The Moluccas is a group of islands just north of West Papua. It offers three main dive spots: Ambon, Banda and Halmahera. Both land-based and liveaboard diving opportunities offer some of the finest diving Indonesia has to offer.

Ambon

Maluku Divers is a professional Diving Facility, with a focus on safety and diver experience in Ambon, Indonesia. All Instructors and guides who dive Ambon with Maluku Divers are PADI certified and possess significant experience diving the sites of the Maluku Province. with all dive boats equipped with oxygen units and first aid.

Rental dive equipment is a high standard and in exceptional condition. A certified repair station for Scubapro® products, all equipment is routinely inspected and maintained in the interests of safety, reliability and comfort. Generally, to avoid disappointment, it is recommended that divers pre-arrange any rental dive equipment.

Fifteen local staff work tirelessly at the dive centre to ensure diver experience is at an exceptional level. Frequently commended for their effort, divers enjoy a feeling of joining the community after an extended stay, and many want to leave carrying a suitable stock of the local Spicy Sambal tomato dressing.
Getting There

Four separate airlines operate daily flights to Ambon, Indonesia, with schedules through Makassar from Bali, Jakarta and Manado. Maluku Divers offer the rare chance to explore a remote dive destination with convenient logistical arrangements and good flight connections.

With the complete flexibility of land based operations, or even as an add on pre or post liveaboard cruise, Maluku Divers, along with it’s partner Spice Island Divers in Banda, present the best possible opportunities to dive the world class waters across the Maluku Province

Banda

Seemingly insignificant islands in the middle of nowhere in the Banda Sea, in fact the Banda Islands are steeped in history and blessed with some of the finest diving in the country. Central to the spice trade of old, and former home to exiled freedom fighters, the islands are now enjoying a growing reputation for what goes on below the surface.

If big pelagics are your thing then an Indonesia dive vacation here could be for you. But from a wider perspective the real beauty of diving in the Banda Islands is the immense variety and volumes of both large and small fish species. The remoteness of the islands in the wide open Banda Sea, and the low levels of human population, have meant less fishing pressures, and a vibrant, natural and healthy reef system has flourished. The results of this are fishes in incredible numbers, huge seafans and sponges, and some monumental hard corals.

Dogtooth tuna and mobula rays characterise diving in the Banda Sea. At most sites you'll see enormous schools of fusiliers and thousands of redtooth tirggerfish. At the other end of the size scale, there are prolific mandarinfish and the native Ambon scorpionfish. Cetaceans are frequent visitors too, and Banda liveaboards often report sightings of spinner dolphins, orcas, and various whale species, including melonhead, pilot, blue, and humpbacks. One certainty is that you will see plenty of big stuff as well as no shortage of colourful reef life.

Diving is usually comfortable, with mild currents, good visibility and calm waters, but some of the dive sites are subject to stronger currents that make them suitable for experienced divers only.

Topside, these Banda Islands boast climbable volcanic mountains which are covered in lush green vegetation. For a taste of historic atmosphere going ashore in Banda Neira is a must for its remnants from the old spice trade of colonial times.

Halmahera

Halmahera - Leaving Kofiau, we dive our way around the southern end of Halmahera and up the west coast through the Goriachi Islands for fish packed reefs, corals said to rival those of Raja Ampat plus sharks and pelagics. We'll expect some macro/muck diving as well. Halmahera is a fairly new destination. SMY Ondina will be exploring the area with the Spanish Geological Society in 2007. After leaving Halmahera, we'll stop at a tiny pinnacle sticking out of the open sea for diving. The trip will finish up in Lembeh Strait with muck diving.