Discover the inner seas of Indonesia with SMY Ondina

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Banda Sea

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North Banda Sea

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Cruise Information

Banda Sea: North Banda Sea S.M.Y. ONDINA | 20251007ON

07/10/2025
17/10/2025

10

Ambon

Ambon

3.950€


Banda Sea
Banda Sea
Banda Sea
Banda Sea

North Banda Sea

The Banda Sea is the deepest in the world. Reaching 8.000 m. in some points (Mariana’s trench, the deepest point in the world, is 11.000), is also part of the Ring of Fire, the chain of volcanic islands that follow the faulty line from the western end of Indonesia up to Sulawesi and the Philippines… These are the famed Spice Islands, the heart of the spice trade during the Dutch occupation of the Banda islands, where nutmeg and mace were originally from, or Ambon, where pepper was the main trade. To the east, the Kay islands offer a radically different look from its volcanic counterparts, with low sandy islands with powder white sand beaches, fringed with coconut palm trees.

The Banda Sea is also the most exposed of the Inner Seas of Indonesia, thus requiring careful planning. These routes only take place in October and November, in the interval between the two monsoons, when the waters are more likely to be calm. Cruising the Banda sea involves more night powering than other routes, as we sail most nights, just to wake up every morning in a different location. But the adventurous divers are rewarded by impressive walls with giant sea fans, massive barrel sponges, thick schools of fish, and the common sights of pelagic fauna, including hammerheads.


Itinerary and Map

Itinerario en North Banda Sea
Day 1: Ambon

Transfer to the boat upon arrival, welcome drink and accommodation. Check dive inside Ambon Bay, in Pantai Nama or The Twilight Zone. Overnight sail to the Banda group.

Day 2: Pulau Suanggi

Three day dives in pulau Suanggi, the northernmost island of the Banda group. A group of submerged coral hills with pristine coral, lots of fish and common sights of pelagics. Overnight sail to pulau Manuk.

Day 3: Pulau Manuk

Diving around this small volcanic island with colonies of seabirds flying above. Underwater, several ridges display extraordinary colours and are populated by numerous sea snakes, while large fauna is occasionally sighted. Overnight sail to Nil Desperandum.

Day 4: Nil Desperandum

Full diving day in Nil Desperandum, a reef patch surrounded of deep water where schools of hammerheads and other sharks are often seen. Sail to pulau Serua in the afternoon.

Day 5: Pulau Serua

Full diving day around Pulau Serua, again one of the best sites for spotting schools of hammerheads. Afternoon visit to the isolated village up the slopes of the volcano, and night dive in one of the sheltered bays. Night sail to the Banda group.

Day 6: Pulau Hatta and Karang Hatta

Full diving day around Pulau Hatta and Karang Hatta, located at southern part of Banda group and consisting of extraordinary walls with fish life to match. Afternoon sail to Bandaneira, probably the most beautiful natural anchorage of Indonesia, followed by Mandarin dive at dusk.

Day 7: Bandaneira

Cultural visit around Bandaneira, the heart of the Spice Islands: Fort Rotterdam, Culture House, the Governors House and the nutmeg plantation. After the tour dive some of the famous sites such as Batu Kapal, Pohon Mirin or Lava Flows. In the evening traditional dinner at a restored colonial house in Bandaneira.

Day 8: Banda Islands

Three day dives in the walls of the other islands of the Banda group: pulau Hatta and Run. Overnight sail to Nusa Laut.

Day 9: Ameth’s Knoll

Two morning dives at the famous site Ameth’s Knoll, a reef parallel to the coast that the local villagers have protected since the old times, to allow fish to spawn and spill over to adjacent areas. Afternoon sail back to Ambon while preparing for the departure the morning after.

Advertencia: Los itinerarios son solamente orientativos y pueden ser modificados a causa de la climatología, estado del mar u otros factores externos.


CRUISE FEES

Cruise fees cover police, diving, tourist and port permits:

These may be paid on board when requested by our Cruise Director or together with the payment of the cruise price.

* All our routes include the same number of nights as days, embarkation on the first day and disembarkation on the last day published early in the morning.
* Departures are only guaranteed with a minimum of 6 passengers on the SMY Ondina.

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