BANDA SEA

Once sought out by Columbus and Marco Polo, the Banda Islands were the original Spice Islands and the most coveted destination on earth, particularly by the Dutch and Portuguese who colonized the islands and exported the indigenous nutmeg and cloves. History tells of a violent past under colonial rule. Now, the seas around these tropical paradise islands are coveted for their spectacular diving and snorkeling on some of the world’s richest reefs, rich with unspoiled corals and large pelagic fish.

Steep drop offs, impressive hard coral and some fast currents make this area absolutely breathtaking. Schools of jacks are a familiar sight, as are large tuna, many turtles, Napoleon wrasse, groupers, rays, sharks and large lobsters. Great visibility is a blessing here, and there are also some special critter sites.

The Banda Sea is surrounded by islands: the large islands of Buru, Halmahera, Ambon and Seram in the north; Gorom, Kei and Aru in the east; Tanimbar, Wetar and Reong, and a series of smaller islands such as Babar and Moa, touching East Timor in the south. Ambon Bay is host to some of Indonesia’s best critter diving. The nearby island of Halmahera is still largely unexplored and has recently produced some stunning sites.

While big fish and pelagic are the usual suspects in the Banda Islands, its true treasure is in the large variety and sheer volume of fish life, for both large and small marine life. Some of the creatures worthy of special attention, because they characterize the diving in the Banda Sea, are dogtooth tuna and mobula rays. At many of the dive sites you’ll see large schools of fusiliers and thousands of red tooth trigger fish. At the other end of the size scale, there are prolific mandarin fish as well as the native Ambon scorpion fish.

Cetaceans are frequent visitors too and sightings of spinner dolphins, orcas, and various whale species, including melon head, pilot, blue, and humpback whales, are common.

Day 1. Ambon

Pick up at your hotel or at Ambon airport by our crew for a short transfer to Teluhu Bay where Mantamae awaits you. Once on board, welcome drink in hand, you will be introduced to the rest of the crew, shown around and immediately start to feel at home. We’ll have a check muck dive at Teluhu Bay. The Intensity of marine life here is unrivalled; critters benefit from the nutrient-rich currents pushing into this bay but are still protected by sheltered waters in the many small coves. This unique combination creates conditions that nourish an incredible eco system, making it one of the richest and most interesting places to dive.

In the late afternoon we’ll set sail for the Banda Islands.

Day 2. Banda Islands

The Banda area offers a good variety of dive sites. Volcanic rocks at Pulau Pisang create a deep swim-through which you can drift through and view the sponge-covered wall on the other side, perhaps spotting Moral eels at the top of the wall as well as schools of bump head parrotfish. We’ll also dive at the black sand of Batu Kapal in Banda’s harbour, a submerged pinnacle, breaking the surface of the water in the shape of a boat which offers muck diving with flying gurnards spreading their electric blue wings, sea moth, nudibranchs and the mandarin fish. Various types of fish are present here in vast numbers, along with huge gorgonian fans and some truly monumental sponges. We’ll also have a wall dive at Tanjung Burung with strong current.

Day 3. Pulau Hatta

Once known as Rozengain, Pulau Hatta is a stunning flying-saucer-shaped island of jungle-swathed limestone trimmed with white sand. It offers some of the finest underwater panoramas and is considered one of the best snorkeling sites in the world.

Long white beaches edged with swaying palms, unspoilt reefs and superb diving at the Hatta Arch, Takat Hatta Reef and Tj Buton make Hatta everyone’s favorite destination.

Day 4. Pulau Run

Early morning we’ll sail to Pulau Run to dive at Tanjung Noret, Tanjun Lokon and Pulau Nailaka, all great locations with white sandy slopes interspaced with large coral heads and healthy reefs. This region is full of unexplored dive sites, and the Banda Sea is the perfect location for the discovery of new underwater treasures.

This tiny island has a fascinating history too; in 1667, the English traded Run for New Amsterdam (now Manhattan), giving the Dutch full control of the Banda archipelago and the nutmeg trade.

Day 5. Pulau Ai

Very few divers witness the true nature of Pulau Ai’s unspoilt reef – a secret in the middle of the Banda Sea reached by live-aboard only. This area acts as an oasis for pelagics that cruise by these pristine hard coral reefs cloaked in clouds of fish – Napoleon wrasse, green and hawksbill turtle, tuna, rainbow runner, huge schools of barracuda mixing with schools of bannerfish, redtooth triggers and fusiliers.

Batu Payung, Umbrella Rock, is named for the many overhangs along the island walls, which divers can drift along and enjoy the thousands of tiny reef fish darting in and out of the cracks and crevices. We’ll have also night dive at Mandarine City.

Day 6. Banda Island

Back at Banda Neira, you will have the chance to explore the historic and cultural legacies of the fables islands, center of the former lucrative spice trade. Wandering through the town, you’ll observe the Dutch colonial architecture which remains to this day, as well as Fort Belgica with its incredible views overlooking the bay.

During the day, we’ll dive around the Lighthouse Reef, one of the Lava Flow sites under the volcano, and we’ll also have a night dive close the harbor at Mandarine City.

Day 7. Pulau Suanggi

Early morning, we cruise towards the northern island of Banda Neira, Pulau Suanggi, stopping on the way to dive at Pulau Pisang Barat. At Pulau Suanggi, we’ll dive at Tanjung Selatan and Tanjung Utara where it’s possible to see schooling of hammerhead sharks. Late afternoon we’ll sail to Nusa Laut.

Day 8. Nusa Laut – Pulau Molana

Early morning, we arrive at the beautiful Ahmet Reef in Nusa Laut. The locals here  have introduced sustainable methods to protect their reef and their efforts have produced great results. We’ll dive at Nildesperandum and at Karang Duisburg where white tips and reef sharks patrol the depths,  playful turtles can be spotted, and In October and November there’s the chance of diving with Hammerhead sharks.) We might choose to visit the fort and the waterfall here, or sail to Pulau Molana for one more wall dive. The shallow wall breaks in places and in the sandy slopes, ribbon eels, small pipefish and moray eels can be found. Above the reef, turtles are seen feeding in the beautiful coral garden.

Day 9. Ambon – departure day

We’ll transfer you to your accommodation or to the airport to catch your next flight.

DAY 1. Ambon

Pick up at your hotel or at Ambon airport by our crew for a short transfer to Teluhu Bay where Mantamae awaits you. Once on board, welcome drink in hand, you will be introduced to the rest of the crew, shown around and immediately start to feel at home. We’ll have a check muck dive at Teluhu Bay. The Intensity of marine life here is unrivalled; critters benefit from the nutrient-rich currents pushing into this bay but are still protected by sheltered waters in the many small coves. This unique combination creates conditions that nourish an incredible eco system, making it one of the richest and most interesting places to dive.

In the late afternoon we’ll set sail for the Banda Islands.

Day 2. Nusa Laut – Pulau Molana

Early morning, we arrive at the beautiful Ahmet Reef in Nusa Laut. Here, the locals have introduced sustainable methods to protect their reef and their efforts have produced great results. We’ll dive at Nildesperandum and at Karang Duisburg where white tips and reef sharks patrol the depths, playful turtles can be spotted and, i October and November, it’s not unusuaal to dive with Hammerhead sharks. We might also choose to visit the fort and the waterfall here, or sail to Pulau Molana for one more wall dive. The shallow wall breaks in places and in the sandy slopes, ribbon eels, small pipefish and moray eels can be found. Above the reef, turtles are seen feeding in the beautiful coral garden.

Day 3. Pulau Run

Early morning we’ll sail to Pulau Run to dive at Tanjung Noret, Tanjun Lokon and Pulau Nailaka, all great locations with white sandy slopes interspaced with large coral heads and healthy reefs. This region is full of unexplored dive sites and the Banda Sea is the perfect location for the discovery of new underwater treasures.

This tiny island has a fascinating history too; in 1667, the English traded Run for New Amsterdam (now Manhattan), giving the Dutch full control of the Banda archipelago and the nutmeg trade.

Day 4. Pulau Ai

Very few divers witness the true nature of Pulau Ai’s unspoilt reef – a secret in the middle of the Banda Sea reached by live-aboard only. This area acts as an oasis for pelagics that cruise by these pristine hard coral reefs cloaked in clouds of fish – Napoleon wrasse, green and hawksbill turtle, tuna, rainbow runner, huge schools of barracuda mixing with schools of bannerfish, redtooth triggers and fusiliers.

Batu Payung, Umbrella Rock, is named for the many overhangs along the island walls, which divers can drift along and enjoy the view of thousands of tiny reef fish darting in and out of the cracks and crevices. We’ll also have a night dive at Mandarine City.

Day 5. Banda Islands

The Banda area offers a good variety of dive sites. Volcanic rocks at Pulau Pisang create a deep swim-through which you can drift through and view the sponge-covered wall on the other side, perhaps spotting Moral eels at the top of the wall as well as schools of bumphead parrotfish. We’ll also dive at the black sand of Batu Kapal in Banda’s harbour, a submerged pinnacle, breaking the surface of the water in the shape of a boat which offers muck diving with flying gurnards spreading their electric blue wings, sea moth, nudibranchs and mandarin fish. Various types of fish are present here in vast numbers, along with huge gorgonian fans and some truly monumental sponges.

In Banda Neira you will have the chance to explore the historic and cultural legacies of the fables islands, center of the former lucrative spice trade. Wandering through the town you’ll observe the Dutch colonial architecture which remains to this day, as well as Fort Belgica with its incredible views overlooking the bay.

Day 6. Pulau Hatta

Once known as Rozengain, Pulau Hatta is a stunning flying-saucer-shaped island of jungle-swathed limestone, trimmed with white sand. It offers some of the finest underwater panoramas, and is considered one of the best snorkeling in the world.

Long white beaches edged with swaying palms, unspoilt reefs, and superb diving at the Hatta Arch, Takat Hatta Reef and Tj Buton, make Hatta everyone’s favorite destination.

Day 7. Koon Island

Koon is a small island located at the east-south bound of Seram Island, north of the Banda Sea. It is also called ‘Too Many Fish’ because for the unbelievable number of fishes that hang out in the current at the reef corner. (According to a WWF survey, Koon is projected to be the biggest coral fish breeding spot in eastern Indonesia. )

After diving we might pay a visit to one of the traditional villages, then following a leisurely dinner we’ll set sail for Misool.

Day 8 – 11 Misool a diving Paradise

After sailing for about 15 hours we’ll arrive at Misool. Here, we’ll decide where to dive day by day depending on the weather and sea conditions and, of course, following your personal wishes.

The island of Misool has some of the best diving in Raja Ampat, with several reefs that can be considered the best in the world! A labyrinth of thousands of small mushroom-shaped islands form tiny dots of lagoons with sparking white sand surrounded by extensive formations that make the Misool one of the most wonderful places on Earth. The land scenery will take your breath away as will the underwater scenery that holds some of the richest wildlife in the world.

There are three main areas of interest for diving in Misool – the Sagof-Daram, the Southern Archipelagos in the south-east corner of Misool and the Blue Water Mangroves near the western tip of the main island.

In Daram we’ll dive at Andiamo which is a large, stunning reef with a submerged pinnacle covered in sea fans surrounded by schools of fusiliers and bat fish, black tip reef sharks and napoleon wrasse. The Candy Store dive site is covered with huge sponges, beautiful soft corals, sea fans and, in the valleys, schools of fusiliers, butterfly fish and barracuda, while at Andy’s Ultimate there is a valley which boils with fish when the current is running.

In the Warakaratet area at Magic Mountain there are two cleaning manta stations on the same dive site, one at 25 meters and one right at the top at seven meters. This is one of the only places in the world where you can see oceanic mantas as well as reef mantas interacting. Magic Mountain is also a nursery for White Tip Reef Sharks and a love nest for Napoleon Wrasse. Boo Rock is known for the “windows” on the end of the largest rock that completely pierces the reef from the surface down to five meters deep. Here you can see an incredible variety of fishes, gorgonians, Barrel sponges, Commensal shrimps, a wide variety of Nudibranchs, Octopus and Green Turtles, patrolling sharks as well as Wobbegong Shark. Nudi Rock is a small island in the Fiabacet chain, crowded with larger pelagics like Barracuda, Big Eyed Travelly, and Grey Reef Shark, with a wide range of flamboyant nudibranchs lurking among the abundant soft corals and sea fans well populated by pygmy seahorses and cowries.

In the Wayilbatan area at the Neptune dive site, schools of batfish, trevallies, barracuda and pygmy seahorses congregate amongst the most spectacular hidden lagoons in the region. This site has sheer walls paved with very colorful sea fans, some of which host tiny seahorses, Hippocampus Barbiganti. The Four Kings dive site is made up of four underwater pinnacles covered in soft coral and colorful tunicates, with many turtles. Close to Four Kings we can dive at Orange Peel, a fantastic orange wall with a coral garden. Dunia Kecil is a superb dive site for spotting pygmy seahorses and ‘lady bugs’. Hawksbill turtles, crocodile fish, barramundi cod and juvenile cuttlefish are amongst the other marine creatures that can all be found here. Kaleidoscope is one of the best dive sites in the world, loping down from the limestone island of Jef Pele. On one side you will find an amazingly beautiful coral covered wall with tons of fish, and on the other side is a picture-perfect slope. Between the two there is a great dividing lip, where large pelagic species feast in front of you as you hang on to your reef hook through the prevailing currents. Another great dive site of this area is Turbine.

The Farondi  area – a unique and distinctive landscape: tunnels, caverns, and colorful walls – offers three famous dive spots, Goa Besar, Razonback Rock and Three Sisters. Goa Besar comprises shallow shelved gardens of yellow-colored soft corals, wall tops blanketed with plate corals, leather corals, yellow and purple sea squirts, and rounded hollows filled with coral shrubberies, sponges and red ornamental ghost pipefish. Three Sisters provides three great dive sites paved with life, as do the channels between them. Wolbolol offers multiple dive sites, Portion Nine, No Contest and The Plateau where you’ll see schools of barracuda and jacks, snappers and bump head parrotfish all over around the pinnacles.

Day 12. Sorong – departure day

Day 1. Sorong

You will be met at Sorong airport by a member of the Manta Mae crew who will accompany you on the short transfer to the pier and onto Manta Mae. Once on board, welcome drink in hand, you will be introduced to the rest of the crew and shown around with time to settle in while the boat sails to Misool, one of the best dive sites on the planet. On the ten-hour sail to Misool we’ll stop at Pulau Matan for a check dive.

Day 2 – 5  Misool – a diving Paradise

Once at Misool, we’ll decide where to dive day by day depending on the weather and sea conditions and, of course, following your personal wishes

The island of Misool has some of the best diving in Raja Ampat, with several reefs that can be considered the best in the world! A labyrinth of thousands of small mushroom-shaped islands form tiny dots of lagoons with sparking white sand surrounded by extensive formations that make the Misool one of the most wonderful places on Earth. The land scenery will take your breath away as will the underwater scenery that holds some of the richest wildlife in the world.

There are three main areas of interest for diving in Misool – the Sagof – Daram, the Southern Archipelagos in the south-east corner of Misool, and the Blue Water Mangroves near the western tip of the main island.

In Daram we’ll dive at Andiamo, a large, stunning reef with a submerged pinnacle covered in sea fans surrounded by schools of fusiliers and bat fish, black tip reef sharks and napoleon wrasse. The Candy Store dive site is covered with huge sponges, beautiful soft corals, sea fans and, in the valleys, schools of fusiliers, butterfly fish and barracuda, while at Andy’s Ultimate there is a valley which boils with fish when the current is running.

In Warakaratet area at Magic Mountain there are two cleaning manta stations on the same dive site, one at 25 meters and one right at the top at seven meters. This is one of the only places in the world where you can see oceanic mantas as well as reef mantas interacting. Magic Mountain is also a nursery for White Tip Reef Sharks and a love nest for Napoleon Wrasse. Boo Rock is known for the ‘windows’ on the end of the largest rock that completely pierces the reef from the surface down to five meters deep. Here you can see an incredible variety of fishes, gorgonians, Barrel sponges, Commensal shrimps, a wide variety of Nudibranchs, Octopus and Green Turtles, patrolling sharks as well as Wobbegong Shark. Nudi Rock is a small island in the Fiabacet chain, crowded with larger pelagics like Barracuda, Big Eyed Travelly, and Grey Reef Shark, with a wide range of flamboyant nudibranchs lurking among the abundant soft corals and sea fans well populated by pygmy seahorses and cowries.

In the Wayilbatan area at the Neptune dive site, schools of batfish, trevallies, barracuda and pygmy seahorses congregate amongst the most spectacular hidden lagoons in the region. This site has sheer walls paved with very colorful sea fans, some of which host tiny seahorses, Hippocampus Barbiganti. The Four Kings dive site is made up of four underwater pinnacles covered in soft coral and colorful tunicates, with many turtles. Close to Four Kings we can dive at Orange Peel, a fantastic orange wall with a coral garden. Dunia Kecil is a superb dive site for spotting pygmy seahorses and “lady bugs”. Hawksbill turtles, crocodile fish, barramundi cod and juvenile cuttlefish are amongst the other marine creatures that can all be found here. Kaleidoscope is one of the best dive sites in the world, loping down from the limestone island of Jef Pele. On one side you will find an amazingly beautiful coral covered wall with tons of fish, and on the other side is a picture-perfect slope. Between the two there is a great dividing lip, where large pelagic species feast in front of you as you hang on to your reef hook through the prevailing currents. Another great dive site of this area is Turbine.

The Farondi area – a unique and distinctive landscape of tunnels, caverns, and colorful walls – offers three famous dive spots, Goa Besar, Razonback Rock and Three Sisters. Goa Besar comprises shallow shelved gardens of yellow-colored soft corals, wall tops blanketed with plate corals, leather corals, yellow and purple sea squirts, and rounded hollows filled with coral shrubberies, sponges and red ornamental ghost pipefish. Three Sisters provides three great dive sites paved with life in the channels between them. Wolbolol offers multiple dive sites, Portion Nine, No Contest and the Plateau where you’ll see schools of barracuda and jacks, snappers and bump head parrotfish all over around the pinnacles.

Day 6. Koon Island

After a 15-hour sail we’ll arrive to Koon, a small island located at the east-south bound of Seram Island, north of the Banda Sea. It is also called ‘Too Many Fish’ because for the unbelievable number of fishes that hang out in the current at the reef corner. (According to a WWF survey, Koon is projected to be the biggest coral fish breeding spot in eastern Indonesia. )

After diving we might pay a visit to one of the traditional villages, then after dinner we’ll set sail to Pulau Hatta.

Day 7. Pulau Hatta

We’ll arrive at Pulau Hatta at sunrise. Once known as Rozengain, this stunning flying-saucer-shaped island of jungle-swathed limestone trimmed with white sand offers some of the finest underwater panoramas and one of the best snorkeling in the world. Long white beaches swaying palms, unspoilt reefs and superb diving at The Hatta Arch, Takat Hatta Reef and Tj Buton, make Hatta everyone’s favorite destination.

Day 8. Banda Islands

The Banda area offers a good variety of dive sites. Volcanic rocks at Pulau Pisang create a deep swim-through which you can drift through and view the sponge-covered wall on the other side, perhaps spotting Moral eels at the top of the wall as well as schools of bumphead parrotfish. We’ll also dive at the black sand of Batu Kapal in Banda’s harbour, a submerged pinnacle, breaking the surface of the water in the shape of a boat which offers muck diving with flying gurnards spreading their electric blue wings, sea moth, nudibranchs and mandarin fish. Various types of fish are present here in vast numbers, along with huge gorgonian fans and some truly monumental sponges.

In Banda Neira you will have the chance to explore the historic and cultural legacies of the fables islands, center of the former lucrative spice trade. Wandering through the town you’ll observe the Dutch colonial architecture which remains to this day, as well as Fort Belgica with its incredible views overlooking the bay.

Day 9. Pulau Ai

Very few divers witness the true nature of Pulau Ai’s unspoilt reef – a secret in the middle of the Banda Sea reached by live-aboard only. This area acts as an oasis for pelagics that cruise by these pristine hard coral reefs cloaked in clouds of fish – Napoleon wrasse, green & hawksbill turtle, tuna, rainbow runner, huge schools of barracuda mixing with schools of bannerfish, redtooth triggers and fusiliers.

Batu Payung, Umbrella Rock, is named for the many overhangs along the island walls, which divers can drift along and enjoy the view of thousands of tiny reef fish darting in and out of the cracks and crevices. We’ll also have a night dive at Mandarine City.

Day 10. Pulau Run

Early morning we’ll sail to Pulau Run to dive at Tanjung Noret, Tanjun Lokon and Pulau Nailaka, all great locations with white sandy slopes interspaced with large coral heads and healthy reefs. This region is full of unexplored dive sites and the Banda Sea is the perfect location for the discovery of new underwater treasures.

This tiny island has a fascinating history too; in 1667, the English traded Run for New Amsterdam (now Manhattan), giving the Dutch full control of the Banda archipelago and the nutmeg trade.

Day 11. Nusa Laut – Pulau Molana

Early morning, we arrive at the beautiful Ahmet Reef in Nusa Laut. Here, the locals have introduced sustainable methods to protect their reef and their efforts have produced great results. We’ll dive at Nildesperandum and at Karang Duisburg where white tips and reef sharks patrol the depths, playful turtles can be spotted and, in October and November it’s not unusual to dive with Hammerhead sharks. We might also choose to visit the fort and the waterfall here, or sail to Pulau Molana for one more wall dive. The shallow wall breaks in places and in the sandy slopes, ribbon eels, small pipefish and moray eels can be found. Above the reef, turtles are seen feeding in the beautiful coral garden.

Day 12. Ambon departure day

We’ll transfer you to your accommodation or to the Airport to catch your next flight.

Coming soon