Raja Ampat & Banda

RAJA AMPAT & THE BANDA SEA

Sample itinerary & dive spot information

MISOOL
 - Once you arrive in Misool, you are surrounded by one of the most fascinating landscapes you can imagine. Hundreds of small islands all shaped by time into sculptures that only nature can produce. The topside it's out of this world but once your head is under the water you start to understand the concept of variety of colours. The soft corals are unbelievable, all kind of colours and at all depths. It is not unusual to be among a dozen of different ones only a metre or two down!

AIR TERJUN
 - Between Kaimana and Misool we´ll make another stop. Let us say that the diving, although not disappointing, is not at the same level as the others, but seeing the spectacular waterfall flowing down from the hilly rainforest straight into the sea is a breathtaking view! Lagoons where we can swim in and the possibility of a refreshing waterfall shower? A great sensation! Here, for the first and only time, our main goal will not be underwater one. It will be a pigmy, but not the sea horse kind; we'll be looking for the rarely seen Papua pigmy Kangaroo, which happens to live there!

KRI AREA
 - Close to the Kri resort there is outstanding diving. Probably the corals are less spectacular than in Misool, but that is compensated by the schools of fish at Sardine reef and Kri corner. These sites are just fabulously filled with fish and pelagic action is always expected. At the west site of Mansuar area mantas, can be seen in great numbers.

PULAU PISANG
 - Pulau Pisang is situated half way between Misool and Fak Fak and offers a great stop on the way. The reefs are healthy, no bleaching and fish life is abundant, turtles, bump heads, napoleon wrasse and the usual schools of fusiliers that attract trevallies are among the residents, and mantas have been spotted on several occasions. We still haven't found a cleaning station, so we are supposing they are migrating without intention of staying permanently... neither are we.

PULAU SOANGI
 - A few miles sailing from the Bandas we arrive at Pulau Soangi. A nice wall that ends up in a ridge where encounters with pelagics (tunas, rainbow runners, barracudas, trevallies) are always a thrill, as is the presence of a number of hammerheads that we spot regularly.

The wall itself is worth the dive, huge barrel sponges, even bigger fans, colours, soft corals on the wall and hard ones in the shallows... immaculate conditions!

BANDA ISLANDS
 - Obligated stop to go for a cultural tour, the fort, the governor's house, the church, nutmeg plantations, the chance to have a beer on land with the locals...

Let's not forget the diving, both Pulau Run and Pulau Ai have pristine clear waters, lovely walls and good fish life, we might go a bit deeper in search of more hammerheads, big fish can be seen here as well, napoleons, schools of black snappers, bumpheads etc.

In diving there are a few really unique areas in the world and the dive under the pier of Banda Neira is one of them... The size of the mandarin fish are just out of this world, you might need a wide angle lens!

Hey, if you have the perfect shot of the mandarin fish and you are looking for other critters, cockatoo wasp fish, flying gurnards, frog fish, juvenile barramundis, , juvenile emperor angle fish, juvenile sweetlips, juvenile local kids... plenty of chances!

We will not miss the hard coral garden under the lava flow of Gunung Api, the impressive volcano that dominates Banda. It erupted in 1988 and now it is a miracle to dive in a garden that has grown in such a short period of time.
Batu Kapal, at the entrance of Banda offers some of the bigger fans you will see and it is full of life, a real fishy dive.

A bit south is Hatta, consisting of an underwater coral garden with a friendly school of bumpheads and some white tips among its highlights. To finish the area in Banda Besar we will dive the underwater window.

NUSA LAUT - Only a few hours away from Ambon, but so different, it is the best example we know of a village taking care of a reef. The reef is as it was hundreds of years ago. The locals have protected it and now it is an outstanding diving site, many people's favourite dive.

The hard corals on the slope are unbeatable, the sandy bottom in the middle offers shelter to sting rays of different sizes, sharks patrolling the depths (white tips and grey reefs) if we are lucky leopard sharks sleeping on the sand, turtles that will pose for us, and because of our Spanish accent you will be able to dive in between a "eschool of YAKS" isn't that unique??

By the way, apart from all the fish life, the perfect state of the reef and the pelagics approaching and patrolling the slope, there are mangroves in the neighbourhood and we have been lucky enough to dive with a resident dugong.

AMBON
 - The diving around the island is great, the wreck in the bay is full of life, pilot whales sometimes come close to the pier but, without a doubt, Laha offers the best diving and is an unforgettable experience. Laha could be compared with Lembeh, it is pure muck at its best: mimics, flamboyant cuttlefish, rhinopias, ribbon eels, Ambon scorpion fish, frog fish by the dozens, ghost pipe fish... you name it, it is all there. Photographers... get ready!

Raja Ampat

RAJA AMPAT

Sample itinerary & dive spot information

MISOOL
 - Once you arrive in Misool, you are surrounded by one of the most fascinating landscapes you can imagine. Hundreds of small islands all shaped by time into sculptures that only nature can produce. The topside it's out of this world but once your head is under the water you start to understand the concept of variety of colours. The soft corals are unbelievable, all kind of colours and at all depths. It is not unusual to be among a dozen of different ones only a metre or two down!

AIR TERJUN
 - Between Kaimana and Misool we´ll make another stop. Let us say that the diving, although not disappointing, is not at the same level as the others, but seeing the spectacular waterfall flowing down from the hilly rainforest straight into the sea is a breathtaking view! Lagoons where we can swim in and the possibility of a refreshing waterfall shower? A great sensation! Here, for the first and only time, our main goal will not be underwater one. It will be a pigmy, but not the sea horse kind; we'll be looking for the rarely seen Papua pigmy Kangaroo, which happens to live there!

KRI AREA
 - Close to the Kri resort there is outstanding diving. Probably the corals are less spectacular than in Misool, but that is compensated by the schools of fish at Sardine reef and Kri corner. These sites are just fabulously filled with fish and pelagic action is always expected. At the west site of Mansuar area mantas, can be seen in great numbers.

PULAU PISANG
 - Pulau Pisang is situated half way between Misool and Fak Fak and offers a great stop on the way. The reefs are healthy, no bleaching and fish life is abundant, turtles, bump heads, napoleon wrasse and the usual schools of fusiliers that attract trevallies are among the residents, and mantas have been spotted on several occasions. We still haven't found a cleaning station, so we are supposing they are migrating without intention of staying permanently... neither are we.

Raja Ampat & Triton Bay

RAJA AMPAT & TRITON BAY

Sample itinerary & dive spot information

MISOOL
 - Once you arrive in Misool, you are surrounded by one of the most fascinating landscapes you can imagine. Hundreds of small islands all shaped by time into sculptures that only nature can produce. The topside it's out of this world but once your head is under the water you start to understand the concept of variety of colours. The soft corals are unbelievable, all kind of colours and at all depths. It is not unusual to be among a dozen of different ones only a metre or two down!

AIR TERJUN
 - Between Kaimana and Misool we´ll make another stop. Let us say that the diving, although not disappointing, is not at the same level as the others, but seeing the spectacular waterfall flowing down from the hilly rainforest straight into the sea is a breathtaking view! Lagoons where we can swim in and the possibility of a refreshing waterfall shower? A great sensation! Here, for the first and only time, our main goal will not be underwater one. It will be a pigmy, but not the sea horse kind; we'll be looking for the rarely seen Papua pigmy Kangaroo, which happens to live there!

KRI AREA
 - Close to the Kri resort there is outstanding diving. Probably the corals are less spectacular than in Misool, but that is compensated by the schools of fish at Sardine reef and Kri corner. These sites are just fabulously filled with fish and pelagic action is always expected. At the west site of Mansuar area mantas, can be seen in great numbers.

PULAU PISANG
 - Pulau Pisang is situated half way between Misool and Fak Fak and offers a great stop on the way. The reefs are healthy, no bleaching and fish life is abundant, turtles, bump heads, napoleon wrasse and the usual schools of fusiliers that attract trevallies are among the residents, and mantas have been spotted on several occasions. We still haven't found a cleaning station, so we are supposing they are migrating without intention of staying permanently... neither are we.

PENEMU - Dive sites like Melissa's Garden and Barracuda Point are not to be missed. Here we have a change in scenery. The hard corals are more abundant, and although the fish life is as good as it gets, the barracudas and the wobbegong sharks will be our main goals. In between the island there are great drift dives among gorgonians. We are normally welcomed by a school of friendly bumphead parrot fish and sweetlips.

TRITON BAY - The highlight of the area, the record breaker (a couple of dozens of new species of fish, and another couple of newly found coral species…and we are just starting…), so far the star of the show is the recently found Epaulette shark, the only known shark which walks on its pectoral fins!

We have over 20 dive sites; the soft corals are as good as in Misool area. The black coral forest never seems to end and the reefs are boiling with life. All kind of colourful fish move around, new species of wrasses and gobies fight to introduce themselves to the divers. The topography is varied, bommies, some caves and a few hard corals.

In places like Bat Cave and Little Komodo, giant groupers are hiding under the rocks. In Little Komodo and 7th Heaven everything can be experienced. If Komodo is a sum up of diving in Indonesia, Little Komodo has it all in only one dive!! Do you want turtles??..Or bumpheads?? Or millions of fusiliers?? Wobbegongs? Jacks??... Go for it!!!

But Triton Bay is more than that. There are more reasons to come to this remote area: the landscape is gorgeous, ancient paintings decorating caves and the village of Lobo is a friendly place surrounded by a 1000 metre high cliff...

Not enough?? What about enjoying the resident pod of pilot whales?

Yes, we know you like to take some macro shots and do some muck diving, well, here is the biggest difference with Misool, we can regularly find critters and some dives are just perfect for that: pygmies (denise and bargibanti), nudies, devil scorpion fish, wonder puss, frog fish, leaf fish, ornate ghost pipe fish...

Certainly not to be missed!

 

Banda Sea

THE BANDA SEA

The islands of the Banda Sea were once known as the Spice Islands, and were the centre of the World’s economy.  Now they are a forgotten backwater… where the diving is outstanding! 

The history of this area is part of world heritage, and there are some relics still around to remind us, such as like Fort Bélgica in Banda Neira, nutmeg plantations and colonial style houses adding a cultural twist to visiting here.


AMBON
 - A new airport and its logistics have made of Ambon a primary starting point for some live-a-boards.
NUSA LAUT
- Only a few hours away from Ambon, but so different, it is the best example we know of a village taking care of a reef. The reef is as it was hundreds of years ago. The locals have protected it and now it is an outstanding diving site, many people's favourite dive.

BANDA ISLANDS
 - Obligated stop for a cultural tour: the fort, the governor's house, the church, nutmeg plantations, the chance to have a beer on land with the locals...

Let's not forget the diving: both Pulau Run and Pulau Ai have pristine clear waters, lovely walls and good fish life; we might go a bit deeper in search of more hammerheads, big fish can be seen here as well, napoleons, schools of black snappers, bumpheads etc...

We will not miss the hard coral garden under the lava flow of Gunung Api, the impressive volcano that dominates Banda. It erupted in 1988 and now it is a miracle to dive in a garden that has grown in such a short period of time.

Batu Kapal, at the entrance of Banda offers some of the bigger fans you will see and it is full of life, a real fishy dive.

A bit south is Hatta consisting of an underwater coral garden with a friendly school of bumpheads and some white tips among its highlights. To finish the area in Banda Besar we will dive the underwater window.

LUCIPARA
 - Lucipara means wall diving, atolls surrounded by a stunning wall system. This remote archipelago is often visited by dolphins and pilot whales. The walls are in a great state - good fans, nice schools of fusiliers, snappers, banners, but keep an eye in the blue: schools of rainbow runners, big tunas, both yellow fin and dog tooth will be there!

GUNUNG API 
- Already a legend, what Cocos is for sharks and Sipadan for turtles Gunung Api is for sea snakes!

KOON
 - On the way from the Bandas to Papua, a stop in Koon is mandatory. The name of the dive site says it all: "Too many fishes". With the right current the diving could be unforgettable, millions of fish, schooling jacks, barracudas, sharks... but never too many... we always need more!