Text and photos by Pamela Martin
One of the most beautiful things I love about diving is being able to plunge into the water, escaping the bustle and noise of my reality and enter the watery, blue, tranquillity of the ocean, where my soul can truly be at peace. I find myself once again in Lembeh Strait, South Sulawesi, diving in the kingdom of tiny things, feeling blessed to have the time to take notice of the incredible world of underwater creatures found in one of the most biodiverse places on earth.
The sun is warm and welcoming, the water tepid and clear. The diving is deliciously easy and the wildlife abundant in both numbers and beauty. Lembeh is famous for its muck diving, the black and brown, powdery volcanic sands made up of fine grains of limestone, sandstone and nutrients, providing food and shelter for the macro inhabitance that surround Lembeh Island. The dive sites are to numerous to mention by name or even dive twice in a short five-night stay. Pleasantly surprised by the different encounters on each and every dive, we are spoilt for choice and enriched by each magical experience.
Lembeh Strait, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, situated in the Coral Triangle is one of the worlds oldest and most biodiverse places on the planet. Common here are species a diver can only dream of elsewhere, including critters such as; mandarin fish, hairy frogfish, devilfish, flamboyant cuttlefish, ghost pipefish, pygmy seahorses and more species of octopus you can point eight tentacles at, just to name a few. The numerous alien like creatures found on underwater adventures to Lembeh Strait make diving here an unforgettable experience.
The Coconut Octopus (Amphioctopus marginatus) so named for their behaviour of finding old coconuts to hide in and make a suitable home from. There is an abundant range of Octopus species found in Lembeh however the Coconut Octopus with its ability to use tools in this way, is arguably one of the most intelligent. Spending time with this little guy and observing his behaviour was a entertaining way to spend an afternoon.
The Broad Club Cuttlefish (Sepia latinamus) are abundant in these waters, with their use of jet propulsion, 360 degree vision, the ability to squirt ink at predators to aid in escape and the ability to change colour to disguise itself from prey, it is not surprising the Cuttlefish is called the Chameleon of the sea.
I find the design in nature both mesmerising and exquisite. This Porcelain Amemone Crab, (Neopetrolisthes maculosus) no bigger than my little fingernail, finds its home in Anemone coral. He uses the tiny filaments on his mouth and legs to collect plankton for food.
After each day of diving, I sit at the window of my villa, watching the breathtaking sunset over the distant mountains. I am welcomed and feel very much at peace here, at the K2 Resort. Attention to detail in every aspect of the design and service provided means I can relax and enjoy the quite moments both in and out of the ocean. The K2 Resort is a home away from home with friendly staff whose only concern is honouring the guests with an exceptional experience.
The stairs leading up to each villa have been hand crafted by stonemasons, their design draws you in to the practice of slowing down and taking in your surroundings as soon as you arrive. On my way to my villa I find a plaque that I think encapsulates the true essence and beautiful energy of this place, it says “We built them strong with every ounce of love and joy. Those who enter shall be blessed and kept safe from all harm” As I continue I notice the tiny pink flowers that have been planted along the path that open up in the morning to symbolise the start of each new day and serve as a perfect reminder to be present in the moment while you are here.
The K2 Resort offers unlimited diving so we can choose to dive as much or as little as we feel like. Four dives a day is easy here, two in the morning, and after a delious professionally cook lunch of local Indonesian cuisine, sourced from organically grown produce fresh from the K2 gardens, surrounding the resort, we head back for an afternoon dive followed by a beautiful night dive on the adjacent reef. Here we watch Mandarin fish come out at dusk to dance in front of us, showing off their brilliant colours highlighted by the backdrop of an iridescent coral reef, more reminiscent of a scene from Avatar than your typical night dive.
Dinning amongst the stars with new friends equally as passionate about ocean conservation and talk of our magical experiences from the day, with gentle local music playing in the background is a nightly occurrence here that enriches the soul and lightness the heart. If you are looking for an incredible macro dive destination that will invigorate your creativity and awaken your passion for all things tiny or just need to get away from it all to find your inner peace both in and out of the ocean. The K2 Dive Resort is where you will find it. Many thanks to Cassandra Ann Dragon and Antin Pontoh for introducing me to this special place, Kerry Sin for creating a home and haven for all divers and guests to cherish and to the staff of the Aman who’s light shines through in every act of kindness and every smile.