Lumba Lumba Diving Centre & Beach Resort

We spent two weeks diving here and came away so happy with the choice. Some sites had stronger currents, which made things more exciting, but we always felt safe with the guides. Visibility wasn’t great at a few sites, though the dives were still amazing, and we saw an incredible number of eels. We also had a great time on the island day trip, which was well worth doing. We mostly dove with Andri, Azia, Rizky and Oscar. They were incredible guides who made us feel safe and welcome from day one. By the end, it felt like diving with friends. The whole dive centre team were kind, professional and helpful. Reception were always glad to help, and arranged a fast, smooth, well-priced transfer back to the airport by ferry and taxis. Both the Living Colors rooms and the bungalows worked well for us. The place is beautiful and the price-quality was excellent. The dive gear was in perfect condition and gave us no problems. They had sizes for everyone, even my very tall boyfriend, and the wetsuits and equipment were great. The boats were fast and comfortable. It was also convenient to rent scooters right beside the dive centre and explore the island. We loved the food at Barracuda too. They stayed open and running during Ramadan, and the lady who runs it was incredibly friendly. We had a fantastic stay and would absolutely recommend diving here. Thanks to the whole team for two great weeks! 🙏🌊

Lumba Lumba offers both lodging and diving. I stayed nearly four weeks, and overall I can highly recommend it. The guides are friendly and helpful, and groups are matched by diving experience. The underwater world is wonderful. They usually run three guided dives per day, with night dives available too. Most sites are under 20 minutes away, though the boat ride can be shaky. They have three private boats, small ones with two powerful motors each. The bungalows are spacious, with private terraces, large beds with mosquito nets, air conditioning, fans, hot showers and WLAN. At the dive centre there’s free drinking water and unlimited tea and coffee. Rental technical equipment was in good condition. In almost four weeks of diving, I saw just one O-ring that needed replacing. The wetsuits, though, are worn out. Nitrox is a little expensive. If you ask, they can arrange a taxi and ferry transfer from Banda Aceh Airport to Lumba Lumba. I’ll be back.

The house reef just off the beach was ideal for relaxed diving, and a short boat ride took us to several beautiful sites full of marine life. My 10-year-old son took his Open Water course here, and his instructor Oscar made each lesson clear, patient and fun, which kept him engaged and confident. The welcoming team and their professionalism made the whole visit memorable. After a day in the ocean, the comfortable accommodation and hot showers were a treat. There’s also a lovely restaurant just a few metres away. The food was delicious, especially the pumpkin and tempe curry. Lumba Lumba exceeded our expectations in every way. It has great diving, a lot of heart, and people who really care. I can’t recommend it highly enough.

I only wish I’d stayed longer, and done the drift diving course too. I’d never scuba dived before booking a week at Lumba Lumba, and the staff and diving were phenomenal. The cottage was lovely, too. Azian was supportive and calming during my open water course, with helpful feedback on how to improve. Laura taught my advanced open water course and explained each of the more technical dives clearly. All the other resort staff were incredibly friendly and helpful. The diving was the icing on the cake. Visibility was phenomenal, and I saw so many different species, including sea turtles and a small blacktip shark. The currents around the island are strong, but the briefings were good and the guides knew the area really well. I definitely plan to come back.