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KBR, Lembeh,Indonesia 2006
Kungkungan Bay Resort, or more commonly and affectionately
known as KBR is the world's 'muck' diving epicenter. If
it's macro diving you desire, this is the place to dive,
a place where you can see and photograph the greatest
variety of some of the most incredible creatures in the
underwater world. KBR is nestled on the site of an old
coconut plantation on the Sulawesi coast of Lembeh strait,
located on the sunrise side of the peninsula. The guest
accommodation is spacious and comfortable, made from local
building materials in a typical traditional style reflecting
the Minahasan culture.
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The first thing I noticed was the warm
welcome, the informal registration and the lovely
smiling faces which lasted through our stay.
I appreciated the help I was offered, even if I didn't
need it, nothing was too much trouble for the management
and staff. Your kit was labeled at the beginning of
the week and from then on it was loaded on and off
the boats, camera housings were washed and, if you
wished, taken to your room at the end of the day.
There is a camera room at the changing area, with
individual locations, towels and storage with battery
charging stations for both 110 and 220v.
The restaurant is centrally located in the main administration
building and the food is excellent and always available
after diving. There is an internet connection for
those who have to stay in contact and lots of space
for groups to gather and show their pictures.
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You are offered up to four dives a day,
depending on your dive package, and you can have unlimited
shore diving on the house reef, ten paces from the
changing area. I left my first house reef dive until
the end of the week, which was a big mistake as it
proved to be one of the best dives in the area for
me, next visit I will make more use of this excellent
dive site.
There are four fast dive boats that can take you to
any of over 30 dive sites in less than 15 minutes.
Our group of eight would fit in to one of these boats,
but we were lucky, by going in the low season we had
two boats with four divers in each making it nice
and comfortable for the trips to and from the dive
sites. If you like to use nitrox, then buy the nitrox
package, it is worth the extra, not for the depth,
but the time you spend underwater. I was down to single
figures on my computer at 12 metres, not the depth
but a l-o-n-g time. I'm too embarrassed to say how
long, but I did a lot of groveling when I surfaced
and the dive guide just smiled and hoped I had enjoyed
my dive. As you get into the boat after your dive
you are handed a warm, dry towel, then back on the
beach there are the HOT showers and hot drinks. All
you have to do is change the batteries and e-film,
relax, or eat, 'till the next dive.
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KBR have pioneered what they call
"Fine Diving". It delivers a high level
of service, that helps visiting divers understand
and appreciate the rare species and unusual photo
opportunities available in this unique place in
the Lembeh Strait.
The dive guides have local training and extensive
experience diving in the area. They are able to
find creatures that are so well camouflaged and
integrated into their surroundings a visiting diver
would easily miss.
A two weeks stay is the minimum for this wonderful
area, but you might like to take a break from the
dawn to dusk diving midway through your stay and
decompress on one of the many opportunities to visit
the local villages and do some retail. We chose
to do a two resort trip and split our time between
KBR and Gangga Island an hour and a half boat ride
away.
See my destination report: Gangga Island Resort.
Click
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Visit the KBR web site on www.kungkungan.com and
check all the latest information on prices and availability.
Most dive travel agents will be able to book your
flights and accommodation, we booked through Diving
World UK. @ www.diving-world.com.
See some of the images taken on
this combined trip with Lembeh.
Nudibranchs Click>>>
Other creatures
Click
>>>
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Copyright
© Ken Sullivan All Rights reserved