With the Ambai liveaboard 12D11N North Sulawesi, Luwuk, you may travel on a trailblazing adventure through the variegated heart of Sulawesi. This is a top-notch expedition that combines the world-famous critter diving of North Sulawesi with the pristine, pelagic-rich frontiers of Central Sulawesi’s Banggai Archipelago. This 12-day trip on the famous KM Ambai starts in the Coral Triangle and includes diving at the famous muck sites of Lembeh Strait and the stunning walls of Bunaken National Park. Then, the ship sails south to the remote and famous Banggai Islands, which can be reached from the port of Luwuk. This liveaboard from North Sulawesi to Luwuk is the best choice for experienced divers who want to have a full Indonesian adventure. It takes you from hunting for mimic octopus and pygmy seahorses to diving on colorful, untouched reefs full of schooling fish and the famous Banggai cardinalfish.
The Ambai Liveaboard North Sulawesi, Luwuk trip is a master class in getting to the most famous and hidden marine areas in Indonesia. The 12-day trip gives you enough time to fully explore the Celebes Sea’s unique ecosystems, from the nutrient-rich straits of North Sulawesi to the crystal-clear, current-swept channels around the Banggai Islands. This area is known for its amazing coral landscapes and biodiversity. You will travel these historic maritime passages in comfort and safety on the famous Ambai, which is known for her expedition-level stability and competent crew. This 12-day trip is perfect for adventurous divers and underwater photographers who want an authentic Indonesia liveaboard package that goes far beyond the usual routes. It will show you the underwater wonders of Sulawesi’s most famous and hidden gems.
More About AmbaiDives: Approximately 42 dives in total
Experience: Advanced Open Water – 30 minimum logged dives required.
This itinerary is only a guideline, one among the multiple options we have. It may change according to the prevailing conditions such as weather, visibility, or other diving conditions during the cruise.
Arrival at Manado International airport where you are welcomed by the Wallacea staff. Transfer to the boat in air-conditioned vehicles (transfer takes around 1hour 20 minutes) which is moored in Bitung. Welcome drink, lunch, briefing. Departure during the night for Ratotok.
Diving along the East coast of North and Central Sulawesi: Ratatotok will be our check dive, on a gentle slope with nice corals and a lot of critters. Dive will follow at Tanjung Flesko with more action around this rock packed with fishes. Napoleon wrasses, schools of surgeons fishes and barracudas, enormous murenas. The 3rd dive is a beautiful slope with many critters in the bay of Flesko, where we will do a night dive and spend the night.
Going West, we will dive along the coast in Bolsel area, a recently discovered zone that looks very promising. 4 dives and a night dive
Gorontalo area. Fantastic walls with overhangs, crevasses, beautiful soft corals, and the famous “Dali” sponge (named after its intricate, swirling surface pattern). Possibility to see whale sharks. We’ll do three dives + a night dive there before to navigate to Togian islands during the night
Togian, Una-Una island. We will stay 2 days around this volcanic island (the last eruption was in 1984 and the traces are clearly visible) where the dive sites look like boosted by volcanic ashes. The dive site of Apollo is home to probably what is the biggest school of barracudas in Indonesia, tunas, napoleon wrasse, and a lot of other fishes. Other dive sites have also very rich fish life; sponges of all shapes around Una-Una are enormous. 3 dives + night dive
3 day dives + 1 night dive around the island of Una-Una
Togian islands, Kadidiri area. 2 dives in Kadidiri including the seamount of “Batu Gila” (crazy stone), where fish life is impressive, including generally grey reef sharks and eventually hammerhead sharks. We will then pass a narrow strait between the islands to reach the site of B24 plane wreck.
During the night we reach the Eastern part of the Togian islands, and we will spend the day diving in Waleabahi area. Walls dropping in the blue, abundant fish and critter life, and manta rays. During the night we will steam to the end of the Peninsula that closes the South of Tomini Bay, the area of Pulau Dua. Wallacea loved so much the diving in this area that we did build a resort there.
ulau Dua area. The diving takes place on rocky ridges and pinnacles or big boulders on the sandy bottom. Colorful soft corals, black corals, sea fans cover the rocky substrate; the fish life is extremely wealthy; While some reef dive sites are very fishy, some others are more for critters and macro photography.
Dives in Pulau Dua area, night dive.
3 Dives and night dive in Pulau Dua area.
One or two dives in Pulau-Dua area, then we will go to visit a beach where we can observe Maleo birds, a rare bird that digs holes on beaches to borrow their egg. Here is protected one of the biggest remaining populations of these birds. In the evening we steam to Luwuk, our disembarkation port.
Breakfast, farewell, and transport to the Luwuk airport.
Included: VAT, Airport Transfer, Hotel Transfer, Drinking Water, Soft drinks, Tea & Coffee, Welcome Cocktails, Beach BBQ, Full-Board Meal Plan (All meals), Snacks, Diving Package, Extra Dives, Nitrox, Kayaks, Land Excursions, Naturalist Guide, Snorkeling Guide, Stand Up Paddleboard, Water Ski, Beach Towels, Cabin Towels, Complimentary Toiletries, Deck Towels, WiFi internet.
Required Extras: Fuel Surcharge (100-200 EUR per trip), National Park Fees (150-250 EUR per trip).
Optional Extras: Dive Insurance, Gratuities, Alcoholic Beverages, Nitrox Course, Private Dive Guide, Rental Gear, Scuba Diving Courses, Snorkel Gear, Laundry / Pressing Services, Massage (10-15 EUR).
Raja Ampat South & Center
24 Dives
Certificate: Advanced Open Water
30 minimum logged dives required
Raja Ampat, Halmahera, Lembeh
36 Dives
Certificate: Advanced Open Water
50 minimum logged dives required
Triton Bay, Raja Ampat
33 Dives
Certificate: Advanced Open Water
30 minimum logged dives required
Raja Ampat Ultimate
33 Dives
Certificate: Advanced Open Water
30 minimum logged dives required
Ambon, Banda Sea
24 Dives
Certificate: Advanced Open Water
50 minimum logged dives
Triton Bay, Raja Ampat
33 Dives
Certificate: Open Water
30 minimum logged dives
Seeing orcas and the captain move the boat closer so that everyone could see them up close. Seeing a lot of different kinds of marine life, from big fish to small fish. I really enjoyed the vacation.
