Makawide

Makawide is consistently ranked among the most species-diverse muck dive sites in the Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia. Named after the nearby village, the site encompasses two areas (Makawide 1 and Makawide 2) with Makawide 2 featuring a pair of small pinnacles that add structural variety to an otherwise sand and rubble slope. The site is characterised by coral growth in the shallows transitioning to a black sand and rubble slope, supporting an unusually broad range of critters within a single dive.

Overview

The Makawide slope descends gradually to 24–29 metres (sources give varying maxima for the two areas) across a substrate that transitions between coral growth at shallow depth, open black sand, and rubble zones. The coral patch areas in the shallows provide habitat for resident pygmy seahorses and ghost pipefish, while the sand and rubble below support the full range of Lembeh muck critters. Visibility averages 8–15 metres. Currents are typically light to moderate. Water temperature holds at 26–29°C year-round.

Site Information

• Location: Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia (named after the nearby village of Makawide)
• Entry Type: Boat dive
• Site Type: Muck dive
• Difficulty Level: Intermediate
• Maximum Depth: 24 meters
• Typical Visibility: 8–15 metres (25–50 feet)
• Current: Light to moderate
• Best Time: Year-round; October to May for calmest conditions

Marine Life

Sources confirm the following at Makawide: pygmy seahorses including the small “Pontohi” variety on black coral and gorgonians, ornate ghost pipefish, frogfish, flamboyant cuttlefish, wonderpus, and various octopus species. Rhinopias scorpionfish have been documented at Makawide 1 and 2 per multiple sources — they are resident at depth when conditions are favourable, sometimes remaining for months. Seahorses (thorny and other species) are documented on rubble and low growth. The pinnacles at Makawide 2 are noted for cephalopods and nudibranchs. No additional species are attributed beyond what sources have confirmed specifically at this site.

Dive Profile

Makawide rewards a structured dive approach that visits each substrate type in sequence. Start at the coral patch and pinnacle zones for pygmy seahorse and ghost pipefish work; guides know the specific fan corals and black coral heads that host resident pygmy seahorses. Then transition to the rubble zones for rhinopias (when present), frogfish, and mantis shrimp, before finishing the dive on the open sand slope in the shallower sections. The habitat transitions are the most productive zones — concentrate time at the edges between sand and rubble, and between rubble and coral growth.

Entry and Exit

Access by banca boat. Entry via back roll or giant stride. The guide will navigate the habitat transitions throughout the dive. Surface with SMB deployed.

Tips and Recommendations

• Pygmy seahorses are among the most difficult subjects in all of muck diving to find without a guide — they are 1–2 cm long and perfectly match the coral polyps or black coral fronds they inhabit; watch your guide’s pointer direction before you begin searching
• Ask your guide before the dive whether rhinopias are currently resident — when they are present at Makawide, they can stay for months in the same area
• Multiple consecutive dives at Makawide reveal different species on different passes — an afternoon dive at the same site often produces different sightings from a morning dive
• Intermediate difficulty reflects the need for precise buoyancy near the delicate coral patch areas where pygmy seahorses and gorgonians are found
• A focus light is valuable for illuminating pygmy seahorse colouration and nudibranch detail in the coral zones

Safety Considerations

The coral patch areas require heightened buoyancy awareness — contact with gorgonians or black coral harms both the coral and potentially dislodges resident pygmy seahorses. Approach these structures from a distance and hover neutrally before examining them. Standard blue-ringed octopus caution applies. Do not handle any critters. Carry an SMB.

Photography

Makawide may be the single best all-around macro photography site in the Lembeh Strait for photographers seeking variety in a single dive. Pygmy seahorses demand supermacro technique — a dioptre attachment and steady hand are essential for the 1–2 cm subjects against their complex backgrounds. Ghost pipefish allow more conventional 100mm macro shooting. Rhinopias, when resident, are one of the most extraordinary macro subjects in the Indo-Pacific — their skin texture and colour variants (yellow and red individuals are documented in Lembeh) reward patient close-range portrait work.

Sources: Starfish – Lembeh Dive Sites, Infinite Blue Dive Travel – 15 Best Lembeh Sites, Lembeh Resort – Know Your Rhino, ZuBlu – Lembeh Strait, NAD-Lembeh – Rhinopias. Last updated 2026-06-14.