Route Description - Banda Sea and Triton Bay (Ambon - Kaimana)
Embark on a 11-day adventure aboard Adelaar from Ambon, exploring the rich marine environments of the Banda Sea and beyond. Highlights include diving with schooling hammerhead sharks at Manukang and Hatta, exploring vibrant coral gardens at Watubela, Koon, and Momon, and encountering diverse marine life at Aiduma, Dramai, and Iris Strait. Triton Bay offers unique critter encounters and stunning coral formations, while near Namatote, cultural visits and possible whaleshark sightings await. End your journey with a sail-powered farewell from Kaimana, promising an unforgettable dive expedition through Indonesia's pristine waters.
Day 1 Ambon
After boarding Adelaar in Ambon, you will enjoy your first day on board whilst cruising straight into the heart of the blue Banda Sea.
Day 2 Manukang
Our first stop is Manukang, a volcanic outcrop that according to Moluccan lore, is known to be haunted. This we cannot judge, but what we do know, is that it attracts its fair share of pelagic visitors. Schooling hammerhead sharks swim along the underwater ridges that are covered in huge barrel sponges.
Day 3 Hatta
Hatta, the easternmost Island of the Banda archipelago, is named after Indonesia’s first vice-president who spent time here in exile. The diving off Hatta is dedicated solely to seeing schooling hammerhead sharks. The sight of groups ranging from a handful to literally hundreds of those majestic animals is an unforgettable experience, and one of the main reasons the diving in the Banda Sea is so special.
Day 4 Watubela
The Watubela archipelago is also regularly visited by schooling hammerhead sharks. However, this is not the only charm of these remote islands located at the border between the Banda and Seram Sea. Spectacular white sandy beaches offer perfect locations for those postcard sunset drinks after a day’s diving surrounded by schooling fish.
Day 5 Koon
Do you like diving with a lot of fish? In that case Koon is the place for you. Apart from having too many fish to list, there is also a spectacular land – or rather surface – activity nearby. Depending on the tide we can enter a hidden system of marine lakes and canals for a snorkel and swim trek unlike any other! Typically, at the end of the trail you will be greeted by enthusiastic local village children.
Day 6 Momon
The Momon Area of New Guinea is without a doubt one of the highlights for photographers. The very photogenic Kiti Kiti waterfall falls directly out of the vibrant jungle and into a turquoise sea. For those who are up for a land excursion, there are opportunities to venture into the forest a jungle trek. But first, there will be dives along the seamounts off the coast, known for their big schools of big eye trevallies, sharks, pelagic fish and oceanic manta rays.
Day 7 Aiduma
Along the coast of the karst island of Aiduma in the Aru Sea there are numerous little coves, islets and underwater formations with unique topography that are covered in dense soft coral growth. Fish life is profuse and features schools of snappers, sweetlips and fusiliers as well as napoleon wrasses, large groupers and wobbegong sharks.
Day 8 Dramai
The eastern most point of our voyage is the island of Dramai. The waters surrounding this island are a sheer fish lover’s paradise. Reminiscent of rush hours in a big city, schools of different species of snappers, sweetlips, surgeonfish, batfish, fusiliers, jacks and other species make it so dense, it is difficult for divers to get a glimpse of the unique topography. The coral studded underwater formations include massive overhangs and swim throughs.
Day 9 Iris Strait
There is a regular through-flow of water in the Iris Strait between mainland New Guinea and Aiduma Island. This steady supply of nutrients triggers a veritable explosion of coral growth. Healthy areas dominated by enormous hard coral formations are interchanged with slopes covered in immense black coral bushes. All of this benthic life attracts schools of fish and squadrons of mobula rays.
Day 10 Triton Bay
The diving in Triton Bay is unique, as the small islands act as fish magnets and feature exquisite coral growth of both hard and soft corals. The bay is home to a plethora of critters such as pygmy seahorses, leopard and tiger shrimps, endemic flasher wrasses or rare cephalopods. On night dives in this bay, be on the lookout for Triton Bay’s endemic walking shark.
A structure resembling a huge underwater coral caldera is one of the topographic features of this area. Another topside highlight is our speedboat tour through the maze of the large Triton Bay lagoon with its countless hidden bays and channels surrounded by unique karst rock formations.
Day 11 Namatote
If your trip happens to fall around a new moon, we will spend the day in the north of the island of Namatote. There we visit the traditional outrigger fishing platforms that are regularly visited by what the fishermen refer to as ‘mothers of fish’, i.e. the world’s largest fish, the majestic whalesharks.During such times we will concentrate on the dive sites south of Namatote with their pinnacles, caverns, swim-throughs, and black coral forests. After Namatote we start the final passage of the trip in style – by hoisting Adelaar’s set of sails!
Day 12 Kaimana
After breakfast, it is time to say goodbye and disembark – until the next time.
(Itinerary might vary depending on weather and sea conditions)