Effective February 1st 2010 all divers in the Lembeh Strait must pay a one-time entrance fee of Rp 50,000 (~$5.35 or ~€3.78) and follow specific dive rules in the Lembeh Strait. If visitors leave the Lembeh Strait area the fee may be re-assessed. The Bitung government established this entrance fee, and diving rules to help protect this invaluable strait and promote good diving habits. The entrance fee can be paid at the resort.

The following diving rules are also in effect February 1st 2010:

• No touching or disturbing animals
• No anchoring
• Dive Ratio of no more then 4 guests per 1 Dive Guide
• Maximum of 15 divers per site including dive guide

Whether in the Lembeh or Strait or anywhere else, the Kungkungan Bay Resort asks you to learn about any local habitats, and always dive with minimal impact to the environment. Good Habits = More Diving.

If it’s not too late, let me wish you a happy New Year from KBR. Thank God we have got the 000s over. I never knew what to call them. “The Naughties”? You have to be kidding, right? But is it going to be any easier with the 2010-19s? I’ve heard them referred to as “The Teenies” which seems almost as bad as the Naughties. Is there anyone out there who knows what was said in the 1900s and the 1910s? Surely they wern’t called the Naughties or the Teenies. Roll on the 20s eh? At least we know what to call them. Although I shudder to think how old I will be then…….

…. well, moving on rapidly along…

New Year, New Reef: our Reservations Manager, Linda, had the sparkling idea of creating an artificial reef close to our jetty. She rightly thought it would be very cool to see how it developed – not that we are exactly short of reef! But what a wicked idea.  Linda very kindly donated a start-up structure – an old truck back – the kind that is used here on small pick-up trucks to make a people carrier. With enthusiastic support from the Dive Team, we have “netted” the whole thing – and, with huge excitement, sank it a couple of days ago. Within minutes a fish swam through. For the record keepers amongst you, this was a Bridled Monocle Bream – or Scolopsis bilineatus. (yeah, I did have to look that up)

It really was one of the most fun times I have had at KBR. The whole team wanted to be involved. The laughter,  jokes and cameraderie were fantastic. Thanks guys!

We have visited the reef a couple of times since the sinking: a very large reef octopus was there and, OMG, a rumiganey – the fabled pygmy sea dragon!

So, if ice, snow and cold were not enough to make you want to come and visit KBR, how about witnessing the development of a new reef? It’s in about 8m of water (24′) and is right in front of the jetty. In those fabled words, “you can’t miss it”.

On the word "3" - Heave!