Tanjung Kubur)
Coconut Octopus
Seen 2 months ago
at TK (Tanjung Kubur)
Least concern
Flamboyant cuttlefish
Seen 2 months ago
at TK (Tanjung Kubur)
Painted frogfish
Seen 2 months ago
at TK (Tanjung Kubur)
Least concern
Banggai Cardinalfish
Seen 2 months ago
at TK (Tanjung Kubur)
Endangered
Blue Dragon
Seen 2 months ago
at TK (Tanjung Kubur)
Broadclub Cuttlefish
Seen 2 months ago
at TK (Tanjung Kubur)
Bobtail squid
Seen 4 months ago
at Aer Bajo
Wonderpus octopus
Seen 4 months ago
at Aer Bajo
Least concern
Mimic octopus
Seen 4 months ago
at Aer Bajo
Least concern
Robust ghost pipefish
Seen 4 months ago
at Hairball
Least concern
Weedy scorpionfish (Rhinopias)
Seen 4 months ago
at Hairball
Least concern
Hairy frogfish
Seen 4 months ago
at TK (Tanjung Kubur)
Least concern
