Diving in the Banda Islands

Liveaboard cruises in the Banda Sea

Set in the heart of Indonesia in splendid isolation are the Banda Islands, which have a rich and important history. Nowadays liveaboard divers are discovering the high value of the life beneath its waters' surface. They are blessed with some of the finest diving in the country.

The remoteness of the islands in the wide open Banda Sea, and the low levels of human population, have meant less fishing pressures, and a vibrant, natural and healthy reef system. The results of this is that you can expect reefs bursting with life, huge seafans and sponges, some monumental hard corals, and more fish than your mask can cope with.

While big fish and pelagics might be the most obvious draw card for the area, its true value is in the extraordinary variety and sheer volume of fish life, both in terms of large and small marine life.

Some of the creatures worthy of special mention here that characterise diving in the Banda Sea are the preponderance of dogtooth tuna and mobula rays. At most sites you'll see enormous schools of fusiliers and thousands of redtooth tirggerfish. At the other end of the size scale, there are prolific mandarinfish and the native Ambon scorpionfish. Cetaceans are frequent visitors too, and Banda liveaboards often report sightings of spinner dolphins, orcas, and various whale species, including melonhead, pilot, blue, and humpback whales. One certainty is that you will see plenty of big stuff as well as no shortage of colourful reef life.

Diving is usually comfortable, with mild currents, good visibility and calm waters, but some of the dive sites are subject to stronger currents that make them suitable for experienced divers only.

If you have been to Banda Islands before then you will be planning to return already. If you have not, then now is the time to experience the splendour of the Banda Sea before the word spreads ...

Highlights

Everyone likes different things, and while a whale shark might be heaven to you, your buddy could be more keen on spotting pygmy seahorses. However, the beauty of Banda is that there is such a wide range of creatures that most divers will be delighted with their underwater encounters. Even the most world-weary diver will be in raptures at the sheer density of marine life. To illustrate what diving in the Banda Islands has to offer, we afford special mention to ...

Karang Hatta - be mesmerised by flashing, yellow clouds of never-ending schools of fusiliers, and watch out for eagle rays, barracuda, tuna and scalloped hammerheads. Check out sponges so huge you won't believe your eyes, and enjoy the vast variety of life including turtles, mobula rays, trevally and more in this rich and diverse spot.

Batu Kapal - unique in the Banda Islands area with its series of pinnacles, this site features towering barrel sponges and awe-inspiringly huge gorgonian fans, as well as colourful fields of tunicates and soft corals. Add to this the big pelagics, potato cod, barracuda and grey reef sharks near the pinnacles' bases and the myriad little reef dwellers in the shallows, and you begin to see why this site is among the favourites of those lucky enough to be diving the Banda Sea.

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How to Dive Banda

The Banda Sea is vast, and to experience the widest variety of dive sites in the region, including Ambon, we recommend you hop onto an Indonesian liveaboard.

Diving Season

The amazing dive sites of the Banda Sea are best visited in March and April and during the September to December period. The weather is a little inconsistent outside of these times.

Reef Summary

Great for: Large animals, small animals, visibility, underwater photography, wall dives, reef life and health, and advanced divers
Not so great for: Diving for beginners
Depth: 5 - >40m
Visibility: 15 - 30m
Currents: Gentle, but can be strong
Surface conditions: Calm
Water temperature: 26 - 29°C
Experience level: Intermediate - advanced
Number of dive sites: ~25 (plus ~30 more in the greater Lucipara and Ambon/Seram/Nusa Laut region)
Distance: ~200 km east southeast of Ambon (14 hours), 320 south west of Sorong (Irian Jaya, 16 hours)
Access: Banda liveaboards
Recommended length of stay: 1 - 2 weeks

Dive Site Descriptions

For more details on the Banda Islands dive sites:

Nearby Banda Sea Region

• Banda Islands tourist information

View a map of:
• Banda Islands  -  Indonesia

• Scuba diving vacation enquiries

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