Travellers and divers looking for their next epic adventure can embark on a Banda Sea diving experience. With our beautiful liveaboard Jelajahi Laut, you’ll traverse the open water from Raja Ampat to the pristine islands in the middle of the Banda Sea.
Here in the Banda Sea, you’ll find some of the region’s most abundant dive sites with coral reefs bursting with life, colour, and very healthy marine life.
Thanks to its remote location in the heart of the Coral Triangle, your Banda Sea diving experience will surpass all expectations, with exceptional marine biodiversity and an extraordinary underwater ecosystem.
Where Are the Banda Islands
Your Banda Sea diving adventure will take you to Banda Neira Indonesia, a group of ten volcanic islands approximately 140 km south of Seram Island. Appearing to “float” in the middle of the Banda Sea, this group of islands is part of the Maluku province, with Sulawesi to the west; Buru, Ambon, and Seram to the North; Alor to the south, and Papua to the east.
Its location and nutrient-rich waters attract all kinds of marine creatures big and small, from whales to dolphins and dugongs, from sea turtles to pelagics and sharks, and of course tropical fish in all colours of the rainbow.
The North Banda Basin is 5,800 metres deep while the South Banda Basin is 5,400 metres deep. In fact, the Banda Sea is the deepest point in Indonesia!
Best Dive Sites in the Banda Sea
The waters surrounding Banda Neira are part of the Banda Sea Marine Park, which was established in 1977; it comprises 2,500 hectares, home to over 300 species of hard coral and 500 species of fish.
When diving in the Banda Sea, you’ll come across underwater landscapes consisting of drop-offs, steep walls, fringing reefs, pinnacles, and even underwater mountains.
There are spectacular soft and hard corals, sea fans, barrel sponges, and giant Gorgonian fans everywhere you look. Here are our favourite dive sites for your Banda Sea diving adventure.
Karang Hatta
A popular dive site that’s a must-visit on every Banda Sea diving trip, is Karang Hatta. It is located just off Pulau Hatta near the Banda Sea trench. Thanks to the currents in this area, this dive site attracts all kinds of marine creatures in the thousands, from colourful tropical fish to sharks and large pelagics.
This dive site is a sloping reef, great for all levels of divers. Go down to 25 metres, and you’ll come face to face with massive schools of trevally, tuna, barracuda, and whitetip and blacktip reef sharks. There is also a chance to spot the larger grey reef shark and even the hammerhead shark!
Batu Kapal
Batu Kapal, which means “Ship Rock,” got its name after the rock formation above the dive site which resembles a ship. Beneath the surface, the dive site is covered with pinnacles and forms a valley which leads to a steep drop-off going down to approximately 50 metres. The walls here are covered with corals, sponges, and fans, all bursting with life and activity.
There are large clouds of giant groupers, barracudas, and trevallies, as well as moray eels and red-toothed triggerfish. Keep an eye out for octopuses you might be able to spot one in the shallower areas!
Pohon Miring
Translating to a “leaning” or “crooked” tree, Pohon Miring is where the southern and northern currents meet, bringing with them an abundance of marine life and fish species.
There is a large crack in the reef in this dive site at approximately 26 metres deep, which creates a tunnel covered with corals, sea fans, and sponges. Common fish you’ll see here include tuna, bumphead parrotfish, napoleon wrasse, sweetlips, and black snapper as well as macros like scorpionfish and ghost pipefish.
Pombo Boi
If you’ve been wanting to see dolphins and dugongs on your Banda Sea diving trip, then be sure to include Pombo Boi in your itinerary.
This dive site is covered with vibrant corals, fans and sponges and is also home to shrimp, triggerfish, butterflyfish, gobies, and lobsters. The currents here are quite calm on most days, making it an easy dive and perfect for all levels of divers.
Gunung Api & Manuk
Cross “diving with sea snakes” off your bucket list! Diving in both Gunung Api and Manuk means you’ll get to float about with these harmless sea serpents that are attracted to the sulfur-rich waters surrounding both these dive sites.
In addition to sea snakes, there are also huge schools of barracudas here alongside spectacular soft and hard corals, fans, and sponges.
Diving Conditions and Best Time to Visit Banda
Banda Sea diving is great all year round but exceptionally so during the dry season, which typically runs from April to November. Expect excellent visibility of up to 40 metres during the dry season and warm water temperatures ranging from 26°C to 30°C.
While the currents remain largely calm during the dry season, they may vary at certain Banda Sea diving locations depending on locations, underwater topography, and the weather.
Diving Banda Sea With Mikumba Diving
When diving at the Banda Sea with Mikumba Diving, you can relax the minute you step on board our luxury mid-range liveaboard Jelajahi Laut. Departing Raja Ampat, we traverse the sea towards Maluku and the Banda Sea on a 15D/14N expedition.
Built from the ground up by experienced divers, Jelajahi Laut – which means “Explore the Sea” in Indonesian – can accommodate up to 12 guests with six cabins and en suites with hot water and AC, a large sun deck with air-conditioned dining and living rooms.
Don’t forget to check out our special offers page for unmissable deals and discounts, for more information and liveaboard schedules, and to book your diving trip with Mikumba Diving.
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