Route Description - Banda sea (Ambon - Ambon)
12 days / 11 Nights 33 - 36 dives
The beginning of your trip
The trip begins in ambon and ends in ambon
The closest airport is pattimura (amq)
Pickup time at the airport is according to your flights. Give yourself enough time to go through immigration and pickup your bags
You will be met by someone carrying a samambaia sign who will take you directly to the boat
Hotel pickup time is in the morning
You can check in on the boat as of 12:00
The boat departs ambon early in the afternoon on the same day
Itinerary highlights
Being remote and untouched the 18 islands of the alor and solor group are considered one of the best diving destinations in asia
No cruise on mv samambaia is like the other. Every single trip is tailor-made to create a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The decision on the itinerary is made by the cruise director as we cruise along and is based on factors such as weather conditions, dive conditions, requests of guests and schedules of other liveaboards, which we are trying to stay away from.
This is just to give you a general idea and is subject to change due to weather- and other conditions. Popular dive sites are named.
We do however have our secret spots as well, which you will learn about during the cruise.
Day 1
Safety briefing, crew introduction, necessary dive paperwork, cabin allocation and ship orientation will take place before departing the harbour.
During the journey to our first dive site for a check dive, please take this opportunity to familiarize yourselves with the vessel and make yourself comfortable.
Dinner on board
Please note: this is a sample itinerary and nº of dives, dive sites, etc. May be subject to change due to weather conditions and other unforseeable factors
Day 2 - 10
3 dives per day of minimum 1 hour duration
One sunset- or night dive per day (unless we have to cover a serious number of miles over night)
Scenic rides through lagoons and coves in our tenders
Trekking to breathtaking view points
Visits of secluded perfect beaches
Excursions to traditional villages
Whale watching
Water action such as wake boarding and water skiing
Based upon that, here is a potential itinerary for an 11 nights / 12 days cruise from maumere/flores to ambon/seram.
This is just to give you a general idea and is subject to change due to weather- and other conditions. Popular dive sites are named. We do however have our secret spots as well, which you will learn about during the cruise.
Ambon - after an initial general dive briefing, we will do our check dive with you at an easy and protected dive site.
Check dive in the sense of you checking your gear and weights, making sure the camera housings are proper sealed and our guides checking your buoyancy. No skill demonstrations are required.
We will thereafter offer two more dives in the bay of ambon. One in the afternoon and one for sunset. All of these days will be muck dives. World class critter hunting. That’s what ambon is famous for. Rhinopias, frogfish, ghostpipefish, harlequin shrimps and if you are really lucky: the psychedelic frogfish that has been very recently found here again.
Nusa laut
Nusa laut- in the early morning we will arrive at the island of nusa laut, which is a great example for how active conservation by the local community can not only preserve the reefs but actually make them even better. We see here for many years a proper growth in biomass.
We have four spectacular dive sites here, either wall or slope diving.
Banda islands
Banda islands - the famous spice islands, the island group around banda neira, which is also historically very interesting. Wars were fought over these islands by colonial powers as these islands used to be the only islands in the world were nutmeg grew.
A historical walk through the town of banda neira with it’s museum and two forts is a must. An interesting option for ambitious challenge seekers is to climb the vulcano gunung api, which raises ‘only’ 600 m above sea level. Which in the tropics however turns into a strenuous climb.
The diving here is very diverse and spectacular. As these volcanic islands raise up to the surface surrounded by deep sea water, the chances for sightings of large pelagics are very good. In the past we’ve often encountered schooling hammerheads here. A dive site called ‘lava flow’ is one of the most pristine hard coral reefs you will ever see. After the last eruption of gunung api in 1988 a flow of lava made it’s way down into the ocean and destroyed the whole reef. What has grown back ever since will boggle your mind. In the harbour of banda neira we’ve got a beautiful mandarin fish dive waiting for you. Other highlights include: ‘the cathedral’, ‘batu kapal’ and ‘karang hatta’.
Gili manuk
Gili manuk - this place is also known by the name ‘snake island’. If you’ve got a phobia of snakes you should definitely go diving here to face your fear and thereby cure it. You may encounter dozens of sea snakes in one single dive.
These graceful creatures, though highly venomous, are very peaceful, sometimes even curious. Despite these reptiles there is plenty of reef fish but also pelagics around. On top of all thousands and thousands of seabirds are nesting here.
A unique and spectacular place.
Karang nil desperandum
Karang nil desperandum - an atoll with steep walls rising from the deep. Weather conditions permitting we will spend a whole day here.
Pulau nila & karang duisborgh
Pulau nila & karang duisborgh - five miles from the small island of nila we find another atoll and even prettier coral growth along the walls. Again the focus lies here on large pelagic fish passing by out in the blue.
The close by island of nila offers us protection for the night’s anchorage and gives us the possibility for a night dive.
Terbang utara & terbang selatan
Terbang utara & terbang selatan - very remote and untouched by commercial fishing the reefs of these islands are in pristine conditions.
Schooling barracudas, jacks on the hunt and large tunas passing by whilst well disguised critters are blending into the reefs. Our skilled dive guides will find and show them to you.
Gunung api
Gunung api - there are two snake islands in the banda sea and on this special itinerary you will get to see both of them. Besides snakes we have seen silvertip sharks and hammerheads here.
Usually the waters around here are gin clear so make sure you look out into the blue not to miss something big passing by.
Lucipara
Lucipara - a group of seven paradise islands in the middle of the banda sea. All dives are steep wall dives. The dutch seafarers named this island group the schildpad islands as we have not only find nesting grounds but also a healthy population of sea turtles here.
Day 11
For those who are flying out the next day, we offer two dives in the morning and some relaxing time on a perfect beach in the afternoon.
If you have planned a land based extension in ambon after the cruise, our dive guides will happily go diving again with you in the afternoon.
A land excursion to visit a traditional village of the indigenous people of alor, the kabui tribe.
Dinner on board
Day 12
Unfortunately, our trip has come to an end and we have to say goodbye, but we hope to see you again soon!
The end of your trip
Your last dives will be on the second to last day in the afternoon
It is your responsibility to ensure you respect the 24 hour no-fly time after your last dive!
The boat docks back in Ambon in the evening on the second to last day
Check out and disembarkation is between 06:00 and 14:00 on the last day.
Hotel drop-off time is in the morning
Airport drop-off time is according to your flights