Ilike · Indonesia · 15D/14N
Arrive to the ILIKE in Ambon port
Ambon Bay
Nusa Laut
Pulau Suanggi
Banda Neira/Pulau Pisang
Manuk Island
Nil Desparandum/Serua
Damar Island
Nyata/Reong Island/Wetar Island
Alor Pantar Strait (Pulau Buya/Takpala Village Day)
Alor Pantar Strait (Kalabahi/Pura Island)
Guests disembark at Alor port. The trip starts in Ambon, the capital of the Maluku province. It is the most populated city in the area, and its phenomenal muck diving is considered among the best in the world. The city is split by an enormous bay, which is connected by a bridge. Cuttlefish, seahorses, octopus, and many other critters find their home in this deep bay. It is muck diving in its purest state. One of the most famous dive sites is Twilight in Laha village. As the name suggests, it feels like twilight even in broad daylight. A whole new world opens to divers, revealing creatures never seen before or even known to exist. Critters such as harlequin shrimp, hairy frogfish, flamboyant cuttlefish, seahorses, mototi, hairy, starry, and wonderpus are just a few of the many different species of octopus found here. Biggest highlights include rhinopias or the elusive psychedelic frogfish, which, other than in Bali, is not found anywhere else in the world. Beautiful coral gardens are found outside the bay. There is a huge natural rock bridge, called Pintu Kota, covered in beautiful and colorful soft corals with great marine life. Nusa Laut offers incredible diving, as Ahmed, the small village that protects the area against illegal fishing, does a great job conserving this area. Big schools of jacks, rainbow runners, tuna, and Spanish mackerel are present, with a chance for big pelagics. The Banda Sea is spectacular due to its remote location and possibility of rougher seas. It features crystal clear waters, bottomless drop-offs, and colorful coral pinnacles. Guests have the opportunity to visit the old historic town of Banda Neira. Here, many remains of the Dutch and English spice trade are found. An old nutmeg plantation is visited, offering a taste of how this famous spice, once believed to cure the plague, is used. Fort Belgica offers great views of the port and Gunung Api. Gunung Api is an active volcano, but is most famous for its population of sea snakes and seabirds. The birds greet visitors before they reach the island. From the moment divers enter the water, they are surrounded by sea snakes. They are very friendly and leave divers alone to enjoy the dramatic lava formations in this unique underwater location. Huge barrel sponges, sea whips, sea fans, and hard and soft corals are present. Hammerheads are spotted here during their migration in autumn. Manuk is another active volcano with many seabirds and sea snakes, very similar to Gunung Api, only a little smaller. Hundreds of sea snakes accompany divers on this dive while they enjoy the lava ridges covered in coral. Divers keep an eye open for big pelagics. Serua Island, from September to November, is known as a migration area for hammerhead sharks. Nil Desperandum is an underwater seamount rising from the depths to about 3 meters below the surface right in the middle of the Banda Sea. Besides the unspoiled coral, encounters with bigger pelagic tuna, rainbow runners, and Spanish mackerel occur. In Damar, Terbang Selatan, and Terbang Utara deserted islands, steep walls and pristine coral gardens are found on top of the reef. Wetar island has spectacular drop-offs and walls covered in black coral bushes with massive barrel sponges. Alor is famous for great diversity, from vertical coral walls to sloping gardens covered in anemones for miles. Divers can dive an active volcano where hot air bubbles come from the rocks. Because the Pantar Strait brings lots of nutrients, dolphins or even whales are expected to welcome the vessel into the bay. Kalabahi Bay in West Alor has world-class muck diving, with many different ghost pipefish hiding in the mucky bottom, many nudibranchs, and all families of scorpionfish, including the elusive rhinopias, commonly spotted here.
No departures scheduled for this route right now.