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The Banda Sea is becoming one of the best underwater spot in Indonesia for scuba diving. Extremely remote, the “Ring of Fire” of the Eastern part of Indonesia has been preserved by most of the commercial human activities. Those isolated volcanic Islets and small archipelagos are surrounded by the deep waters of the Banda Sea and create the perfect environment for pelagics and big schools of fish. Many different species of dolphins and whales are also commonly spotted. And the best of the best… since few years, the Banda Sea starts to become well-known for the seasonal schools of hammerheads.
The minimum level of certification is OWD + Adventure Deep Dive or AOW. Possibility to do the Adventure Deep Dive certification on board (40EUR to pay on board), or in any dive centers on land.
While this is the description of a typical Diving trip, actual trips may vary due to wind and sea conditions, weather or guests preference
[/cs_text][x_custom_headline level=”h2″ looks_like=”h3″ accent=”false”]Itinerary[/x_custom_headline][x_slider animation=”slide” slide_time=”7000″ slide_speed=”1000″ slideshow=”false” random=”false” control_nav=”false” prev_next_nav=”true” no_container=”false” ][x_slide]
Day 1
Maumere
Upon arrival in Maumere, you will be picked up at airport by our team to join the boat. Welcome drink, boat briefing including safety rules on board and introduction of the crew members.
The Bay of Maumere is a really good area for muck diving. Frogfish, ghost pipefish, indian walkman and many differents kind of nudibranchs can be spotted on its black sandy slope.
Departure for the island of Kawula, after the dive. Arrival, early in the morning, in a beautiful landscape, surrounded by volcanoes.
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Day 2
Lembata
Dive 1 & 2: Batacan Legend, on the Northeast cape of the Lewaling bay. With schools of fusiliers, surgeon fish and rainbow trevallies, it is a really nice dive site.
The boat will head then to the village of Waipukang for anchoring.
Dive 3: Muck dive with plenty of weird crawling animals (mimic octopus, scorpionfish, nudibranchs etc…). Departure after diner. Overnight sailing to Alor.
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Day 3
Alor
Dive 1,2 & 3: Alor, with its healthy coral reefs, muck diving and spectacular topography, is a really eclectic scuba diving area. Its seamounts, outstanding walls and sandy slopes, host a rich underwater life, from critters to big fish and pelagics.
After 3 dives in the central part of the strait between Pantar and Alor, we will pull up the anchor again for another overnight sailing to Reong.
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Day 4
Reong
Dive 1, 2 & 3: The best reef of Reong is located on the Northwest side of the island. We offer 3 dives in different sections of this beautiful curving wall, that we named Reong Star. Easy to spot schools of yellowtail barracudas, napoleon, white tip sharks, groupers and schools of jacks.
Overnight sailing to Nyata. Arrival in the morning.
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Day 5
Nyata
Dive 1: South Amira, a beautiful underwater ridge full of fish and exposed to the current.
Dive 2: Sandy Paradise, a nice wall-to-slope dive.
Dive 3: The Fairy Arch, a beautiful wall with swimthrough and overhangs.
Overnight sailing to the atoll of Nusleur.
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Day 6
Nusleur
Dive 1, 2 & 3: An amazing place with splendid walls, overhanging into the deep blue of the Banda Sea. Massive barrel sponges and sea fans, schools of redtooth triggerfish and butterfly fish, huge dogtooth tunas… This day announces the start of our journey into the heart of the Banda sea.
Overnight sailing.
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Day 7
Karang Dusbourgh
Dive 1, 2 & 3: This submerged reef, lost in the middle of nowhere, is sitting in the deep of the Banda Sea. Full of coral trouts and schools of Jacks, this spot is mainly famous for its schools of scalloped hammerhead sharks.
Anchoring at Pulau Nika. Departure at 3am.
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Day 8
Nil Desperandum
Dive 1, 2 & 3: Even more famous than Karang Dusbourgh, this is the second hotspot for schools of hammerheads in the area. We will dive seeking after them. Adrenalin guaranteed! But even if we don’t see them, there is so much fish action that we can never get enough of that place….
After a sunset dive, we will navigate to anchor close by the Serua Island for the night.
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Day 9
Serua
Dive 1, 2 & 3: Another hotspot for the hammers. Starting by a curving wall with a huge quantity of fish, we will end the dive on a nice slope. Schools of fish, giant marbled ray and groupers…
Departure for Manuk after diner.
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Day 10
Manuk
Dive 1, 2 & 3: Manuk, this isolated islet stand at 80 miles South of the legendary Banda Islands. This place is magical. Many frigate birds did nest in the island and are everywhere flying above your heads. The sulphur smoke coming out from the crater of this active volcano creates a very special atmosphere.
Diving is obviously also great with dramatic underwater topography and stunning corals. Manuk is most of all famous for the numerous sea snakes living in its waters. Really uncommoN.
80 miles / 10 hours sailing. Departure at 9pm.
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Day 11
Banda Islands
Dive 1: Hole in the Wall, sumptuous arch.
Dive 2: Batu Kapal, dramatic topography.
Dive 3: Pohon Miring,another highlight in the Banda area. Crystal clear water, schools of damsel fish, triggerfish and sumptuous sea fans. Orange dendronepthya, barrel sponges and vertiginous walls.
Walk and visit Belgica Fort, Banda museum and the spice market.
We will anchor in Banda Besar. Departure at 2 am for Suanggi.
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Day 12
Suanggi
Dive 1 & 2: This rock is surrounded by the Abyss… visible part of a large plateau dropping in the deep of the Banda sea. Hammerhead sharks, oceanic sunfish or even thresher sharks have already been spotted here! Most commonly, big eyes trevallies and humpback wrasses.
Navigation to Ambon. Arrival early in the morning.
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Day 13
Ambon
End of the trip and transfer to airport according to your flight schedule.
[/x_slide][/x_slider][cs_text]The route and dives are always organized according to the weather conditions, the currents and tides.[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][/cs_content]