Mari 13D12N

After a short transfer in the morning to the harbor from Kaimana or your hotel, you will be welcomed onboard the KLM Mari liveaboard. A boat and tour briefing will follow, and then you will set up your scuba gear and check in to your cabin. Lunch, dinner, and snacks such as fruit, candy bars, or ice cream will be served as Mari cruises out to a check-up dive near Kaimana, we sail towards our first destination.

Known for its breathtaking underwater landscapes, Aiduma offers diverse dive sites that appeal to all divers. Here, you can encounter everything from stunning coral reefs to rugged rock formations. Marine highlights include the potential for encounters with larger pelagic species, schooling fish, and a variety of critters hiding among the coral, including mantis shrimp and ghost pipefish.

This area is famous for its encounters with whale sharks, often seen feeding near the bagans (traditional fishing platforms). Divers can snorkel or dive with these gentle giants, experiencing one of the most sought-after encounters in the diving world. The water is also rich in biodiversity, with corals hosting myriad reef fish and macro life.

These islands provide fantastic diving opportunities, with diverse habitats ranging from coral gardens to deeper wall dives. The rich biodiversity offers encounters with schooling fish and pelagic species. The vertical walls are adorned with colorful sponges and barrel corals, creating a stunning backdrop for underwater photography.

Known for its nutrient-rich waters, Kirkaf is a hotspot for seeing larger pelagic species and has fantastic drift diving opportunities, where divers can enjoy the thrill of being carried through schools of fish and vibrant coral structures.

Known for its untouched dive sites, Pulau Kur offers spectacular coral gardens and underwater topographies with caves and swim-throughs. Expect to encounter abundant fish life, including schools of grunts and snappers, and the chance of seeing larger species like manta rays soaring through the water during their feeding. Macro enthusiasts will love exploring nooks and crannies for rare nudibranchs and shrimps.

This uninhabited island chain is prized for its pristine dive sites rich in biodiversity. Divers can explore colorful coral reefs teeming with life, including surgeonfish, angelfish, and various types of coral. Pelagic species like tunas and even occasional dolphin pods may be seen in the blue water around these islands. Night diving can unveil a completely different cast of creatures, such as sleeping parrotfish and dancing bioluminescent organisms.

Pulau Manuk is another volcanic island where we dive while the sulfurous smoke swirls around the peak. The occasional smell of sulfur and the sight of smoke rising from this active volcano give you a sense that you are in the land of the lost. Keep your fingers crossed for Hammerhead Sharks. Manuk is also known as “The Island of Sea Snakes” and/or “The Island of the Birds”. Thousands of seabirds inhabit the island, from frigate birds to boobies, it’s a spectacle you will enjoy. Underwater sea snakes are present by the dozens: black and white band snakes, but also green ones, completely oblivious to the divers.

The island of Serua – or Seroa – is home to the Volcano Serua. The diving around this volcanic island – rising from the deep Banda Sea far in the open ocean – is filled with adrenaline as we are on the search for Hammerhead Sharks. Shallow reef tops give way to sloping reefs and walls that plunge into the deep. At Pulau Kekah, abundant corals, giant sponges, and schooling fish such as Trevally, Surgeonfish, and fusiliers fill the water around the island. But always keep your eye out in the blue water for schooling Hammerhead sharks. Sea snakes can also be seen on most dives. The currents here can be strong and exciting. We will have 3-4 dives this day. If time and conditions permit, we will return to Serua for a night dive. Overnight we continue North to Manuk Island.

This site is characterized by its unique topography, featuring hard coral ridges and mini walls that attract diverse marine life. It is an extensive submerged reef with a relatively shallow reef top and walls that drop into the depths. There are impressive schools of fish, predatory action, and the chance to further encounter Hammerhead sharks. Visibility is normally very good and the reef is healthy with large sponges and beautiful coral. If the weather and sea conditions allow, there is an option to dive at Dusborgh Reef. At the end of an
action-filled dive day, we turn further north and sail towards Pulau Nila during the night.

Famous for its crystal-clear waters and thriving coral gardens, Pulau Dai is home to healthy reef systems hosting clownfish, anemones, and butterflyfish. Divers can explore underwater tunnels and caverns, often frequented by larger pelagic species like barracuda and jacks, with the possibility of spotting sea turtles resting on the seafloor.

Known for its vibrant coral reefs, towering underwater seamounts, and diverse marine species, Dawera offers sightings of schools of fusiliers, snapper, and occasional reef sharks. The dive sites feature steep walls adorned with soft corals and an impressive variety of macro life, including nudibranchs and small crustaceans.