Discover the inner seas of Indonesia with SMY Ondina

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Banda Sea

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Raja Ampat & North Banda Sea

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Cruise Information

Banda Sea: Raja Ampat & North Banda Sea S.M.Y. ONDINA | 20250310ON

10/03/2025
20/03/2025

10

Sorong

Ambon

3.950€


Banda Sea
Banda Sea
Banda Sea
Banda Sea

Raja Ampat & 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 Raja Ampat & North Banda Sea
Day 1: Sorong

Pick up at Sorong airport, transfer to the boat, welcome drink and accommodation. Check dive in the afternoon at one of the reefs surrounding Sorong. Overnight sailing to Misool.

Day 2: Misool

Three day dives and night dive in the colourful reefs of Daram Islands (Misool): Andiamo, Candy Store and Warna Bewarna amongst others.

Day 3 & 4: Misool

Diving around the main area of Misool, in some of the “classics” such as Nudi and Tank Rocks, Pulau Boo or Shadow Reef (Magic Mountain), as well as visit the black tip shark nursery in the beach at Yilliet. Evening of day 4 overnight sail to Pulau Koon.

Day 5: Pulau Koon

Three day dives around the very strategic eastern point of Pulau Koon, where the walls on both sides of the island converge into a sandy plateau facing a deep trench, congregating large masses of fish and the added excitement of some pelagic sightings. Overnight sail to Banda Islands.

Day 6: Banda Islands

Full diving day in the Banda group, at famous sites such as Karang Hatta, Batu Kapal and Lava Flows amongst others. Mandarin dive at dusk and traditional dinner at a restored colonial house in Bandaneira, probably the most beautiful natural anchorage of Indonesia.

Day 7: Bandaneira

Cultural visit around Bandaneira, the heart of the Spice Islands: Fort Rotterdam, the Governors House and the nutmeg plantation. Dive Batu Kapal and Pulau Soanggi, and sail to Nusa Laut.

Day 8: Nusa Laut

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 and night dives in Pulau Pombo. Overnight sail to Ambon.

Day 9: Ambon

Two muck dives around the jetties at the Twilight Zone, with a vast array of critters and oddities to be found. Preparation for 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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