Ambai Itinerary

Raja Ampat, Banda Sea and Triton Bay (SXK - SOQ) 14N

Day 1: Our staff will welcome you at the airport - or will pick you up from your hotel if you are already in Saumlaki - and transfer you to the boat. Welcome drink, briefings, cabin assignment etc.

Day 2: Diving around the islands of Babar and Dai.

Day 3: Enjoy 3 dives around Nil Desperandum, an area known for hammerhead encounters. 

Day 4: Take part in 3 dives on Manuk, where the signs of volcanic activity are clearly visible underwater. We have seen hammerhead sharks a few times here, but the highlight of the dives are the abundant sea snakes that are everywhere. Night dive. 

Days 5-6: Our next step is the Banda Islands. In the centre of the Banda Sea, those islands have been at the centre of the spice trade and war in the 16th century. The diving around those islands is very good. One of the highlights 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 do a land visit to Banda Neira in the afternoon, visiting the village, the museum and the fort.

Day 7: Enjoy 3 dives around Koon - a very fishy spot with giant groupers, schools of batfish, schools of jacks, and possibly hammerheads. 

Days 8-9: Make the most of up to 6 dives in Triton Bay, including at least one night dive. Black coral forests, groups of sweetlips everywhere, lots of groupers and other fishes, amazing soft corals up to the surface, impressive critters. Diving with whale sharks near the fishing platforms (Bagan). Optional short excursion with the dinghies in the early morning to see the incredible beaches, lagoons, and birds of the area.

Day 10: We will start today diving in the vicinity of Misool eco-resort: Boo Rocks with 2 large openings in the rock that completely pierce the island from the surface to 5 metres deep, Fiabacet, Fantasea. Again an explosion of colours and fish density. In the evening, we organise a dinner on the beach of a small island. 

Day 11: In east Misool you will discover 3 fantastic dives: No Contest, Love potion, 3 Rocks. Rocks with vertical walls and fantastic coverage of soft corals, lots of fishes with schools of Platax, aggregations of snappers, bump head parrotfishes. We spend the night in the hidden lagoon, a very special anchorage inside an almost closed bay surrounded by high rocks. From the boat, we can hear and see the cachants before the night falls. We will go with the dinghies to have a look at another lagoon. 

Day 12: Penemu: great aggregations of fishes (barracudas, fusiliers and bannerfish), Galaxy, a great reef with excellent fish life, an excellent site for its hard corals. Land excursion for a fantastic view point at "Little Wayag".

Day 13: Dampier Strait, a channel with sloping sides covered with soft corals and life-then with a reliable manta ray congregation at Manta Sandy. Chicken Reef and Sardine Reef. Cape Kri, one of the largest concentrations of big fish on the northern Raja Ampat; schools of trevally, barracudas, bannerfish, sweetlips. Night dive. 

Day 14: Make the most of the last dives of the trip before heading to port.

Day 15: Traditional photos with the crew before farewell. Disembarkation after breakfast. Transfer to Sorong airport. Looking forward to having you back on our board soon!

Sample itineraries are for guidance only. Actual itineraries may differ slightly due to factors such as weather, wildlife, logistics and local regulations.