Lumbalumba Diving - Manado

What makes Lumbalumba special is the people. From the moment we arrived, staff greeted us by name, remembered our preferences, and made us feel welcome. Revol, Cindy and the kitchen team served three generous meals each day, with especially delicious lunches and dinners, plus plenty of tropical fruit. The housekeepers were less visible but clearly just as committed. The chalets were spotless, towels were refreshed often, and the comfortable bed had soft linens. The shower was very good too. The Dive Masters also knew our names and preferences. They kept groups as small as possible, planned and supervised each dive attentively, and pointed out creatures we would have missed without their expert eyes. I also saw how much the team knew about possible dive-related health problems. Many have worked at Lumbalumba for years and have connections with health facilities in Manado, which left me feeling I was in very safe hands with my concerns. The basics are all there for divers: rich biodiversity, good equipment and services, tasty food, and comfortable accommodation. But the personal care goes well beyond that. With the friendly divers we met, we all ended up feeling like “happy divers.” Their motto, “diving with a difference,” suits the dedicated people here.

I’m back in the UK already wondering when I can return to Lumbalumba and see that view again. With so much of the world left to explore, I rarely visit somewhere more than once, but this was my fourth trip. My first stay was in 2005. The ocean view from each cottage’s verandah is still my favourite anywhere, and the tropical gardens are lovely enough to keep a non-diver busy. The resort was dreamed up and built by Roel and Juud. Evenings are relaxed, with a buffet dinner alongside the other guests, Roel and Juud. I eat plant based and the kitchen took great care of that. Some of the best vegan food I’ve had was served here, especially the fresh soups each night. Thanks to Revel and the kitchen team, I’d love to get those recipes. A day starts with a casual breakfast of fruit, eggs and pancakes. Around 8:30, the dive boat heads out, sometimes with dolphins along the way. The guides, Aldhy, Rico, Maxi and Kres, are friendly and know their stuff. Diving feels easygoing, with turtles and plenty for macro fans too. On my first day, Aldhy spotted a beautiful seahorse resting in the sand, and I’ve seen pygmy seahorses here as well. Lunch aboard is what you ordered, either Indonesian dishes or sandwiches. I’m partial to the vegetable fried rice. There’s time after diving to swing in a hammock or review your underwater photos. I like to get to the pool just before sunset, when the view is spectacular night after night. If you don’t dive, or don’t want to every day, there’s the beautiful infinity pool, probably my favorite in Indonesia, and they can arrange trips as well. It’s an easy place to switch off from the world and recharge. Everyone contributes to that feeling, from the people caring for the gardens to the guides and the team keeping rooms spotless every day. They all make me want to come back.

Roel and Juud built this place themselves from the ground up, and it shows how much they want guests to have a lovely stay. We certainly did at Lumba Lumba Resort and would happily recommend it. The rooms were excellent, the food was lovely, and the dive masters were professional. Staff were kind and hospitable, and knew our names as soon as we arrived. It’s an extraordinary resort and dive operator with great service.

We had a great mix of diving, good meals, time by the pool, and lovely company, and we’d definitely come back. The pool looks out over the ocean, and watching sunset there with a drink made it easy to forget everything else. There’s plenty of variety underwater, from muck and wall dives to the house reef right in front of the resort. The guides are great at spotting unusual little creatures. We especially liked the three-dive boat trip: two morning dives, a really good lunch on board, then another dive in the afternoon. The staff were friendly and attentive, and both the resort and rooms were very clean and comfortable. Breakfast and dinner were buffet style, with lots to choose from and everything we tried was delicious. We stayed two weeks and got a different soup every evening. I especially enjoyed those.