Muck Magic in Lembeh

February 2025 - Field Notes

Expedition Overview

Dates: February 12-21, 2025
Duration: 9 nights, 10 days
Location: Lembeh Resort, North Sulawesi
Route: Round trip from Manado - resort-based
Leaders: Dr. Richard Smith & Wendy Brown

Itinerary Highlights

Our 10-day expedition explored the legendary "muck diving" capital of the world, searching for rare species and documenting amazing behaviours in Lembeh Strait's black sand slopes. Known globally for having the world's highest concentration of rare and unusual marine life, the strait delivered its famous critter encounters.

Key Diving Features:

  • 22 guided boat dives exploring premier muck sites

  • Focus on rare species identification and behaviour photography

  • Expert guidance in the birthplace of "critter diving"

Marine Life Encounters

The expedition targeted Lembeh's famous residents including Ambon scorpionfish, hairy frogfish, flamboyant cuttlefish, wunderpus, mimic octopus, and the search for newly discovered species that continue to make this region scientifically significant.

Lembeh Resort Experience

Our luxury base camp nestled in a private cove provided comfort without compromising the remote island experience. The resort's 4:1 staff-to-guest ratio ensured personalized service, while the secluded location offered tranquil mornings and spectacular sunset views over ancient volcanic peaks.

Resort Features:

  • Spacious cottages with modern amenities

  • All meals and snacks included

  • Lush tropical gardens blending into natural landscape

  • Direct access to world-renowned diving sites

Images from this sold-out expedition showcase the incredible macro biodiversity and rare behaviours that continue to make Lembeh Strait the ultimate destination for critter enthusiasts and underwater photographers.

Exciting sightings

  • Grallenia ornata - described in 2024

  • Undescribed shrimp goby (Stonogobiops sp.)

  • Magnificent shrimpgoby (Tomiyamicthys emilyae) described in 2019

  • Courting pair of Puffer filefish

  • Mimic, Wunderpus, Blue-ringed & Mototi poison-ocellate octopus

  • Pink anemonefish with tongue-biter parasite

  • Undescribed Pygmy jawfish (Opisthognathus sp.)

  • Paradoris liturata - an incredible mimic of toxic Phyllidia nudibranchs.

  • Bryozoan goby (Sueviota bryozophila) - described in 2015.

  • Erdmann's pygmygoby (Trimma erdmanni) described in 2011.

  • Erdmann’s dottyback (Pseudochromis erdmanni) described in 2011 and only known from a small area within Indonesia.