Oct 29 – Nov 7, 2026

This trip is designed for divers who want to experience the best of both worlds: the celebrated "muck diving" of Ambon Bay and the pristine, biodiverse reefs of the Banda Sea, which is part of the legendary "Spice Islands." Trip Highlights: • Ambon Bay: Hunting for rare and unusual critters on the famous black and white sand slopes. • Banda Islands: Exploring historic sites and diving on pristine coral reefs, seamounts, and volcanic slopes. • Pelagic Action: A chance of encountering large schools of fish, tunas, and even schooling hammerhead sharks. • Historical Significance: A topside excursion on Banda Neira to visit historic site Fort Belgica, the nutmeg plantations, and the old colonial town. Sample Itinerary Day 1: Arrival in Ambon & First Dives • We will organise a taxi to collect you from either Ambon Airport (AMQ) or your hotel to take you to the meeting point. • We then transfer you to Jelajahi Laut. • We’ll give you our welcome briefing and a tour around the boat, then you’ll get ready to enjoy your first check dive to get acquainted with the gear and the local conditions, the famous muck diving sites of Ambon Bay • Possible Dive Sites: Start with a site like Laha, a series of sites that are excellent for finding frogfish, Ambon scorpionfish, and nudibranchs. Day 2: Muck Diving & Journey to Banda • Spend the morning exploring more of Ambon's unique muck diving sites. • Possible Dive Sites: Rhino City, known for its rhinopias scorpionfish, or the Critter Junction to hunt for mimic octopus. • Jelajahi Laut will begin her overnight journey across the Banda Sea toward the islands in the late afternoon. Day 3: Banda Islands - The Pelagic Highway • The first full day of diving in the Banda Sea is often on the remote seamounts and pinnacles. This is a crucial time to look for large marine life. o Possible Dive Sites: Sites like Nil Desperandum or Suanggi Island are known as potential hotspots for schooling hammerhead sharks so if we’re lucky we have a chance to see them. Days 4-6: Banda Neira & Surrounding Islands • Spend multiple days exploring the heart of the Banda Islands. This is a time for both phenomenal diving and historical exploration. • Possible Dive Sites: o Lava Flow (Gunung Api): A unique site where corals have rapidly regrown on a volcanic lava flow, creating a vibrant, young reef. o Pulau Hatta: Famous for its steep walls, excellent visibility, and schools of fusiliers, snappers, and groupers. o Karang Hatta: A pinnacle that attracts large pelagics like tuna and mackerel. o Batu Kapal: A submerged pinnacle that is a popular spot for schooling fish and reef sharks. • Topside Excursion: A tour on Banda Neira to visit historic sites like Fort Belgica, the nutmeg plantations, and the old colonial town. Day 7: Run Island and Ai Island • We’ll move to the western side of the Banda Islands, where the reefs are in pristine condition. • Possible Dive Sites: o Nailaka: A beautiful reef with a good chance of seeing eagle rays and turtles. o Pulau Ai: Dive on the walls and pinnacles here, which are covered in healthy coral and frequented by large schools of fish. Day 8: Journey Back to Ambon • Enjoy a few last dives in the Banda area before we begin the journey back to Ambon. • Possible Dive Sites: A final dive on a reef or wall before the overnight crossing. Day 9-10: Ambon Bay - Final Dives • Enjoy the last couple of days of diving, focusing on some of the excellent sites you may have missed. o Possible Dive Sites: Pintu Kota, an archway dive with beautiful corals, or a final night dive for macro life. Important This is a sample itinerary only; the final route may vary. Weather and tides play a big role in safety and planning, which is why the Cruise Director and Captain plan every day accordingly. For any special requests, please don’t hesitate to contact us beforehand or chat with the Cruise Director on the boat. *Please note: Before booking your return flight, our last dive will be on the final day of the trip, and we will arrive back at Ambon Harbour around 3-4pm – please observe the 24-hour no-fly surface interval. Upon arrival at the harbour, we will organise a transfer for you to take you to your hotel, you’ll need to get your return flight from Ambon Airport (AMQ).