Blue Manta Explorer

Embark upon once-in-a-lifetime voyages across the Banda Sea, visiting the famed ‘Spice Islands’ to discover diving Nirvana in the ‘Ring of Fire'. Each year, from September-December and also between April-May the liveaboard itineraries offer diving as it was meant to be enjoyed; away from the crowds, true exploration, and discovering dive sites that very few divers will get a chance to explore.  With unmatched experience in this area, can show you just what an incredible destination this is and take you to ‘Hammerhead hot spots’ where at certain times of the year schools of more than 200 Hammerheads have been witnessed (mostly from September to December).

Besides the schools of Hammerhead sharks, you will find pristine coral reefs, a unique local seaman in Alor, tons of sea snakes in Manuk, and a visit to the spice island in Banda Neira. The remoteness of these islands along with the low levels of the human population have meant less fishing and pollution pressures resulting in a vibrant, natural, and healthy reef system. Can expect reefs bursting with life, huge sea fans and sponges, some monumental hard corals, and more fish than your mask can cope with, there is an extraordinary variety and volume of fish life, both in terms of large and small marine life.

Beyond providing some of the best diving in the region the islands also have had a long and fascinating history. Spices, foreign traders, colonial conflicts, wars and earthquakes have all featured heavily in their checkered past. Up until the middle of the 19th century, this was the only place on Earth where the spices nutmeg, and mace could be found and as a result, they were a crucial hub for the spice trade, for a taste of the historic atmosphere going ashore in Banda Neira and visiting the old colonial fort is a must.

Underwater more than 1000 types of reef fish, 540 types of corals, sharks, rays, turtles, dolphins, and even whales call the park their home. This is the holy grail of dive destinations, truly one of the most beautiful places in the world. We invite you to discover a diver’s heaven on earth.

Embark upon once-in-a-lifetime voyages across the Banda Sea, visiting the famed ‘Spice Islands’ to discover diving Nirvana in the ‘Ring of Fire'. Each year, from September-December and also between April-May our liveaboard itineraries offer diving as it was meant to be enjoyed; away from the crowds, true exploration, and discovering dive sites that very few divers will get a chance to explore. Discover unique and spectacular scenery both above and below the waves where volcanic activity has created a remote island paradise, only accessible to divers via liveaboard. With our unmatched experience in this area, we can show you just what an incredible destination this is and take you to our ‘Hammerhead hot spots’ where at certain times of the year schools of more than 200 Hammerheads have been witnessed (mostly from September to December).

Besides the schools of Hammerhead sharks, you will find pristine coral reefs, a unique local seaman in Alor, tons of sea snakes in Manuk, and a visit to the spice island in Banda Neira. The remoteness of these islands along with the low levels of the human population have meant less fishing and pollution pressures resulting in a vibrant, natural, and healthy reef system. You can expect reefs bursting with life, huge sea fans and sponges, some monumental hard corals, and more fish than your mask can cope with, there is an extraordinary variety and volume of fish life, both in terms of large and small marine life.

Beyond providing some of the best diving in the region the islands also have had a long and fascinating history. Spices, foreign traders, colonial conflicts, wars and earthquakes have all featured heavily in their checkered past. Up until the middle of the 19th century, this was the only place on Earth where the spices nutmeg, and mace could be found and as a result, they were a crucial hub for the spice trade, for a taste of the historic atmosphere going ashore in Banda Neira and visiting the old colonial fort is a must.

Underwater more than 1000 types of reef fish, 540 types of corals, sharks, rays, turtles, dolphins, and even whales call the park their home. This is the holy grail of dive destinations, truly one of the most beautiful places in the world.

Raja Ampat will immerse you in a diving paradise: rich & varied topography, with the world’s richest underwater bio-diversity and sheer abundance of marine life to keep you coming back for more. The huge variety of coral and fish life is reflected in the diversity of dive sites you will visit; Walls, slopes, caves, canyons, seamounts, muck diving, and distinctive signature sites like Blue Water Mangroves and The Passage combine to make Raja Ampat one of the most celebrated and desired dive destinations in the world. The stunning beauty of Raja Ampat's exotic & enchanting islands both above and below the water will leave you in no doubt that this is a true natural wonderland.

 Amazing macro discoveries such as pygmy seahorses, frogfish, and nudibranch galore provide secret delights for photography enthusiasts. Komodo really does have something for everyone, including stunning scenery above and below the waves and a walk on the wild side with the world's largest lizard, the infamous Komodo Dragon!

More than 1,000 species of tropical fish, 260 species of coral, and rare marine mammals such as the dugong live within Komodo National Park. Strong daily tidal flows combine with nutrient-rich water upwelling from the depths of the Indian Ocean to create ideal conditions for thousands of species of corals and tropical fish to flourish. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991, divers travel from all over the globe to experience the spectacular biodiversity of more than 50 world-class dive sites ranging from challenging blue water current dives with a chance of glimpsing large pelagic species to discovering rare invertebrates on a ‘muck’ dive closer to shore.

Enjoy spectacular diving in the North, Central, and (weather permitting) Southern areas of this incredible National Park. In the Northern and Central areas of the park expect great visibility and warm (27-28C) water, big fish sightings are common and photographers will find wide-angle is the default setting. Highlight Dive Sites include Crystal & Castle Rock, Shotgun, Batu Bolong, and Makassar Reef (Mantas on the moon). In the South, the water temps are usually much cooler (21-25C) and the visibility can be less than perfect in these nutrient-rich waters. However dive sites such as Cannibal Rock, Secret Garden and Torpedo Alley provide sightings of the most diverse marine life in the park. Incredible Manta aggregations can also be seen in the South at Manta Alley. Prepare for strong currents and conditions suitable for advanced level divers throughout the itinerary. We recommend 30-50 minimum dives logged prior to your Komodo itinerary.