Updated August 24, 2022
This is the twenty-second in a series that introduces and describes the various dive services and sites for worldwide liveaboard dive safaris. The focus in this one is on Banda Sea diving liveaboards.
In addition to this series on liveaboards, the best worldwide dive resort locations and services are reviewed in their own series. To check them out, or other liveaboards, click on Liveaboards/Resorts on the menu at the top and choose a title.
Have you ever been diving in the Banda Sea before? If so, I’d love to know about your experience. What dive shop or liveaboard did you use? Which dive spots are the best and what are the conditions there regarding the visibility, current, water temperature, sealife attractions, etc.? Please post your response in the comments section at the bottom and we’ll all learn something we can use.
Banda Sea Liveaboard Diving
The Banda Islands are centrally located in Indonesia’s Banda Sea about 200 km (125 miles) east-southeast of Ambon and 320 km (200 miles) southwest of Sorong, West Papua. Historically it was part of the Dutch spice trade, particularly regarding nutmeg.
Today it is still sparsely populated, remote, and with limited human impact. This has left us with an exceptionally diverse and healthy coral reef system rich in all forms of sea life. There are a variety of seascapes with great dive sites in the dozens. Shallow coral gardens give way to gentle slopes in some locations and steep walls to depths of greater than 40 meters (130 ft) in others. Much of the terrain is volcanic in origin.
Divers find themselves in great schools of blue dash fusiliers and many other fascinating swarming species. Pelagics include Napoleon wrasse, dogtooth tuna, wahoo, great hoards of Mobula rays, schooling hammerheads, and turtles. Other bigger fish highlights include blue tail unicornfish, black, red tooth, and titan triggerfish, giant and blue trevallies, eagle and manta rays, bumphead parrotfish, midnight snappers, and blacktip, whitetip, silvertip, hammerhead, and whale sharks.
Cetaceans roaming the area are spinner dolphins, orcas, melon head, pilot, blue, and humpback whales. Macro lovers can also delight in photographing the Ambon scorpionfish, mandarin fish, frogfish, seahorses, ghost pipefish, and a diversity of shrimps, crabs, crinoids, sea squirts, and other invertebrates.
Currents can be mild to pretty strong making the diving most suitable for experienced and advanced levels of diving skills.
The weather is not consistent year-round with periods of rough surface conditions making diving more difficult. The best times are in March and April and from September to December. Visibility is best from August to December in the 15-30 meter (50-100 foot) range. The water is warm with temps from 26-29°C (79-84°F).
Reef Conditions Summary
Depth: 5 – > 40 meters (16 – > 130 feet)
Visibility: 15 – 30 meters (50 – 100 feet)
Currents: often gentle, but can be strong
Surface Conditions: calm in season (March and April and from September to December)
Water Temperature: 26 – 29°C (79-84°F)
Experience Level: intermediate-advanced
Number of Dive Sites: ~25 (plus ~30 more in the greater Lucipara and Ambon/Seram/Nusa Laut region)
Distance: ~125 miles (200 kilometers) east-southeast of Ambon (14 hours), 200 miles (320 kilometers miles) southwest of Sorong (West Papua, 16 hours)
Banda Sea Liveaboard Dive Boats
There are at least 9 liveaboard dive boats cruising the Banda Sea on liveaboard diving safaris. They make trips there, as well as to other relatively nearby diving locations that include Raja Ampat, Bali, Alors, Komodo, Maumere, Halmahera, Sangalaki, Lembeh Strait, and Flores. Three of them make a more significant number of trips to Banda, from 11 to 15 tours, between now and the end of 2023.
- MV Mermaid I – 11 tours
- MY Emperor Raja Laut – 11 tours
- Blue Manta – 15 tours
This list of 6 has a smaller presence in the Banda Islands region:
- MV Mermaid II 7 tours
- KLM Jaya – 4 tours
- MV Empress II – 5 tours
- MSY Seahorse – 3 tours
- MV Ambai – 2 tours
- MV Pindito – 6 tours
- Cruises include Komodo, Bali, Alor, Maumere, Raja Ampat, Halmahera, Lembeh, and the Banda Sea
- Eleven 10 through 13-day tours that include the Banda Islands through 2023
- Western, local, and vegan meal options, buffet and al fresco
- BBQ area
- Daily housekeeping
- Salon with audio & video entertainment
- Library
- Air-conditioned cabins, en-suite bathrooms
- Sun deck, sea view cabins
- Separate rinse for cameras
- Charging stations
- English, Spanish, French, and Indonesian speaking crew
- Shaded diving deck
- Non-diver (snorkeler) friendly
- Kayaks onboard
- Nitrox available
- 2 x 4.2m tenders with ladders
Blue Manta – 11 tours
- Cruises Raja Ampat, Komodo, Banda, Flores
- Fifteen 8 through 12-day tours that include the Banda Islands through 2023
- All cabins with private bathrooms
- Air-conditioned saloon, aircon cabins
- Asian and international meals
- Outdoor Dining
- 24-hour satellite wi-fi internet
- Audio & video entertainment
- Free internet
- Complimentary laundry service
- Designated dry camera room, cameras for rent
- Charging stations
- Laundry service
- Massage
- Daily housekeeping
- Warm water showers
- Separate rinse for u/w camera
- Non-diver (snorkeler) friendly
- Shaded diving deck
- 6 experienced English-speaking dive guides
- Nitrox available
- 4 x 6.5m dinghy with twin 40hp OBM
Banda Sea Liveaboard Dive Boat Comparison Table
| MV Mermaid I | MY Emperor Raja Laut | Blue Manta | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
|
| Length | 28 m | 31 m | 45 m |
| Guests | 15 | 12 | 18 |
| Crew | Not Reported (nearly 1:1 Crew to Guest ratio) | Not Reported | 22 |
| Equipment | 18 EUR/day | $30/day | $50/day |
| Nitrox | 6 EUR/tank | $10/day | $15/day |
| Snorkeling | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Single Supplement | Not Reported | +50% | +20% |
| Price/Day | $354 | $334 | $381 |
| MV Mermaid I | MY Emperor Raja Laut | Blue Manta |
Banda Sea Photography
With the macro life, beautiful, diverse coral reef, and lots of fish, there are many excellent photo opportunities. For information and reviews of diving cameras, click here:
Scuba Diving Trip Insurance
A cushion for emergencies provides peace of mind when on vacation. I recommend this diving insurance as they have worldwide coverage and provide scuba divers a quality insurance and medical assistance service.
Feedback and Comments
I hope you found this post on Banda Sea liveaboard diving interesting and useful. If you have any questions or ideas, please feel free to share them in the comments section. I’d love to know of any experience you have diving there. If there is no comments section directly below, click here: >>comments<<
Well it sounds as if Indonesia’s Banda Sea is the perfect place to go for all types of trips, not only a scuba diving one – the images look absolutely amazing!
You mention that the area used to be used heavily for the Dutch spice trade, but these days there is not much of a population there at all. Why is that – why has the area been left so quiet and un-populated for so long?
Hi Chris,
Thanks a lot for your kind comments and question.
As you probably know, Indonesia has a very big population, but it is mostly in urban areas. Areas like the Banda Islands are pretty remote with poor logistics and have little economic activity today. Spices are still a part of the economy, but no longer as profitable as in the Dutch era. The population pf 18,000 people in the Banda Islands rely a lot on tourism, which was damaged in the 1990s when there was fighting between religious groups and deaths in Ambon to the north, that spilled over to Banda. So they have some income from spices and tourism, but not much else.
There are a number of historic sites, volcanoes, beautiful woodlands and wildlife on land to see that would be worth the tour.
If you would like any help in organizing a liveaboard or other trip, please let me know.
Best regards,
Joe
The Banda Sea sounds gorgeous from your description. It is a shame that the environmental conditions there only allow intermediate to advanced divers to enjoy the waters but I think that is good motivation to get my diving skills up to scratch.
The boats also sound incredible though so I wouldn’t feel too bad enjoying the sights and sounds from the deck. The boats are also kitted with everything I might ever need which is also great. I am definitely keeping this one on my radar!
Hi Renton,
Thanks for your kind comments.
The conditions in the Banda Sea can involve significant drift and some chop on the surface. The advanced open water course is available aboard the Indo Aggressor or the KM Raja Manta. That would get you training under close supervision in your first handful of dives to raise you to the intermediate level. Other locations have milder conditions, yet equally fabulous diving, as well, for your consideration. When you’re ready to give something like that a try, please let me know and I can help with the logistics.
Best regards,
Joe
Interesting…Scuba diving is so adventurous and the scene is beautiful and relaxing. However, I’m just not brave enough to take on this adventure. Watching the videos were tempting but yet still, I will pass. I live on an Island, Jamaica, and even then I have never done this. Your post is very engaging – a great vacation idea. I’m sure it will be useful to people planning a vacation.
Great post!
Hi Brenda,
Thanks for your interest and kind comments.
What a shame you’re a little bit fearful about scuba diving. If you do decide to give it a try, let me know. I can help you organize logistics and give other guidance as needed. There are many places to go in Jamaica to do it. The basic open water diver course usually takes 4 days, consists of some reading, 5 shallow water or pool practice sessions and 4 open water dives to confirm your skills. It sets you up to really enjoy a lot of great diving locations around the world.
Best of luck to you.
Joe
Wow these are big beautiful vessels to be diving from. I enjoy travel very much and have not made the trek to Indonesia. The underwater world is a huge passion of mine. Even made it my career choice. Certainly want to check Indonesian sea-life out in the future. Thanks for the site. I’ll have to check out some other tours that you have available as well.
Thanks for your kind comments, Doc.
These liveaboard boats are pretty fabulous – pretty roomy and comfortable, well set up for diving with excellent food and service, not to mention going to world class dive sites.
I have chosen a lot of great sites and boats to examine in my series. When you check out some other tours, there are fascinating videos and information that are pretty entertaining and helpful in making a selection.
Best regards,
Joe