DUNE Aurora · Indonesia · 12D11N
Embark on an unforgettable 11-night journey through Indonesia's Banda Sea and Triton Bay, starting in Ambon and concluding in Kaimana aboard the DUNE Aurora. This route is renowned for its extraordinary biodiversity, offering divers a chance to encounter a stunning array of marine life, from vibrant coral gardens teeming with schooling fish to fascinating critters in unique macro habitats. Expect encounters with reef sharks, mantas, and perhaps even elusive dugongs, all set against dramatic underwater topography.
Guests arrive in Ambon and check in aboard the DUNE Aurora. After settling into cabins, there will be time to prepare dive equipment and begin the cruise.
Today's diving takes place around Nusa Laut, an island known for its healthy reefs and diverse marine life. Expect to see schooling fish, vibrant corals, and a variety of reef inhabitants. Nusa Laut offers dramatic walls and pristine coral gardens, often hosting pelagic such as barracudas and tunas, alongside a vibrant macro scene including nudibranchs and pygmy seahorses. Its healthy reefs are a testament to strong community conservation efforts.
Dive sites: Nusa Laut
The day is dedicated to diving near Suanggi Island, an area celebrated for its rich underwater ecosystems. Divers can anticipate encountering a wide array of species in clear waters. Suanggi Island features a mix of sloping reefs and walls, characterized by large, intact coral formations and abundant fish life, including schools of fusiliers and trevally. The clear waters often allow for encounters with reef sharks and occasional mobula rays.
Dive sites: Suanggi Island
Experience the legendary dive sites of the Banda Islands, an area steeped in history and teeming with marine biodiversity. These waters are known for their dramatic volcanic topography and pelagic encounters. The Banda Islands boast stunning volcanic pinnacles and dramatic drop-offs, adorned with an incredible diversity of hard and soft corals. Divers can frequently spot large schools of fish, pelagic such as hammerhead sharks and mobula rays, and a rich array of macro life on the reef slopes.
Dive sites: Banda Islands
Today's dives are centered around Koon, a remote island often referred to as 'The Aquarium' due to its incredibly dense and diverse fish populations. It's a prime location for schooling fish and healthy coral reefs. Koon is renowned for its shallow, vibrant coral reefs that extend into deeper drop-offs, teeming with colossal schools of fish like fusiliers, snappers, and trevally. The area is also excellent for spotting reef sharks, bumphead parrotfish, and various macro creatures nestled among the rich coral growth.
Dive sites: Koon
Begin exploring the pristine waters of Triton Bay, part of the 'Bird's Head Seascape' and renowned for its extraordinary soft coral gardens and endemic species. This region offers unique macro life and potential encounters with larger pelagics.
Dive sites: Triton Bay
Begin exploring the pristine waters of Triton Bay, part of the 'Bird's Head Seascape' and renowned for its extraordinary soft coral gardens and endemic species. This region offers unique macro life and potential encounters with larger pelagics.
Dive sites: Triton Bay
Begin exploring the pristine waters of Triton Bay, part of the 'Bird's Head Seascape' and renowned for its extraordinary soft coral gardens and endemic species. This region offers unique macro life and potential encounters with larger pelagics.
Dive sites: Triton Bay
Begin exploring the pristine waters of Triton Bay, part of the 'Bird's Head Seascape' and renowned for its extraordinary soft coral gardens and endemic species. This region offers unique macro life and potential encounters with larger pelagics.
Dive sites: Triton Bay
Begin exploring the pristine waters of Triton Bay, part of the 'Bird's Head Seascape' and renowned for its extraordinary soft coral gardens and endemic species. This region offers unique macro life and potential encounters with larger pelagics.
Dive sites: Triton Bay
The final day of diving is spent in the Kaimana region, known for its rich marine biodiversity and unique underwater landscapes. This area provides excellent opportunities for diverse marine encounters. The Kaimana region presents a diverse underwater environment, from expansive coral gardens to unique gorgonian-covered walls and soft coral landscapes. Divers can expect to find a rich variety of reef fish, pygmy seahorses, and often encounter wobbegong sharks hidden amongst the corals.
Dive sites: Kaimana
After breakfast, guests will disembark the DUNE Aurora in Kaimana, concluding the journey through the Banda Sea and Triton Bay.