Jelajahi Laut · Indonesia · 10D/9N
This trip is designed for divers who want to experience the best of both worlds: the celebrated "muck diving" of Ambon Bay and the pristine, biodiverse reefs of the Banda Sea, which is part of the legendary "Spice Islands." Trip Highlights: • Ambon Bay: Hunting for rare and unusual critters on the famous black and white sand slopes. • Banda Islands: Exploring historic sites and diving on pristine coral reefs, seamounts, and volcanic slopes. • Pelagic Action: A chance of encountering large schools of fish, tunas, and even schooling hammerhead sharks. • Historical Significance: A topside excursion on Banda Neira to visit historic site Fort Belgica, the nutmeg plantations, and the old colonial town. Sample Itinerary
• A taxi transfers guests from Ambon Airport (AMQ) or their hotel to the meeting point. • Guests transfer to Jelajahi Laut. • A welcome briefing and boat tour are provided. Guests prepare for their first check dive to become acquainted with the gear and local conditions, specifically the famous muck diving sites of Ambon Bay. • Possible Dive Sites: The itinerary starts with a site like Laha, a series of sites excellent for finding frogfish, Ambon scorpionfish, and nudibranchs.
• Spend the morning exploring more of Ambon's unique muck diving sites. • Possible Dive Sites: Rhino City, known for its rhinopias scorpionfish, or the Critter Junction to hunt for mimic octopus. • Jelajahi Laut will begin her overnight journey across the Banda Sea toward the islands in the late afternoon.
• The first full day of diving in the Banda Sea often occurs on remote seamounts and pinnacles. This is a crucial time to look for large marine life. o Possible Dive Sites: Sites like Nil Desperandum or Suanggi Island are known as potential hotspots for schooling hammerhead sharks, offering a chance to see them.
• Spend multiple days exploring the heart of the Banda Islands. This is a time for both phenomenal diving and historical exploration. • Possible Dive Sites: o Lava Flow (Gunung Api): A unique site where corals have rapidly regrown on a volcanic lava flow, creating a vibrant, young reef. o Pulau Hatta: Famous for its steep walls, excellent visibility, and schools of fusiliers, snappers, and groupers. o Karang Hatta: A pinnacle that attracts large pelagics like tuna and mackerel. o Batu Kapal: A submerged pinnacle that is a popular spot for schooling fish and reef sharks. • Topside Excursion: A tour on Banda Neira to visit historic sites like Fort Belgica, the nutmeg plantations, and the old colonial town.
The itinerary explores Banda Neira and its surrounding islands with more dives.
Day 6 brings more diving as the itinerary explores the waters around Banda Neira and its surrounding islands.
• The vessel moves to the western side of the Banda Islands, where the reefs are in pristine condition. • Possible Dive Sites: o Nailaka: A beautiful reef with a good chance of seeing eagle rays and turtles. o Pulau Ai: Divers explore the walls and pinnacles here, which are covered in healthy coral and frequented by large schools of fish.
• Guests enjoy a few last dives in the Banda area before the journey back to Ambon begins. • Possible Dive Sites: A final dive on a reef or wall precedes the overnight crossing.
• Guests enjoy the last couple of days of diving, focusing on some of the excellent sites that may have been missed. o Possible Dive Sites: Pintu Kota, an archway dive with beautiful corals, or a final night dive for macro life. Important This is a sample itinerary only; the final route may vary. Weather and tides play a significant role in safety and planning, which is why the Cruise Director and Captain plan every day accordingly. For any special requests, guests contact the operator beforehand or chat with the Cruise Director on the boat. *Please note: Before booking a return flight, the last dive occurs on the final day of the trip, and the vessel arrives back at Ambon Harbour around 3-4pm – guests observe the 24-hour no-fly surface interval. Upon arrival at the harbour, a transfer is organized for guests to their hotel. Guests arrange their return flight from Ambon Airport (AMQ).
Day 10 features final dives in Ambon Bay, concluding the trip for scuba divers.