As the sun sets on your 10-day voyage with Aurora Liveaboard, the pages of your underwater adventure through the Moluccan seas close with a symphony of vibrant marine life and cultural discoveries. Beginning in Ambon, the Aurora crew greeted you with warmth and ushered you into the realm of exploration.
Nusa Laut unfolded as a picturesque haven, offering fantastic diving experiences with diverse reef fish, ghost pipefish, and frogfish. The journey continued to Pulau Suanggi, where the northern Banda Sea revealed its underwater wonders—reef sharks, tuna, and an avian spectacle featuring brown boobies and frigate birds.
Manuk, aptly named ‘Snake Island,’ enchanted with its abundance of sea snakes, while the spectacular drop-offs hosted a dance of sharks, mackerels, tunas, and barracudas. Serua’s slopes and walls showcased a vibrant underwater world, with the big prize being the sighting of schooling hammerhead sharks.
Pulau Hatta and Banda Neira unfolded a visual feast with sloping reefs and vertical walls teeming with fusiliers, dogtooth tuna, eagle rays, barracuda, and occasional sharks. The picturesque Banda Neira Harbour added a touch of cultural richness, with a visit to Fort Belgica, the Maritime Museum, and a Nutmeg and Vanilla plantation.
A day of cultural exploration ensued, blending a trek to Fort Belgica with dives in the remarkable Lava Flow—a testament to nature’s resilience. Ambon, your final dive destination, embraced you with its beautiful walls and slopes, and the heart of the muck dive area unfolded in Laha or Tuleu Bay, showcasing Ambon’s reputation as a premier macro diving destination.
As the journey gracefully drew to a close, the Aurora crew ensured seamless transfers to Ambon Airport. Saying goodbye may be inevitable, but the memories of muck dives and underwater marvels will linger, leaving you with a sense of fulfillment and the hope for future rendezvous aboard the Aurora. Until then, may the vibrant spirit of the Moluccan seas and the treasures of the deep stay with you. Safe travels, and here’s to the next chapter of your underwater odyssey.
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.
Sorong – Sorong
15 Dives
Certificate: Open Water
30 minimum logged dives
Ambon – Ambon
24 Dives
Certificate: Advanced Open Water
50 minimum logged dives
Kaimana – Sorong
30 Dives
Certificate: Advanced Open Water
50 minimum logged dives
Ambon – Kaimana
33 Dives
Certificate: Advanced Open Water
30 minimum logged dives
Sorong – Sorong
24 Dives
Certificate: Open Water
30 minimum logged dives
Sorong – Bitung / Bitung – Sorong
33 Dives
Certificate: Open Water
30 minimum logged dives
Raja Ampat, Halmahera, Bitung
36 Dives
Certificate: Advanced Open Water
50 minimum logged dives required
Raja Ampat, Halmahera
36 Dives
Certificate: Advanced Open Water
30 minimum logged dives required
