Banda Sea & Alor

Adelaar · Raja Ampat, Indonesia · 9D/8N

Duration
9D/8N
Embarkation
Maumere
Disembarkation
Ambon
Dives
24

About this route

This extraordinary route traverses the remote Banda Sea, journeying through some of Indonesia's most biodiverse and least-explored waters. Expect vibrant coral reefs, dramatic volcanic seascapes, and encounters with schooling pelagics as you navigate between volcanic islands. The itinerary specifically focuses on the rich currents of Alor, the pristine walls of Wetar, and the unique seamounts of the Lucipara Maisel Archipelago, culminating in the macro diving haven of Ambon. This expedition offers a blend of exhilarating current dives and quiet, biodiverse muck sites, ideal for experienced divers seeking a remote and varied adventure.

Regions on this route

Banda SeaAlorSpice Islands

Day-by-day plan

  1. Day 1: MAUMERE

    After boarding Adelaar in Maumere in the North of Flores, you will enjoy your first day on board whilst cruising eastwards along the Flores coast.

  2. Day 2: ADONARA

    The submerged seamounts off Adonara are covered by a diverse mix of hard and soft corals. They provide shelter for a variety of reef fish and attract bigger predators such as jacks, tunas, and black tip and grey reef sharks. Juvenile silvertip sharks are often seen patrolling the typically clear blue water. 3 day dives

  3. Day 3: PANTAR

    The day begins with an adrenaline-filled dive. The objective is to see schooling hammerhead sharks. This is followed by a second morning dive on a stunning wall, completely covered in soft corals. The afternoon and night dive occur on a patch reef, known for harboring rhinopias. After the afternoon dive, locals show guests around their picturesque village. 3 day dives, 1 night dive

  4. Day 4: WETAR

    After a night's crossing, the vessel arrives in the morning in the Moluccas. Divers explore the walls and slopes of Reong and Wetar. Depending on the prevailing current, these areas are very rich in fish. Grey reef sharks, bamboo sharks, giant trevally, schooling big-eyed jacks, rainbow runners, and tunas are often seen here. On quieter dives, areas are completely covered in zebra anemones. With luck, guests may spot the beautiful but rare leopard shrimp that lives in symbiosis with them. The vessel sets sail, beginning its journey into the heart of the Banda Sea. With luck, guests may see some of the whales that migrate through these waters during this time of year. 3 day dives

  5. Day 5: GUNUNG API

    Gunung Api means simply volcano in Indonesian. It is an old, lonely volcano that arises from the depth of the Banda sea. It attracts a huge colony of resident seabirds above the waves, while under water the island is home to schools of jacks, surgeonfish, tunas, barracudas and other pelagic fish species - as well as a lot of sea snakes. These venomous but unaggressive reptiles can be encountered on each dive around Gunung Api, sometimes in great numbers, which makes these dives absolutely unique. 4 day dives

  6. Day 6: LUCIPARA MAISEL ARCHIPELAGO

    The Lucipara archipelago consists of several uninhabited low profile sandy islands with lush tropical vegetation. The islands themselves are inaccessible, protected by very shallow fringing reefs that extend several hundred meters from the islands themselves. At the edge these huge coral shallows plunge steeply into the typically crystal-clear abyss of the Banda Sea. Diving these remote locations has by definition an exploratory character - their location in the middle of the deep sea with no other islands around is very inviting for passing pelagics to hang around, thus increasing chances of close encounters between divers and bigger species such as tunas, rainbow runners, thresher sharks, silky sharks or hammerhead sharks. 4 day dives

  7. Day 7: SOUTH AMBON

    After two morning dives on the exposed south coast of Ambon island, which are stunning from both a topographical and coral cover point of view, the vessel enters Ambon Bay. Here, divers search for critters. Thorny seahorses, ornate ghost pipefish, rhinopias, frogfish, and ribbon eels are examples illustrating the extraordinarily rich muck diving of Ambon Bay. 3 day dives. 1 night dive

  8. Day 8: LAHA

    Laha's muck diving sites are world renowned. Apart from a plethora of nudibranchs, cephalopods, ambon scorpionfish and different species of leaf scorpionfish, Laha is also famously the only place in the world where - with some luck! - the beautifully weird psychedelic frogfish may be spotted. 2 day dives

  9. Day 9: AMBON

    After a last delicious breakfast, it is time to say goodbye and disembark - until the next time. (Itinerary might vary depending on weather and sea conditions)

Upcoming departures

  • 2027-09-23 – 2027-10-01from 4,990 USDBook

All routes of this liveaboard

About the vessel

AdelaarAdelaarRaja Ampat, Indonesia
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