Diving in Banda Islands

Diving liveaboards in the Banda Sea offer a rare opportunity to take a dive trip to a region where the waters have remained effectively untouched. The area offers some of the most spectacular scuba diving in Indonesia, perfectly suited for liveaboard diving cruises. The Banda Sea is an absolute underwater playground for scuba divers The plankton blooms mean the reefs and seamounts are full to the brim with marine life. The Banda Sea is in the very heart of Indonesia, between two other top diving locations Papua and Java. The Banda Sea is also home to a number of the Moluccas island group and borders the Timor Sea to the South. Despite their prime location, the islands of the Banda Sea have retained an off the beaten path feel, perfect to be explored on an Indonesian liveaboard. This may in part be because the ten islands that make up the Banda Islands archipelago are volcanic and sit between four tectonic plates, which means that the area is still quite active.

Despite the ample production of spices and wood, the Banda Islands are still relatively sparsely populated, outside of the main island of Banda Naria and Ambon in the Maluku Islands. This is fortunate for scuba divers and snorkelers as it means that low fishing levels have kept the fish life abundant. Diving and snorkelling are one of the most popular tourist activities on the islands.

Bordering the Banda Sea to the West, the world’s 11th largest island Sulawesi is also a renowned area for Indonesian liveaboard diving. The island’s shape means that it benefits from a huge diverse coastline and some seriously deep drop-offs and pinnacles. Unlike the Banda, Islands Sulawesi has a much larger population and infrastructure making it a good starting point for people who come to Indonesia to join a dive cruise.

What to see inBanda Islands

A Banda Sea liveaboard cruise will take you to pristine reefs and hopefully encounters with numerous pelagic species and excellent diving conditions. It is, however, the diversity of marine life that really makes this area stand out for divers. Whatever your diving passion, dive tours here will have something to offer you. The reefs are caked with soft and hard corals and are home to a rainbow of reef fish with everything from wrasse to juvenile emperor angelfish. Macro photographers will be delighted to find mandarin fish and the unusual looking Ambon scorpionfish which is indigenous to these islands. On the bigger end of the scale there are plenty of pelagic to keep the big fish lovers happy too. One of the most magical sights on offer in the Banda Sea are huge shoals of mobula rays gliding over the reefs. They aren’t the only rays and sharks in this area either, eagle rays are a common sight as well as white-tipped reef sharks patrolling over the reefs. Arguably the most spectacular experience in the Banda Sea, if you are fortunate enough, is to dive with schooling hammerhead sharks. These giants come here in huge numbers and in often 30 meters of visibility, this is a truly unmissable experience. Adding to the excitement, spinner dolphins, orcas, and blue, pilot, and humpback whales can also be seen here on a liveaboard dive safari

Getting to Banda Islands

Considering the isolated nature of the islands anyone considering scuba diving in the Banda Sea should consider liveaboard diving to be the only real option. There are many different kinds of liveaboard boats in the Banda Sea to suit your budget and personal taste. In Indonesia, liveaboard diving is popularly done from a traditional Indonesian sailing ship called a Phinisi. These beautiful boats are the most peaceful and authentic way to spend your visit the Banda Sea. There are also custom-built motor vessels operating in the Banda Sea, which offer a dive cruise with luxurious accommodation and top of the range dive facilities. Most Indonesian liveaboards cruises embark in Ambon in the Muluku islands which has a large harbour in the main town. Flights are available from Jakarta to Ambon daily and the airport is only a short distance from the port. There are also ferries to Ambon from various parts of Indonesia but the frequent changes in the schedules can make this a difficult option.