Lekuan wall, Bunaken: how the sections differ

By Bunaken Island Editorial Desk

Lekuan wall, Bunaken, runs along the island's south side, facing Manado. Siladen Resort splits it into Lekuan I, II, Pygmy and III and puts its length at several kilometres. Dive The World and The Indonesia Guide rate it open to a wide range of divers, Siladen Resort warns of strong current on the corners, and several sources mention turtles.

Where is the Lekuan wall on Bunaken, and what is it?

Lekuan is a long reef wall on the south coast of Bunaken Island. Dive The World, which sells dive travel, places it on the south side facing Manado. Wikipedia describes the island as crescent-shaped with that south side at the heart of the park, while Wikivoyage prefers the word banana-shaped. Either image helps you read a map: Lekuan is on the side that looks across towards Manado.

Indonesia's tourism ministry site describes a long wall of crevices, sea fans and giant sponges. Siladen Resort says the stretch runs several kilometres. That length is an operator's description, not a survey. For comparison with the park's other walls and reefs, see our overview of Bunaken dive sites.

How do the Lekuan sections differ?

Less clearly than the names suggest, at least on paper. Published material agrees that Lekuan is divided, but says little about what sets one part apart from the next.

The name "Pygmy" invites an obvious guess about small animals, so ask the guide what earned it the label. The more useful division for planning is corner versus sheltered stretch. Since the resort describes current as a feature of the corners, the sensible question is not "can we dive Lekuan today?" but "which stretch of Lekuan today, and why that one?"

How deep does Lekuan go?

Depth by section is a question for your guide. Wikipedia's park article describes a distinct vertical coral wall of 25 to 50 m holding 13 coral genera, but the sentence does not tie that wall to Lekuan by name. Reading it as a Lekuan measurement would claim more than the source does.

In practice, your depth limit comes from your certification, your computer and your guide's plan, and the wall itself will not stop you going past it. Agree a maximum depth with your guide before you enter.

Who can dive Lekuan?

Two sources speak to this, and they are close without being identical. Dive The World says Lekuan suits all levels, by day or night. The Indonesia Guide says the Lekuan and Siladen walls suit Open Water divers, and reserves Mandolin and the outer walls for Advanced divers. "All levels" is the wider claim and comes from a company selling dive trips; "Open Water" is narrower and is the more cautious reading if you have to choose.

Neither statement covers someone without certification, and neither removes the current risk on the corners. If you are newly certified, tell the operator your dive count and when you last dived, and ask to be kept on a sheltered stretch with a guide close by. Our guide to Bunaken for beginner divers covers courses and first dives. Night diving here carries the same caution: Dive The World's "by day or night" is a statement about the site, not about your readiness for it.

What lives on the wall?

The reports stack up as follows, from strongest claim to most modest:

• Turtle numbers. Siladen Resort says encounters at Lekuan often exceed ten in under an hour. This is an operator's claim about a site it sells, and no count method is given.
• Turtle behaviour. Scuba Guide reports green turtles sleeping on ledges at Lekuan, and says they are commonly seen on this side of the island.
• Larger visitors. The tourism ministry site names turtles and Napoleon wrasse as visitors to the wall.
• Reef fish. Wikipedia says more than 33 butterflyfish species may be spotted around Lekuan or Fukui. That figure spans two sites and is a possibility, not a checklist.
• The wall itself. Crevices, sea fans and giant sponges, per the ministry site, are the least dependent on luck.

The turtle reports above give no method, so do not plan a dive around meeting one. Our Bunaken turtles guide compares these reports with those from other sites around the island.

Can snorkellers see it?

Snorkellers can see the top of the reef, not the wall below it. Scuba Guide says reef flats sit atop the walls and that turtles are commonly seen on the Lekuan side, which makes this stretch worth raising with a boat crew. From the surface you are looking at the flat and the upper edge, so expect to see far more of the sea fans and sponges on scuba. Siladen Resort says currents can be strong on Lekuan's corners. It does not say how that affects snorkellers, so ask the crew. The practical detail for swimmers is on our Bunaken snorkeling page.

What should you ask before a Lekuan dive?

1. Which named section are we entering, and which way will the current carry us?
2. Where are the corners relative to our plan, and what happens if we reach one?
3. What maximum depth and bottom time are you setting for this group?
4. How many divers does each guide take, and where will the boat wait?
5. If Lekuan is running hard today, which site is the alternative?

What else do divers ask about Lekuan?

What is Lekuan wall?

It is a long reef wall on Bunaken Island with crevices, sea fans and giant sponges, as described by Indonesia's tourism ministry site. Siladen Resort divides it into sections called Lekuan I, II, Pygmy and III.

Where is Lekuan wall?

On the south side of Bunaken Island, facing Manado, according to Dive The World. Wikipedia describes that south side as sitting at the heart of the park.

How deep is Lekuan wall?

The sources on this page give no measured depth for Lekuan itself. Wikipedia mentions a 25 to 50 m vertical coral wall in the park without naming Lekuan, so set your limit from your certification and your guide's plan.

Can beginners dive Lekuan?

Certified beginners may be able to. The Indonesia Guide says Lekuan suits Open Water divers, and Dive The World says all levels. Ask for a sheltered stretch, because Siladen Resort warns of strong current on the corners.

Can snorkelers see Lekuan wall?

They can see the reef flat on top and possibly turtles, which Scuba Guide says are commonly seen on this side. The wall face itself drops below snorkelling range, and Siladen Resort's warning about current on the corners is one to raise with the crew.

Which sources support this page?

• Dive The World: Manado and Bunaken dive sites (operator or agent)
• Wikipedia: Bunaken
• Wikivoyage: Bunaken (community guide)
• Indonesia tourism ministry: Manado and Bunaken
• Siladen Resort: dive sites map (operator)
• Wikipedia: Bunaken National Park
• The Indonesia Guide: Bunaken diving (publisher)
• Scuba Guide: Bunaken (publisher)

How do I reach the desk?

Send your certification level, dive count and dates to WhatsApp +62 811-3941-4563 or bd@juaraholding.com, and the desk can tell you what to ask about Lekuan. The contact page sets out how requests work.