Solitude Adventurer Itinerary

Ambon - Banda Sea and Raja Ampat

Day 1: Ambon
The crew will be waiting to greet you at Pattimura International Airport in Ambon. After you are comfortably settled on board and have completed registration, there will be a safety/orientation briefing. After lunch, schedule allowing, we will have a check dive at one of the famous macro dive sites in Laha, Ambon. Black sand slopes full of strange and interesting marine critters await you! During the night we will sail to the Banda Islands.

Days 2-3: Banda Sea
Begin to experience the beauty of the Banda Sea with its healthy corals and giant sponges. The reefs and walls are packed full of fish, and there’s a chance to encounter the hammerhead shark! We will have 3-4 dives each day around the islands of the Banda Sea. There’s also an optional land tour to visit an old Dutch fort and learn a little history of the Spice Islands. Depending on the weather, we may sail south to visit Maunk or spend 1 more day around the Banda Islands and then sail through the night northwards to Koon Island.

Day 4: Manuk Island
Weather allowing, we made our way south to the island of Manuk. We wake up to the sight of a volcano in the middle of nowhere! Several species of seabirds circle overhead. We have 3-4 dives around Manuk Island today. Beautiful corals and a multitude of fish species call this place home. You will have a chance to dive with many sea snakes today, as Manuk Island is also called “Snake Island.” Sail overnight northward to Koon Island.

Day 5: Koon Island
The reef is a mixture of sloping white sand with patchy reef and coral-covered walls descending into the deep. Currents can be strong here, and all the dives are drift dives. Schools of bigeye trevally, snapper, sweetlips, and many other small reef fish crowd the reefs. Whitetip and grey reef sharks can also be seen patrolling the area. Big Napoleon wrasse and even Goliath groupers can sometimes be found here. We have 3-4 dives here today. Overnight sail to Misool

Day 6-8: Misool
Continue the adventure in the south of Raja Ampat around the big island of Misool. Misool is full of vibrant coral reefs teeming with marine life. A variety of pygmy seahorse species can be found hiding on the giant gorgonian fans. The area is comprised of countless limestone islands, which give shelter to an array of reef-dwelling fish. The reefs are abundant with a rainbow of healthy soft and hard corals, and pelagic species can be seen patrolling the reefs looking for a meal. If you’re lucky, you may encounter the endemic Raja Ampat epaulette shark (walking shark) or manta ray. We have 3-4 dives each day. After that, we sail farther north into the heart of Raja Ampat

Days 9-12: Raja Ampat
We spend the next few days diving in lively reefs, pinnacles, and slope walls. Now in the middle of Raja Ampat, we can see a number of different shark species, including the wobbegong shark (carpet shark), which can be found camouflaging on the reef. There are whitetip and blacktip reef sharks on most dives, and the occasional grey reef shark as well. As we make our way through the Fam Islands, Gam Island, and along Mansuar Island, we have a chance to see mangroves and panoramas of lush green tree-covered islands while exploring an array of dive sites. We will have 3-4 dives each day and an optional land excursion one of the days. On the last day of diving, we have 2 morning dives. After we have finished, enjoy your lunch as we cruise back to Sorong.

Day 12: Sorong (Disembark)

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