Ondina Itinerary
North Banda Sea (AMQ)11 days / 10 nights
About Ondina
- Comfortable, informal, and affordable setting ideal for dedicated divers
- Exceptional customer service with a nearly 1:1 crew to guest ratio
- Extended itineraries visiting some of Raja Ampat’s less explored areas
- Outstanding facilities for divers and photographers
SMY Ondina liveaboard focuses on the essentials, providing flexible, sociable, & affordable dive itineraries around Raja Ampat, Banda, the Forgotten Islands, & Cenderawasih Bay. With great diving facilities and experience in catering to professional and newly-qualified divers, SMY Ondina is able to satisfy every guest.
Itinerary details
Length of trip 11 days / 10 nights
Number of dives 30
Experience Advanced Open Water - Minimum 50 dives
Insurance Required
Highlights
- Circular itinerary focussing on the Banda Sea’s Ring of Fire
- Dive with hundreds of sea snakes at the remote Manuk Island
- Explore the Banda Sea's swim-throughs and deep walls
- Encounter hammerheads at current-swept sites such as Nil Desperandum.
- Dive the world-class muck diving sites of Ambon
- Enjoy Ambon’s world-class muck diving and spot the psychedelic frogfish
- Land visit to the 17th-century Fort Belgica on Banga Neira
DAY 1:
Transfer to the boat upon arrival, welcome drink and accommodation. Check out a dive inside Ambon Bay, in Pantai Nama or The Twilight Zone. Overnight sail to the Banda group.
DAY 2:
Three day dives in Pulau Suanggi, the northernmost island of the Banda group. A group of submerged coral hills with pristine coral, lots of fish and common sightings of pelagics. Overnight sail to Pulau Manuk.
DAY 3:
Diving around this small volcanic island with colonies of seabirds flying above. Underwater, several ridges display extraordinary colors and are populated by numerous sea snakes, while large fauna is occasionally sighted. Overnight sail to Nil Desperandum.
DAY 4:
Full diving day in Nil Desperandum, a reef patch surrounded by deep water where schools of hammerheads and other sharks are often seen. Sail to Pulau Serua in the afternoon.
DAY 5:
Full diving day around Pulau Serua, again one of the best sites for spotting schools of hammerheads. Afternoon visit to the isolated village up the slopes of the volcano and night dive in one of the sheltered bays. Night sail to the Banda group.
DAY 6:
Full diving day around Pulau Hatta and Karang Hatta, located at the southern part of the Banda group and consisting of extraordinary walls with fish life to match. Afternoon sail to Bandaneira, probably the most beautiful natural anchorage in Indonesia, followed by a Mandarin dive at dusk.
DAY 7:
Cultural visit around Banda Neira, the heart of the Spice Islands: Fort Rotterdam, Culture House, the Governor's House, and the nutmeg plantation. After the tour, some of the famous sites, such as Batu Kapal, Pohon Mirin or Lava Flows. In the evening, traditional dinner at a restored colonial house in Banda Neira.
DAYS 8-9:
Three day dives in the walls of the other islands of the Banda group: Pulau Hatta and Run. Overnight sail to Nusa Laut.
DAY 10:
Two morning dives at the famous site Ameth’s Knoll, a reef parallel to the coast that the local villagers have protected since the old times, to allow fish to spawn and spill over to adjacent areas. Afternoon sail back to Ambon while preparing for the departure the morning after.
DAY 11:
Check out and transfer to the airport.
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
12:00pm
Ambon
Pattimura International Airport: AMQ
Return
12:00pm
Ambon
Pattimura International Airport: AMQ
Current availability and prices: https://www.zubludiving.com/itineraries/ondina/itn-2304200715141-north-banda-sea-amq-