Longhorn cowfish swimming over the sand in the Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi

Teluk Kembahu (TK)

Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia

  • Beginner
  • No current
  • Best Mar to Oct

Teluk Kembahu is a beginner dive site in Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia. Dives run from 5 to 25 m, with little or no current. The best months are March to October. Marine life here includes frogfish, cuttlefish and octopus. One dive shop on Scubalo runs trips here.

Updated

Conditions at Teluk Kembahu

Max depth
25 m
Depth range
5–25 m
Current
None
Level
Beginner
Depth profile: dives from 5 m to 25 m.

Safety

Buoyancy
Stay off the black sand; good buoyancy keeps the silt down.

About Teluk Kembahu

TK, short for Teluk Kembahu, is a set of black sand slopes on the Sulawesi side of the Lembeh Strait, split into TK1, TK2 and TK3. It is where the mimic octopus was first seen, and hairy frogfish and the wunderpus are regulars.

TK stands for Teluk Kembahu, a bay on the Sulawesi mainland side of the Lembeh Strait, and divers know it as three neighbouring sites: TK1, TK2 and TK3. All three are classic black sand slopes of dark volcanic sand, with very little reef.

TK has a special place in muck diving history: the mimic octopus, which impersonates flounders, sea snakes and other animals, was first observed here. Mimic octopuses and the wunderpus are still seen regularly, alongside a healthy population of other octopuses and hairy frogfish.

The slopes are shallow and calm, so TK suits beginners with good buoyancy. Move slowly and let your guide do the searching.

When to dive Teluk Kembahu

Best months: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October.

Season

Right now
Year round
The Lembeh Strait is dived all year.
Calmest months
March to October.

Marine life at Teluk Kembahu

What divers report seeing here. Tap one to see where else it turns up.

Type of diving

Questions about Teluk Kembahu

What does TK stand for?

Teluk Kembahu, a bay on the Sulawesi side of the Lembeh Strait. Divers know it as three sites, TK1, TK2 and TK3.

Can you see the mimic octopus at TK?

Yes. The mimic octopus was first observed here, and it is still seen regularly, along with the wunderpus.

What else can you see at TK?

Hairy frogfish, other octopuses, and the shrimps, crabs and nudibranchs the Lembeh Strait's black sand is known for.

Is TK good for beginners?

Yes. The black sand slopes are shallow and calm. Good buoyancy keeps the sand from clouding up.

When is the best time to dive the Lembeh Strait?

The strait is dived all year. March to October brings the calmest conditions.

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Dive shops that go to Teluk Kembahu

One shop in the directory runs trips here.

See the shop