Located on just over half a hectare in North Sulawesi, Indonesia, Solitude Lembeh Resort is a remarkable retreat that boasts a rich history of cherished friendships and enduring values. This scuba diving resort’s distinctive blend of cultures and fascinating past make it a truly one-of-a-kind destination. Guests can choose from two Sea View Villas, eight Garden View Villas, and seven Deluxe Rooms, all designed to provide an authentic and comfortable experience. With a combination of traditional Indonesian architecture and modern amenities, each villa offers a cozy ambiance where guests can easily unwind and relax.
The resort’s main goal is to create a peaceful and restorative haven for guests, giving them a chance to recharge and unwind. The Solitude team is dedicated to making every moment of guests’ stay memorable, ensuring they leave with unforgettable and revitalizing experiences. The accommodation is designed to provide a rejuvenating escape, while the Solitude team is dedicated to making every moment of guests’ stay memorable. They offer an experience where visitors can enjoy, explore, and discover the wonders of North Sulawesi’s breathtaking marine biodiversity.
The Origins of Lembeh Resort: From Kasawari to Solitude
The roots of the resort go back to 2006. Nuprapat Snidvongs Na Ayudhaya, affectionately known to his friends as Nu, was a passionate underwater film photographer and diver who identified Lembeh as a promising diving location. He wanted to create a resort where he could spend time with his friends and continue pursuing his hobby and aimed to create a haven for his friends, family, and like-minded individuals who like to observe and capture the beauty of the Lembeh Strait’s unique marine life, resulting in the birth of Kasawari Resort.
Nuprapat’s legacy of hospitality was rooted in his warm and welcoming personality which treated everyone with respect and open arms. His son Jeen and the Solitude team are eager to continue this tradition of hospitality at this North Sulawesi resort, making it one of the most accessible dive resorts for guests seeking both comfort and adventure.
Before long, what had started as a private getaway in Lembeh Island for the owners and their close circle of friends had turned into a renowned destination for divers around the world. The resort quickly gained a reputation as one of the top dive resorts in the Lembeh Strait, providing guests with unparalleled access to some of the finest muck diving sites worldwide. Additionally, the resort offers a variety of activities, including snorkeling, kayaking, and cultural land tours with guides to explore neighboring villages and national landmarks.
Preserving the Legacy: The Rebirth of Solitude Lembeh Resort
Jeen, Nuprapat’s son, spoke about his father’s vision and how he became involved in the business. Jeen remembered the first time he saw the property that would eventually become Solitude Lembeh Resort. He was rather confused at the time because all he saw was a group of coconut trees. However, a year later, Jeen was already digging trenches around the garden, helping pour the terrazzo floors in the villas, and planting trees. It was the only project that he worked on with his dad from the beginning.
When Nuprapat passed away in 2010, the resort went into a period of decline. Despite being very young at the time of his father’s passing, Jeen was driven to seek out the resort’s new owners to continue his father’s vision. He wanted to become part of the new Kasawari, now Solitude Lembeh Resort, and here he reflects on his motivation for doing so.
“After he passed away the resort went into a period of decline and when Solitude came to take over I jumped at the chance because I knew that they would do a good job. I had known Andrew (Solitude’s managing director) since before the resort was open, in fact, he may have been onboard Aqua One that day when I saw the property for the first time. To put it bluntly, I invested because of the Solitude team and their professionalism and ability to create success.”
Transformations and Enhancements Under Solitude Resorts
With Jeen joining the team, the resort was revitalized, breathing new life into Nuprapat’s legacy. Solitude Lembeh Resort was redefined, and it is a privilege to be able to preserve the spirit of Nuprapat, a respected figure, and mentor while enhancing the overall guest experience. At the end of 2017, the resort underwent significant renovations over the following twelve months, including the construction of eight deluxe rooms, as well as a rebranding initiative aimed at rejuvenating the property.
Despite the change in ownership and rebranding, many of the original staff members, including Ibu Saminen, embraced the new direction and chose to stay on board. They are committed to maintaining the high standard of hospitality and exceptional service for which Kasawari Resort was known, while also integrating the Solitude World Experience.
A Conversation with Chef Ibu Saminen
I had the pleasure of chatting with Ibu Saminen, the most senior staff member and talented chef at Solitude Lembeh Resort, to gain some insight into her experiences with the resort’s growth and evolution from its early days as Kasawari to its current identity as Solitude Lembeh Resort.
Read more about Ibu Saminen and the culinary experience at Solitude Lembeh Resort in our article, Culinary Journey with Ibu Saminem.
She has witnessed the resort’s transformation from Kasawari to Solitude Lembeh Resort and is one of the reasons why guests feel so at home here. The resort’s exceptional service and attention to detail are a testament to the staff’s dedication, and it’s clear that everyone at this dive resort in Indonesia is committed to providing guests with an unforgettable and revitalizing experience.
Blending Tradition and Modern Diving Hospitality
Balancing tradition and modernization can be a challenge, but Jeen believes that it’s important to celebrate the past while also staying at the forefront of scuba diving resort hospitality. Initially, Kasawari Resort’s success was primarily driven by word of mouth, but it has since undergone various developments and advancements under the stewardship of Solitude World.
For instance, the camera room has been enhanced to cater to the needs of the modern diver, with state-of-the-art equipment and technology. Additionally, the resort boasts the fastest and most reliable boats in the straits, ensuring guests have safe and comfortable dives. The staff has been trained to be responsive to guests’ needs, ensuring they receive unparalleled service.
Through these upgrades and continued commitment to guest satisfaction, the resort has maintained its position as a top dive destination. Moreover, Solitude Lembeh Resort incorporates local, Thai, and Singaporean cultures into its operations and guest experience, creating a unique and beautiful atmosphere.
Commitment to Sustainability at Solitude Lembeh Resort
Another modern challenge to balance is the ongoing prioritization of sustainability and the environment, especially in a location that is renowned and sought after for the ‘muck’ rather than unique black sand and the novelty of finding critters in discarded man-made objects.
Jeen’s response to questions regarding the resort’s approach and recommendation to sustainability and environmental conservation was that,
“as a responsible member of the hospitality industry, we recognize the importance of sustainable tourism and the need to protect the local environment. We aim to lead by example and believe that being eco-friendly is not only good for the environment, but also for our business. To achieve this, we have implemented several initiatives, such as offering guests reusable water bottles, avoiding single-use plastics, and providing guests with the option to choose how often their linens and towels are changed. Additionally, we source as many ingredients as possible from local farmers for our restaurant, grow herbs in our own garden, and ensure that any construction projects we undertake are built to last.
Our commitment to sustainability is an integral part of our operations, and we continuously look for ways to reduce our environmental impact while enhancing the guest experience. We make it a point to discourage any additional waste from polluting the area and take steps to educate not just our guests but also our staff and the local community about the negative impacts of waste pollution.”
Resilience During the Pandemic: Navigating Challenges
As the world grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses across all sectors had to adjust and adapt to the changing circumstances. The tourism and hospitality industry was hit particularly hard, with many resorts and hotels forced to close their doors or dramatically alter their operations. In this context, it is interesting to hear from those in the industry about how they coped with the pandemic and what changes they made to ensure their survival. With that in mind, we asked Jeen about his experience of how the pandemic affected the resort, and how they adapted to the changing circumstances.
“Solitude has a set of core values that guide their operations, known as their ETHOS, which stands for reliability, efficiency, accountability, and leadership (R.E.A.L.). These values are not only applied to customers and partners, but also to the local community, staff, and contractors. During the pandemic, Solitude made it a priority to support their team through difficult times.
Although the pandemic was challenging, it allowed us to showcase our professionalism and the stability that comes with an internationally-sized operation. We managed to continue operating throughout the pandemic by adjusting our services to cater to local guests who enjoyed the new Solitude Lembeh Resort Country Club. We were able to retain our staff and reopened to diving guests as soon as flights resumed. Additionally, we used the downtime to upgrade and renovate our facilities and welcomed new team members who have become an integral part of our Solitude family.
Our team continued to dive and explore during the pandemic, even discovering new dive sites on the eastern side of the island. For guests who may tire of macro photography, they can now take a short boat ride to dive on world-class reefs with sharks and even whale sharks – we even have photo evidence of a sighting!
Although I couldn’t visit during the pandemic, I knew that we were in good hands. When I finally did return a few months after the country opened up, it felt like coming home.”
Carrying Forward a Family Legacy
The resort is a testament to Jeen’s shared vision with his father and the commitment of the Solitude Resorts team to continue his legacy while also evolving and modernizing to meet the needs of today’s travelers.
It’s clear that Jeen has a deep love and respect for the resort and its history. He is dedicated to maintaining his father’s vision and ensuring that guests have a memorable and enjoyable experience. Solitude Lembeh Resort is more than just a business; it’s a family legacy that has been passed down through the years and will continue to thrive for generations to come.
Now, Guests can book their dream getaway in the Solitude Lembeh Resort and experience the joy of discovering exotic marine life, stunning coral reefs, and the Lembeh Strait’s famous muck diving. For those who want a break, the on-site spa and local cuisine provide additional ways to relax.