The Sorong to Bitung cruise ends after an amazing 13-day trip over the captivating waters of Indonesia, leaving in its wake a trail of lifelong memories and breathtaking undersea encounters.
The adventure started with a friendly reception at Sorong airport, which shaped the next days. Every day of the trip revealed fresh beauties and underwater marvels that highlighted the great diversity and vivid marine life known from the area.
Starting with a taste of the underwater beauties with check dives at Mioskon, the exploration of Dampier Strait marked the beginning and followed by the magical Sardine Reef and Manta Sandy. Night dives revealed a distinct world under the surface and a bit of mystery.
The core of the trip brought us to Misool, a diving wonderland featuring Balbulol, Love Potion, Farondi Caves, Boo, Shadow Reef, and many more amazing dive spots. The underwater scenes rendered with vibrant soft corals, schools of fish, and unusual marine life created a sensory feast.
With its unspoiled, vivid reefs, Pisang Island offered a tranquil and amazing hideaway. Every dive was enhanced by the variety of marine life, from giant Murray eels to Nudis.
The trip next proceeded to South Halmahera, where the Patinti Strait unveiled its beauties. From little canyons to vivid coral gardens, Proco Island, Saleh Besar, Kusu, and Pulau Nanas presented varied underwater views, so highlighting the amazing diversity of life beneath the surface.
Discovering West Halmahera turned out hidden treasures such Pulau Laigoma, Pintu Manis, Pulau Goweba, and more. Thrills with napoleons, jackfish, bump head parrots, and a rainbow of marine life were offered by the walls, pinnacles, and tunnels.
With Failonga Island, Maitara Island, and Tanjung Rum, Tidore presented a distinctive diving experience highlighting sharks, fusiliers, snapper fish, and big sea fans. The Lembeh segment, distinguished for its world-class muck dives and amazing Mawali wreck, began in Bitung.
Memories of the Sorong to Bitung cruise remain, a tapestry of vivid coral reefs, varied marine life, and the excitement of visiting some of the top diving sites in Dampier Strait, Misool, Sulawesi, and Halmahera as we land in Bitung. Until the next undersea expedition, when the ocean’s beauty continues to enthralls and the depths expose more secrets.
More About SeahorseDives: 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)
Leaving Sorong, we directly go to Dampier strait for two days then to Misool. Cross over to the west coast, a few days of diving west and South of Halmahera, with a mix of sites for macro and some other fishier, stop on some small islands in the middle of Molucca sea Halmahera. The cruise will end in Bitung, after some dives in the Molucca sea.
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
Spots : Dampier Strait – Misool – Sulawesi – Halmahera
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, Stand Up Paddleboard, Water Ski, Beach Towels, Cabin Towels, Complimentary Toiletries, Deck Towels, WiFi internet.
Required Extras: Fuel Surcharge (100-200 EUR), National Park Fees (150-250 EUR).
Optional Extras: Dive Insurance, Gratuities, Alcoholic Beverages, Nitrox Course, Private Dive Guide, Rental Gear, Scuba Diving Courses, Snorkel Gear, Snorkeling Guide, Laundry / Pressing Services (1-2 EUR per item), Massage (20 EUR per activity).
Raja Ampat, Halmahera
36 Dives
Certificate: Advanced Open Water
30 minimum logged dives required
Date Trip: Nov 6, 2025
Ambon – Sorong
33 Dives
Certificate: Advanced Open Water
30 minimum logged dives required
Date Trip: Sep 25, 2025
Maumere – Ambon
36 Dives
Certificate: Advanced Open Water
30 minimum logged dives required
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
Sorong – Sorong
33 Dives
Certificate: Advanced Open Water
30 minimum logged dives required
