Climate & Viz

The air temperature in North Sulawesi stays around 29-32C all year-round. We do have a dry and wet season:

Dry season is from April to November when the wind blows from south-east and the sea stays relatively calm. This is the best time to guarantee blue skies and sun, and it offers the best viz: 20-25m in Bunaken (sometimes 30m+) and 10-15m in Lembeh.

Wet/rainy season is from December to March with cooler winds from north-west, and this can bring heavier rains and rougher seas in Feb. The wind and rain can reduce viz slightly to 10-15m in Bunaken and 5-10m in Lembeh.

Please don't let the term "rainy season" deter you. We do not get the typical monsoons that they experience in other parts of Asia and it is unusual to have continuous rain during the day. The norm is for it to be blue skies and sun in the morning, cloudy in the afternoon, and rain at night that ends by early morning. Occasionally it may rain in the afternoon but typically does not last long.

We never let the weather spoil our diving though, and being based on Bunaken and Lembeh islands where most of the diving is concentrated means that we can choose the best sites for the conditions. We have never cancelled dives as a result of rain.

Our view is that the diving is good all year round.

In-water & Land Clothes

In-Water Protection - Bunaken - with water temperatures between 27-29oC, not too much thermal protection is required. We suggest a 3mm shorty, or a 3mm full-suit which also provides protection against any stinging hydroids.

In-Water Protection - Lembeh - water temperatures can drop to 26oC so more thermal protection is required. A neoprene vest under a 3mm full-suit should be enough, and add a hood for those night dives.

Land Clothing - normally shorts and t-shirts are sufficient for the day (even if it rains, because it's warm tropical rains), and light trousers at night, perhaps with a long-sleeve shirt for bugs 'n mosquitoes. We will provide a towel for you, but some guests prefer to bring one themselves as well.