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 21 days ago
at Hairball
Least concern
Batangas Halgerda
Seen 21 days ago
at TK (Tanjung Kubur)
Coconut Octopus
Seen 1 month ago
at TK (Tanjung Kubur)
Least concern
Flamboyant cuttlefish
Seen 1 month ago
at TK (Tanjung Kubur)
Painted frogfish
Seen 1 month ago
at TK (Tanjung Kubur)
Least concern
Banggai Cardinalfish
Seen 1 month ago
at TK (Tanjung Kubur)
Endangered
Blue Dragon
Seen 1 month ago
at TK (Tanjung Kubur)
Broadclub Cuttlefish
Seen 1 month ago
at TK (Tanjung Kubur)
Bobtail squid
Seen 2 months ago
at Aer Bajo
Wonderpus octopus
Seen 2 months ago
at Aer Bajo
Least concern
Mimic octopus
Seen 2 months ago
at Aer Bajo
Least concern
Robust ghost pipefish
Seen 2 months ago
at Hairball
Least concern
Weedy scorpionfish (Rhinopias)
Seen 2 months ago
at Hairball
Least concern
Hairy frogfish
Seen 2 months ago
at TK (Tanjung Kubur)
Least concern
