Mari Itinerary

Raja Ampat, Misool and Banda East (SOQ - SXK)

Day 1 - After a short transfer in the morning to the harbour from Sorong Airport or your hotel, you will be welcomed onboard the KLM Mari liveaboard. A boat and tour briefing will follow, then you will set up your scuba gear and check in to your cabin. Lunch, dinner, and snacks such as fruit, candy bars, or ice cream will be served as Mari cruises out to Pulau Nustanbu for a test dive before continuing on north to our first Forgotten Island: Nildesperandum. Variety and fresh produce are the basis of our menu, and a fusion of Asian and International cuisine, as well as local specialties, is served in the spacious outside dining area with a 270° view of the beautiful surroundings.

Day 2 - Today we have the pleasure of diving at Nildesperandum. It is an extensive submerged reef with a relatively shallow reef top and walls that drop into the depths. There are impressive schools of fish, predatory action, and the chance to further encounter Hammerhead sharks. Visibility is normally very good and the The reeff is healthy with large sponges and beautiful coral. If the weather and sea conditions allow, there is an option to dive at Dusborgh reef. At the end of an action-filled dive day, we turn further north and sail towards Pulau Serua during the night.

Day 3 - The island of Serua—or Seroa—is home to the Volcano Serua. The diving around this volcanic island—rising from the deep Banda Sea far in the open ocean—is filled with adrenaline as we are on the search for Hammerhead Sharks. Shallow reef tops give way to sloping reefs and walls that plunge into the deep. Abundant coral, giant sponges, and schooling fish such as Trevally, Surgeonfish, and fusiliers fill the water around the island. But always keep your eye out in the blue water for schooling Hammerhead sharks. Sea snakes can also be seen on most dives. The currents here can be strong and exciting. We will have 3-4 dives this day. Overnight we continue North to Manuk Island.

Day 4 – Pulau Manuk is another volcanic island where we dive while the sulphurous smoke is swirling around the peak. The occasional smell of sulfur and sight of smoke rising from this active volcano give you a sense that you are in the land of the lost. Keep your fingers crossed for Hammerhead sharks. Manuk is also known as "The Island of Sea Snakes" and/or "The Island of the Birds." Thousands of seabirds inhabit the island, from frigate birds to boobies; it’s a spectacle you will enjoy. Underwater sea snakes are present by the dozens: black and white banded snakes, but also green ones, completely oblivious of the divers, and if we are lucky, we’ll see them hunting in a pack. The reefs along this island are beautiful, a mix of walls and slopes with corals in all colors and sizes and enormous barrel sponges. In between, you always will spot some sharks, tuna, and jacks. Overnight we continue north towards the Banda Islands—Tanjung Buton, Hatta Reef, Pulau Run, and Suanggi.

Days 5-6 - These 2 days, we dive around Tanjung Buton, Hatta Reef, and Pulau Run near Banda Neira. There are walls, reefs, and coral gardens with an abundance of fish, a chance to see sharks, and also macro life. At the end of Day 6 we will cross northbound to our last Forgotten Island—Pulau Suanggi

Day 7 - We wake up to the sight of a volcano in the middle of nowhere! Several species of seabirds circle overhead as we dive 3-4 times daily around Pulau Suanggi. Beautiful corals and a multitude of fish species call Suanggi their home. Same as Pulau Manuk, Suanggi is also known as "The Island of Sea Snakes"—so get ready for another breathtaking encounter with these elegant creatures.

Day 8 – After a night crossing, we will leave the Banda Sea and near the gateway to the Seram Sea: Koon Island, at a conservation area and therefore a no-take fish zone. For this very reason, some divers call this dive site "fish soup." Again, a very remote location that lies between the Seram, Arafura, and Banda Seas, fish and corals thrive here like never seen before, feeding off very nutritious currents. From here the journey continues through the Seram Sea into Raja Ampat South. Next stop: Misool Selacan in Raja Ampat
South

Days 9-11 – Misool’s small surrounding islands, such as Daram, Warakaraket, or the Yellus, are a soft coral paradise and another breathtakingly beautiful area of Raja Ampat. Misool can be divided into many areas where we can spend the whole day at a selection of amazing dive sites. Daram is in the very east of these islands and has inviting names such as Eagles Nest, Karang Bayangan, Yuliet, Nudi Rock, and Boo Window. With its abundance of stunning dive sites and the natural beauty of karst limestone and jungle-clad
islands, this area invites us to linger for several days.

Day 12 – Our last day of diving will be around Puri Pinnacle—aka Anti-chovies—and Tank Rock Pinnacle. Those Seamounts come to within 5-6 meters of the surface. Various bommies are found adjacent to and along the seamount’s rim. The sea fan forests here are awe-inspiring and covered with colourful invertebrates and schools of fish. During the early part of the dive year, September-December, the site is usually covered with clouds of silversides. After our dives are finished, we sail towards Sorong, arriving in the early morning of D13.

Day 13 - Prepare to leave the boat between 5-11 am, after a continental breakfast (or possibly lunch, depending on your post-cruise schedule). Say good-bye to your fellow guests and wish the boat crew farewell before a complimentary transfer takes you to either Saumlaki Airport or your hotel.

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