EcoXplorer Itinerary
Banda Trip: Tulehu - Banda - Tulehu7 days / 6 nights
About EcoXplorer
- Accommodates a maximum of 12 guests in eastern Indonesia
- Itineraries in Raja Ampat, Cenderawasih Bay, Triton Bay, Halmahera and Banda Sea
- Cultural visits, snorkelling, fishing and island exploration between dives
- All profits support EcoNusa’s conservation and community initiatives
EcoXplorer is a 28m expedition liveaboard operating across the remote waters of eastern Indonesia, from Raja Ampat and Cenderawasih Bay, to Triton Bay, Halmahera and the Banda Sea. Rebuilt in the style of a traditional Indonesian phinisi, the vessel accommodates a maximum of 12 guests in ensuite cabins and combines dedicated diving facilities with cultural visits, wildlife encounters and island exploration. Highlights of the itineraries can include spectacular reefs, manta rays, whale sharks, wrecks, schooling fish and unusual macro life, depending on the itinerary. And with all profits supporting EcoNusa’s conservation and community programmes, EcoXplorer is particularly well suited to divers seeking small-group expeditions with a more meaningful local connection.
Itinerary details
Length of trip 7 days / 6 nights
Number of dives 15
Experience Advanced Open Water - Minimum 40 dives
Insurance Required
Highlights
- Encounter scalloped hammerhead sharks at Suanggi Island and grey reef sharks at Hatta Island
- Explore unique underwater environments, including the explosive growth of table corals at the Banda Api
- Macro hotspots featuring mandarin fish and ghost pipefish at the Banda Neira pier
- Discover sea turtles at Nusa Laut and caverns swarming with glassfish at Molana Island
- Step ashore in historic Banda Neira to explore the original global capital of the nutmeg trade
- Tour colonial landmarks like Fort Belgica
Day 1 - Tulehu
7:00 - 09:00: Arrive at Pattimura International Airport, Ambon (AMQ). Private air-conditioned transfer (~1 hour) across the island to Tulehu Port to board the liveaboard.
09:30 – 13:30: Welcome drinks, boat orientation, and a fresh lunch served on deck as lines are cast off.
14:30 – 15:30: One Dive: Batu Hitam (Check Dive) — A shallow, current-free reef slope to perfect buoyancy, check weights, and calibrate camera rigs.
16:00 – 17:00: Afternoon Snack.
18:30: Early dinner served at anchor.
Day 2 - Suanggi Island
06:30: Arrive at the jagged, dramatic seabird outpost of Suanggi Island.
07:00 – 07:30: Light breakfast.
07:45 – 09:00: Dive 01: Suanggi North Ridge — Plunging into deep blue oceanic water. Keep an eye on the blue for passing Scalloped Hammerhead Sharks and massive schools of dogtooth tuna.
09:15 – 10:15: Main Breakfast.
10:45 – 12:00: Dive 02: Suanggi Pinnacle — Gliding along steep walls covered in deep-water sea fans and giant barrel sponges.
12:15 – 13:30: Lunch as the vessel repositions inside the calm volcanic harbor of Banda Neira.
14:30–15:45: Dive 03: Karaka Island (Lighthouse Reef) — A beautiful wall covered in tunicates and home to cryptic macro life right at the base of the volcano.
16:00 – 17:00: Afternoon Snack.
18:30–19:30: Optional Night Dive: Banda Neira Pier — A world-renowned macro haven. Look for the colorful courtship dance of Mandarinfish and searching ghost pipefish.
20:00: Dinner served inside the mirrored, volcanic caldera.
Day 3 - Hatta Island
04:00 - 05:00: The vessel sails 1.5 hours east to Hatta Island.
06:00 – 07:00: Light breakfast
07:30 – 09:00: Dive 01: Karang Hatta — A massive submerged offshore seamount. Excellent visibility with huge schools of twin-spot snappers, fusiliers, and patrolling grey reef sharks.
09:00 – 10:00: Main Breakfast.
10:30 – 12:00: Dive 02: Karang Hatta (The Drop-off) — Targeting the incoming current edge where pelagic biomass aggregates.
12:00 – 13:30: Lunch.
14:00 – 15:15: Dive 03: Tanjung Buton — A sheer vertical wall running deep, crowded with massive schools of surgeonfish and midnight snappers.
16:00 – 17:00: Afternoon Snack.
19:00: Dinner served back at the protected volcano anchorage.
Day 4 - Ai & Run Island
05:00 - 06:00: the vessel sails to the historic island of Rhun.
06:00–07:00: Light Breakfast
07:30 – 09:00: Dive 01: Kelapa Kelapa — Pristine deep walls with massive caverns, overhangs, and exceptional underwater clarity.
09:00 – 10:00: Main Breakfast.
10:30 – 12:00: Dive 02: Tanjung Noret — Sloping coral structures teeming with high-voltage fusilier action.
12:00 – 13:30: Lunch.
14:00 – 15:15: Dive 3: Nailaka Sand Spit — Shallow, sunlit hard coral gardens flanking a breathtaking, isolated white sandbar.
16:00 – 17:00: Afternoon Snack.
19:00: Dinner.
Day 5 - Hatta Island
06:00 – 07:00: Light breakfast.
07:30 – 09:00: Dive 1: Banda Api Lava Flow — A legendary dive site. Following the 1988 eruption of the volcano, lava flowed into the sea; in the years since, an explosive growth of table corals has created one of the fastest-growing coral fields on earth.
09:00 – 10:00: Main Breakfast.
10:30 – 12:00: Dive 2: Batu Kapal — A deep pinnacle shaped like a ship, known for intense currents and schooling pelagics.
12:00 – 13:30: Lunch.
14:00 – 16:30: Island Tour: Historic Banda Neira — Step ashore to walk through the original global capital of the nutmeg trade. Tour the imposing colonial strongholds of Benteng Belgica and Fort Nassau.
18:30: Dinner served early.
Rule Enforced: Open Ocean Return Crossing is approximately 7.5 Hours.
Day 6 - Nusa Laut
05.00 - 06.00: the vessel anchors at Nusa Laut.
06:00 – 06:30: Light breakfast
07:00 – 08:15: Dive 1: Tanjung Amet (Nusa Laut) — Early morning drift over flawless, village-protected hard coral gardens bursting with sea turtles and massive schools of jacks.
08:15 – 09:15: Main breakfast while the vessel makes a short 1-hour cruise northwest to Molana Island.
09:15 – 10:15: Dive 2: Molana Wall & Caves (The Grand Finale) — Diving a dramatic limestone wall cut with shallow caverns and swim-throughs swarming with glassfish.
Safety Lock Enforced: All sport diving strictly concludes by 10:15 AM to secure your 20.5-hour decompression safety window before tomorrow morning's flights.
10:30 – 13:30: Molana Beach Visit & Private Island BBQ — The crew shifts everything ashore via skiffs to Molana’s spectacular white-sand beach. While guests swim, walk the shoreline, or relax under the shade of the coastal trees, the chefs set up a live-grill beach BBQ featuring fresh caught fish, satay, and chilled drinks right on the sand.
13:45: Return to the vessel. The crew lifts anchor and begins the final 3.5-hour cruise back home to Ambon Island while guests dry off, pack up their gear, and log their final dives.
17:15: Arrive and tie up securely at Tulehu Port, Ambon.
19:00: Dinner served onboard the vessel at port.
Day 7 - Tulehu
05:00 – 05:30: Quick early-riser coffee and light continental breakfast.
05:45: Disembark the vessel and board private air-conditioned transit vehicles.
Land Transit: Smooth 1-hour drive across the island to Pattimura International Airport (AMQ).
06:45: Arrive at the airport to smoothly check bags for morning departures (perfectly matching early Garuda Indonesia or Batik Air flight windows out of Ambon). Recommend taking an afternoon flight.
Sample itineraries are for guidance only. Actual itineraries may differ slightly due to factors such as weather, wildlife, logistics and local regulations.
Sample itineraries are for guidance only. Actual itineraries may differ slightly due to factors such as weather, wildlife, logistics and local regulations.
Transfer details
Departure
09:00am
Tulehu
Pattimura International Airport: AMQ
Return
01:00pm
Tulehu
Pattimura International Airport: AMQ
Current availability and prices: https://www.zubludiving.com/itineraries/ecoxplorer/itn-2608030635281-banda-trip-tulehu-banda-tulehu