Neptune One · Indonesia · 11 Days / 10 Nights
This is a crossing for experienced divers, bridging two of Indonesia's most celebrated underwater realms. You begin in the historical Banda Sea, home to open-ocean currents, volcanic islands, and pelagic hunters. After traversing this blue-water environment, the itinerary concludes in the south of Raja Ampat. Here, the seascape transforms into a maze of karst islands fringed by reefs loaded with soft corals and some of the highest marine biodiversity on the planet.
Ambon
Welcome aboard. You will embark in Ambon and meet the crew and your fellow divers. After a comprehensive vessel briefing, you will prepare for a check dive in Ambon Bay. This allows you to fine-tune your weighting and gear configuration in a calm setting. The site itself is a preview of the region's famous muck diving, so keep an eye out for unusual critters and macro subjects as you get comfortable.
Dive sites: Check dive in Ambon Bay
Nusa Laut
Your first full day of diving takes you to the well-preserved reefs of Nusa Laut. The main features here are the impressive hard-coral walls, particularly at sites like Ameth Knoll. Expect excellent visibility and healthy coral gardens that support a high density of reef fish. You may also get your first taste of gentle drift diving. The day ends with a dusk or night dive at the local jetty, a reliable place to find crustaceans and nocturnal hunters.
Dive sites: Pombo, Ameth Knoll, Nusa Laut Jetty
Suanggi
Suanggi is a remote, uninhabited volcanic island that serves as a magnet for pelagic life. The primary target here is the scalloped hammerhead shark. Dives at Jackpot are spent over deep water, watching the blue for their distinct silhouettes. These are challenging, open-water dives where currents can be a factor. Success requires a good eye and a degree of luck, but the potential reward is a signature Banda Sea encounter. The day is dedicated to maximising these chances.
Dive sites: Jackpot, Jackpot (repeat), Suanggi Slope, Pingpang
Ai / Run
You arrive in the heart of the Spice Islands, where the islands of Ai and Run were once the world’s only source of nutmeg. The diving here reflects the exposed, oceanic setting. Max Manta is a known feeding area for mantas, while the walls at Lailaka and Run drop steeply into deep water. These sites offer a high chance of encounters with large tuna, barracuda schools, and various reef sharks passing through, all set against a backdrop of significant maritime history.
Dive sites: Max Manta, Lailaka Wall, Run
Banda Neira
Today blends unique diving with a land-based tour. The highlight underwater is Lava Flow, a reef that was covered by a volcanic eruption in 1988. You will witness how quickly hard corals have re-colonised the area, creating a dense and unusually uniform coral garden. Batu Kapal is a classic pinnacle dive. In the afternoon, you will go ashore at Banda Neira to walk through the town’s colonial-era forts and thriving nutmeg plantations, connecting the dive sites to the region’s past.
Dive sites: Batu Kapal, Lava Flow, Pohon Miring
Hatta Island
Positioned on the edge of the deep Banda Trench, Hatta Island serves up some of the most dramatic wall dives of the trip. At sites like Karang Hatta, the reef edge plummets vertically into the abyss. You will drift along these deep walls, keeping an eye on the blue for dogtooth tuna, eagle rays, and sharks. The feeling of exposure is immense. Hole in the Wall offers a fun topographical feature with a large swim-through, providing a different perspective on the reef structure.
Dive sites: Karang Hatta, Tanjung Buton, Hole in the Wall
Koon
Koon’s reputation is built on a single site: Too Many Fish. This is a major fish spawning and aggregation point where currents from the deep sea converge, fuelling an almost unbelievable biomass. You will drop into swirling schools of fusiliers, surgeonfish, and batfish that can be thick enough to obscure the reef. The action is frantic and constant. This is a high-energy, current-driven dive that stands out as one of the most intense encounters with sheer numbers of fish in Indonesia.
Dive sites: Too Many Fish, Southwest Dive, Koon Wall
Misool
Overnight, you have crossed into the southern Raja Ampat region of Misool. The underwater scenery changes dramatically. You are now in the world of castellated karst islets and reefs smothered in technicolour soft corals. The Daram Islets are on the remote southeastern edge of Misool and sites like Andiamo and Warna Berwana showcase the area’s incredible coral density and associated fish life. Romeo and Juliet are classic introductions to the bewilderingly rich reefs that define this area.
Dive sites: Andiamo Daram, Warna Berwana, Romeo, Juliet
Misool
Today is a tour of Misool’s iconic spots. Magic Mountain is a world-renowned reef pinnacle that serves as a cleaning station for both oceanic and reef mantas; you can often see both here on a single dive. Nearby, Boo Window offers the unmissable experience of swimming through two large, bored holes in the rock. The day’s diving alternates between exhilarating wide-angle opportunities and macro-hunts on the slopes of Nudi Rock and Whale Rock, showcasing the area's immense biodiversity.
Dive sites: Magic Mountain, Boo Window, Nudi Rock, Whale Rock
Misool
Your final day of diving concludes with some of the best that Misool has to offer. Four Kings is a chain of four submerged pinnacles that act as a hub for marine life, with vast schools of fish patrolling the area between the peaks. It is a fitting finale. After a second dive, usually at a more relaxed site like Wedding Cake, you will begin the long cruise north towards the port of Sorong, enjoying a final evening on the water.
Dive sites: Four Kings, Wedding Cake
Sorong
After a final breakfast on board, you will disembark in Sorong. The crew will assist with your luggage and onward travel arrangements. This concludes the expedition.
Dive sites: Disembarkation after breakfast