Upcoming Dive Trip: Bunaken, Banda & the Ceram Sea
In November 2024, we’ll be embarking on an exciting dive journey that promises some of the most incredible underwater experiences Southeast Asia has to offer. This time, we’ll be heading to Sulawesi, staying at a local dive resort, and then embarking on an 11-night liveaboard adventure from Ambon, via Banda, through the Ceram Sea. Here’s a preview of what’s in store.
First Stop: Bunaken Marine Park
For the initial week on arrival in Indonesia, we’ll be based at a cozy spot located right next to the world-famous Bunaken Marine Park. Known for its steep coral walls and crystal-clear waters, Bunaken offers some of the best diving in Indonesia. The area is teeming with marine life, including turtles, reef sharks, and vibrant coral gardens. One of the highlights will be diving along Siladen Island, a quieter spot with fewer divers, incredible wall dives, and stunning visibility.
As part of our stay, we’ll also explore Manado Bay and should the weather permit, the Bangka Archipelago.
We’re gearing up for some thrilling day, night and blackwater dives, and we’re anticipating encounters with sea turtles, alongside the exhilarating possibility of whale sharks, hammerheads, and other large pelagics like barracuda, trevally, and reef sharks.
Banda & Ceram Seas Crossing: Ambon to Raja Ampat
After Bunaken, the real adventure begins. We’ll depart the dive resort and fly to Ambon, where we’ll board a liveaboard for an 11-night dive odyssey through the Banda and Ceram Seas, finishing in Raja Ampat in late November. This journey will take us through some of Indonesia’s most remote and pristine dive sites, where the biodiversity is ranked as the highest in the world.
The route from Ambon to Raja Ampat is a diver’s dream, featuring pelagic life, coral reefs, and the iconic manta ray cleaning stations. Along the way, we’ll dive Pulau Koon, famous for its strong currents and pelagic encounters, and Misool, home to some of the most breathtaking coral gardens in the world.
Diving Highlights
Some key highlights we’re looking forward to on this trip:
Wall diving in Bunaken, with the chance to see large schools of fish, turtles, and pristine coral drop-offs.
The Banda Sea and the opportunity to see Scalloped Hammerhead sharks.
The Banda Islands and their rich history, combined with spectacular reefs and mandarin fish during sunset dives.
Exploring the remote and wild beauty of Misool, often hailed as one of the most biodiverse areas on the planet.
Manta rays and huge schools of Big Eye Trevallies, Barracuda, other pelagic fish, and reef sharks, at Dampier Strait in Raja Ampat.
Travel Logistics
Traveling from the UK to Indonesia is always an adventure in itself. Our trip starts with a flight from London Heathrow with Etihad to Jakarta, and from there, we’ll take Lion Air to Manado. After our time in Bunaken, we’ll fly with Wings Air to Ambon to start the liveaboard. After the dive trip, we’ll fly from Sorong with Garuda Indonesia back to Jakarta before heading home.
This November dive adventure is shaping up to be an unforgettable experience, with a mix of world-class wall diving, blackwater videography opportunities, and pelagic encounters. Stay tuned for detailed dive reports, video highlights, and travel tips from each stop along the way.