Bunaken · Indonesia · Wall · Drift
Lekuan I
Perhaps ten green turtles live on this wall alone
Photo: Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE · CC BY-SA 2.0
Lekuan I is the first of the three Lekuan walls, on the south side of Bunaken Island in front of Lekuan Beach and facing Manado across the water. The drop-off is steep and heavily grown with coral, including massive green stands of black coral, and it carries a resident population of green turtles. Normal diving depth runs 10 to 25 metres in a medium current, on a wall that continues far beyond recreational limits.
Also known as Likuan I.
Where it is and how deep
1.6044° N, 124.7654° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
Whether you dive it in daylight or at night, you drop in in front of Lekuan Beach on the south side of Bunaken Island, facing the city of Manado, and descend through calm, crystal-clear water to the coral wall. Legions of bumphead parrotfish may charge past as you make your way to the wall, and swarms of anthias at the reef edge hold your attention while you settle onto the face.
Along the wall the normal working depth is 10 to 25 metres in a medium current. The steep walls have tremendous coral growth, including massive green stands of black coral bushes, and unless you are a real depth junkie they go down far beyond your maximum depth; many lionfish and statuesque scorpionfish lurk on the face. Green turtles are the constant: perhaps ten of them on Lekuan I alone, and some of the males are a very impressive size.
Marine life and season
- Sea turtles
- Reef fish swarms
- Pristine corals
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good | Good | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good |
Season follows Bunaken: May–October dry season gives the clearest water; some rain and runoff November–April.
Know before you go
- The wall goes down far beyond a recreational maximum depth, so agree a limit before you drop rather than following the face down.
- Lionfish and scorpionfish sit still against the coral on the wall, so keep hands and knees off the face when you stop to look at something.
Photos from Lekuan I
Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE · CC BY-SA 2.0
Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE · CC BY-SA 2.0
Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE · CC BY-SA 2.0
Dive videos
Tauchen in Bunaken - Wunderschönes Lekuan I - Home of the Turtels 4K/60FPS 🐢 Sulawesi 2019 · Ollywood - Dive & Travel on YouTube
Lekuan 1 & 2 , Bunaken Island · Bubble Vision on YouTube
Questions divers ask
How deep is Lekuan I?+
Normal diving depth is 10 to 25 metres, on a coral wall that continues far below that. Divers work along the face in a medium current rather than descending it.
Are there turtles on Lekuan I?+
Green turtles are the signature of the site. Perhaps ten of them live on Lekuan I alone, and some of the males are a very impressive size.
Sources
- Likuan II dive site — Divezone
- Diving sites Indonesia: Manado, Bunaken — Dive The World
Photo credits
- Orange coral hind grouper resting against the reef at Lekuan I by Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Orange orang-utan crab camouflaged on pale bubble coral at Lekuan I by Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Green mushroom leather coral head close up on the Lekuan I reef by Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Small charcoal damselfish hovering in front of an orange tube sponge by Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
In The Logbook
- Where to dive with sea turtlesBig animals · 15 min read
- The best wall dives in the worldWalls & drop-offs · 11 min read
- Cheapest places to scuba dive, and the catchTrip planning · 15 min read
- Drift diving: how to read and ride a currentDrift & current · 8 min read
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