Main Menu
Join Undercurrent on Facebook

The Private, Exclusive Guide for Serious Divers Since 1975 | |
For Divers since 1975
The Private, Exclusive Guide for Serious Divers Since 1975
"Best of the Web: scuba tips no other
source dares to publish" -- Forbes
X
 

Dive Review of Lumba Lumba Divers in
Indonesia/Sumatra

Lumba Lumba Divers, Jan, 2011,

by Carl D Scott, TX, US (Contributor Contributor 16 reports with 2 Helpful votes). Report 5920.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 4 stars Food 2 stars
Service and Attitude 3 stars Environmental Sensitivity 3 stars
Dive Operation 3 stars Shore Diving 4 stars
Snorkeling 3 stars
Value for $$ 4 stars
Beginners 3 stars
Advanced 4 stars
Comments Diving here is much a personal preference thing. While there is almost no coral above 60', what little was there having been obliterated by a bleaching event a few years back, below 60' is a very healthy reef system with huge gorgonians and everything else you might expect. However, at any depth, the fish populations are extremely dense. Tropicals of every kind are teeming, with good numbers of trevally, jacks, etc. in the upper 30'. There was never a shortage of sea life to enjoy! Conditions were generally quite calm, with only mild currents, though the guides warned of current before every dive (go figure). While I never asked about nitrox, I did see one diver with a nitrox tank, and this would be a great place for it, if they led separate dives with longer dive times, as the deep is where it's at for underwater scenery. Diversity is very good, though macro life was not as abundant as I had hoped. However, the house reef has some good macro in a place about 75-80 deep and 200 yards offshore, which any muck or macro fan would surely enjoy.

As for accommodations, the bungalows are quite nice and very economical, but without A/C. I highly recommend asking for mosquito netting for the bed, because they will come inside! Otherwise, nights are very comfortable for sleeping, with the fan directly above the bed. Service is not their strong suit, which I say only because they don't offer much. I had to ask for someone to carry my bags up to the bungalow upon arrival, and they simply were not very outgoing with the guests. However, they were typically helpful and friendly, when asked, and there as never a problem with them taking care of dive gear and the like.

Prepare yourself for a limited menu on this fairly deserted beach. While there are 5 "restaurants", they all have the same menu, just different cooks. After a week, I suspect you will have eaten every possible variation of curry, rice, and soup, and be ready for something other than a pancake or omelette for breakfast! Don't get in a hurry, either, because it's like going to your neighbor's house and asking for a meal . . . everything will be made from scratch, which will take awhile. However, you will have plenty of time, as there is nowhere for you to go, and nothing to do here but dive!
Websites Lumba Lumba Divers   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 251-500 dives
Where else diving Philippines, Sulawesi, Bali, Lombok, Caymans, USVI, St. Vincent, Cozumel, Panama, Colombia, Belize, Costa Rica, Palau
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas choppy
Water Temp 80-84°F / 27-29°C Wetsuit Thickness 2
Water Visibility 40-60 Ft/ 12-18 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions Dive times were typically restricted to 60 minutes, sometimes to 70-75, if not too many divers on the boat. Otherwise, they let you dive as you wish.
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

Sharks 1 or 2 Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles 1 or 2 Whales None
Corals 1 stars Tropical Fish 5 stars
Small Critters 3 stars Large Fish 5 stars
Large Pelagics 2 stars

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter 4 stars Boat Facilities 1 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 3 stars Shore Facilities 2 stars
UW Photo Comments This dive operator clearly gives minimal consideration to photographers. The boats are too small and cramped to provide a rinse bucket on board, but travel times to dive sites are minimal. On shore, they have barrels labeled for cameras, but there was never any water in them. Instead, they suggesting using the rinse tank designated for regulators. This worked out OK, as there was enough time before the crew showed up after a dive with scuba units to give cameras and computers a good soaking.
Was this report helpful to you?
Leave a comment (Subscribers only -- 200 words max)
Subscribers can comment here
 

Subscribe Now
Subscribers can post comments, ask the reviewer questions, as well as getting immediate and complete access to ALL 1443 dive reviews of Indonesia and all other dive destinations. Complete access to all issues and Chapbooks is also included.

 
Featured Links from Our Sponsors
Interested in becoming a sponsor?
Reef & Rainforest, Let our experience be your guide -- Reef and Rainforest
Reef & Rainforest
is an agency for travelers that scuba dive. Looking for Biodiversity, critters, Komodo, Raja Ampat, temples? We specialize in adventures to Indonesia.

Want to assemble your own collection of Indonesia reports in one place?
Use the Mini Chapbook Facility to create your personalized collection.

Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

Undercurrent Home


Get more dive info like these and other important scuba updates sent monthly to your email.
And a FREE Recent Issue of Undercurrent

Free Undercurrent Issue
Get a free
monthly email and
a sample issue!


Find in  

| Home | Online Members Area | My Account | Login | Join |
| Travel Index | Dive Resort & Liveaboard Reviews | Featured Reports | Recent Issues | Back Issues |
| Dive Gear Index | Health/Safety Index | Environment & Misc. Index | Seasonal Planner | Blogs | Free Articles | Book Picks | News |
| Special Offers | RSS | FAQ | About Us | Contact Us | Links |

Copyright © 1996-2024 Undercurrent (www.undercurrent.org)
3020 Bridgeway, Ste 102, Sausalito, Ca 94965
All rights reserved.

Page computed and displayed in 0.12 seconds