Banda Sea Scuba Diving

Manuk Island

Only in favourable conditions will any Banda Sea liveaboard consider visiting this remote spot. It lies 100 km off the usual itinerary to the south of the route that connects Banda Neira with Koon Island. High seas (and high oil prices) make a visit here a rarity and something to be treasured. This sulphurous volcanic island is uninhabited and far from human impact.

Manuk is home to a thriving population of seas snakes and you can expect to see many examples here, most commonly the often seen banded sea krait and the more rare Chinese sea snake in colours of brown and green. The snakes are curious and may swim around you as you watch them snake their way through the water column. Although highly venomous, they do not normally come so close to unnerve you and records of divers being bitten are exceptionally rare. Why there are so many sea snakes here is open to speculation with some believing the warm sand and other geothermal conditions are helpful to these cold blooded creatures and their eggs.

Although the sea snakes are the stars of the show, the reefs are in great health with cabbage corals, porites and barrel sponges rising up from the warm brown volcanic sand where at times you can witness bubbling geothermal gas. Fish swarm around the island's circumference, with barracuda aplenty including chevron and yellow-tailed varieties. Jacks, rainbow runners, and sleek unicornfish are present in large impressive numbers. The topography of this site, with its many vertical undulations and fingers stretching out into the sea, mean that there is plenty to be explored and with water as balmy as 31°C, you will be in no hurry to emerge from the action.

Manuk Island Reef Basics: Sloping reef and ridges
Depth: 10 - 30m
Visibility: 15 - 30m
Currents: None - moderate
Surface conditions: Can be choppy
Water temperature: 26 - 31°C
Experience level: Beginner
Number of dive sites: 3
Diving season: March, April, and mid-September to mid-December
Distance: ~100 km (7 hours) southeast of Banda Neira
Access: Banda Sea liveaboards

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