Many of us know and love muck diving, but to some it is still an area of diving that is yet to be explored. For those of you that have never tried muck diving before, but are interested in trying it, keep on reading as we will go through what it is all about!
Muck diving doesn’t do itself any favours by the name alone, but the name comes from the sediment that lies on the bottom, which can be sand, silt, natural debris, or man-made debris. A lot of new divers are all about the coral reefs, big fish and turtles. Although this is great in its own right, muck diving doesn’t focus on that, but rather on the very small and unique critters we can find. When you’ve been lucky to have seen your “big stuff”, muck diving tends to be the next natural direction in your diving journey.
The beauty about muck diving is that you can pretty much do it anywhere as small critters exist in every part of the world! However there are areas that are more known for these types of subjects, Lembeh being the critter capital of the world! You can see a range of critters, from different species of Octopus, Cuttlefish, Nudibranchs, Shrimp, Frogfish, Rhinopias……just to name a few! There are many to tick off the bucket list! Muck diving never stops being exciting, as there is always a new critter to look for. Whether it is that Tiger shrimp you’ve been wanting to see or the “Ghost” Nudibranch you’ve just heard about, there is something for everyone. Photographers in particular will enjoy this type of diving, as macro photography is a new challenge. Lembeh is not just muck diving though, we also have coral reefs and wall dives, so you can mix it up on your next holiday.
There are a few things you want to think about when you go muck diving. You want to take extra care to make sure your buoyancy is good, as stirring up the sandy bottom is not only frustrating for you, but also for your dive buddies! Make sure you are not over weighted, and focus on your kicks. Flutter kicks is usually not the best option for muck diving, as it tends to propel water downwards, stirring up sand behind you. Instead opt for a frog kick, which is a very energy efficient way to move underwater. The frog kick is also the best kick for moving slowly and since there is much to see in a small area this is perfect for diving in Lembeh. When you master the frog kick (there are many great tutorials on YouTube, but it is basically the same motion for your legs as when you do a breaststroke) you can also try learn the backwards kick, and a helicopter kick, allowing you to adjust your position perfectly, which is very helpful when looking at small things.
We also tend to recommend the use of a pointer stick, especially if you are not very confident with your buoyancy. You shouldn’t rely on it, but simply use it as a helpful tool to put in the sand to stabilise yourself when needed. We have a no glove policy here at NAD, which means you should not use your hands to touch anything, and this is where the pointer stick comes in handy. Of course make sure the area is clear before putting it gently into the sand, as many critters lurk right beneath it!
Another thing that many divers like to bring with them on muck diving trips might be a little unexpected, but very useful. Consider bringing a magnifying glass! Since many of the critters found can be very small, this can help you get a good look and see all the tiny details. This is especially helpful if you enjoy diving without a camera, as photographers have the magnifying properties already with their camera setup.
We hope you enjoyed this blog, and if you have any other questions about muck diving let us know in the comments below!
Why Dive with NAD-Lembeh Resort?
LOCATION
NAD-Lembeh Resort is a small, owner-operated, photography-oriented dive resort in the Lembeh Strait. We are situated in a private bay on Lembeh Island, away from the hustle and bustle of the mainland. We guarantee a 2:1 guest to guide ratio as standard, which makes for a private dive experience and lots of time to take pictures.
ROOMS & BUNGALOWS
All our rooms (10 Beachfront Rooms, 5 Seaview Bungalows) offer ocean view, air conditioning, hot water, wifi, including full board. Our resort has only few steps, which makes our layout extremely convenient to get from your room to the restaurant, camera room, bar and floating jetty.
DIVE CENTER
Our dive team consists of 15 full-time guides, with over 100 years of combined experience! Air as well as Nitrox and various cylinder sizes (both DIN and Yoke are available onsite).
BOATS & FLOATING JETTY
NAD-Lembeh has 4 large, purpose-built dive boats. Each at around 15m long, they offer lots of space and comfort for the divers. Boats feature onboard toilets, towels, drinks and snacks and first aid/ oxygen.
Our jetty allows our guests dignified and quick boat entries – all our dive boats can be moored simultaneously, so there is no wading through the shallows to get on the boat for the dive!
PHOTO CENTER
Our focus at NAD is to take your underwater photography to the next level. We offer 1:1 photo classes and our guides are all proficient with photography, using our rental equipment for fun dives when not diving with guests.
We shoot video up to 8K, along with Nikon/ Canon SLR and mirrorless setups. This gives us a rounded knowledge of all cameras. We are also the go-to location for natural history filming in the Straits.
CAMERA ROOM
Our newly renovated, huge camera room offers one work space for each and every guest. The spacious, individual benches with lots of power points were purposely built for underwater photographers. NAD’s dedicated camera room is also the perfect place to work on and edit your pictures.
Several rental cameras and strobes are available onsite. We have basic tools and spare parts in our gift shop in case of minor camera problems as well as a drying cabinet, and computer for you to work on and edit your photos.
