Lembeh Resort & Coral Eye Marine Outpost – North Sulawesi Indonesia - April 13-27, 2026 - Underwater Photography

Two trips in one! Experience some of the best critter diving in the world paired with stunning coral reefs teeming with life. This adventure will begin with 7 nights in the legendary Lemebeh Strait, and from there, you'll transfer by boat to the stunning island of Bangka, diving along the way. Join Backscatter’s James Emery for a unique photo workshop covering both macro and wide angle shooting techniques. Watch our underwater macro video taken by James Emery at the amazing Lembeh Resort.RESERVE YOUR SPOT NOWLembeh The Critter Capital of the World, a Muck Diving Mecca, and the Twilight Zone are just a few of the names that have been given to Lembeh over the years due to its high density and diversity of rare and unusual marine life. Diving in Lembeh is unlike diving anywhere else. Every dive reveals countless species of critters that have made their homes on Lembeh's famous muck diving slopes. The Critters at Lembeh Resort dive guides are experts at spotting the unique marine life that resides here. Lembeh isn't just home to frogfish; it's home to 8 different species of frogfish, 12 species of octopus, numerous crustacean species that cannot be found anywhere else on earth, 3 species of pygmy seahorse, countless numbers of nudibranch species, and new discoveries are continuously being made. Some of Lembeh's most iconic species include the Hairy Frogfish, Pontohi Pygmy Seahorse, Wunderpus, Mandarin Fish, Mimic Octopus, Rhinopias Scorpionfish, Flamboyant Cuttlefish, Blue Ring Octopus, and the list goes on. Muck diving is at its best in Lembeh, where the sheer abundance of biodiversity and unique critters is greater than anywhere else. This makes it the perfect location for a macro photo workshop. RESERVE YOUR SPOT NOWResort Lembeh Resort, a spectacular boutique-style resort, is situated on Lembeh Island and perched above the beautiful Strait. Lush tropical gardens surround the property and blends perfectly into the landscape. All guest cottages boast spacious verandahs for perfect views of glorious North Sulawesi sunsets and an intimate connection with nature. Modern amenities, including air conditioning, mini bar, Wi-Fi internet, and massage, ensure your comfort and relaxation. Large camera room One of the finest camera rooms you'll ever see, located just steps away from the boats, it is the perfect place to store, organize, and set up your camera system. Each private workstation in the camera room has numerous international power sockets, desk lighting, padded neoprene work mats, and towels to dry any excess water droplets. To the front of the camera room, you'll find our camera-only rinse tanks and air guns for blasting water off your housing after rinsing. RESERVE YOUR SPOT NOWBoat transfer to Coral Eye, diving along the way Transitioning from one resort to the other couldn't be easier. You'll board the dive boat in Lembeh with all your dive gear and camera, head out for two dives, and get dropped off at Coral Eye in time for lunch. All of your luggage will be there waiting for you when you arrive. Coral Eye Resort Coral Eye is a unique boutique resort on Bangka Island. Nestled between a lush tropical jungle and a long white sandy beach, Coral Eye lies in the heart of the Coral Triangle, the global epicenter of marine biodiversity. Originally founded as an outpost for marine studies, Coral Eye is today a melting pot of passionate travelers, dive enthusiasts, underwater photographers, and marine biologists. All accommodations are designed to provide an intimate atmosphere for guests seeking a more personalized and distinctive lodging experience. The interiors have been carefully crafted by local carpenters, contributing to the overall charm and character of the rooms. High-quality mattresses and cotton linen, air conditioning, and a ceiling fan are just some of the features of Coral Eye's accommodations. RESERVE YOUR SPOT NOWDiving in Bangka With more than 50 world-class dive sites, Bangka's archipelago offers several different diving environments. Healthy coral reefs surround the island with various hard and soft corals, offering picturesque underwater landscapes. Bangka Island is also known for its excellent macro diving opportunities. Pinnacles Volcanic walls and pinnacles, completely covered by corals (particularly soft corals), make beautiful dive sites. Although these can be subject to stronger currents, we use our local knowledge and expertise to ensure a safe dive. Sloping Reef Dominated by hard coral, they grow on an originally sandy bottom and demonstrate extremely high biodiversity. RESERVE YOUR SPOT NOWVolcanic Sand These areas present a black sandy bottom with rocks completely covered by coral and colonized by a large number of different invertebrates and fish. The environment is very similar to that found in the Lembeh Strait. Mangroves Tidal currents, wave action, river flow, and salinity gradients affect sedimentation in various complex ways. Sponges, flatworms, snails, and small fish that live around the mangrove roots can be found here. The seagrass in front of each mangrove forest provides food for the dugongs. Who should attend the workshop? Beginner and intermediate underwater photographers who are looking to improve their macro and wide-angle UW photography skills. Do you struggle with the strobe position? Isolating your subject from the background? Balancing ambient light with strobes? Then this is the course for you. RESERVE YOUR SPOT NOWDaily classes and one-on-one help from the Photo Pros The best way to learn is by shooting, and our photo pros will be on location with you to help you improve your technique and correct mistakes. Informative seminars throughout the trip will cover macro and wide-angle shooting techniques such as: Focus techniquesExposure techniquesStrobe placementCompositionAvoiding backscatter(The exact curriculum will be tailored to the group)Getting there Manado International Airport (MDC) is just 90 minutes away from Lembeh. Silk Air offers flights via Singapore, making it one of Indonesia's easiest and most reliable destinations. The resort provides round-trip airport transfers to ensure a smooth and comfortable ride. Travel InfoApril 13th: Arrive at MDC, transfer to Lembeh ResortApril 14-19th: 6 days with 17 dives in LembehApril 20th: Boat transfer to Coral Eye Resort with 2 divesApril 21-26th: 6 days with 17 dives in BangkaApril 27th: Depart MDC Contact us for more travel details. We can assist in booking all flights, transfers, and additional activities. Space is limited, so sign up now! Price: $5,999 (per person, double occupancy)Standard Package Includes: 14 nights total accommodationsAll meals, snacks, water, tea and coffee36 Guided Boat DivesUnlimited self-guided dives on the house reefNitroxTanks and weightsRound-trip group transfersSeminars on UW Photo techniques and image critiquesAdditional costs:Airfare to Manado (MDC)Soft drinks and alcoholic beveragesSingle supplementAdditional divesLand excursionsSpa visitsCrew tips Please note that medical evacuation insurances such as Dive Assure or Divers Alert Network (DAN) is mandatory on all trips. Additionally, comprehensive Cancellation, Accident, Medical and Baggage insurance such as DAN, Dive Assure, or Generali Global Assistanceis highly recommended. RESERVE YOUR SPOT NOWJames Emery serves as the Marketing and Media manager at Backscatter. Before joining Backscatter, he spent 12 years across Southeast Asia working as a Photo Pro, with his final role being the manager of the Authorized Backscatter Photo Center at Lembeh Resort in Indonesia. With extensive knowledge in underwater photography and videography, James enjoys sharing his expertise with others.

Lembeh Resort & Coral Eye Marine Outpost – North Sulawesi Indonesia - April 13-27, 2026

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