The Ambai liveaboard 13D12N Sorong, Bitung is one of Indonesia’s most spectacular liveaboard trips. It takes you through the Coral Triangle from West Papua to North Sulawesi. This 13-day trip on the famous KM Ambai is a must-do for serious divers. It connects the amazing marine life of Raja Ampat (Sorong) with the critter-diving paradise of Lembeh Strait (Bitung). You will see all kinds of underwater life, starting with the colorful coral walls, schools of fish, and majestic mantas in Raja Ampat’s Dampier Strait. Then you will sail across the famous Halmahera and Maluku seas, visiting remote volcanic islands and thriving reefs, and ending with the world-famous muck diving in Lembeh. The Sorong to Bitung liveaboard is the best choice for photographers and marine lovers who want to experience all of Indonesia’s most beautiful waters.
The Ambai Liveaboard Sorong, Bitung cruise is more than just a trip; it’s a masterclass in marine biogeography. It shows the remarkable change from the pristine coral ecosystems of the west to the nutrient-rich volcanic slopes and amazing macro life of the east. The 13-day length is important for this ambitious route because it gives you enough time to see the beautiful and infrequently visited islands of North Maluku, which are noted for its pelagic encounters and gorgeous soft coral displays. This trip gives you the chance to dive with sharks and mantas one week and look for mimic octopus and pygmy seahorses the following. The Ambai’s 13-day Sorong to Bitung route is the best way to explore Indonesia by liveaboard. It takes you to some of the most biodiverse waters in the world and offers an amazing mix of adventure and legendary diving.
More About AmbaiDives: Approximately 36 dives in total
Experience: Advanced Open Water – 50 minimum logged dives required.
Itinerary Extras: Raja Ampat Park, port & distance fees: 250 €/pax (paid onboard)
Reception at Sorong airport. Transfer to the boat. Welcome drink, briefing. Departure in the afternoon.
Dampier strait. Check dive ain Mioskon, 2 dives in Dampier (Sardine reef et Manta Sandy). Night dive. Night Navigation to Misool.
Balbulol / Farondi, 3 plongées. Love potion, No contest, Farondi caves Iles Daram, Andy’s Ultimate, Andiamo, Candy store. Night dive. Boo, Shadow reef, Yellet. Fiabacet, 4 dives. Tank rock, nudi rock, Dunia kecil. Night dive. Pelee. 4 kings, Kaleidoscope, Pele’s playground. Overnight navigation to Pisang island.
Pisang Island. 3 dives. Such a beautiful and untouched reef. Extraordinary colors especially at the end of the dive close to the pinnacles. A lot of colorful soft coral beautiful morning dive with dream landscape. Nudis, boxer crab, turtle, big Murray eels, solo big barracuda, no current, great viz.
Patinti Strait. Proco island: Blacktips, grey reef sharks, tasars, dogtooth tuna, mini canyons, and overhangs… Saleh Besar, drifting in the channel with a succession of mini-canyons and rock blocks… Very fishy. Kusu: very nice garden coral, millions of glassfish, nice coral, Pygmy, leaf fish, school of sweetlips under a small rock, bamboo shark, and hundreds of reef fish Pulau Nanas: very nice spot beautiful and colorful coral. Glass fish schools, various nudis, blue hairy crab, lobster, scorpionfish, crocodile fish
Pulau Goweba, a small group of islands in West of Pulau Siko. In the North, pinnacles, rocks, and splendid walls go straight to the outside of the reef then go down to 50 meters. Some napoleons as well as jackfish and bump head parrots. A tunnel waits for us at 10 meters. Pintu Manis is the best dive in Goriachi. Extended rock from West to East that owns a superb coral. Blacktips, napoleons, tasars, sweetlips, etc… Pulau Laigoma, nice drifting in shallow water, perfect for a first dive of the day. Blacktips, bump head parrots, tasars, and beautiful hard corals in the 5 meters. Batu Tajam: blacktip, napoleon, big sweetlips. Ecuador: blacktip, big red scorpionfishes, nudis, crabs, nice and quiet reef. Lilai jetty: hectic current, black manta passing by near the jetty, bamboo sharks. Pipefish, crabs
In Tidore, we dive on Failonga Island which takes about 40 minutes from Ternate, which is located between Tidore Island and Halmahera Island. It has diverse large sea fans and snapper fish hordes, fusiliers, sweetlips, and sharks. Dives on Maitara Island and Tanjung Rum, which has a solid and very hard coral cover with colorful reef fish such as butterflies, damsel, anthias, wrasse, and many more. Navigation to Bitung.
World-class muck dives and wreck diving Mawali wreck). 6 dives out of the 100’s collection of the strait. Hairball, TK3, Air Bajo 3, Bianca (mandarin fish), Nudi falls, Coral garden, etc…
Disembarkation in Bitung
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).
Halmahera
27 Dives
Certificate: Advanced Open Water
30 minimum logged dives required
Forgotten Island, Banda, Raja Ampat
36 Dives
Certificate: Advanced Open Water
30 minimum logged dives required
Manado, Gorontalo, Togian Island
34 Dives
Certificate: Advanced Open Water
30 minimum logged dives required
Halmahera, Misool, Banda Island
42 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
In practically every way, the trip was fantastic. The dive guides respected my need to take macro photos and often escorted me to a different portion of the dive site than the other divers. The only thing that wasn’t great was that there weren’t many chances to take macro photos on this trip.
