MSY Seahorse

This 11 days / 10 nights trip runs along the so called “ring of Fire” in the Banda Sea and visits the best dive sites of this area. It offers outstanding diving and is a perfect itinerary for encounters with the Schooling hammerhead sharks that roam the Banda Sea during this season.

Our adventure will begin in Saumlaki where you are awaited on our vessel before 12 noon, and will end up in Ambon as well where we will disembark before 12 noon.

We organize your pick up and drop off at the airport or at your hotel.

THE DIVING

The Banda Sea is one of the best Indonesian dive destinations. It offers a great variety of dive sites among beautiful tiny islands and large reefs. Many of the dive sites are steep drop off with impressive hard corals, huge sponges of all kinds, pastel black corals bushes and an intense fish life. Tunas, Spanish mackerel, giant trevallies schools of trevallies and barracudas and other pelagic fish are part of the show, together with the occurrence of the hammerheads, either in small groups or in big shoals. Other type of dive sites includes great critters dives - especially in the bay of Ambon - and beautiful fringing reefs.

THE HAMMERHEADS

The hammerheads are in the Banda Sea from September to end November. Their presence is related to the upwellings that cool the upper layers of the Banda sea. Those upwellings themselves depends on the SE winds that occur in Indonesia from June to September. Therefore the best chances to see the Hammerheads is when the water is the coolest, Mid-September to Mid-November.

A minimum of 33 dives (3 dives per day) is offered during the trip, including at least 5 night dives.

The last dive is the Penultimate day at 8 am.

SNORKELING

Our trips are open to snorkelers. Most of the dive sites offer great snorkeling opportunities with a lot to see in shallow waters, and we offer specific guidance for snorkelers.

ACTIVITIES

The itinerary includes a lot of opportunities to go on land and some visits to discover the people, the nature and the history of this rich area. The Banda islands (constituted of Banda Neira, Banda, Hatta, Ai and Run) were at the centre of the spices trades during the XVI century. They were the original Spice Islands and the most coveted destination on earth, particularly by the Portuguese, the English and the Dutch. All three countries fought fiercely for the area’s goods. Having won the battle, the Dutch colonized the islands and exported the nutmeg and cloves. We will go down on the island of Banda Neira and visit the village, the fort and the museum for a glimpse of the Banda history.

We will also visit a nutmeg plantation on the nearby island of Hatta. The guests are always welcome to use the dinghies (with a boatman) to go on shore at any time, as long as the schedule allows it. There are many opportunities to go on land for a short visit during the trip, visit some small villages, walk on a desert beach, so never hesitate to ask our crew.

Our complementary kayaks are also available to go on shore or in the lagoons whenever the boat is anchored.

WEATHER

End of October the South east monsoon has already ended and the sea is generally flat except some local thunder storms. As we are very close to the equator, a few showers are always probable.

VISIBILITY

We can expect a good visibility in the Banda Sea.

TEMPERATURE

The sea temperature will be 28° to 29°C (80 to 84°F) in the Band Sea.

CURRENTS

On this itinerary the currents are generally moderate on most of the dive sites, however there will most probably be some consistent currents in some occasions. Wallacea Dive Cruises has a long experience diving these dive sites and always pays attention to dive in the right places at the right time to avoid difficult or dangerous currents. Before each dive, our guides conduct current checks so that our briefings

will always inform you about the diving conditions.

ITINERARY & NAVIGATION

This itinerary goes along the so called ”ring of fire”, a bow shaped succession of volcanic islands in the Banda Sea.

After leaving Saumlaki on Tanimbar island, our first day of diving will be on Dai island. These granite islands, part of the Babar island group, offers fantastic dive sites with great fish life, including eventual encounters with hammerhead sharks.

A night navigation will bring us to Nila island. The small Nila island offers nice diving on a gentle slope with a good critter life.

Our next step that we reach after an early morning navigation is Nil Desperandum, a large offshore reef. It offers a fantastic drop off with great fish life, huge barrel sponges and is also a spot for hammerheads.

Going North - East we will reach Serua, which consists in two small islands. Fabulous diving around those islands lost in the middle of the Banda Sea. One drop off offers high chances to find the schooling hammerheads. In order to maximise the chances of

encounter, we dive very early in the morning and a bit late in the afternoon.

Overnight navigation to Manuk island, a volcanic island that is a nesting home for many seabirds. Underwater, the sulphur traces of volcanic activity can be seen. The diving signature is the abundance of sea snakes, both Aipy-surus and Laticauda. Hammerheads are also roaming around, but generally only individuals or small groups.

Our next destination is the Banda islands group, that includes the islands of Hatta, Run, Ai, Banda and Banda Neira. The diving around those islands is very rewarding. One of the highlight is a dive along the lava flow of the “Gunung Api” (the fire mountain); the last eruption was in 1988 and we can see how the corals and huge

sponges did grow back since then. We will stop in Banda Neira for a land visit. Drop offs with great visibility, rich fish life and occasional hammerheads can be found around the islands of Run, Hatta and Ai.

The island of Suanggi, about 20 NM from Banda, is another hot spot for hammerhead schools and marine life.

On our way to Ambon, we stop one day on the island Nusa Laut for the great dive sites of Ahmet.

The last dive of the trip will be of a very different kind, with the famous muck diving of Laha in the bay of Ambon.

Check in from 6 am to 12 noon. SEAHORSE crew are standing by to Welcome you onboard. Cabin allocation and ship orientation, safety Briefing and crew Introduction will take place before departing.

*Note: This is a sample itinerary and nº of dives, dive sites, etc. may be subject to change due to weather conditions and other unforseeable factors

Check out from 6 am to 12 noon. Group photos with the crew before farewell. Disembarkation after breakfast. Transfer to airport or hotel.

Embark on an unforgettable journey to discover the untamed wonders of Komodo National Park.

This 11 days/10 nights itinerary combine the worldly famous Komodo National Park with the secret beauty of the little-known Sumbawa islands.

Our cruise starts in Flores and finishes in Bali. We will start with The Komodo National Park where we spend most of our time, then we will visit some secret spots around Sumbawa and stop by the dynamics Gili’s Island before reaching Bali.

Some of the most renown scuba diving sites and pristine sceneries in the world awaits you. From the tiniest marine critters to big pelagic animals like manta rays, this itinerary will accommodate everyone’s taste!

Our adventure will begin in Labuan Bajo where you are awaited on our vessel before 12 noon, and will end up in Bali where we will disembark before 12 noon. We organize your pick up and drop off at the airport or at your hotel.

THE DIVING

Komodo offers a wide variety of dives: pelagic dives with sharks in strong currents, gentle drift dives, wall dives (colourful drop-offs, monumental boulders, seamounts, pinnacles and sandy slopes) and macro dives. You can also find manta rays, turtles and if you are lucky enough, some whale sharks!

In the north, you can find a collection of the world’s most beautiful varieties of reefs, boasting a rich combination of hard and soft corals, shoals of anthias, wrasses, angelfishes, and also predators, reef sharks, tunas, and giant kingfish.

In the south, you will see more soft corals with an amazing profusion of colours, and even more macro (and manta rays too!). The water is rather cold and the temperature can drop down to 23 ° C in July and August.

The Wallacea typical “Labuan Bajo-Bali” 10-days trip covers all the famous dive sites of Komodo National Park, Moyo, Sangean, Banta and ends with the islands of Gili. We choose the dive sites according to the prevailing conditions during the trip.

A minimum of 33 dives (3 dives per day) is offered during the trip, including at least 5 night dives.

SNORKELING

Our trips are open to snorkelers. Most of the dive sites offer great snorkeling opportunities with a lot to see in shallow waters. We offer specific guidance for snorkelers.

ACTIVITIES

Besides the diving, we offer some activities along the trip according to weather conditions and the final trip itinerary. In the Komodo national park, we will organise a guided tour at the ranger station to encounter the stars of the area: the unfamous Komodo Dragons. We will also climb up the most iconic hills such as Padar and Pink Beach to enjoy their delightful viewpoint.

At the Gili’s islands, you can set foot on shore to discover the vibrant life of this little paradise and enjoy a drink while watching the sunset.

You can also ask a boatman to bring you a shore at any time, as long as the schedule allows it. Our 2 complementary kayaks are also available to go on shore or in the lagoons whenever the boat is anchored. All these activities are subject to weather conditions as well as the planned daily schedule and itinerary.

WEATHER

The weather is usually very good during this time of year with low rain and wind, and ambient temperature around 30 C. The sea is generally calm in this area.

VISIBILITY

Visibility is excellent in the whole north part of the strait and on the way from Denpasar to Komodo. In the south it may be lower in some specific areas or for short periods.

TEMPERATURE

Water temperature is 28 °C (82 °F) in the north. Much cooler in the south around 22 °C (72 °F)

CURRENTS

Komodo Park is well known for its consistent currents.

Wallacea Dive Cruise has a real experience of the scuba diving sites. We pay very much attention to diving at the right place at the right time in order to avoid that uncomfortable current. before each dive, briefings will inform you about the diving conditions, and advises will be given to always keep the dives safe. A reef hook can be useful.

ITINERARY & NAVIGATION

The map shows the general cruise itinerary. It can slightly vary depending on weather conditions, currents, visibility, and tides. There are 3 overnight crossings on the trip, otherwise, we navigate between dives or in the early morning.

KOMODO NATIONAL PARK

This 1.700 km2 marine protected area boasts incredible biodiversity underwater. Divers can encounter an impressive range of marine creatures, including manta rays, sharks (white tip, black tip, grey...) turtles, Napoleon wrasses, octopuses, pygmy seahorses, and an array of colorful reef fishes. The park is also known for its great

diversity of fixed fauna. The north of the park is predominantly colonized by hard coral whereas the south has an impressive range of soft coral and tunicates.

SUMBAWA

After leaving the Komodo National Park, we spend 3 days around the large island of Sumbawa on the way to Bali. These locations include Pulau Moyo in the north, Sangeang in the north-east tip and Banta in the east. All these locations offer stunning diving with a wide marine biodiversity to discover. Seamounts, walls, Pinnacles, coral gardens, drift dives and Macro dives in the volcanic sand of Sangeang.

GILI ISLANDS

Located in the northwest of Lombok Island, The Gili’s offer easy dives. Wreck dives, diverse macro life, lots of turtles, reef sharks and plenty of colorful reef fishes and nice coral gardens.

Check in from 6 am to 12 noon. SEAHORSE crew are standing by to Welcome you onboard. Cabin allocation and ship orientation, safety Briefing and crew Introduction will take place before departing.

*Note: This is a sample itinerary and number of dives, dive sites, etc. may be subject to change due to weather conditions and other unforseeable factors

Check out from 6 am to 12 noon. Group photos with the crew before farewell. Disembarkation after breakfast. Transfer to airport or hotel.

Embark on an unforgettable journey to discover the untamed wonders of Komodo National Park.

This 11 days / 10 nights itinerary combine the secret beauty of the little-known Sumbawa islands with the magnificence of the worldly famous Komodo National Park.

Our cruise starts in Bali and finishes in Flores. We will stop on the way by the dynamics Gili’s Islands and some secret spots around Sumbawa before

reaching The Komodo National Park where we spend most of our time.

Some of the most renown scuba diving sites and pristine sceneries in the world awaits you. From the tiniest marine critters to big pelagic animals like manta rays, this itinerary will accommodate everyone’s taste!

Our adventure will begin in Bali where you are awaited on our vessel before 12 noon, and will end up in Labuan Bajo where we will disembark before 12 noon. We organize your pick up and drop off at the airport or at your hotel.

THE DIVING

In the north, you can find a collection of the world’s most beautiful varieties of reefs, boasting a rich combination of hard and soft corals, shoals of anthias, wrasses, angelfishes, and also predators, reef sharks, tunas, and giant kingfish.

In the south, you will see more soft corals with an amazing profusion of colours, and even more macro (and manta rays too!). The water is rather cold and the temperature can drop down to 22°C (82°F) in July and August.

Komodo offers a wide variety of dives: pelagic dives with sharks in strong currents, gentle drift dives, wall dives (colourful drop-offs, monumental boulders, seamounts, pinnacles and sandy slopes) and macro dives. You can also find manta rays, turtles and if you are lucky enough, some whale sharks!

The Wallacea typical “Bali-Labuan Bajo” 12-days trip covers the islands of Gili, Moyo, Sangean, Banta and ends with all the famous dive sites of Komodo National Park. We choose the dive sites according to the prevailing conditions during the trip.

A minimum of 30 dives (3 dives per day) is offered during the trip, including at least 5 night dives.

SNORKELING

Our trips are open to snorkelers. Most of the dive sites offer great snorkeling opportunities with a lot to see in shallow waters. We offer specific guidance for snorkelers.

ACTIVITIES

Besides the diving, we offer some activities along the trip according to weather conditions and the final trip itinerary.

At the Gili’s islands, you can set foot on shore to discover the vibrant life of this little paradise and enjoy a drink while watching the sunset.

In the Komodo national park, we will organise a guided tour at the ranger station to encounter the stars of the area: the unfamous Komodo Dragons.

We will also climb up the most iconic hills such as Padar and Pink Beach to enjoy their delightful viewpoint.

You can also ask a boatman to bring you on shore at any time, as long as the schedule allows it.

Our 2 complementary kayaks are also available to go on shore or in the lagoons whenever the boat is anchored. All these activities are subject to weather conditions as well as the planned daily schedule and itinerary.

WEATHER

The weather is usually very good during this time of year with low rain and wind, and ambient temperature around 30°C (86°F). The sea is generally calm in this area.

VISIBILITY

Visibility is excellent in the whole north part of the strait and on the way from Denpasar to Komodo. In the south it may be lower in some specific areas or for short periods.

TEMPERATURE

Water temperature is 28 °C (82 °F) in the north. Much cooler in the south around 22 °C (72 °F).

CURRENTS

Komodo Park is well known for its consistent currents. Wallacea Dive Cruise has a real experience of the scuba diving sites. We pay very much attention to diving at the right place at the right time in order to avoid that uncomfortable current. before each dive, briefings will inform you about the diving conditions, and advises will be given to always keep the dives safe. A reef hook can be useful.

ITINERARY & NAVIGATION :

The map shows the general cruise itinerary. It can slightly vary depending on weather conditions, currents, visibility, and tides. There are 3 overnight crossings on the trip, otherwise, we navigate between dives or in the early morning.

GILI ISLANDS :

Located in the northwest of Lombok Island, The Gili’s offer easy dives to start the cruise. Wreck dives, rich macro life, lots of turtles, reef sharks and plenty of colorful reef fishes over nice coral gardens.

SUMBAWA :

Before reaching the Komodo National Park we spend 3 days around the large island of Sumbawa. These locations include Pulau Moyo in the north, Sangeang in the north-east tip and Banta in the east. All these locations offer stunning diving with a wide marine biodiversity to discover. Seamounts, walls, Pinnacles, coral gardens, drift dives and Macro dives in the volcanic sand of Sangeang.

KOMODO NATIONAL PARK :

This 1.700 km2 marine protected area boasts incredible biodiversity underwater. Divers can encounter an impressive range of marine creatures, including manta rays, sharks (white tip, black tip, grey...) turtles, Napoleon wrasses, octopuses, pygmy seahorses, and an array of colorful reef fishes. The park is also known for its great diversity of fixed fauna. The north of the park is predominantly colonized by hard coral whereas the south has an impressive range of soft coral and tunicates.

Check in from 6 am to 12 noon. SEAHORSE crew are standing by to Welcome you onboard. Cabin allocation and ship orientation, safety Briefing and crew Introduction will take place before departing.

*Note: This is a sample itinerary and nº of dives, dive sites, etc. may be subject to change due to weather conditions and other unforseeable factors

Check out from 6 am to 12 noon. Group photos with the crew before farewell. Disembarkation after breakfast. Transfer to airport or hotel.

This 12 days / 11 nights cruise is a fantastic combo of Halmahera and Raja Ampat. Starting with the west of Halmahera, we then cross to the famous Misool in the south part of Raja Ampat national parc.

Our Adventure will begin in Ternate where you are awaited on our vessel before 12 noon, and will end up in Sorong where you can disembark no later than 12 noon. We organize your pick up and drop off in the morning at the airport or at your hotel.

THE DIVING

Halmahera:

Many of the dive sites are sea mounts with a rocky substrate and plenty of large soft coral covered boomies in all different colors. The fish life is intense: as Halmahera signature, black tip sharks are seen patrolling around on most of the dive sites.

Tunas, Spanish mackerel, giant trevallies and other pelagic fish are part of the show. Napoleon wrasses, bump- head parrotfish, groupers, schools of surgeon and spadefish are also well represented.

Other type of dive site includes great critters dives and beautiful fringing reefs.

Misool:

The abundance of sea life, both fixed fauna such as corals and gorgonians along the lush reef, as well as the stunning quantity and diversity of fish swimming above is just astonishing. The dive sites’ underwater topographies are also varied and interesting, filled with dramatic pinnacles, long ridges, walls, hidden caves, rock formations, azure lagoons and much more.

The fauna ranges from the tiny Pygmy Seahorse to the oceanic manta ray. Raja Ampat’s signature are the huge schools of fish: clouds of fusiliers that attract predators like tunas and trevallies, barracudas, schools of the inquisitive spadefish, schools of sweetlips, groups of bumphead parrotfish, napoleon wrasses, etc.

Reef sharks are very much present on the reefs; the carpet shark or Wobegon is ubiquitous, laying on a coral or under a rock behind a cloud of glass-fish. The walking shark (Epaulette shark) can often be seen during night dives. Mantas are often seen on three different dive sites.

SNORKELING

Our trips are open to snorkelers. Most of the div sites offer great snorkeling opportunities with a lot to see in shallow water. We offer specific guidance for snorkelers.

ACTIVITIES

Besides the diving, we offer some activities along the trip according to weather conditions and the final trip itinerary.

In Misool, we will visit the ranger’s station and snorkel in front of their beach in a natural shark nursery where small black tips are swimming around in one meter of crystal-clear water. A short trek to the view point of the “love lagoon” (a lagoon in the shape of a hearth!) will be proposed.

You can also ask a boatman to bring you a shore at any time, as long as the schedule allows it. Our complementary kayaks are also available to go on shore or in the lagoons whenever the boat is anchored.

All these activities are subject to weather conditions as well as the planned daily schedule and itinerary.

VISIBILITY

Halmahera: Generally, very good with a blue clear water, it can be reduced in case of heavy rainfalls.

Misool: water is dense with life and visibility can be limited. Typically, the range is 10-20 meters. It can vary from one dive to another.

TEMPERATURE

The water temperature is between 27° and 30°C (80°-84°C).

CURRENTS

Some of the dives can have consistent currents. However, Wallacea Dive Cruises has a long experience diving these sites and we pay close attention to diving in the right places at the right time, to avoid difficult or dangerous currents.

Before each dive, our guides conduct current checks so that our briefings will always inform you about the up-to-the-minute diving conditions. If the currents are too strong on a site; we wait or shift to an alternative dive site.

ITINERARY & NAVIGATION

The map shows the general cruise itinerary. It can slightly vary depending on weather conditions, currents, visibility, and tides.

Starting from Ternate we will head south, passing near the islands of Tidore, Moti, Makian, all of which are spectacular cone-shaped volcanic islands.

After a first night we will dive for 2 days in the area of Goraichi islands. Sea-mounts and rocky islets form the dive sites, attracting a great marine life.

Going South we will reach the north part of the Patienti strait between Halmahera and Bacan island. The 2 islands of Saleh and Kusu plus some other smaller ones partially close the strait, forcing the water between the islands with currents bringing a lot of life.

After a night navigation we stop at Pulau Pisang in the Maluku Sea on our way to Misool. Great dive sites with a mix of ridges, slopes, small walls and plateau with plenty of fishes and colorful coral reefs.

We spend the last four days in Misool in the south of Raja Ampat National Park. Misool is excellent for taking wide angle shots, encounters with mantas, and massive schools of fish. The under- water topography is predominantly rocky with ridges and rock formations. The colorful reefs display an abundance of soft corals and huge gorgonians. Macro subjects are plenty as well: pygmy seahorses, tiny crabs, nudibranchs, and other rare photogenic life are everywhere.

Check in from 6 am to 12 noon. SEAHORSE crew are standing by to Welcome you onboard. Cabin allocation and ship orientation, safety Briefing and crew Introduction will take place before departing.

*Note: This is a sample itinerary and nº of dives, dive sites, etc. may be subject to change due to weather conditions and other unforseeable factors

Check out from 6 am to 12 noon. Group photos with the crew before farewell. Disembarkation after breakfast. Transfer to airport or hotel.

The legendary Raja Ampat area has long been thought of as the “last frontier”. A sense of peacefulness surrounds you when exploring the area: one of the last, rare untouched places on earth.

This 12 days/11 nights trip combines the two diving hot spots of West Papua: the magic South Raja Ampat and the magnificent Triton Bay area. An unforgettable experience that offers outstanding scuba diving into some of the planet best spots, sea kayaking, lagoons fringed by rainforest, hiking to some stunning view points and encounters with the friendly inhabitants of those areas.

Our adventure will begin in Sorong where you are awaited on our vessel before 12 noon, and will end up in Kaimana where we will disembark before 12 noon.

We organize your pick up and drop off at the airport or at your hotel.

THE DIVING

The abundance of sea life, both fixed fauna such as corals and gorgonians along the lush reef, as well as the stunning quantity and diversity of fish swimming above is just astonishing. The dive sites’ underwater topographies are also varied and interesting, filled with dramatic pinnacles, long ridges, walls, hidden caves, rock formations, azure lagoons, and much more.

The fauna ranges from the tiny Pygmy Seahorse to the oceanic manta ray. Raja Ampat’s signature are the huge schools of fish: clouds of fusiliers that attract predators like tunas and trevallies, barracudas, schools of the inquisitive spadefish, schools of sweetlips, groups of bump head parrotfish, napoleon wrasses, etc...

In triton Bay rocks are covered with large stands of soft corals forming an unique seascape. Reef sharks are very much present on the reefs; the carpet shark or Wobbegong is ubiquitous, laying on a coral or under a rock behind a cloud of glass-fish. The walking shark (Epaulette shark) can often be seen during night dives. Mantas are often spoted on different dive sites, and in Triton Bay, you will experience diving with whale sharks under the fishing platforms.

The Wallacea typical “Sorong-Kaimana” 12-day trip covers the south of the Raja Ampat area with all the famous sites of Misool, the Triton Bay area, and epic dive sites in between. We then choose the dive sites according to the prevailing conditions during the trip.

A minimum of 33 dives is offered during the trip, including 3 dives a day and 5 night dives.

SNORKELING

Our trips are open to snorkelers. Most of the dive sites offer great snorkeling opportunities with a lot to see in shallow waters, and we offer specific guidance for snorkelers.

ACTIVITIES

Besides the diving, we offer some activities along the trip according to weather conditions and the final trip itinerary.

In Misool, we will visit the ranger’s station and snorkel in front of their beach in a natural shark nursery where small black tips are swimming around in one meter of crystal clear water.

A short hike to the viewpoint of the “love lagoon” (a lagoon in the shape of a hearth!) is also scheduled.

In Momon, on the coast of Papua, we spend some time around a wonderful waterfall finishing its course directly into the ocean.

In Triton bay, in the channel between Namatote island and the mainland is a cliff which was probably, a long time ago, a cave that is now open and reveal ancient art rocks painting. We stop there and look at them from the boat.

Guests are welcome to ask a boatman to bring you a shore at any time, as long as the schedule allows it.

Our complementary kayaks are also available to go on shore or in the lagoons whenever the boat is anchored. All these activities are subject to weather conditions as well as the planned daily schedule and itinerary.

WEATHER

The weather is variable, even during the "dry" season, in this part of Indonesia, rain showers often happen. The sea is generally calm, with a few temporary storms. Temperatures are around 30 °C.

VISIBILITY

Raja Ampat's waters are dense with life and visibility can be limited. It is typically in the range of 10-20m, depending on the local condition that can vary from one dive to another.

In Sabuda and Momong the water is clear and in Triton Bay, the visibiity is an average 10 meters and can be lower in case of heavy rainfalls.

TEMPERATURE

The ocean temperature all year long is between 28° and 30°C (82°-84°C).

CURRENTS

On this itinerary the currents are generally moderate on most of the dive sites, and there’s always the possibility to do the dive in a current protected are.

Wallacea Dive Cruises has a long experience diving these dive sites and always pays attention to dive in the right places at the right time to avoid difficult or dangerous currents.

Before each dive, our guides conduct current checks so that our briefings will always inform you about the up-to-the-minute diving conditions

ITINERARY & NAVIGATION :

The map shows the general cruise itinerary. It can slightly vary depending on weather conditions, currents, visibility, and tides. There are 4 overnight crossings on the trip, otherwise, we navigate between dives or in the early morning.

MISOOL :

The first five days of the trip are in the South of Raja Ampat, around Misool and its satellites islets. Excellent for wide angle pictures, mantas, and massive schools of fish... The underwater topography is dominantly rocky, with ridges and rock formations. The very colorful reefs display an abundance of soft corals and huge gorgonians. Macro subjects are abundant as well, with the four kinds of pygmy seahorses, tiny crabs, nudibranchs, and other rare photogenic life all over.

MOMON & SABUDA :

Momon is a very special place for it’s magnificent landscape. The mountainous coast is covered with primary forest and a river from the highlands ends up into the sea as a large glorious waterfall (we go to swim and play there). A small islet have thousands of bats flying out at sunset. We dive on a seamount outside the coast: huge school of jacks, napoleon wrasse, eventually manta and even whale shark. The bat islet is a good macro dive. One night navigation brings us to Sabuda, at mid-way between Misool and the coast of Papua. It is a very scenic group of islands with beautiful lagoons and white sand beaches. The diving is interesting with big schools of fish (surgeon fish, trevallies, barracudas), eventually mantas rays.

TRITON BAY :

The development of soft corals there has little equivalent in the world. On most of the dives we generally find the soft corals in the shallows (0-5m) on rock and boomies, then come the black and tubastrea corals with lot of sweetlips and snappers. Below 12-15m the bottom is mostly sandy or rubble with interesting critters (nudibranchs, frogfish...). Some spots can have a lot of baitfish, eventually attracting devil rays and other predators. The “bagans” are platforms for baitfish fishing at night, eventually attracting the whale sharks. We dive there in the morning, in small groups of 8 guests turning on 30 minutes shifts.

Check in from 6 am to 12 noon. SEAHORSE crew are standing by to Welcome you onboard. Cabin allocation and ship orientation, safety Briefing and crew Introduction will take place before departing.

*Note: This is a sample itinerary and nº of dives, dive sites, etc. may be subject to change due to weather conditions and other unforseeable factors

Check out from 6 am to 12 noon. Group photos with the crew before farewell. Disembarkation after breakfast. Transfer to airport or hotel.

The legendary Raja Ampat area has long been thought of as the “last frontier”.

A sense of peacefulness surrounds you when exploring the area: one of the last, rare untouched places on earth.

Our usual 12 days trip, which offers a visit to the entire Raja Ampat area , is an unforgettable experience: outstanding Scuba diving into one of the planet’s best spots, sea kayaking into a constellation of sapphire blue-water lagoons fringed by rainforests, bird watching opportunities, hiking to stunning viewpoints and finally encounters with the local inhabitant of these islands.

Our adventure will begin in Sorong where you are awaited on our vessel before 12 noon, and will end up in Sorong as well where we will disembark before 12 noon. We organize your pick up and drop off at the airport or at your hotel.

THE DIVING:

The abundance of sea life, both fixed fauna such as corals and gorgonians along the lush reef, as well as the stunning quantity and diversity of fish swimming above is just astonishing. The dive sites’ underwater topographies are also varied and interesting, filled with dramatic pinnacles, long ridges, walls, hidden caves, rock formations, azure lagoons, and much more.

The fauna ranges from the tiny Pygmy Seahorse to the oceanic manta ray. Raja Ampat’s signature are the huge schools of fish: clouds of fusiliers that attract predators like tunas and trevallies, barracudas, schools of the inquisitive spadefish, schools of sweetlips, groups of bump head parrotfish, napoleon wrasses, etc...

Reef sharks are very much present on the reefs. the carpet shark or Wobbegong is ubiquitous, laying on a coral or under a rock behind a cloud of glass-fish. The walking shark (Epaulette shark) can often be seen during night dives. Mantas are often spoted on three different dive sites.

The Wallacea typical “Raja Ampat ultimate” 12-day trip covers the whole Raja Ampat area: Misool in the South, up to Wayag in the North, and the Dampier Strait. We then choose the dive sites according to the prevailing conditions during the trip.

A minimum of 33 dives (3 dives per day) is offered during the trip, including at least 5 night dives.

SNORKELING:

Our trips are open to snorkelers. Most of the dive sites offer great snorkeling opportunities with a lot to see in shallow waters, and we offer specific guidance for snorkelers.

ACTIVITIES:

Besides the diving, we offer some activities along the trip according to weather conditions and the final trip itinerary.

In Misool, we will visit the ranger’s station and snorkel in front of their beach in a natural shark nursery where small black tips are swimming around in one meter of crystal clear water. A short hike to the viewpoint of the “love lagoon” (a lagoon in the shape of a hearth!) will be offered. In Farondi, we will use the dinghies to navigate inside some hidden lagoons and go for a walk into a cave.

The most northern point of our trip is the iconic Wayag Lagoon that we will visit with the dinghies throughout the hundreds of quartz islets. A short hike to the viewpoint of “mount Pindito” will allow us to admire the entire lagoon. In Dampier Strait, we will visit one or several villages in the late afternoon. An early morning short hike into the rainforest to a bird of paradise mating tree is also proposed.

You can also ask a boatman to bring you a shore at any time, as long as the schedule allows it. Our four complementary kayaks and paddles are also available to go on shore or in the lagoons whenever the boat is anchored. All these activities are subject to weather conditions as well as the planned daily schedule and itinerary.

WEATHER

The weather is variable, even during the "dry" season, in this part of Indonesia, rain showers often happen. The sea is generally calm with sometimes light swell in the northern parts. Temperatures are around 30 °C.

VISIBILITY

Raja Ampat's waters are dense with life and visibility can be limited. It is typically in the range of 10-20 meters, depending on the local condition that can vary from one dive to another.

TEMPERATURE

The ocean temperature all year long is between 28° and 30°C (82°-84°C). .

CURRENTS

Raja Ampat is well known for its consistent currents that bring incredible life. Wallacea Dive Cruises has a long experience diving these sites. We pay close attention to diving in the right places at the right time, to avoid difficult or dangerous currents. Before each dive, our guides conduct current checks so that our briefings will always inform you about the up-to-the-minute diving condition

ITINERARY & NAVIGATION :

The map shows the general cruise itinerary. It can slightly vary depending on weather conditions, currents, visibility, and tides. Distances are not long: there are only two overnight crossings, the other navigations are taking place between dives or in the early morning. We usually start the trips by going South and then making our way up to the North.

MISOOL :

Misool is excellent for taking wide angle shots, encounters with mantas, and massive schools of fish. The under- water topography is predominantly rocky with ridges and rock formations. The colorful reefs display an abundance of soft corals and huge gorgonians. Macro subjects are plenty as well: pygmy seahorses, tiny crabs, nudibranchs, and other rare photogenic life are everywhere.

FAM - PENEMU :

We spend one day on these islands between the North and the South area. The dives include the site “Melissa garden” which has the best coral garden of the Raja Ampat and “My reef” well known for its barracuda school and numerous Wobbegongs.

THE NORTH :

The iconic Wayag lagoons composed of hundreds of rocky quartz limestone islets, are a marvel to explore with dinghies or onboard kayaks. We also recommend a short hike to a summit to admire the surrounding areas. Mantas and black tip sharks are swimming around. Kawe island has some of the finest diving in the area, with a good population of fish and regular manta encounters.

DAMPIER STRAIT :

We usually spend one or two days there to visit its famous dive sites around Kri with their impressive amount of fish.

Check in from 6 am to 12 noon. SEAHORSE crew are standing by to Welcome you onboard. Cabin allocation and ship orientation, safety Briefing and crew Introduction will take place before departing.

*Note: This is a sample itinerary and nº of dives, dive sites, etc. may be subject to change due to weather conditions and other unforseeable factors

Check out from 6 am to 12 noon. Group photos with the crew before farewell. Disembarkation after breakfast. Transfer to airport or hotel.

Embark on an unforgettable journey to discover the untamed wonders of Komodo National Park.

This 12 days/11 nights itinerary combine the secret beauty of the little-known Sumbawa islands with the magnificence of the worldly famous Komodo National Park.

Our cruise starts in Bali and finishes in Flores. We will stop on the way by the dynamics Gili’s Islands and some secret spots around Sumbawa before

reaching The Komodo National Park where we spend most of our time.

Some of the most renown scuba diving sites and pristine sceneries in the world awaits you. From the tiniest marine critters to big pelagic animals like manta rays, this itinerary will accommodate everyone’s taste!

Our adventure will begin in Bali where you are awaited on our vessel before 12 noon, and will end up in Labuan Bajo where we will disembark before 12 noon. We organize your pick up and drop off at the airport or at your hotel.

THE DIVING

In the north, you can find a collection of the world’s most beautiful varieties of reefs, boasting a rich combination of hard and soft corals, shoals of anthias, wrasses, angelfishes, and also predators, reef sharks, tunas, and giant kingfish.

In the south, you will see more soft corals with an amazing profusion of colours, and even more macro (and manta rays too!). The water is rather cold and the temperature can drop down to 22°C (82°F) in July and August.

Komodo offers a wide variety of dives: pelagic dives with sharks in strong currents, gentle drift dives, wall dives (colourful drop-offs, monumental boulders, seamounts, pinnacles and sandy slopes) and macro dives. You can also find manta rays, turtles and if you are lucky enough, some whale sharks!

The Wallacea typical “Bali-Labuan Bajo” 12-days trip covers the islands of Gili, Moyo, Sangean, Banta and ends with all the famous dive sites of Komodo National Park. We choose the dive sites according to the prevailing conditions during the trip.

A minimum of 36 dives (3 dives per day) is offered during the trip, including at least 5 night dives.

SNORKELING

Our trips are open to snorkelers. Most of the dive sites offer great snorkeling opportunities with a lot to see in shallow waters. We offer specific guidance for snorkelers.

ACTIVITIES

Besides the diving, we offer some activities along the trip according to weather conditions and the final trip itinerary.

At the Gili’s islands, you can set foot on shore to discover the vibrant life of this little paradise and enjoy a drink while watching the sunset.

In the Komodo national park, we will organise a guided tour at the ranger station to encounter the stars of the area: the unfamous Komodo Dragons.

We will also climb up the most iconic hills such as Padar and Pink Beach to enjoy their delightful viewpoint.

You can also ask a boatman to bring you on shore at any time, as long as the schedule allows it.

Our 2 complementary kayaks are also available to go on shore or in the lagoons whenever the boat is anchored. All these activities are subject to weather conditions as well as the planned daily schedule and itinerary.

WEATHER

The weather is usually very good during this time of year with low rain and wind, and ambient temperature around 30°C (86°F). The sea is generally calm in this area.

VISIBILITY

Visibility is excellent in the whole north part of the strait and on the way from Denpasar to Komodo. In the south it may be lower in some specific areas or for short periods.

TEMPERATURE

Water temperature is 28 °C (82 °F) in the north. Much cooler in the south around 22 °C (72 °F).

CURRENTS

Komodo Park is well known for its consistent currents. Wallacea Dive Cruise has a real experience of the scuba diving sites. We pay very much attention to diving at the right place at the right time in order to avoid that uncomfortable current. before each dive, briefings will inform you about the diving conditions, and advises will be given to always keep the dives safe. A reef hook can be useful.

ITINERARY & NAVIGATION:

The map shows the general cruise itinerary. It can slightly vary depending on weather conditions, currents, visibility, and tides. There are 3 overnight crossings on the trip, otherwise, we navigate between dives or in the early morning.

GILI ISLANDS:

Located in the northwest of Lombok Island, The Gili’s offer easy dives to start the cruise. Wreck dives, rich macro life, lots of turtles, reef sharks and plenty of colorful reef fishes over nice coral gardens.

SUMBAWA:

Before reaching the Komodo National Park we spend 3 days around the large island of Sumbawa. These locations include Pulau Moyo in the north, Sangeang in the north-east tip and Banta in the east. All these locations offer stunning diving with a wide marine biodiversity to discover. Seamounts, walls, Pinnacles, coral gardens, drift dives and Macro dives in the volcanic sand of Sangeang.

KOMODO NATIONAL PARK:

This 1.700 km2 marine protected area boasts incredible biodiversity underwater. Divers can encounter an impressive range of marine creatures, including manta rays, sharks (white tip, black tip, grey...) turtles, Napoleon wrasses, octopuses, pygmy seahorses, and an array of colorful reef fishes. The park is also known for its great diversity of fixed fauna. The north of the park is predominantly colonized by hard coral whereas the south has an impressive range of soft coral and tunicates.

Check in from 6 am to 12 noon. SEAHORSE crew are standing by to Welcome you onboard. Cabin allocation and ship orientation, safety Briefing and crew Introduction will take place before departing.

*Note: This is a sample itinerary and number of dives, dive sites, etc. may be subject to change due to weather conditions and other unforseeable factors

Check out from 6 am to 12 noon. Group photos with the crew before farewell. Disembarkation after breakfast. Transfer to airport or hotel.

This 12 days / 11 nights trip runs along the so called “ring of Fire” in the Banda Sea and visits the best dive sites of this area. It offers outstanding diving and is a perfect itinerary for encounters with the Schooling hammerhead sharks that roam the Banda Sea during this season.

Our adventure will begin in Saumlaki where you are awaited on our vessel before 12 noon, and will end up in Ambon as well where we will disembark before 12 noon.

We organize your pick up and drop off at the airport or at your hotel.

THE DIVING

The Banda Sea is one of the best Indonesian dive destinations. It offers a great variety of dive sites among beautiful tiny islands and large reefs. Many of the dive sites are steep drop off with impressive hard corals, huge sponges of all kinds, pastel black corals bushes and an intense fish life. Tunas, Spanish mackerel, giant trevallies schools of trevallies and barracudas and other pelagic fish are part of the show, together with the occurrence of the hammerheads, either in small groups or in big shoals. Other type of dive sites includes great critters dives - especially in the bay of Ambon - and beautiful fringing reefs.

THE HAMMERHEADS

The hammerheads are in the Banda Sea from September to end November. Their presence is related to the upwellings that cool the upper layers of the Banda sea. Those upwellings themselves depends on the SE winds that occur in Indonesia from June to September. Therefore the best chances to see the Hammerheads is when the water is the coolest, Mid-September to Mid-November.

A minimum of 33 dives (3 dives per day) is offered during the trip, including at least 5 night dives.

The last dive is the Penultimate day at 8 am.

SNORKELING

Our trips are open to snorkelers. Most of the dive sites offer great snorkeling opportunities with a lot to see in shallow waters, and we offer specific guidance for snorkelers.

ACTIVITIES

The itinerary includes a lot of opportunities to go on land and some visits to discover the people, the nature and the history of this rich area. The Banda islands (constituted of Banda Neira, Banda, Hatta, Ai and Run) were at the centre of the spices trades during the XVI century. They were the original Spice Islands and the most coveted destination on earth, particularly by the Portuguese, the English and the Dutch. All three countries fought fiercely for the area’s goods. Having won the battle, the Dutch colonized the islands and exported the nutmeg and cloves. We will go down on the island of Banda Neira and visit the village, the fort and the museum for a glimpse of the Banda history.

We will also visit a nutmeg plantation on the nearby island of Hatta. The guests are always welcome to use the dinghies (with a boatman) to go on shore at any time, as long as the schedule allows it. There are many opportunities to go on land for a short visit during the trip, visit some small villages, walk on a desert beach, so never hesitate to ask our crew.

Our complementary kayaks are also available to go on shore or in the lagoons whenever the boat is anchored.

WEATHER

End of October the South east monsoon has already ended and the sea is generally flat except some local thunder storms. As we are very close to the equator, a few showers are always probable.

VISIBILITY

We can expect a good visibility in the Banda Sea.

TEMPERATURE

The sea temperature will be 28° to 29°C (80 to 84°F) in the Band Sea.

CURRENTS

On this itinerary the currents are generally moderate on most of the dive sites, however there will most probably be some consistent currents in some occasions. Wallacea Dive Cruises has a long experience diving these dive sites and always pays attention to dive in the right places at the right time to avoid difficult or dangerous currents. Before each dive, our guides conduct current checks so that our briefings

will always inform you about the diving conditions.

ITINERARY & NAVIGATION

This itinerary goes along the so called ”ring of fire”, a bow shaped succession of volcanic islands in the Banda Sea.

After leaving Saumlaki on Tanimbar island, our first day of diving will be on Dai island. These granite islands, part of the Babar island group, offers fantastic dive sites with great fish life, including eventual encounters with hammerhead sharks.

A night navigation will bring us to Nila island. The small Nila island offers nice diving on a gentle slope with a good critter life.

Our next step that we reach after an early morning navigation is Nil Desperandum, a large offshore reef. It offers a fantastic drop off with great fish life, huge barrel sponges and is also a spot for hammerheads.

Going North - East we will reach Serua, which consists in two small islands. Fabulous diving around those islands lost in the middle of the Banda Sea. One drop off offers high chances to find the schooling hammerheads. In order to maximise the chances of

encounter, we dive very early in the morning and a bit late in the afternoon.

Overnight navigation to Manuk island, a volcanic island that is a nesting home for many seabirds. Underwater, the sulphur traces of volcanic activity can be seen. The diving signature is the abundance of sea snakes, both Aipy-surus and Laticauda. Hammerheads are also roaming around, but generally only individuals or small groups.

Our next destination is the Banda islands group, that includes the islands of Hatta, Run, Ai, Banda and Banda Neira. The diving around those islands is very rewarding. One of the highlight is a dive along the lava flow of the “Gunung Api” (the fire mountain); the last eruption was in 1988 and we can see how the corals and huge

sponges did grow back since then. We will stop in Banda Neira for a land visit. Drop offs with great visibility, rich fish life and occasional hammerheads can be found around the islands of Run, Hatta and Ai.

The island of Suanggi, about 20 NM from Banda, is another hot spot for hammerhead schools and marine life.

On our way to Ambon, we stop one day on the island Nusa Laut for the great dive sites of Ahmet.

The last dive of the trip will be of a very different kind, with the famous muck diving of Laha in the bay of Ambon.

Check in from 6 am to 12 noon. SEAHORSE crew are standing by to Welcome you onboard. Cabin allocation and ship orientation, safety Briefing and crew Introduction will take place before departing.

*Note: This is a sample itinerary and nº of dives, dive sites, etc. may be subject to change due to weather conditions and other unforseeable factors

Check out from 6 am to 12 noon. Group photos with the crew before farewell. Disembarkation after breakfast. Transfer to airport or hotel.

BANDA SEA

This 12 days / 11 nights trip runs along the so called “ring of Fire” in the Banda Sea and visits the best dive sites of this area. It offers outstanding diving and is a perfect itinerary for encounters with the Schooling hammerhead sharks that roam the Banda Sea during this season.

Our adventure begins in Ambon and ends in Saumlaki. We organize your pick and drop off at the airport or at your hotel in those cities

THE DIVING

The Banda Sea is one of the best Indonesian dive destinations. It offers a great variety of dive sites among beautiful tiny islands and large reefs. Many of the dive sites are steep drop off with impressive hard corals, huge sponges of all kinds, pastel black corals bushes and an intense fish life. Tunas, Spanish mackerel, giant trevallies schools of trevallies and barracudas and other pelagic fish are part of the show, together with the occurrence of the hammerheads, either in small groups or in big shoals. Other type of dive sites includes great critters dives -especially in the bay of Ambon- and beautiful fringing reefs.

The hammerheads sharks.

The hammerheads are in the Banda Sea from September to end November. Their presence is related to the upwellings that cool the upper layers of the Banda sea. Those upwellings themselves depends on the SE winds that occur in Indonesia from June to September. Therefore the best chances to see the Hammerheads is when the water is the coolest, Mid-September to Mid-November.

A minimum of 33 dives (3 dives per day) is offered during the trip, including at least 5 night dives.

SNORKELING

Our trips are open to snorkelers.

ACTIVITIES

The itinerary includes a lot of opportunities to go on land and some visits to discover the people, the nature and the history of this rich area.

The Banda islands (constituted of Banda Neira, Banda, Hatta, Ai and Run) were at the centre of the spices trades during the XVI century. They were the original Spice Islands and the most coveted destination on earth, particularly by the Portuguese, the English and the Dutch. All three countries fought fiercely for the area’s goods. Having won the battle, the Dutch colonized the islands and exported the nutmeg and cloves. We will go down on the island of Banda Neira and visit the village, the fort and the museum for a glimpse of the Banda history. We will also visit a nutmeg plantation on the nearby island of Hatta.

The guests are always welcome to use the dinghies (with a boatman) to go on shore at any time, as long as the schedule allows it. There are many opportunities to go on land for a short visit during the trip, visit some small villages, walk on a desert beach, so never hesitate to ask our crew.

Our complementary kayaks are also available to go on shore or in the lagoons whenever the boat is anchored.

WEATHER

End of October the South east monsoon has already ended and =the sea is generally flat except some local thunder storms. As we are very close to the equator, a few showers are always probable.

VISIBILITY

We can expect good visibility in the Banda Sea.

TEMPERATURE

The sea temperature will be 28° to 29°C (80 to 84°F) in the Banda Sea.

CURRENTS

On this itinerary the currents are generally moderate on most of the dive sites, however there will most probably be some consistent currents in some occasions. Wallacea Dive Cruises has a long experience diving these dive sites and always pays attention to dive in the right places at the right time to avoid difficult or dangerous currents. Before each dive, our guides conduct current checks so that our briefings will always inform you about the up-to -the-minute diving conditions.

ITINERARY & NAVIGATION :

This itinerary goes along the so called ”ring of fire”, a bow shaped succession of volcanic islands in the Banda Sea.

After leaving Ambon, we stop one day on the island Nusa Laut for the great dive sites of Ahmet. Night navigation to Suanggi .

The island of Suanggi , about 20 NM from Banda, is a hot spot for hammerhead schools and great marine life.

Our next destination is the Banda islands group, that includes the islands of Hatta, Run, Ai, Banda and Banda Neira. The diving around those islands. is very rewarding. One of the highlight is a dive along the lava flow of the “Gunung Api” (the fire mountain); the last eruption was in 1988 and we can see how the corals and huge sponges did grow back since then. We will stop in Banda Neira for a land visit. Drop offs with great visibility, rich fish life and occasional hammerheads can be found around the islands of Run , Hatta and Ai .

Overnight navigation to Manuk island , a volcanic island, nesting home for many seabirds. Underwater, the sulphur traces of volcanic activity can be seen. The diving signature is the abundance of sea snakes, both Aipysurus and Laticauda . Hammerheads are also roaming around, but generally only individuals or small groups. Night navigation to Serua .

Going south we will reach Serua, which consists in two small islands. Fabulous diving around those islands lost in the middle of the Banda Sea. One drop off offers high chances to find the schooling hammerheads. In order to maximise the chances of encounter, we dive very early in the morning and a bit late in the afternoon. Short navigation to Nil Desperandum.

We spend the next day at Nil Desperandum which is a large offshore reef. It offers a fantastic drop off with great fish life, huge barrel sponges and is also a spot for hammerheads. Night navigation to Dai island.

The last full diving day is spent at Dai Islands with spectacular dive sites and one more chance to observe Hammerheads sharks.

On the way to Saumlaki, our last dive in the morning will be on the island of Babar.

Check in from 6 am to 12 noon. SEAHORSE crew are standing by to Welcome you onboard. Cabin allocation and ship orientation, safety Briefing and crew Introduction will take place before departing.

*Note: This is a sample itinerary and nº of dives, dive sites, etc. may be subject to change due to weather conditions and other unforseeable factors

Check out from 6 am to 12 noon. Group photos with the crew before farewell. Disembarkation after breakfast. Transfer to airport or hotel.

This 12 days / 11 nights cruise is a fantastic combo of Raja Ampat and Halmahera. Starting with the famous Misool in the south part of Raja Ampat national parc, we then cross to the west toward the south of Halmahera.

Our Adventure will begin in Sorong where you are awaited on our vessel before 12 noon, and will end up in Ternate where you can disembark no later than 12 noon. We organize your pick up and drop off in the morning at the airport or at your hotel.

THE DIVING

Misool: The abundance of sea life, both fixed fauna such as corals and gorgonians along the lush reef, as well as the stunning quantity and diversity of fish swimming above is just astonishing. The dive sites’ underwater topographies are also varied and interesting, filled with dramatic pinnacles, long ridges, walls, hidden caves, rock formations, azure lagoons and much more.

The fauna ranges from the tiny Pygmy Seahorse to the oceanic manta ray. Raja Ampat’s signature are the huge schools of fish: clouds of fusiliers that attract predators like tunas and trevallies, barracudas, schools of the inquisitive spadefish, schools of sweetlips, groups of bumphead parrotfish, napoleon wrasses, etc.

Reef sharks are very much present on the reefs; the carpet shark or Wobegon is ubiquitous, laying on a coral or under a rock behind a cloud of glass-fish. The walking shark (Epaulette shark) can often be seen during night dives. Mantas are often seen on three different dive sites.

Halmahera: Many of the dive sites are sea mounts with a rocky substrate and plenty of large soft coral covered boomies in all different colors. The fish life is intense: as Halmahera signature, black tip sharks are seen patrolling around on most of the dive sites.

Tunas, Spanish mackerel, giant trevallies and other pelagic fish are part of the show. Napoleon wrasses, bump- head parrotfish, groupers, schools of surgeon and spadefish are also well represented.

Other type of dive site includes great critters dives and beautiful fringing reefs.

SNORKELING

Our trips are open to snorkelers. Most of the div sites offer great snorkeling opportunities with a lot to see in shallow water. We offer specific guidance for snorkelers.

ACTIVITIES

Besides the diving, we offer some activities along the trip according to weather conditions and the final trip itinerary.

In Misool, we will visit the ranger’s station and snorkel in front of their beach in a natural shark nursery where small black tips are swimming around in one meter of crystal-clear water. A short trek to the view point of the “love lagoon” (a lagoon in the shape of a hearth!) will be proposed.

You can also ask a boatman to bring you a shore at any time, as long as the schedule allows it. Our complementary kayaks are also available to go on shore or in the lagoons whenever the boat is anchored. All these activities are subject to weather conditions as well as the planned daily schedule and itinerary.

VISIBILITY

Misool: water is dense with life and visibility can be limited. Typically, the range is 10-20 meters. It can vary from one dive to another.

Halmahera: Generally, very good with a blue clear water, it can be reduced in case of heavy rainfalls.

TEMPERATURE

The water temperature is between 27° and 30°C (80°-84°C).

CURRENTS

Some of the dives can have consistent currents. However, Wallacea Dive Cruises has a long experience diving these sites and we pay close attention to diving in the right places at the right time, to avoid difficult or dangerous currents.

Before each dive, our guides conduct current checks so that our briefings will always inform you about the up-to-the-minute diving conditions. If the currents are too strong on a site; we wait or shift to an alternative dive site.

ITINERARY & NAVIGATION

We spend the first four days in Misool in the south of Raja Ampat National Park. Misool is excellent for taking wide angle shots, encounters with mantas, and massive schools of fish. The under- water topography is predominantly rocky with ridges and rock formations. The colorful reefs display an abundance of soft corals and huge gorgonians. Macro subjects are plenty as well: pygmy seahorses, tiny crabs, nudibranchs, and other rare photogenic life are everywhere.

After a night navigation we stop at Pulau Pisang in the Maluku Sea on our way to Halmahera. Great dive sites with a mix of ridges, slopes, small walls and plateau with plenty of fishes and colorful coral reefs.

After another night navigation, we reach the west part of Halmahera and continue further north to the Patienti strait between Halmahera and Bacan island. The 2 islands of Saleh and Kusu plus some other smaller ones partially close the strait, forcing the water between the islands with currents bringing a lot of life.

we will then dive for 2 days in the area of Goraichi islands. Sea-mounts and rocky islets form the dive sites, attracting a great marine life.

Our last dive will be near Tidore and Ternate islands.

Check in from 6 am to 12 noon. SEAHORSE crew are standing by to Welcome you onboard. Cabin allocation and ship orientation, safety Briefing and crew Introduction will take place before departing.

*Note: This is a sample itinerary and nº of dives, dive sites, etc. may be subject to change due to weather conditions and other unforseeable factors

Check out from 6 am to 12 noon. Group photos with the crew before farewell. Disembarkation after breakfast. Transfer to airport or hotel.

Embark on an unforgettable journey to discover the untamed wonders of Komodo National Park.

This 12 days/11 nights itinerary combine the worldly famous Komodo National Park with the secret beauty of the little-known Sumbawa islands.

Our cruise starts in Flores and finishes in Bali. We will start with The Komodo National Park where we spend most of our time, then we will visit some secret spots around Sumbawa and stop by the dynamics Gili’s Island before reaching Bali.

Some of the most renown scuba diving sites and pristine sceneries in the world awaits you. From the tiniest marine critters to big pelagic animals like manta rays, this itinerary will accommodate everyone’s taste!

Our adventure will begin in Labuan Bajo where you are awaited on our vessel before 12 noon, and will end up in Bali where we will disembark before 12 noon. We organize your pick up and drop off at the airport or at your hotel.

THE DIVING

Komodo offers a wide variety of dives: pelagic dives with sharks in strong currents, gentle drift dives, wall dives (colourful drop-offs, monumental boulders, seamounts, pinnacles and sandy slopes) and macro dives. You can also find manta rays, turtles and if you are lucky enough, some whale sharks!

In the north, you can find a collection of the world’s most beautiful varieties of reefs, boasting a rich combination of hard and soft corals, shoals of anthias, wrasses, angelfishes, and also predators, reef sharks, tunas, and giant kingfish.

In the south, you will see more soft corals with an amazing profusion of colours, and even more macro (and manta rays too!). The water is rather cold and the temperature can drop down to 23 ° C in July and August.

The Wallacea typical “Labuan Bajo-Bali” 12-days trip covers all the famous dive sites of Komodo National Park, Moyo, Sangean, Banta and ends with the islands of Gili. We choose the dive sites according to the prevailing conditions during the trip.

A minimum of 33 dives (3 dives per day) is offered during the trip, including at least 5 night dives.

SNORKELING

Our trips are open to snorkelers. Most of the dive sites offer great snorkeling opportunities with a lot to see in shallow waters. We offer specific guidance for snorkelers.

ACTIVITIES

Besides the diving, we offer some activities along the trip according to weather conditions and the final trip itinerary. In the Komodo national park, we will organise a guided tour at the ranger station to encounter the stars of the area: the unfamous Komodo Dragons. We will also climb up the most iconic hills such as Padar and Pink Beach to enjoy their delightful viewpoint.

At the Gili’s islands, you can set foot on shore to discover the vibrant life of this little paradise and enjoy a drink while watching the sunset.

You can also ask a boatman to bring you a shore at any time, as long as the schedule allows it. Our 2 complementary kayaks are also available to go on shore or in the lagoons whenever the boat is anchored. All these activities are subject to weather conditions as well as the planned daily schedule and itinerary.

WEATHER

The weather is usually very good during this time of year with low rain and wind, and ambient temperature around 30 C. The sea is generally calm in this area.

VISIBILITY

Visibility is excellent in the whole north part of the strait and on the way from Denpasar to Komodo. In the south it may be lower in some specific areas or for short periods.

TEMPERATURE

Water temperature is 28 °C (82 °F) in the north. Much cooler in the south around 22 °C (72 °F)

CURRENTS

Komodo Park is well known for its consistent currents.

Wallacea Dive Cruise has a real experience of the scuba diving sites. We pay very much attention to diving at the right place at the right time in order to avoid that uncomfortable current. before each dive, briefings will inform you about the diving conditions, and advises will be given to always keep the dives safe. A reef hook can be useful.

ITINERARY & NAVIGATION

The map shows the general cruise itinerary. It can slightly vary depending on weather conditions, currents, visibility, and tides. There are 3 overnight crossings on the trip, otherwise, we navigate between dives or in the early morning.

KOMODO NATIONAL PARK

This 1.700 km2 marine protected area boasts incredible biodiversity underwater. Divers can encounter an impressive range of marine creatures, including manta rays, sharks (white tip, black tip, grey...) turtles, Napoleon wrasses, octopuses, pygmy seahorses, and an array of colorful reef fishes. The park is also known for its great

diversity of fixed fauna. The north of the park is predominantly colonized by hard coral whereas the south has an impressive range of soft coral and tunicates.

SUMBAWA

After leaving the Komodo National Park, we spend 3 days around the large island of Sumbawa on the way to Bali. These locations include Pulau Moyo in the north, Sangeang in the north-east tip and Banta in the east. All these locations offer stunning diving with a wide marine biodiversity to discover. Seamounts, walls, Pinnacles, coral gardens, drift dives and Macro dives in the volcanic sand of Sangeang.

GILI ISLANDS

Located in the northwest of Lombok Island, The Gili’s offer easy dives. Wreck dives, diverse macro life, lots of turtles, reef sharks and plenty of colorful reef fishes and nice coral gardens.

Check in from 6 am to 12 noon. SEAHORSE crew are standing by to Welcome you onboard. Cabin allocation and ship orientation, safety Briefing and crew Introduction will take place before departing.

*Note: This is a sample itinerary and number of dives, dive sites, etc. may be subject to change due to weather conditions and other unforseeable factors

Check out from 6 am to 12 noon. Group photos with the crew before farewell. Disembarkation after breakfast. Transfer to airport or hotel.

This 12 days / 11 nights multi destination trip combines some of the most iconic dive spots of the Banda Sea and Raja Ampat. It offers outstanding diving and is a perfect itinerary for encounters with the Schooling hammerhead sharks that roam the Banda Sea during this season.

A minimum of 33 dives (3 dives per day) is offered during the trip, including at least 5 night dives.

Our adventure begins in Ambon and ends in Sorong.

We organize your pick and drop off at the airport or at your hotel in those cities.

THE DIVING

The Banda Sea is one of the best Indonesian dive destinations. It offers a great variety of dive sites among beautiful tiny islands and large reefs. Many of the dive sites are steep drop off with impressive hard corals, huge sponges of all kinds, pastel black corals bushes and an intense fish life. Tunas, Spanish mackerel, giant trevallies schools of trevallies and barracudas and other pelagic fish are part of the show, together with the occurrence of the hammerheads, either in small groups or in big shoals.

Other type of dive sites includes great critters dives -especially in the bay of Ambon- and beautiful fringing reefs.

The hammerheads are in the Banda Sea from September to end November. Their presence is related to the upwellings that cool the upper layers of the Banda sea. Those upwellings themselves depends on the SE winds that occur in Indonesia from June to September. Therefore the best chances to see the Hammerheads is when the water is the coolest, Mid-September to Mid-October. But the September rich nutrients cold waters also means more turbid waters due to plankton, and eventually remaining winds for the S.E. monsoon creating a choppy sea. The more we get off September, the more chances to get a flat sea and good visibility is high, but also the chances to see the schooling hammerheads diminishes.

Misool in the south of Raja Ampat is among the hottest spot of Indonesian diving. The abundance of sea life, both fixed fauna such as corals and gorgonians along the lush reef, as well as the stunning quantity and diversity of fish swimming above is just astonishing. It is also heaven for macro lovers! The dive sites underwater topographies are also varied and interesting, filled with dramatic pinnacles, long ridges, walls, hidden caves, rock formations, azure lagoons and much more.

SNORKELING

Our trips are open to snorkelers. Most of the dive sites offer great snorkeling opportunities with a lot to see in shallow waters, and we offer specific guidance for snorkelers.

ACTIVITIES

Banda islands were at the centre of the spices trades during the XVI century. They were the original Spice Islands and the most coveted destination on earth, particularly by the Dutch and Portuguese who colonized the islands and exported the indigenous nutmeg and cloves. We will stop on the island of Banda Neira and visit the village, the fort and the museum for a glimpse of the Banda history. We will also visit some other small villages on the islands.

In Misool, we will visit the ranger’s station and snorkel in front of their beach in a natural shark nursery where small black tips are swimming around in one meter of crystal clear water. A short trek to the view point of the “love lagoon” (a lagoon in shape of a hearth!) will be offered.

The guests are always welcome to use the dinghies (with a boatman) to go on shore at any time, as long as the schedule allows it.

Our complementary kayaks are also available to go on shore or in the lagoons whenever the boat is anchored

WEATHER

End September marks the end of the South east monsoon, but we may experience some remaining SE winds. As we are very close to the equator, a few showers are always probable.

VISIBILITY

Banda Sea: Good to excellent

Misool: Average to good

TEMPERATURE

The sea temperature will be 26° to 28°C (80 to 84°F)

CURRENTS

On this itinerary the currents are generally moderate on most of the dive sites, but yes there will be some consistent currents in some occasions.

Wallacea Dive Cruises has a long experience diving these dive sites and

always pays attention to dive in the right places at the right time to avoid

difficult or dangerous currents.

Before each dive, our guides conduct current checks so that our briefings will always inform you about the up-to-the-minute diving conditions.

ITINERARY & NAVIGATION

After a night of navigation, we will start the cruise at nusa laut for the first day. We will navigate again overnight to reach Suanggi, a hot spot for Hammerheads sharks and following our dives we navigate to The Banda Islands.

The diving around those islands is very rewarding. One of the highlight is a dive along the lava flow of the “Gunung Api” (the fire mountain); the last eruption was in 1988 and we can see how the corals and huge sponges did grow back since then. We will stop in Banda Neira for a land visit.

Overnight navigation to Manuk island, a small volcanic island, where a lot of seabirds comes for nesting. Underwater the sulphur traces of volcanic activity can be seen. The diving signature is the abundance of sea snakes, both Aipysurus sp and Laticauda. Hammerheads are also roaming around, but generally only individuals or small groups. We then navigate back up north towards Hatta.

Hatta is also a place known for the hammerheads and much more. After the third dive, we start our crossing navigation to Koon.

Koon is part of a small group of islands between the Banda Sea and The south of Raja Ampat, it is a fantastic spot to transit towards Misool. 2 rewarding dives on a spectacular dive site called “too many fishes wall” and a full night of navigation to reach Misool.

Misool is among the hottest spot of Indonesian diving. The abundance of sea life, both fixed fauna such as corals and gorgonians along the lush reef, as well as the stunning quantity and diversity of fish swimming above is just astonishing. The dive sites underwater topographies are also varied and interesting, filled with dramatic pinna-

cles, long ridges, walls, hidden caves, rock formations, azure lagoons and much more. We Spend the last four days in the area then navigate during the night to Sorong.

Check in from 6 am to 12 noon. SEAHORSE crew are standing by to Welcome you onboard. Cabin allocation and ship orientation, safety Briefing and crew Introduction will take place before departing.

*Note: This is a sample itinerary and nº of dives, dive sites, etc. may be subject to change due to weather conditions and other unforseeable factors

Check out from 6 am to 12 noon. Group photos with the crew before farewell. Disembarkation after breakfast. Transfer to airport or hotel.

This 12 days / 11 nights cruise is a fantastic combo of Raja Ampat, Halmahera and the Lembeh Strait. Starting with the famous Misool in the south part of Raja Ampat national parc, we then cross to the west toward Halmahera and will finish in the Lembeh Strait in the north east of Sulawesi Island.

Our Adventure will begin in Sorong where you are awaited on our vessel before 12 noon, and will end up in Bitung where you can disembark no later than 12 noon.

We organize your pick up and drop off in the morning at the airport or at your hotel.

THE DIVING

Misool: The abundance of sea life, both fixed fauna such as corals and gorgonians along the lush reef, as well as the stunning quantity and diversity of fish swimming above is just astonishing. The dive sites’ underwater topographies are also varied and interesting, filled with dramatic pinnacles, long ridges, walls, hidden caves, rock formations, azure lagoons and much more.

The fauna ranges from the tiny Pygmy Seahorse to the oceanic manta ray. Raja Ampat’s signature are the huge schools of fish: clouds of fusiliers that attract predators like tunas and trevallies, barracudas, schools of the inquisitive spadefish, schools of sweetlips, groups of bumphead parrotfish, napoleon wrasses, etc.

Reef sharks are very much present on the reefs; the carpet shark or Wobegon is ubiquitous, laying on a coral or under a rock behind a cloud of glass-fish. The walking shark (Epaulette shark) can often be seen during night dives. Mantas are often seen on three different dive sites.

Halmahera: Many of the dive sites are sea mounts with a rocky substrate and plenty of large soft coral covered boomies in all different colours. The fish life is intense: as Halmahera signature, black tip sharks are seen patrolling around on most of the dive sites.

Lembeh Strait: Known as the “Muck dive paradise” we will be searching for the strangest critters living in the sandy slopes of this famous area. Hairy frogfish, mimic octopus, Rhinopias, ghost pipefish, lots of colourful nudibranch and many other rare species are on the menu.

A minimum of 33 dives (3 dives per day) is offered during the trip, including at least 4 night dives.

SNORKELING

Our trips are open to snorkelers. Most of the div sites offer great snorkeling opportunities with a lot to see in shallow water. We offer specific guidance for snorkelers.

ACTIVITIES

Besides the diving, we offer some activities along the trip according to weather conditions and the final trip itinerary.

In Misool, we will visit the ranger’s station and snorkel in front of their beach in a natural shark nursery where small black tips are swimming around in one meter of crystal-clear water. A short trek to the view point of the “love lagoon” (a lagoon in the shape of a hearth!) will be proposed.

In Sulawesi, on the last afternoon, we visit the national park of Tankoko, a preserved forest where we can see macaques and tarsiers.

You can also ask a boatman to bring you a shore at any time, as long as the schedule allows it. Our complementary kayaks are also available to go on shore or in the lagoons whenever the boat is anchored. All these activities are subject to weather conditions as well as the planned daily schedule and itinerary.

VISIBILITY

Misool: water is dense with life and visibility can be limited. Typically, the range is 10-20 meters. It can vary from one dive to another.

Halmahera: Generally, very good with a blue clear water, it can be reduced in case of heavy rainfalls.

Lembeh Strait: average to good.

TEMPERATURE

The water temperature is between 27° and 30°C (80°-84°C).

CURRENTS

Some of the dives can have consistent currents. However, Wallacea Dive Cruises has a long experience diving these sites and we pay close attention to diving in the right places at the right time, to avoid difficult or dangerous currents.

Before each dive, our guides conduct current checks so that our briefings will always inform you about the up-to-the-minute diving conditions. If the currents are too strong on a site; we wait or shift to an alternative dive site.

ITINERARY & NAVIGATION

We spend the first three days in Misool in the south of Raja Ampat National Park. Misool is excellent for taking wide angle shots, encounters with mantas, and massive schools of fish. The under- water topography is predominantly rocky with ridges and rock formations. The colourful reefs display an abundance of soft corals and huge gorgonians. Macro subjects are plenty as well: pygmy seahorses, tiny crabs, nudibranchs, and other rare photogenic life are everywhere.

After a night navigation we stop at Pulau Pisang in the Maluku Sea on our way to Halmahera. Great dive sites with a mix of ridges, slopes, small walls and plateau with plenty of fishes and colourful coral reefs.

After another night navigation, we reach the west part of Halmahera and continue further north to the Patienti strait between Halmahera and Bacan island. The 2 islands of Saleh and Kusu plus some other smaller ones partially close the strait, forcing the water between the islands with currents bringing a lot of life.

we will then dive in the area of Goraichi islands. Sea-mounts and rocky islets form the dive sites, attracting a great marine life before crossing to Tifore.

After a night navigation, we will reach the remote island of Tifore between Halmahera and Sulawesi. This small Island is the house of a fantastic dive site where schools of barracudas are competing with schools of jackfish above wonderfulcoral reefs.

After our final night navigation, we arrive in the Lembeh Strait for our final dives in the “muck dive paradise” to search for the strangest yet very rare marine critters.

Check in from 6 am to 12 noon. SEAHORSE crew are standing by to Welcome you onboard. Cabin allocation and ship orientation, safety Briefing and crew Introduction will take place before departing.

*Note: This is a sample itinerary and nº of dives, dive sites, etc. may be subject to change due to weather conditions and other unforseeable factors

Check out from 6 am to 12 noon. Group photos with the crew before farewell. Disembarkation after breakfast. Transfer to airport or hotel.

The legendary Raja Ampat area has long been thought of as the “last frontier”. A sense of peacefulness surrounds you when exploring the area: one of the last, rare untouched places on earth.

This 12 days/11 nights trip combines the two diving hot spots of West Papua: the magnificent Triton Bay area and the magic South Raja Ampat.

An unforgettable experience that offers outstanding scuba diving into some of the planet best spots, sea kayaking, lagoons fringed by rainforest, hiking to some stunning view points and encounters with the friendly inhabitants of those areas.

Our adventure will begin in Kaimana where you are awaited on our vessel before 12 noon, and will end up in Sorong where we will disembark before 12 noon.

We organize your pick up and drop off at the airport or at your hotel.

THE DIVING

The abundance of sea life, both fixed fauna such as corals and gorgonians along the lush reef, as well as the stunning quantity and diversity of fish swimming above is just astonishing.

The dive sites’ underwater topographies are also varied and interesting, filled with dramatic pinnacles, long ridges, walls, hidden caves, rock formations, azure lagoons, and much more.

The fauna ranges from the tiny Pygmy Seahorse to the oceanic manta ray. Raja Ampat’s signature are the huge schools of fish: clouds of fusiliers that attract predators like tunas and trevallies, barracudas, schools of the inquisitive spadefish, schools of sweetlips, groups of bump head parrotfish, napoleon wrasses, etc...

In triton Bay rocks are covered with large stands of soft corals forming an unique seascape. Reef sharks are very much present on the reefs; the carpet shark or Wobbegong is ubiquitous, laying on a coral or under a rock behind a cloud of glass-fish. The walking shark (Epaulette shark) can often be seen during night dives. Mantas are often spoted on different dive sites, and in Triton Bay, you will experience diving with whale sharks under the fishing platforms

The Wallacea typical “Kaimana Sorong” 12-day trip covers the central and south of Raja Ampat with all the famous sites of Triton Bay and Misool and epic dive sites in between. We choose the dive sites according to the prevailing conditions during the trip.

A minimum of 33 dives (3 dives per day) is offered during the trip, including at least 5 night dives.

SNORKELING

Our trips are open to snorkelers. Most of the dive sites offer great snorkeling opportunities with a lot to see in shallow waters, and we offer specific guidance for snorkelers.

ACTIVITIES

Besides the diving, we offer some activities along the trip according to weather conditions and the final trip itinerary.

In Triton Bay in the channel between Namatote island and the mainland is a cliff which was probably, a long time ago, a cave that is now open and reveal ancient art rocks painting. We stop there and look at them from the boat.

In Momon, on the coast of Papua, we spend some time around a wonderful waterfall finishing its course directly into the ocean.

In Misool, we will visit the ranger’s station and snorkel in front of their beach in a natural shark nursery where small black tips are swimming around in one meter of crystal clear water.

A short hike to the viewpoint of the “love lagoon” (a lagoon in the shape of a hearth!) is also scheduled.

Guests are welcome to ask a boatman to bring you a shore at any time, as long as the schedule allows it.

Our complementary kayaks are also available to go on shore or in the lagoons whenever the boat is anchored. All these activities are subject to weather conditions as well as the planned daily schedule and itinerary.

WEATHER

The weather is variable, even during the "dry" season, in this part of Indonesia, rain showers often happen. The sea is generally calm, with a few temporary storms.

VISIBILITY

In Triton Bay, the visibiity is an average 10 meters and can be lower in case of heavy rainfalls. Raja Ampat's waters are dense with life and visibility can be limited. It is typically in the range of 10-20m, depending on the local condition that can vary from one dive to another. In Sabuda and Momong the water is clear.

TEMPERATURE

The ocean temperature all year long is between 28° and 30°C (82°-84°C).

CURRENTS

On this itinerary the currents are generally moderate on most of the dive sites, and there’s always the possibility to do the dive in a current protected are. Wallacea Dive Cruises has a long experience diving these dive sites and always pays attention to dive in the right places at the right time to avoid difficult or dangerous currents. Before each dive, our guides conduct current checks so that our briefings will always inform you about the up-to-the-minute diving conditions

ITINERARY & NAVIGATION :

The map shows the general cruise itinerary. It can slightly vary depending on weather conditions, currents, visibility, and tides. There are 4 overnight crossings on the trip, otherwise, we navigate between dives or in the early morning.

TRITON BAY :

The development of soft corals there has little equivalent in the world. On most of the dives we generally find the soft corals in the shallows (0-5m) on rock and boomies, then come the black and tubastrea corals with lot of sweetlips and snappers. Below 12-15m the bottom is mostly sandy or rubble with interesting critters (nudibranchs, frogfish...). Some spots can have a lot of baitfish, eventually attracting devil rays and other predators. The “bagans” are platforms for baitfish fishing at night, eventually attracting the whale sharks. We dive there in the morning, in small groups of 8 guests turning on 30 minutes shifts.

MOMON & SABUDA :

Momon is a very special place for it’s magnificent landscape. The mountainous coast is covered with primary forest and a river from the highlands ends up into the sea as a large glorious waterfall (we go to swim and play there). A small islet have thousands of bats flying out at sunset. We dive on a seamount outside the coast: huge school of jacks, napoleon wrasse, eventually manta and even whale shark. The bat islet is a good macro dive. One night navigation brings us to Sabuda, at mid-way between Misool and the coast of Papua. It is a very scenic group of islands with beautiful lagoons and white sand beaches. The diving is interesting with big schools of fish (surgeon fish, trevallies, barracudas), eventually mantas rays. A second night of navigation is necessary to reach Misool.

MISOOL :

The 5 last days of the trip are in the South of Raja Ampat, around Misool and its satellites islets. Excellent for wide angle pictures, mantas, and massive schools of fish... The underwater topography is dominantly rocky, with ridges and rock formations. The very colorful reefs display an abundance of soft corals and huge gorgonians. Macro subjects are abundant as well, with the four kinds of pygmy seahorses, tiny crabs, nudibranchs, and other rare photogenic life all over. The last dive of the trip is at 8 AM on the penultimate day, and we reach Sorong before 4 AM on the last day.

Check in from 6 am to 12 noon. SEAHORSE crew are standing by to Welcome you onboard. Cabin allocation and ship orientation, safety Briefing and crew Introduction will take place before departing.

*Note: This is a sample itinerary and nº of dives, dive sites, etc. may be subject to change due to weather conditions and other unforseeable factors

Check out from 6 am to 12 noon. Group photos with the crew before farewell. Disembarkation after breakfast. Transfer to airport or hotel.

Our « Raja Ampat » cruise departures are from Sorong (SOQ). That city is well served with some daily flights from the main Indonesian International Airports such as Jakarta, Manado, Makassar, and Denpasar.To reach the departure of our cruises

The legendary Raja Ampat area has long been thought of as the “last frontier”.

A sense of peacefulness surrounds you when exploring the area: one of the last, rare untouched places on earth.

Our usual 13 day trip, which offers a visit to the entire Raja Ampat area, is an unforgettable experience: outstanding Scuba diving into one of the planet’s best spots, sea kayaking into a constellation of sapphire blue-water lagoons fringed by rainforests, bird watching opportunities, hiking to stunning viewpoints and finally encounters with the local inhabitant of these islands.

Our adventure will begin in Sorong where you are awaited on our vessel before 12 noon, and will end up in Sorong as well where we will disembark before 12 noon. We organize your pick up and drop off at the airport or at your hotel.

THE DIVING

The abundance of sea life, both fixed fauna such as corals and gorgonians along the lush reef, as well as the stunning quantity and diversity of fish swimming above is just astonishing. The dive sites’ underwater topographies are also varied and interesting, filled with dramatic pinnacles, long ridges, walls, hidden caves, rock formations, azure lagoons, and much more.

The fauna ranges from the tiny Pygmy Seahorse to the oceanic manta ray. Raja Ampat’s signature are the huge schools of fish: clouds of fusiliers that attract predators like tunas and trevallies, barracudas, schools of the inquisitive spadefish, schools of sweetlips, groups of bump head parrotfish, napoleon wrasses, etc...

Reef sharks are very much present on the reefs; the carpet shark or Wobbegong is ubiquitous, laying on a coral or under a rock behind a cloud of glass-fish. The walking shark (Epaulette shark) can often be seen during night dives. Mantas are often spoted on three different dive sites.

The Wallacea typical “Raja Ampat ultimate” 13-day trip covers the whole Raja Ampat area: Misool in the South, up to Wayag in the North, and the Dampier Strait. We then choose the dive sites according to the prevailing conditions during the trip.

A minimum of 36 dives (3 dives per day) is offered during the trip, including at least 6 night dives.

SNORKELING

Our trips are open to snorkelers. Most of the dive sites offer great snorkeling opportunities with a lot to see in shallow waters, and we offer specific guidance for snorkelers.

ACTIVITIES

Besides the diving, we offer some activities along the trip according to weather conditions and the final trip itinerary.

In Misool, we will visit the ranger’s station and snorkel in front of their beach in a natural shark nursery where small black tips are swimming around in one meter of crystal clear water. A short hike to the viewpoint of the “love lagoon” (a lagoon in the shape of a hearth!) will be offered. In Farondi, we will use the dinghies to navigate inside some hidden lagoons and go for a walk into a cave.

The most northern point of our trip is the iconic Wayag Lagoon that we will visit with the dinghies throughout the hundreds of quartz islets. A short hike to the viewpoint of “mount Pindito” will allow us to admire the entire lagoon. In Dampier Strait, we will visit one or several villages in the late afternoon. An early morning short hike into the rainforest to a bird of paradise mating tree is also proposed.

You can also ask a boatman to bring you a shore at any time, as long as the schedule allows it. Our four complementary kayaks and paddles are also available to go on shore or in the lagoons whenever the boat is anchored. All these activities are subject to weather conditions as well as the planned daily schedule and itinerary.

WEATHER

The weather is variable, even during the "dry" season, in this part of Indone- sia, rain showers often happen. The sea is generally calm, with a few tempo- rary storms, and sometimes light swell in the northern parts. Temperatures are around 30 °C.

VISIBILITY

Raja Ampat's waters are dense with life and visibility can be limited. It is typically in the range of 10-20 meters, depending on the local condition that can vary from one dive to another.

TEMPERATURE

The ocean temperature all year long is between 28° and 30°C (82°-84°C). .

CURRENTS

Raja Ampat is well known for its consistent currents that bring incredible life. Wallacea Dive Cruises has a long experience diving these sites. We pay close attention to diving in the right places at the right time, to avoid difficult or dangerous currents. Before each dive, our guides conduct current checks so that our briefings will always inform you about the up-to-the-minute diving conditions.

ITINERARY & NAVIGATION:

The map shows the general cruise itinerary. It can slightly vary depending on weather conditions, currents, visibility, and tides. Distances are not long: there are only two overnight crossings, the other navigations are taking place between dives or in the early morning. We usually start the trips by going South and then making our way up to the North.

MISOOL :

Misool is excellent for taking wide angle shots, encounters with mantas, and massive schools of fish. The under- water topography is predominantly rocky with ridges and rock formations. The colorful reefs display an abundance of soft corals and huge gorgonians. Macro subjects are plenty as well: pygmy seahorses, tiny crabs, nudibranchs, and other rare photogenic life are everywhere.

FAM - PENEMU :

We spend one day on these islands between the North and the South area. The dives include the site “Melissa garden” which has the best coral garden of the Raja Ampat and “My reef” well known for its barracuda school and numerous Wobbegongs.

THE NORTH :

The iconic Wayag lagoons composed of hundreds of rocky quartz limestone islets, are a marvel to explore with dinghies or onboard kayaks. We also recommend a short hike to a summit to admire the surrounding areas. Mantas and black tip sharks are swimming around. Kawe island has some of the finest diving in the area, with a good population of fish and regular manta encounters. The Aljui bay, a 20 kilometres long indentation, provides some of the best Raja Ampat’s macro dive site locations.

DAMPIER STRAIT :

We usually spend one or two days there to visit its famous dive sites around Kri with their impressive amount of fish.

Check in from 6 am to 12 noon. Seahorse crew are standing by to Welcome you onboard. Cabin allocation and ship orientation, safety Briefing and crew Introduction will take place before departing.

*Note: This is a sample itinerary and nº of dives, dive sites, etc. may be subject to change due to weather conditions and other unforseeable factors

Check out from 6 am to 12 noon. Group photos with the crew before farewell. Disembarkation after breakfast. Transfer to airport or hotel.

This 13 days / 12 nights trip runs along the so called “ring of Fire” in the Banda Sea and visits the best dive sites of this area.

It offers outstanding diving and is a perfect itinerary for encounters with the Schooling hammerhead sharks that roam the Banda Sea during this season. Our adventure will begin in Maumere where you are awaited on our vessel before 12 noon, and will end up in Ambon as well where we will disembark before 12 noon.

We organize your pick up and drop off at the airport or at your hotel.

THE DIVING

The Banda Sea is one of the best Indonesian dive destinations. It offers a great variety of dive sites among beautiful tiny islands and large reefs. Many of the dive sites are steep drop off with impressive hard corals, huge sponges of all kinds, pastel black corals bushes and an intense fish life.

Tunas, Spanish mackerel, giant trevallies schools of trevallies and barracudas and other pelagic fish are part of the show, together with the occurrence of the hammerheads, either in small groups or in big shoals. Other type of dive sites includes great critters dives - especially in the bay of Ambon - and beautiful fringing reefs.

THE HAMMERHEADS

The hammerheads are in the Banda Sea from September to end November. Their presence is related to the upwellings that cool the upper layers of the Banda sea. Those upwellings themselves depends on the SE winds that occur in Indonesia from June to September. Therefore the best chances to see the Hammerheads is when the water is the coolest, Mid-September to Mid-November.

A minimum of 36 dives (3 dives per day) is offered during the trip, including at least 6 night dives. The last dive is the Penultimate day at 8 am.

SNORKELING

Our trips are open to snorkelers. Most of the dive sites offer great snorkeling opportunities with a lot to see in shallow waters, and we offer specific guidance for snorkelers.

ACTIVITIES

The itinerary includes a lot of opportunities to go on land and some visits to discover the people, the nature and the history of this rich area.

The Banda islands (constituted of Banda Neira, Banda, Hatta, Ai and Run) were at the centre of the spices trades during the XVI century. They were the original Spice Islands and the most coveted destination on earth, particularly by the Portuguese, the English and the Dutch. All three countries fought fiercely for the area’s goods. Having won the battle, the Dutch colonized the islands and exported the nutmeg and cloves.

We will go down on the island of Banda Neira and visit the village, the fort and the museum for a glimpse of the Banda history. We will also visit a nutmeg plantation on the nearby island of Hatta.

The guests are always welcome to use the dinghies (with a boatman) to go on shore at any time, as long as the schedule allows it.

There are many opportunities to go on land for a short visit during the trip, visit some small villages, walk on a desert beach, so never hesitate to ask our crew. Our complementary kayaks are also available to go on shore or in the lagoons whenever the boat is anchored.

WEATHER

End of October the South east monsoon has already ended and the sea is generally flat except some local thunder storms. As we are very close to the equator, a few showers are always probable.

VISIBILITY

We can expect a good visibility in the Banda Sea.

TEMPERATURE

The sea temperature will be 28° to 29°C (80 to 84°F) in the Band Sea. .

CURRENTS

On this itinerary the currents are generally moderate on most of the dive sites, however there will most probably be some consistent currents in some occasions. Wallacea Dive Cruises has a long experience diving these dive sites and always pays attention to dive in the right places at the right time to avoid difficult or dangerous currents.

Before each dive, our guides conduct current checks so that our briefings will always inform you about the up - to - the - minute diving conditions.

ITINERARY & NAVIGATION :

After check-in and when the boat is ready to leave, we will navigate for the rest of the day and all night to our first destination, Kawula. After another night of navigation we will reach Alor where we spend 2 nights. Alor offers a breathtaking underwater experience renowned for its rich marine biodiversity and stunning coral reefs home to a diverse array of marine life, including colorful coral gardens, reef sharks and various species of fish.

We continue furhter east to reach the islands of Wetar and after an overnight navigation we arrive in Nila island.

Our next step that we reach after an early morning navigation is Nil Desperandum, a large offshore reef. It offers a fantastic drop off with great fish life, huge barrel sponges and is also a spot for hammerheads. Going North - East we will reach Serua, which consists in two small islands. Fabulous diving around those islands lost in the middle of the Banda Sea. One drop off offers high chances to find the schooling hammerheads. In order to maximise the chances of encounter, we dive very early in the morning and a bit late in the afternoon.

Overnight navigation to Manuk island, a volcanic island that is a nesting home for many seabirds. Underwater, the sulphur traces of volcanic activity can be seen. The diving signature is the abundance of sea snakes, both Aipy-

surus and Laticauda. Hammerheads are also roaming around, but generally only individuals or small groups. Our next destination is the Banda islands group, that includes the islands of Hatta, Run, Ai, Banda and Banda Neira. The diving around those islands is very rewarding. We will stop in Banda Neira for a land visit. Drop offs with great visibility,rich fish life and occasional hammerheads can be found around the islands of Run, Hatta and Ai.

The island of Suanggi, about 20 NM from Banda, is another hot spot for hammerhead schools and marine life. On our way to Ambon, we stop one day on the island Nusa Laut for the great dive sites of Ahmet. The last dive of the trip will be of a very different kind, with the famous muck diving of Laha in the bay of Ambon.

Check in from 6 am to 12 noon. Seahorse crew are standing by to Welcome you onboard. Cabin allocation and ship orientation, safety Briefing and crew Introduction will take place before departing.

*Note: This is a sample itinerary and no of dives, dive sites, etc. may be subject to change due to weather conditions and other unforeseeable factors.

Check out from 6 am to 12 noon. Group photos with the crew before farewell. Disembarkation after breakfast. Transfer to airport or hotel.

This 13 days / 12 nights cruise is a fantastic combo of Raja Ampat, Halmahera and the Lembeh Strait. Starting with the famous Misool in the south part of Raja Ampat national parc, we then cross to the west toward Halmahera and will finish in the Lembeh Strait in the north east of Sulawesi Island.

Our Adventure will begin in Sorong where you are awaited on our vessel before 12 noon, and will end up in Bitung where you can disembark no later than 12 noon.

We organize your pick up and drop off in the morning at the airport or at your hotel.

THE DIVING

Misool: The abundance of sea life, both fixed fauna such as corals and gorgonians along the lush reef, as well as the stunning quantity and diversity of fish swimming above is just astonishing. The dive sites’ underwater topographies are also varied and interesting, filled with dramatic pinnacles, long ridges, walls, hidden caves, rock formations, azure lagoons and much more.

The fauna ranges from the tiny Pygmy Seahorse to the oceanic manta ray. Raja Ampat’s signature are the huge schools of fish: clouds of fusiliers that attract predators like tunas and trevallies, barracudas, schools of the inquisitive spadefish, schools of sweetlips, groups of bumphead parrotfish, napoleon wrasses, etc.

Reef sharks are very much present on the reefs; the carpet shark or Wobegon is ubiquitous, laying on a coral or under a rock behind a cloud of glass-fish. The walking shark (Epaulette shark) can often be seen during night dives. Mantas are often seen on three different dive sites.

Halmahera: Many of the dive sites are sea mounts with a rocky substrate and plenty of large soft coral covered boomies in all different colours. The fish life is intense: as Halmahera signature, black tip sharks are seen patrolling around on most of the dive sites.

Lembeh Strait: Known as the “Muck dive paradise” we will be searching for the strangest critters living in the sandy slopes of this famous area. Hairy frogfish, mimic octopus, Rhinopias, ghost pipefish, lots of colourful nudibranch and many other rare species are on the menu.

A minimum of 36 dives (3 dives per day) is offered during the trip, including at least 5 night dives.

SNORKELING

Our trips are open to snorkelers. Most of the div sites offer great snorkeling opportunities with a lot to see in shallow water. We offer specific guidance for snorkelers.

ACTIVITIES

Besides the diving, we offer some activities along the trip according to weather conditions and the final trip itinerary.

In Misool, we will visit the ranger’s station and snorkel in front of their beach in a natural shark nursery where small black tips are swimming around in one meter of crystal-clear water. A short trek to the view point of the “love lagoon” (a lagoon in the shape of a hearth!) will be proposed.

In Sulawesi, on the last afternoon, we visit the national park of Tankoko, a preserved forest where we can see macaques and tarsiers.

You can also ask a boatman to bring you a shore at any time, as long as the schedule allows it. Our complementary kayaks are also available to go on shore or in the lagoons whenever the boat is anchored. All these activities are subject to weather conditions as well as the planned daily schedule and itinerary.

VISIBILITY

Misool: water is dense with life and visibility can be limited. Typically, the range is 10-20 meters. It can vary from one dive to another.

Halmahera: Generally, very good with a blue clear water, it can be reduced in case of heavy rainfalls.

Lembeh Strait: average to good.

TEMPERATURE

The water temperature is between 27° and 30°C (80°-84°C).

CURRENTS

Some of the dives can have consistent currents. However, Wallacea Dive Cruises has a long experience diving these sites and we pay close attention to diving in the right places at the right time, to avoid difficult or dangerous currents.

Before each dive, our guides conduct current checks so that our briefings will always inform you about the up-to-the-minute diving conditions. If the currents are too strong on a site; we wait or shift to an alternative dive site.

ITINERARY & NAVIGATION

We spend the first four days in Misool in the south of Raja Ampat National Park. Misool is excellent for taking wide angle shots, encounters with mantas, and massive schools of fish. The under- water topography is predominantly rocky with ridges and rock formations. The colourful reefs display an abundance of soft corals and huge gorgonians. Macro subjects are plenty as well: pygmy seahorses, tiny crabs, nudibranchs, and other rare photogenic life are everywhere.

After a night navigation we stop at Pulau Pisang in the Maluku Sea on our way to Halmahera. Great dive sites with a mix of ridges, slopes, small walls and plateau with plenty of fishes and colourful coral reefs.

After another night navigation, we reach the west part of Halmahera and continue further north to the Patienti strait between Halmahera and Bacan island. The 2 islands of Saleh and Kusu plus some other smaller ones partially close the strait, forcing the water between the islands with currents bringing a lot of life.

we will then dive in the area of Goraichi islands. Sea-mounts and rocky islets form the dive sites, attracting a great marine life before crossing to Tifore.

After a night navigation, we will reach the remote island of Tifore between Halmahera and Sulawesi. This small Island is the house of a fantastic dive site where schools of barracudas are competing with schools of jackfish above wonderfulcoral reefs.

After our final night navigation, we arrive in the Lembeh Strait for our final dives in the “muck dive paradise” to search for the strangest yet very rare marine critters.

Check in from 6 am to 12 noon. SEAHORSE crew are standing by to Welcome you onboard. Cabin allocation and ship orientation, safety Briefing and crew Introduction will take place before departing.

*Note: This is a sample itinerary and nº of dives, dive sites, etc. may be subject to change due to weather conditions and other unforseeable factors

Check out from 6 am to 12 noon. Group photos with the crew before farewell. Disembarkation after breakfast. Transfer to airport or hotel.

This 13 days / 12 nights trip runs along the so called “ring of Fire” in the Banda Sea and visits the best dive sites of this area. It offers outstanding diving and is a perfect itinerary for encounters with the Schooling hammerhead sharks that roam the Banda Sea during this season.

Our adventure will begin in Saumlaki where you are awaited on our vessel before 12 noon, and will end up in Ambon as well where we will disembark before 12 noon.

We organize your pick up and drop off at the airport or at your hotel.

THE DIVING

The Banda Sea is one of the best Indonesian dive destinations. It offers a great variety of dive sites among beautiful tiny islands and large reefs. Many of the dive sites are steep drop off with impressive hard corals, huge sponges of all kinds, pastel black corals bushes and an intense fish life. Tunas, Spanish mackerel, giant trevallies schools of trevallies and barracudas and other pelagic fish are part of the show, together with the occurrence of the hammerheads, either in small groups or in big shoals. Other type of dive sites includes great critters dives - especially in the bay of Ambon - and beautiful fringing reefs.

THE HAMMERHEADS

The hammerheads are in the Banda Sea from September to end November. Their presence is related to the upwellings that cool the upper layers of the Banda sea. Those upwellings themselves depends on the SE winds that occur in Indonesia from June to September. Therefore the best chances to see the Hammerheads is when the water is the coolest, Mid-September to Mid-November.

A minimum of 36 dives (3 dives per day) is offered during the trip, including at least 5 night dives.

The last dive is the Penultimate day at 8 am.

SNORKELING

Our trips are open to snorkelers. Most of the dive sites offer great snorkeling opportunities with a lot to see in shallow waters, and we offer specific guidance for snorkelers.

ACTIVITIES

The itinerary includes a lot of opportunities to go on land and some visits to discover the people, the nature and the history of this rich area. The Banda islands (constituted of Banda Neira, Banda, Hatta, Ai and Run) were at the centre of the spices trades during the XVI century. They were the original Spice Islands and the most coveted destination on earth, particularly by the Portuguese, the English and the Dutch. All three countries fought fiercely for the area’s goods. Having won the battle, the Dutch colonized the islands and exported the nutmeg and cloves. We will go down on the island of Banda Neira and visit the village, the fort and the museum for a glimpse of the Banda history.

We will also visit a nutmeg plantation on the nearby island of Hatta. The guests are always welcome to use the dinghies (with a boatman) to go on shore at any time, as long as the schedule allows it. There are many opportunities to go on land for a short visit during the trip, visit some small villages, walk on a desert beach, so never hesitate to ask our crew.

Our complementary kayaks are also available to go on shore or in the lagoons whenever the boat is anchored.

WEATHER

End of October the South east monsoon has already ended and the sea is generally flat except some local thunder storms. As we are very close to the equator, a few showers are always probable.

VISIBILITY

We can expect a good visibility in the Banda Sea.

TEMPERATURE

The sea temperature will be 28° to 29°C (80 to 84°F) in the Band Sea.

CURRENTS

On this itinerary the currents are generally moderate on most of the dive sites, however there will most probably be some consistent currents in some occasions. Wallacea Dive Cruises has a long experience diving these dive sites and always pays attention to dive in the right places at the right time to avoid difficult or dangerous currents. Before each dive, our guides conduct current checks so that our briefings

will always inform you about the diving conditions.

ITINERARY & NAVIGATION

This itinerary goes along the so called ”ring of fire”, a bow shaped succession of volcanic islands in the Banda Sea.

After leaving Saumlaki on Tanimbar island, our first day of diving will be on Dawelor and Dai island. These granite islands, part of the Babar island group, offers fantastic dive sites with great fish life, including eventual encounters with hammerhead sharks.

A night navigation will bring us to Nila island. The small Nila island offers nice diving on a gentle slope with a good critter life.

Our next step that we reach after an early morning navigation is Nil Desperandum, a large offshore reef. It offers a fantastic drop off with great fish life, huge barrel sponges and is also a spot for hammerheads.

Going North - East we will reach Serua, which consists in two small islands. Fabulous diving around those islands lost in the middle of the Banda Sea. One drop off offers high chances to find the schooling hammerheads. In order to maximise the chances of

encounter, we dive very early in the morning and a bit late in the afternoon.

Overnight navigation to Manuk island, a volcanic island that is a nesting home for many seabirds. Underwater, the sulphur traces of volcanic activity can be seen. The diving signature is the abundance of sea snakes, both Aipy-surus and Laticauda. Hammerheads are also roaming around, but generally only individuals or small groups.

Our next destination is the Banda islands group, that includes the islands of Hatta, Run, Ai, Banda and Banda Neira. The diving around those islands is very rewarding. One of the highlight is a dive along the lava flow of the “Gunung Api” (the fire mountain); the last eruption was in 1988 and we can see how the corals and huge

sponges did grow back since then. We will stop in Banda Neira for a land visit. Drop offs with great visibility, rich fish life and occasional hammerheads can be found around the islands of Run, Hatta and Ai.

The island of Suanggi, about 20 NM from Banda, is another hot spot for hammerhead schools and marine life.

On our way to Ambon, we stop one day on the island Nusa Laut for the great dive sites of Ahmet.

The last dive of the trip will be of a very different kind, with the famous muck diving of Laha in the bay of Ambon.

Seahorse crew are standing by to Welcome you onboard.

Safety Briefing, Crew Introduction, Necessary Dive Paperwork, Cabin allocation and ship orientation will take place before departing.

During the first day take this opportunity to familiarize with the vessel and make yourself comfortable.

*Note: This is a sample itinerary and nº of dives, dive sites, etc. may be subject to change due to weather conditions and other unforseeable factors

Last day of the cruise. Farewell and group pictures. Disembarkation and transfer to Airport or hotel.