Ambon – Banda Neira

Blue Dream Phinisi Liveaboard
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Ambon - Banda Neira 8D7N Package

Banda Neira. The name itself has a deep rich history that bring us all the way back during the colonial era and the war between the two rivals trading companies of VOC Dutch and the British East India Company. We present to you this journey in the month of October and November because of the dry season in Banda Neira so there will be more sun and therefore more fun. Why Banda and should you consider this itinerary? Have a read.

  • Banda’s Rich History
    Picture yourself as the main actor in the book Natahniel’s nugmeg by Giles Milton. A must read prior your trip.

    1. Colonial Dutch Heritage
    2. Bung Hatta’s Exile House
  • Breath taking Natural Landscape
    1. Mount Banda Api
    2. Beautiful Beaches: Batu Angus Beach
  • Local Culture and Traditions
  • Unique Culinary Experience
  • Peaceful and Uncrowded Tourism

Ambon – Banda Neira – Ambon 8D7N

Day 1: Arrival in Ambon and Transfer to Banda Neira

  • Arrive in Ambon (Pattimura airport)
    Transfer to the harbor to board Blue Drem Phinisi. Check in and spend a few moments at the main lounge at the main deck for some welcome snack and drink. Briefing from our Cruise Director, Mr Lucas Rani about safety on board, do’s and don’ts during your cruise
  • Check-dive at Ambon. Take the advantage took out for the exciting critters. Lunch
  • Once safety inspection is done and performed by harbour master, we will sail out towards Suanggi Island. Sunset and a sumptuous dinner awaits. You will rest while our Captain and crew make our way to our destination.Dinner

Day 2: Suanggi Island

  • Wake up call and get ready for your Light breakfast on the deck
  • Dive point Jackpot Point 1. You can expect colourful corals, schools of fish, barracudas, and occasional sharks. Big breakfast
  • Dive at Suanggi Point, A remote site with strong currents, making it a great spot for pelagic sightings such as tunas, trevallies, and occasionally hammerhead sharks.Lunch
  • Dive at Jackpot Point 2
  • Sail to Hatta Reef
  • Night: back to Pinisi and Dinner

Day 3: Pulau Hatta

  • Light Breakfast. Dive at Hatta Wall, a dramatic drop-off featuring an abundance of coral species, colorful reef fish, and larger predators like sharks and rays.
  • Big Breakfast. Dive at Tanjung Button, known for its sloping reefs and diverse marine life, including nudibranchs, pygmy seahorses, and various reef fish. Lunch
  • Dive at Hatta Reef, offers a mix of coral gardens and walls, with excellent visibility and a variety of fish species, turtles, and reef sharks
  • Sail to Serua island. Dinner on-board

Day 4: Dive at Banda Neira

  • Light Breakfast. Dive at Keke Wall, offers steep walls covered in soft and hard corals, teeming with small reef fish and invertebrates
  • Big breakfast. Dive at Magic Corner, a site with a variety of coral formations and a hotspot for seeing larger marine life such as mantas and sharks. Lunch
  • Dive at Nil Desperandum, known for its clear waters and a chance to see big fish action, including sharks, rays, and large schools of fish. Dinner on-board

Day 5: Banda Neira and Manuk Island

  • Light Breakfast. Dive at Tanjung Nil West, both sites provide excellent coral gardens and walls, with plenty of small critters and occasional sightings of larger pelagics
  • Big Breakfast. Dive at Tanjung Nil South.Lunch.
  • Sail to Manuk Island, famous for its underwater volcanic activity, resulting in unique bubble reefs and a rich variety of marine life. Dinner and rest

Day 6: Banda Neira and Manuk Island

  • Light breakfast. Dive at Babylon Ridge features a stunning coral ridge with diverse marine species, including schooling fish, turtles, and reef sharks
  • Breakfast. Dive at Bubble Reef, named for the volcanic bubbles rising from the seabed, offering a unique diving experience with a variety of marine life. Lunch
  • Dive at Tanjung Kelapa, known for its beautiful coral gardens and a wide array of reef fish, making it a great spot for macro photography
  • Sail back to Banda Neira. Dinner and rest

Day 7. Banda Neira

  • Morning breakfast. Dive at Pohon Miring, offers a mix of coral slopes and walls, with plenty of small reef inhabitants and occasional larger species
  • Big breakfast. Dive at Batu Kapal, a site with interesting rock formations and abundant marine life, including reef fish, nudibranchs, and sometimes larger predators. Lunch
  • Dive at Lava Flow, a unique site where lava from a volcanic eruption has created an underwater landscape that hosts a variety of marine species and coral growth
  • Farewell dinner on board on the way back to Ambon

Day 8. Ambon Harbour
Breakfast, we say our goodbyes, photo together and disembark Blue Dream Transfer will be provided by our ground crew for your onward journey

This itinerary is flexible and can be adjusted based on weather conditions, your preferences, and the availability of activities

Diving Requirements and Safety

All divers are required to have diving-specific insurance (e.g., DiveAssure, DAN, or similar) that covers all scuba diving activities, emergency evacuation, and recompression chamber costs. Please note that insurance coverage typically applies only within the depth limits dictated by your certification level; therefore, you must always remain within those limits.

The use of a dive computer, conducting a 6-minute safety stop, and maintaining an ascent rate of no more than 9 metres (30 feet) per minute are mandatory on all dives.

Although diving around Banda Neira is generally suitable for all certification levels, please be aware that some dive sites may be challenging for entry-level or inexperienced divers due to depths and variable currents.

Minimum Dive Certification and Experience

To join our Banda Neira itinerary, divers must hold an Advanced Open Water certification (or equivalent) with a minimum of 50 logged dives, including experience diving in strong currents.

We have an instructor onboard, so Open Water certified divers with at least 60 logged dives may complete their Advanced Open Water certification during the trip (standard fees apply).

If you do not meet the recommended minimum requirements, and if our cruise director deems your experience insufficient for certain conditions, you may be restricted from participating in some or all dives during the voyage.

Diving Emergencies

The nearest hyperbaric chambers are located in Manado (North Sulawesi), Bali, Makassar, and Jakarta. Banda Neira itself does not have a fully operational recompression facility. In the event of a suspected DCI (Decompression Illness) incident, evacuation may involve a costly emergency boat transfer and/or air evacuation.

It is your responsibility to ensure that your insurance fully covers all evacuation, recompression chamber, and hospital treatment costs.

Water Temperature

Banda Neira’s tropical waters remain warm year-round, typically between 27°C and 29°C.

A 3mm wetsuit is generally sufficient, though divers who are more sensitive to cooler temperatures after multiple dives may prefer a 5mm wetsuit or additional thermal layers.

Marine Park and Port Fees (payable onboard only)

7 nights: 200 USD per person

Marine park and port fees are subject to change without prior notice. The applicable amount at the time of departure will be added to your onboard account and must be settled before disembarkation. These fees cover local permits, port costs, and conservation initiatives in the Banda Sea region.

Number of Scheduled Dives

7 nights: up to 22 dives

While we aim to complete the full number of scheduled dives, factors such as weather, sea conditions, or logistical considerations may affect the actual number of dives achieved. Dive numbers are indicative and not guaranteed.

Included Land Tours

Several shore excursions are included in Banda Neira itineraries. Typically, there will be 2 land visits per trip, which may include:

  • Fort Belgica (historic fort tour)
  • Banda Neira Town Tour (including nutmeg plantations and colonial sites)
  • Banda Besar Island (historical plantation ruins and village visit)

The specific tours offered may vary depending on environmental conditions and operational logistics.

Preferred flight option

Jakarta – Ambon : Daily

  • Garuda 09.40 – 15.20
  • Batik 00.35 – 06.10
  • Citilink 01.45 – 07.20

Ambon – Jakarta : Daily

  • Batik 07.00 – 09.20
  • Citilink 07.55 – 09.20
  • Garuda 16.10 – 17.40