On the Aurora liveaboard 10D9N voyage to Ambon and the Banda Sea, which is designed for divers who want both close-up encounters with critters and exhilarating big animal activity, you can learn the dual disciplines of macro and pelagic diving. The journey starts in Ambon Bay, the renowned muck diving hub, where an unmatched concentration of rare and unique marine species may be found on nutrient-rich black sand slopes. The careful search for macro royalty, such as the renowned Ambon scorpionfish, rhinopias, flashy cuttlefish, and an impressive variety of nudibranchs, is the main focus here. Before the Aurora liveaboard heads out to sea, this immersed phase offers the ideal, protected beginning, transforming your dive experience from mysterious to enormous.
The journey ends in the isolated, historically significant seas of the Banda Islands, where nutrient-rich currents carry colorful coral walls and striking volcanic pinnacles. You will see spinning batfish, schooling barracuda and trevallies, and exciting encounters with hammerheads, reef sharks, and majestic eagle rays while diving famous locations like the lava flows of Banda Neira and the submerged peak of Gunung Api. This is the world of pelagic drama. This two-world voyage is brilliantly facilitated by the Aurora liveaboard, which provides stability for muck diving and access to the top locations in the Banda Sea. The ultimate condensed Indonesian diving experience, this 10-day program skillfully combines renowned offshore action with top-notch muck diving for a comprehensive and fascinating underwater excursion.
More About Aurora LiveaboardDives: Approximately 24 dives in total
Experience: Advanced Open Water – 50 minimum logged dives.
Marine Life: hammerhead sharks, fishes, barracudas, soft corals, leather corals, big eye trevallies, turtles and sea snakes.
Aurora Crew will pick you up at the airport for immediate boarding. After a refreshing welcome drink, we will prepare all our dive gear and start our cruise. 1st Stop, Nusa Laut.
South of Seram, fantastic diving experiences on the reefs of Nusa Laut. These rather picturesque islands of Maluku are popular dive destinations due to their diversity in reef fish species, ghost pipefish, frogfish, and a variety of well-preserved hard corals.
We will now arrive at the northern end of the outer reefs of the Banda Sea: Pulau Suanggi. The waters here are full of fish, reef sharks, and tuna. As a small bonus for bird lovers, many species can be observed around the island: brown boobies, red-footed boobies, and frigate birds.
Manuk, the ‘Snake Island’, a volcanic island with lower interest on land. It takes its nickname from the large number of sea snakes found there. You will surely see a lot! The drop-offs here are amazing and sharks, mackerels, tunas, and barracudas are often observed.
Serua offers great slopes and walls full of Soft and hard Coral full of color and life. The big prize here is the schooling Hammerhead often spotted cruising along the reefs.
We will dive both sloping reefs and vertical walls. The current attracts many fish: fusiliers, dogtooth tuna, eagle rays, barracuda, and sometimes sharks. On the reef: soft corals, leather corals, big eye trevallies, and turtles. The picturesque Banda Neira Harbour is also home to the Mandarin Fish, a very colorful fish that every single night comes out to perform their mating ritual.
Time for some land and cultural excursion. We will visit Fort Belgica, the main feature that domain the Island view. Also, we will have the chance to visit the Maritime Museum and a Nutmeg, Vanilla plantation to taste some aromatic Tea and Cakes. Of course, this location also offers beautiful dive spots, including Lava Flow: after a volcano eruption in 1988, the existing coral got destroyed, but after 10 years new coral grew and created this now beautiful dive spot.
We will wake up on the south coast of Seram Island, very close to Ambon Harbour where We will make 2 dives in its beautiful walls and slopes along the coast. And at the end of the day, we will enjoy a night dive right in the heart of this magnificent muck dive area.
We will dive 2 times more in Laha or Tuleu Bay, an area known for its fabulous muck dives, probably among the best in the world for macro diving: only the Lembeh Strait in Indonesia can compete.
After a tasty breakfast is time to say goodbye. We will organize your transfer to the Airport and hope to see you soon aboard Aurora.
Included: VAT, National Park Fees, Airport Transfer, Hotel Transfer, Drinking Water, Soft drinks, Tea & Coffee, Welcome Cocktails, Beach BBQ, Full-Board Meal Plan (All meals), Snacks, Diving Package, Kayaks, Land Excursions, Snorkeling Guide, Stand Up Paddleboard, Beach Towels, Cabin Towels, Complimentary Toiletries, Deck Towels.
Required Extras: Gratuities (15 USD per day), Port Fees (200-250 USD per trip).
Optional Extras: Local Flights, Alcoholic Beverages (3-45 USD per item), Nitrox, Nitrox Course (190 USD), Private Dive Guide (65 USD per day), Rental Gear (25 USD per day), Scuba Diving Courses (360-400 USD), Snorkel Gear (10 USD per day), Laundry / Pressing Services.
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
Ambon, Banda Island, Triton Bay
33 Dives
Certificate: Advanced Open Water
30 minimum logged dives
Ambon, Banda Island
24 Dives
Certificate: Advanced Open Water
50 minimum logged dives
Ambon, Banda Island, Raja Ampat
30 Dives
Certificate: Advanced Open Water
50 minimum logged dives
Manokwari
25 Dives
Certificate: Advanced Open Water
50 minimum logged dives
Bitung, Lembeh, Mahangetang, Tifore
25 Dives
Certificate: Open Water
30 minimum logged dives
Raja Ampat
24 Dives
Certificate: Open Water
30 minimum logged dives
Raja Ampat Central
15 Dives
Certificate: Open Water
30 minimum logged dives
Triton Bay, Raja Ampat
33 Dives
Certificate: Open Water
30 minimum logged dives
Ambon, Banda Island, Triton Bay
33 Dives
Certificate: Advanced Open Water
30 minimum logged dives
Amazing team provided a unique experience.
Superbes récifs très riches en faune et flore. Rencontre avec requins , dauphins et mantas.
