Expedition Biru Banda Sea | 14-20 September 2026

Dive the Indonesian archipelago, with purpose.

Expedition Biru runs small-group liveaboard expeditions through the wildest, least-dived corners of eastern Indonesia. Founded by Wendy Mitchell and Iris Uijttewaal, each voyage pairs serious diving with marine science, conservation storytelling and years of on-the-ground experience in the region.

Every expedition is capped at a small group, hosted aboard a traditionally-built phinisi, and shaped by its destination: hammerhead seamounts and spice-trade history in the Banda Sea, the reefs of Raja Ampat and Misool, and the untouched waters of Halmahera. What stays constant is the team, the conservation focus, and the commitment to the region.

Your Expedition Leaders, Iris & Wendy

This expedition is hosted by Wendy Mitchell and Iris Uijttewaal, the founders of Expedition Biru. Since falling in love with Indonesia back in 2014, they have spent over a decade managing conservation-focused diving operations in the country, most of it in Raja Ampat. Cruise directing liveaboards and managing NGOs, they have visited every corner of the archipelago’s 1,700 islands, learning the dive sites, the currents, the local culture and the local language along the way.

Their passion for Indonesia’s cultures and underwater world made them fluent in Bahasa Indonesia, and gave them both a camera habit, always with conservation in mind. Wendy has worked with organisations including Greenpeace and Oceanographic Magazine; Iris, who still lives on a five-square-kilometre island in the heart of Raja Ampat, has had her photography published in National Geographic Traveller UK.

Their deep ties with local communities and years spent exploring Indonesia’s remotest reefs mean you’re not just joining a liveaboard, you’re joining insiders who reveal hidden dive sites, share regional history, and help you see each encounter through the lens of conservation. Expect expert guidance underwater, engaging evening workshops, and an atmosphere that feels more like a passionate community than a tour.

My six years spent on Arborek, a tiny island in the heart of the archipelago, are testament to my love for this region. Everything here feels vividly alive; the coral reefs, the rich culture, even the skies painting stunning sunsets and sunrises. It’s unbeatable.

Iris Uijttewaal

Cruise directing a liveaboard in this region taught me more than just its dive sites, it gave me a language, friendships, and a deep love for this place. Sharing it with others comes naturally, and I hope it inspires people to protect what’s beneath the surface.

Wendy Mitchell

Past Expeditions

Expedition Biru has been running small-group liveaboard voyages in Raja Ampat and the Banda Sea for several seasons, each one fully hosted by Wendy and Iris themselves. Here’s what past guests have said about joining them.

It was my first liveaboard experience, and the group they put together worked out amazingly. With the team’s intimate knowledge about the dive spots and area, I learned a lot about the region and culture of Raja Ampat. I can’t wait to get back!

Sigrun Eis, Raja Ampat expedition

My Raja trip was beyond my expectations. On this very unique expedition, we were treated like royalty. It is evident that they love what they do and they know what they’re doing. It was truly the perfect trip. Wendy and Iris nailed it!

Heather Doran, Raja Ampat expedition

Our Why

Often described as one of the last strongholds of thriving coral reefs, eastern Indonesia remains extraordinary, yet it is not immune to change. The impacts of warming seas are increasingly visible, from coral stress to shifting fish populations and fewer large pelagics. In response, our liveaboard expeditions were designed to directly fund opportunities for young local women to enter the dive industry and marine conservation sector.

We provide PADI dive certifications and structured dive internships, equipping participants with internationally recognised qualifications, practical experience, and ongoing mentorship. We collaborate exclusively with women-owned dive operators, and all training is delivered by female instructors, creating strong role models while ensuring financial support flows back into women within the industry.

Over the past year, Persila and Pinjalin, two young women from Arborek, have completed their PADI Open Water certifications and are about to begin their Advanced Open Water training. Watching their confidence grow underwater has been one of the program’s proudest milestones. Each booking on an Expedition Biru voyage increases the program’s capacity to train more women, equip them with dive gear, and continue long-term mentorship once the course is complete.

Conservation runs through every part of the program, not just who is trained but what they’re trained to do. Reef monitoring, species surveys and photography all feed into the same goal: building a generation of local divers who can document and protect their own reefs.