Ilike Itinerary

Maluku - Banda Sea - Komodo (AMQ - LBJ)

Day 1: 
The crew will transfer the guests from the airport or hotel to the ship. After a nice welcome briefing by our cruise director, cabin allocation and ship orientation will take place before embarking from the port. Guests can familiarize themselves with the vessel, set up equipment, and get comfortable.

Days 2-13: 

We offer 3-4 dives daily, including a night dive if possible. When crossing, only 2 dives a day can be scheduled.

DIVE AREAS:

Ambon, the capital of the Maluku province. It is the most populated city in the area, and its phenomenal muck diving is considered one of the best in the world. 

Cuttlefish, seahorses, octopus, and many other critters find their home in this deep bay. It is muck diving in its purest state. One of the most famous dive sites is Twilight in Laha village. As the name says, it feels like twilight even in broad daylight. The biggest highlights are rhinopias, or the elusive psychedelic frogfish; other than in Bali, it is never found anywhere else in the world. We also have a wreck in the bay, the Duke of Sparta. A steel English cargo that sank as it was struck by a Douglas B-26 bomb in 1958. Don’t forget the beautiful coral gardens found outside the bay. There is a huge natural rock bridge called Pintu Kota. 

Nusa Laut has incredible diving, as Ahmed, the small village that protects the area against illegal fishing, does a great job conserving this area. Big schools of jacks, rainbow runners, tuna, and Spanish mackerel, but there is also the chance for big pelagics.

The Banda Sea is spectacular as it is very remote due to its location and possibility of rougher seas. Crystal-clear waters, bottomless drop-offs, colorful coral pinnacles, and so much more. For the night/dusk dive we can see the mating dance of the very colorful mandarin fish and search for frogfish, seahorses, razorfish, and octopus.

We offer you the opportunity to visit the old historic town of Banda Neira. Here you will find many remains of the Dutch and English spice trade. We will visit an old nutmeg plantation and have a little taste of how you can make great use of this famous spice that once was believed to cure the plague.

Manuk is another active volcano with many seabirds and sea snakes, very similar to Gunung Api, only a little smaller. Hundreds of sea snakes will accompany you on this dive while you enjoy the lava ridges covered in coral. Keep your eyes open for big pelagic.

Komodo is known for its cooler waters, beautiful corals, impressive fish life, and fast currents. In the north of Komodo we have the Flores Sea, where depths reach 5,000 metres just a few miles from the coast—or even more towards the Banda Sea.

In the south, we have the Indian Ocean with great depths a few miles out. Komodo has an average depth of about 150 metres, so when we have tidal movement of 2 metres rising or falling tide, the water comes from very deep and needs to rush through Flores and Komodo Island, where only shallow water is found. The consequences are that the water has to pass between islands at high speed, forming currents that provide nutrients and oxygen-rich waters to the fish and the coral reef. 

Final day of diving with 1-2 scheduled dives - sailing back to the harbour.

Day 15: 

After breakfast and check-out, we start preparing for disembarkation. We say goodbye to our guests and wish them farewell! The crew will organize the transfer to the airport and assist at check-in for onward flights.

Sample itineraries are for guidance only. Actual itineraries may differ slightly due to factors such as weather, wildlife, logistics and local regulations.