Halmahera - Misool - Banda Sea (Ternate - Ambon)

Ambai · Indonesia · 15 Days / 14 Nights

Duration
15 Days / 14 Nights
Embarkation
Ternate
Disembarkation
Ambon
Dives
Approximately 42 dives in total

About this route

This extended expedition begins in Ternate and charts a course through Halmahera, southern Raja Ampat, and the Banda Sea, concluding in Ambon. The journey is timed to take advantage of peak conditions, offering chances to see schooling hammerheads in the Banda Sea and abundant fish life in Misool. The itinerary combines world-class diving on seamounts, walls, and coral gardens with cultural land excursions, including a visit to the historic Banda Islands. Max guests on this trip: 16.

Day-by-day plan

  1. Day 1: Embarkation in Ternate

    Ternate

    Guests arrive and board the vessel in Ternate. The specific check-in time will be communicated after booking. The first day is dedicated to settling in and preparing for the start of the diving adventure.

  2. Day 2: Goraici Islands

    Goraici Islands

    The voyage commences, heading to the Goraici island group. This area is characterized by numerous seamounts and bommies covered in colorful soft corals. Divers can anticipate encounters with pelagic species such as tunas and blacktip sharks.

  3. Day 3: North Patientie Strait

    Kusu island, Sale island

    Continuing south, the boat navigates to the islands of Kusu and Sale, located at the northern entrance to the Patientie Strait. The strong currents in the strait foster an incredibly rich marine ecosystem, creating dive sites considered among Indonesia's most beautiful.

    Good to know: short visits to villages and beaches

  4. Day 4: Pigajara Island

    Pigajara Island, Patientie Strait

    The journey proceeds deeper into the Patientie Strait to Pigajara island. This location offers scenic dives and features a notable wooden shipwreck for exploration.

  5. Day 5: Pisang Islands

    Pisang Islands

    The next destination is the remote Pisang islands, positioned between Halmahera and Misool. The underwater life here is exceptionally dense, with millions of triggerfish, large schools of surgeonfish, and bumphead parrotfish. Passing pelagics like Spanish mackerel and tunas are also common.

  6. Day 6: Misool, Raja Ampat

    Misool

    The vessel reaches Misool in southern Raja Ampat, a world-famous diving hotspot. Renowned for its unparalleled soft corals and prolific fish populations, the first of three days here is spent exploring the region's premier sites.

  7. Day 7: Misool, Raja Ampat

    Misool

    The second day in Misool offers further exploration of its vibrant underwater landscapes. Divers can expect to see lush gorgonian forests and intense marine activity, including bait balls that attract Mobula rays and other predators.

  8. Day 8: Misool, Raja Ampat

    Misool

    On the final day in Misool, guests enjoy more spectacular diving. The day also includes a land excursion featuring a brief hike to a viewpoint, offering panoramic vistas and a view of a picturesque heart-shaped lagoon.

    Good to know: Short hike to the top of a small mountain|admire the panorama and a beautiful lagoon that has a heart shape

  9. Day 9: Koon Island

    Koon Island, Seram

    Embarking from Misool, the journey progresses toward Koon Island, found near Seram's easternmost point. The primary dive location, aptly named 'too many fish,' showcases a vibrant drop-off teeming with trevallies, barracudas, and surgeonfish. The shallower areas are home to massive groupers and numerous spadefish, and there's a possibility of encountering hammerhead sharks.

    Dive sites: too many fish

  10. Day 10: Banda Islands

    Banda Islands

    The itinerary arrives at the historic Banda Islands, the former heart of the spice trade. A highlight dive takes place along the Gunung Api volcano's 1988 lava flow, now covered in new coral growth. An afternoon land tour of Banda Neira explores the local village, a museum, and a colonial fort.

    Good to know: Visit the village, fort, and museum of Banda Neira

  11. Day 11: Serua Island

    Serua Island, Banda Sea

    Contingent on favorable weather, the boat travels to the remote Serua island in the Banda Sea. This area is considered the prime location on the trip for encountering large schools of hammerhead sharks, marking the first of two days of thrilling diving.

  12. Day 12: Serua Island

    Serua Island, Banda Sea

    The second day of diving around the isolated Serua island provides more opportunities for unforgettable big fish encounters. The focus remains on finding the famed schooling hammerheads in the deep blue waters.

  13. Day 13: Suanggi Island

    Suanggi Island

    After Serua, the journey heads back toward the Banda archipelago with a stop at Suanggi island. This site offers another excellent chance to spot hammerhead sharks and other pelagic species.

  14. Day 14: Nusa Laut or Ambon Bay

    Nusa Laut / Ambon Bay

    The final day of diving occurs at either Nusa Laut island or within Ambon Bay. Ambon is particularly famous for its muck diving, presenting opportunities to discover rare and unusual macro critters. The last dive of the trip is conducted in the morning.

  15. Day 15: Disembarkation in Ambon

    Ambon

    Following a final breakfast on board, guests check out in the morning. The liveaboard journey concludes in the port of Ambon.

Upcoming departures

  • 2027-09-24 – 2027-10-08from 8,669 USDBook
  • 2028-09-24 – 2028-10-08from 8,236 USDBook
  • 2029-09-20 – 2029-10-04from 8,669 USDBook

All routes of this liveaboard

About the vessel

AmbaiAmbaiIndonesia
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