Sea snakes and schooling hammerhead sharks await intrepid divers who venture to the Banda Sea. Delight in untouched reefs and pelagic action as either a round trip or transit liveaboard itinerary.
Bordered on three sides by the Banda Arc, the Banda Sea is deep and expansive. Throughout are sea mounts and a cluster of small, ancient, volcanic islands dotted to the east.
Dive sites around Manuk and Saunggi Islands are known to draw in large numbers of schooling hammerheads, especially during October and November’s new and full moon, when the currents are at their strongest and cool upwelling occurs. Gunung Api volcano is more commonly known to divers as “Sea Snake Island”. The uninhabited island is home to sometimes hundreds of banded sea kraits and olive sea snakes, who weave between the reef and glide among the blue.
Alongside highlights of hammerheads sharks and sea snakes, the Banda Sea has stunning coral formations, schooling pelagic fish such as jacks and snappers, octopus, and frogfish.
Liveaboards only visit the Banda Sea seasonally, on either a round-trip itinerary from Ambon or as part of a transitional cruise to locations such as Raja Ampat, Alor, and Triton Bay.
Round-trip sailings give the perfect opportunity to dive the polar opposite diving area of Ambon, known for its muck critters and unusual macro life, including the truly elusive psychedelic frogfish. Transit sailings on the other hand allow divers to hit other big pelagic action areas and dive sites inaccessible by resort.
This suggested trip idea is based on three nights at Spice Island Divers, Ambon, before joining the Indo Master for seven nights in the Banda Sea. As there are many variations of Banda Sea sailings on a variety of vessels, we recommend contacting us to find the most suitable departure date for your epic diving adventure.
A domestic flight will transport you to Ambon for three nights at Spice Island Divers, prior to joining the liveaboard.
Spice Island Divers are a long-established resort and dive centre, set among lush tropical gardens with fruiting mango trees.
Kick-start your diving in Ambon, where the weird and the wonderful are all around. Here there are opportunities to see multiple species of scorpionfish, frogfish, crabs, shrimp, seahorse, octopus, blennies, moray eels, rhinopia, pipefish, and plenty of nudibranchs.
On the opposite shore, rich coral reefs are filled with colour and life.
Embark in Luha and conduct a check dive prior to heading to the remote Banda Sea. This vast expanse of water provides superb diving for both reef and pelagic fauna, and encounters with walls of hammerhead sharks and more sea snakes than you can count. A plethora of sea mounts and volanic islands push nutrient rich waters up from the deep, feeding the thriving marine life.
Many liveaboards also provide the opportunity for historical land tours, exploring the islands that were the world's only source of nutmeg until the mid-19th century. Explore British and Dutch historical sites from colonial eras, including Belgica Fort on Banda Neira Island.
After disembarking your liveaboard, a domestic flight will return you to Jakarta for a final night.
Many Banda Sea liveaboard itineraries are transit sailings, disembarking at a different port. These include Raja Ampat, Triton Bay, and Alor, to name a few. Here you have the option of extending your Indonesian dive holiday or returning to the UK.
Please note: Banda Sea can experience strong currents; it’s recommended divers have 50 logged dives and experience in similar conditions to make the most of all dives.
The remote Banda Sea in eastern Indonesia is a vast expanse of water which includes Ambon, the Banda Islands, Seram, Wetar, Kai and Aru Islands. Best explored by liveaboard, it offers abundant marine life on pristine reefs, steep drop-offs, and pelagics and critters galore. Find Out More about {acc:title}
Ambon’s intriguing shoreline has a habit of throwing up the weird and the wonderful. Muck diving in the region has become legendary, yet the clear water sites on the south coast offer divers a great combination making this a must visit destination. Find Out More about {acc:title}
Known as ‘The Four Kings’, Raja Ampat is an archipelago of majestic islands at the epicentre of the Coral Triangle. Relatively unexplored until recently, it is the most biodiverse marine region on earth and is now at the top of many divers’ wish lists. Find Out More about {acc:title}
The Solitude Adventurer is one of the newest and most impressive diving liveaboards in Indonesia. This spacious and well-appointed vessel transports divers to top dive sites in Raja Ampat and the Banda Sea. Find Out More about Solitude Adventurer
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A spacious 33 metre yacht, the M/V Mermaid II offers comprehensive itineraries covering Raja Ampat and Komodo. Trips are suitable for divers of all certification levels. Nitrox is available on board. Find Out More about M/V Mermaid II
The MS Aurora is a luxurious double masted traditional phinisi, designed for a discerning clientele. Cruising Indonesia year round, there are a variety of itineraries to choose from, all showcasing marine biodiversity at its best. Find Out More about MS Aurora
Located on Ambon, the main island in the Moluccas archipelago in eastern Indonesia, this boutique dive resort is a friendly, family-run property with some of the best macro life right on its doorstep. Find Out More about Spice Island Divers
