FORGOTTEN ISLAND

The Southeast Moluccas are a chain of archipelagos spread across 1,000 km, from Timor eastwards to West Papua on the island of New Guinea. Undeveloped, distant from population centers and far off any beaten path, these ‘Forgotten Islands’ have been largely isolated from the rest of the world. There is so much to do and see in the region, and it is worth taking the time for some cultural trips in these remote islands, which boast the most stunning volcanic scenery in the Coral Triangle.

This is a migrating and feeding area for several great whales (notably sperm and blue whales) as well as a preferred habitat for many species of dolphins that gather here in staggering numbers. So it’s is the perfect place to spend a day whale watching, whether hugging the shore around the deep volcanic slopes in search of blue whales, or out in the ocean where the sperm whales are diving.

The islands of Pantar, Pura, Kumba, Ternate and Buaya form part of the Alor archipelag, an area offering arguably the best diving in the world. During your dives along this exciting new route you can expect to see incredible underwater biodiversity. There are some 500 species of corals in the pristine protected reefs which are home to myriad creatures and up to 1,000 species of reef fish. Walls, bommies and patch reef formations make for dramatic 3D underwater topography while black sand areas provide perfect opportunities for muck diving. The nutrient-rich upwelling waters bring in pelagics such as mola-mola, thresher sharks, hammerhead sharks, humpback whales, killer whales, pilot whales and even marlin and sailfish.

The scenery is as spectacular above as it is below the waterline, with smoldering volcanoes reaching down into crystal clear waters carpeted with pristine coral reefs, pure white sandy beaches fringed with coconul palms, and traditional villages clinging to the mountain slopes.  Alor is so mountainous that it is almost impossible to pass from one side to the other, and many of the villagers rely solely on small wooden ferries to get around. There are said to be 100 tribes speaking eight distinct dialects and more than 50 sub-dialects,  illustraing the island’s cultural diversity.

Day 1. Departure 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.

Day 2.  Pulau Au

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.

After a night dive at Mandarine City we’ll set sail for Banda Neira.

Day 3 – 4  Banda Neira

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 5. Pulau Manuk

An extinct volcano about 65 nautical miles south of the Bandas will give us an incredible diving experience  surrounded on all sides by sea snakes, banded sea kraits and Chinese sea snakes. The island is encircled by black sandy slopes with hard coral reefs, volcanic ridges covered in gorgonians with zillions of fusiliers and pelagic fishes such as Spanish mackerels and dogtooth tunas passing through. Pulau Manuk is also one of the largest shelters for thousands of birds.

Day 6 – 7  Pulau Serua – Pulau Nila

After beaching and diving at the small pristine volcanic island of Pulau Serua, we’ll visit Nil Desperandum, a submerged reef of walls and steep slopes plunging several thousand meters deep. The reef top stretches for several miles and is covered with beautiful hard corals, offering fabulous diving and snorkelling.

Five nautical miles east of Pulau Nila is the Dusborgh atoll – another great place with similar a topography to Nil Desperandum, where pelagic fish, tunas, mackerels, jacks, and rainbow runners cruise the crystal clear water.

Day 8. Damar

We’ll spend the day diving Neus Leur, Terbang Utara, and Terbang Selatan, three small islands surrounding Damar Island.

Covered by tropical forests and fringed by white sandy beaches, the trio features some of the prettiest and healthiest reefs in the Banda Sea, with massive barrel sponges and gorgonian sea fans covering walls, reef tops full of soft corals and small tropical reef fishes, and visibility up to 50 meters.

We have the option of visiting a small village on the main island of Damar to stretch our legs.

Day 9.  Pulau Romang – Nyata Islands

At Romang and Nyata Islands, gentle slopes cloaked with pristine hard corals slip down into the deep blue of the Banda Sea. You will be able to see huge gorgonians in vivid orange, yellows and reds, carpets of soft corals and massive barrel sponges in all directions. If you can tear your gaze away from this wonderful reef and train it into the blue, you will often be rewarded by the sight of majestic napoleons, reef sharks or tuna. Many of the nearby dive spots show signs of volcanic activity on the seabed and are good spots for night dives.

Day 10. Wetar – Pulau Reong

Wetar Island has several calm bays where interesting critters can be found, while a swift drift dive between Wetar and Reong takes you past a spectacularly colored wall.

The small limestone island of Reong lying off the northwest coast of Wetar presents a change in scenery. Reef sharks, barracuda and trevallies frequently visit these waters. Tanjung Nunukae on Wetar Island is generally characterized by shallows forming a plateau that narrows as it goes deeper until it drops off abruptly, forming a very nice wall swathed in gigantic sea fans, cup corals and impressive sponges. We have good chances to come across both mobula and manta rays here.

Day 11. Kalahabi Bay & Pulau Pura (Alor) – Reta Island

At some dive spots here the water can get really cool (70-72F, increasing the likelihood of pelagic and riotous marine-life richness). We recommend that you wear a 5-7mm wetsuit here

Mosque and Rocky Church are two great muck dives within Kalabahi Bay on Alor Island. The ‘holy grail of fish’ Rhinopias can be found here, and there is a strong chance you may see both the weedy and paddle flap scorpionfish, ghost pipefish, soft coral crabs, frogfish, various octopus and snake eels. An exceptional dive site on the South side of Pura Island is Clown Valley, a reef completely covered in anemones, and possibly the only place in the world where you can see this phenomenon. You will have the chance to enjoy a drift dive here and bask in the abundance of fish.

On Reta Island we’ll visit the villages of Takpala or Latevui, where the old Abui traditions persist. You might catch the villagers there performing the Lego-Lego dance wearing traditional clothing and brass anklets that make a wonderful jingling sound as they move. Afterwards there is a chance to purchase handmade ikat, woven fabrics of various colours and motifs, as well as jewellery and wooden artifacts. Manta Mae will then sail overnight to Pulau Komba, a distance of about 55 nautical miles

Day 12. Komba island

One of the most spectacular destinations in Indonesia, Pulau Komba is a very active volcano rising from the Flores Sea, with regular eruptions that look rather spectacular at night.

After diving at Komba Korner, a landscape of black volcanic ash and topography comprising reefs and walls, you will experience a truly unforgettable evening, watching the last light of the day disappear below the crater. Dinner will be served in front of the greatest fireworks display on earth! The soundtrack of the evening will be thunderous booms with fiery rocks and jets of molten lava lighting up the night sky.

Day 13. Maumere – departure day

Day 1. Maumere

We will meet you at Maumere Airport (Wai Oti Airport), or at your accommodation, and accompany you to Mantamae where our crew will welcome you onboard with refreshments. We will have a check dive in the area and then in the evening we will set sail, cruising through the night to Pulau Komba.

Day 2. Komba island

One of the most spectacular destinations in Indonesia, Pulau Komba is a very active volcano rising from the Flores Sea, with regular eruptions that look rather spectacular at night.

After diving at Komba Korner, a landscape of black volcanic ash and topography comprising reefs and walls, you will experience a truly unforgettable evening, watching the last light of the day disappear below the crater. Dinner will be served in front of the greatest fireworks display on earth! The soundtrack of the evening will be thunderous booms with fiery rocks and jets of molten lava lighting up the night sky.

MantaMae will then sail overnight to Pulau Komba,  a distance of about 55 nautical miles.

Day 3. Kalahabi Bay & Pulau Pura (Alor) – Reta Island

At some dive spots here the water can get really cool (70-72F, increasing  the likelihood of pelagic and riotous marine-life richness). We recommend that you wear a 5-7mm wetsuit here

Mosque and Rocky Church are two great muck dives within Kalabahi Bay on Alor Island. The ‘holy grail of fish’ Rhinopias can be found here, and there is a strong chance you may see both the weedy and paddle flap scorpionfish, ghost pipefish, soft coral crabs, frogfish, various octopus and snake eels. An exceptional dive site on the South side of Pura Island is Clown Valley, a reef completely covered in anemones, and possibly the only place in the world where you can see this phenomenon. You will have the chance to enjoy a drift dive here and bask in the abundance of fish.

On Reta Island we’ll visit the villages of Takpala or Latevui, where the old Abui traditions persist. You might catch the villagers there performing the Lego-Lego dance wearing traditional clothing and brass anklets that make a wonderful jingling sound as they move. Afterwards there is a chance to purchase handmade ikat, woven fabrics of various colours and motifs, as well as jewellery and wooden artifacts.

Day 4. Wetar – Pulau Reong

Wetar Island has several calm bays where interesting critters can be found, while a swift drift dive between Wetar and Reong takes you past a spectacularly colored wall.

The small limestone island of Reong lying off the northwest coast of Wetar presents a change in scenery. Reef sharks, barracuda and trevallies frequently visit these waters. Tanjung Nunukae on Wetar Island is generally characterized by shallows forming a plateau that narrows as it goes deeper until it drops off abruptly, forming a very nice wall swathed in gigantic sea fans, cup corals and impressive sponges. We have good chances to come across both mobula and manta rays here.

Day 5.  Pulau Romang – Nyata Islands

At Romang and Nyata Islands, gentle slopes cloaked with pristine hard corals slip down into the deep blue of the Banda Sea. You will be able to see huge gorgonians in vivid orange, yellows and reds, carpets of soft corals and massive barrel sponges in all directions. If you can tear your gaze away from this wonderful reef and train it into the blue, you will often be rewarded by the sight of majestic napoleons, reef sharks or tuna. Many of the nearby dive spots show signs of volcanic activity on the seabed and are good spots for night dives.

Day 6. Damar

We’ll spend the day diving Neus Leur, Terbang Utara, and Terbang Selatan, three small islands surrounding Damar Island.

Covered by tropical forests and fringed by white sandy beaches, the trio features some of the prettiest and healthiest reefs in the Banda Sea, with massive barrel sponges and gorgonian sea fans covering walls, reef tops full of soft corals and small tropical reef fishes, and visibility up to 50 meters.

We have the option of visiting a small village on the main island of Damar to stretch our legs.

Day 7 – 8  Pulau Serua – Pulau Nila

After beaching and diving at the small pristine volcanic island of Pulau Serua, we’ll visit Nil Desperandum, a submerged reef of walls and steep slopes plunging several thousand meters deep. The reef top stretches for several miles and is covered with beautiful hard corals, offering fabulous diving and snorkelling.

Five nautical miles east of Pulau Nila is the Dusborgh atoll – another great place with similar a topography to Nil Desperandum, where pelagic fish, tunas, mackerels, jacks, and rainbow runners cruise the crystal clear water.

Day 9. Pulau Manuk

An extinct volcano about 65 nautical miles  south of the Bandas will give us an incredible diving experience surrounded on all sides by sea snakes, banded sea kraits and Chinese sea snakes. The island is encircled by black sandy slopes with hard coral reefs, volcanic ridges covered in gorgonians with zillions of fusiliers and pelagic fishes such as Spanish mackerels and dogtooth tunas passing through. Pulau Manuk is also one of the largest shelters for thousands of birds.

Day 10-11 Banda Neira.

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 12.  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. After a night dive at Mandarine City we’ll set sail for Ambon.

Day 13. Departure Ambon

Day 1. Maumere

Upon arrival to Maumere, we will do a check dive in Maumere harbor, adjust our buoyancy , check new gear, and try our weights, while enjoying fantastic macro life.

Day 2. Komba island

We will enjoy three dives around this famous active volcano of Komba. It is still smoking, and we can see bubbles and hot springs under the water during the dives. Big Dog tooth tuna patrol these waters, and macro life is very good. These dives are a chance to warm up for diving with currents later in the trip.

Day 3. Alor Island

Today features  both wall and macro dives, where you can spot the rare Rynophias as well as Frog Fish  and Mantis Shrimps.  Huge schools of Surgeon fish, Mangrove Jacks and big tunas patrol the waters around the two fantastic wall dives, Padar wall and Ternate Selatan. There is also a world class muck dive site for macro enthusiasts.

Day 4-5-6  Wetar, Romang, Damarng

We will dive one of the best coral gardens in the world over the next three full days. Currents from Indian Ocean feed those waters with oxygen and nutrients, so corals grow “ like mushrooms after the rain”! On wall dives featuring deep oevrhangs, you will see huge bushes of Black Corals, schools of  Bumphead Parrotfish and Big Eye trevalies, hundreds of neon- colored Fusiliers, and big Napoleons.

Days 7-8 Nildesperandum, and Serua

Those two islands are hot spots for diving with schools of Hammerheads. On all six dives in this area, we can expect to see them during their migration through the Banda Sea

Day 9. Day Island  

The dive sites on the southeast corner of this island are widely regarded as among the best in Indonesia. Expect an abundance of corals and huge schools of fish such as Barracudas and Trevalies, as well as different species of shark. This truly is 5-star diving!

Day 10. 

The last dives of the trip take place on a protected horseshoe reef a few hours from harbour. After two relaxed dives, we can spend the rest of the day on a nearby beach of white sand.

Day 11. Disembark in Saumlaki

Coming soon