• The paradise for experimented divers

    Banda Sea is internationally renowned for its shoals of Hammerhead sharks. The region is mostly a vast ocean, in open water with few islets always on the itineraries of the cruises. In this area, we can contemplate big marine animals such as several species of shark, few species of whales, dolphins and of course many pelagic species. The area is especially wild, this is their environment, and we are only here as visitors. Nature made it wonderful! To enjoy the best of each dive and of this exceptional environment, we consider that this area is reserved to experienced divers.

    Finding the cruise of your dreams has never been easier, by using our Search Engine.

    EMBARK FOR YOUR DIVING LIVEABOARD FROM THE 12th TO 19th SEPTEMBER !

    A specific diving itinerary awaits you. The itinerary is focusing on admiring shoals of HAMMERHEAD SHARKS as well as discovering the historic Banda islands. The best diving cruise in Banda for a week (8 days / 7 nights). This unique itinerary also includes excursions and visits for the best sightseeing of the archipelago and the ancient Banda Fort. Make your best diving holidays on this fabulous Pinisi !
    2030€/person ALL INCLUDED. Click here for BOAT DETAILS & ITINERARY
    Whitetip Reef Shark

    A historic & diving immersion in the famous Banda islands

    Diving Cruise BANDA SEA

    | 8 Days / 7 Nights | 2934 € Full Board

    Cruise in Banda islands, 
    Ambon to Ambon

    Next Departure:

    2024 October 11th to 18th

    367 per day

    Up to 3 dives/day

    Please refer to the FAQ Section

    Contact us for price details.

    Boat Rating *

    Global
    9.8
    Vessel
    9.7
    Life Onboard
    9.9
    Activities
    9.8

    Click on the tabs above for more details.

    Click on the tabs above for more details.

    Best season & Itinerary to Banda

    The best season to dive in Banda Sea is from March to April, when the sea is the calmest of the year. However, another window is possible from September to December with relatively calm marine conditions. It is important to choose the right time when going to Banda for a scuba diving cruise as you need to take all the chances to enjoy each of your dive and your cruising through this unique itinerary.

    How to get to Banda Sea?
    To reach the Banda Sea, according to the cruise you chose and its itinerary, you can start your adventure at few different harbors. Most cruises start from Ambon and if you come from Bali, you should have a transit or layover in Jakarta airport. With the right flight plan, the journey can be as short as 7 hours and 20 minutes. An alternative to reach Ambon could be by car and ferry for a 4 days’ journey. This solution is much cheaper but obviously less comfortable. For the best experience, we recommend you to take the plane as it is faster and also worry free.

    Once arrived in Ambon, the crew will pick you up and you adventure will start. Few itineraries are possible and are likely to change according to your preferences and to the weather forecast.

    How to get to Banda Islands

    Get ready for the big show

    The main idea for this cruise of a lifetime is to go diving with the hammerhead sharks, the whale and enjoy the stunning diversity of the area. Talking about marine animals, everything is bigger when going diving in Banda Sea. You will have the most chances to see Hammerhead, Dugong and reef sharks, Sperm & Blue whales, oceanic Manta rays, Dogtooth tuna, squadrons of Mobula rays, schools of Red toothed Triggerfish, Fusiliers, Barracudas, big groupers, Napoleon Wrasse and much more… For the marine flora, it is as diverse as the fauna, you can expect huge Sea fans and hard corals, some macro dive sites as well with rare critters. And you will also see some depth! More than 5000 meters deep in some area…

    EMBARK FOR YOUR DIVING LIVEABOARD FROM THE 12th TO 19th SEPTEMBER !

    A specific diving itinerary awaits you. The itinerary is focusing on admiring shoals of HAMMERHEAD SHARKS as well as discovering the historic Banda islands. The best diving cruise in Banda for a week (8 days / 7 nights). This unique itinerary also includes excursions and visits for the best sightseeing of the archipelago and the ancient Banda Fort. Make your best diving holidays on this fabulous Pinisi !
    2030€/person ALL INCLUDED. Click here for BOAT DETAILS & ITINERARY

    Mobula Rays Squadron

    Things to see in Banda

    When you will spend some time out of the water, you will discover some areas full of history and most of cruises will offer you to stop at some strategic points of Banda islands. There are 9 islands that composed this region, and each has a specific attractive point. This remote area of the world was firstly renowned for its spices and Nutmeg. Effectively, the Europeans have been lusted after this land for all its resources and you can find some historic remains of this colonial past. The ruins of the Benteng Hollandia fort are the most famous and you can visit the fort and get a slice of this “impressive” history. On the side of the vestige from human history, you can see stunning landscapes on Banda Api, the Volcano Island, which is dominated by Gunung Api, an active volcano of 640 meters high. However, most of the volcanic activity is submerged by water, which offers an especially rich and diverse marine life as well as unique underwater topography.

    Nutmeg in Banda Islands

    Dive in the Ring of Fire

    This area is also part of the Ring of Fire because it is located at a strategic location between the Indo-Australian and the Eurasian tectonic plates. Most of this volcanic activity is located underwater, it makes the water especially warm at some places and attract the best marine life diversity in the world. It also changes the underwater landscapes as many rocks, hills and pinnacles have been created thousands of years ago with the movements of the plates. It makes the area atypic and exceptional for the eyes of the divers and photographers. Get ready and prepare your big lenses to capture wide angle scenes between pelagic and amazing marine landscapes. At the same time, please don’t forget the smallest with the particular Psychedelic Frogfish and Ambon Scorpionfish that we can find in Ambon Bay. In few words, Banda Sea is the dive of a lifetime!

    Psychedelic Frogfish

    THE CRUISE OF YOUR DREAMS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

    Whether you're looking for a private charter, or to live an adventure on the sea while discovering new landscapes & meeting new people, We can help you make your dream come true.

    FAQ

    To enter Indonesia your passport must have:
    •  Expiration date of the applicant’s passport must be at least 6 (six) months at the date of entry.
    •  At least one blank visa page
    •  Round-trip airplane ticket

    There is no Visa required for 61 countries and 1 region.
    Maximum length of stay without Visa is 30 Days, if you are planning to stay up to 60 days, you can buy a visa on arrival for 35 US$ at Airports and Seaports.
    For more details about COVID restrictions, please contact the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia.


    We choose to work with people we know for years, all offering a high quality service on perfectly maintained Phinisi.

    All boats, Cabins & on-board furniture's have an authentic and sophisticated design, made with quality materials.


    Spacious and Comfortable
    shared space, Lounge, Sun Deck, Restaurant will grant you a maximum comfort.

    You will also enjoy free access to kayaks and stand-up paddles (SUP) if you wish to explore the surrounding.
    Then it's up to you to chose if you want to enjoy a stunning sunset from the lounge with a fresh drink or from the SUP in the middle of pristine water.

    One of the most, if not the most important part of your cruise, The Crew. They all are experienced, they know when to be discreet and how to treat you well.

    Another important part of your journey, the Food., you will enjoy some great dishes cooked with love by some skilled chef. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks, you will be delighted all day long. 


    You can refer to the label on the boat description to have a quick overview about the class of the cruise.
    Luxury
     All cabins are equipped with Air conditioning and Private bathroom (ensuite). 
    Comfort: All cabins are equipped with Air conditioning and some cabins may have shared bathroom (Max 2 cabins).

    You should definitely consider the full charter option especially if you are planning this cruise with your family or friends. It will make the experience even more exceptional. As we offer a large choice of boat, no matter if you are 6, 10 or more than 12 we will find the best vessel according the standing you are expecting. From 1000$ per night in adventure standing, 2000$ per night in Comfort standing and from 3000$ in Luxury standing. Contact us for more informations.

    Not at all, beginners can do discover scuba diving during the cruise (let us know to arrange it)


    Open water certified divers or equivalent will have access to most of the dive sites, but to make the best of the cruise Advanced level and experience in drift dive is recommended. You can spend a few days with us in Bali before starting your cruise, by joining our Safari tour or to get your Advanced certification in one of our four dive centers, it will allow you to dive up to 30m depth, to join night dives and be more confident and comfortable while drift diving.

    For an even better training we recommend you to join the drift specialty in Nusa Lembongan.

    If you are more into Leisure, Yoga or Surfing, we can offer you some great cruise experience while practicing some of your favourite activities. Contact us for more informations.

    Indonesia spread over its more than 5000 km along the Equator which offers a tropical climate with only two season, dry & wet.

    Dry season is mainly from May to October Wet season from November to April.
    Keep in mind that Indonesia is the world’s largest archipelago, so you can visit year-round as wet season won’t start in the same time in different places.

    Landscapes are also pretty different due to Tropical rainforest climate and Tropical savannah climate.

    Komodo: All year around
    North Komodo: April to December
    South Komodo: January to march
    Raja Ampat: October to May
    Banda Island: September to November
    Alor: May to November

    We do recommend you to bring your own gears if you already own it. If not it’s not a big deal, you can rent the full set onboard, some of our partners provide rental equipment for free, maximum you can expect another 60$ per day.
    As a reminder, every scuba diver should be equipped with: Wetsuite/BCD/Regulator set/Fins/Weight system/Dive computer/SMB/Torchlight/Compass.


    Nitrox tanks are available on most of the boats, please refer to the boat description.

    Included: Transportation between airport & boat (return)/ Accommodation/ Meals and snacks/ non alcoholic beverage/ 12L tanks and weight system for divers

    Not Included:
    Marine park and Port authority fees / International and domestic flights/ Traveling - Diving Insurance / alcoholic beverage & espresso/ massage/ 15L tanks and dive gears rental for scuba divers

    Most of the time €, Us$ are accepted onboard, but we do recommend you to bring enough cash in local currency IDR. Payement by card are available on some boats, please refer to the boat description.
    Most of electric outlets on board are European type.

    Tipping from 5 to 10% of the cruise amount are expected, it express your satisfaction level. Tips are also an important income part for crew members.