Indo Master

This very special, one-off custom itinerary focuses on the Togean Island Group in the Gulf of Tomini.

Starting from Bitung, the first 3 days diving of the 12-night itinerary will take you through the Lembeh Strait and along the eastern shoreline of North Sulawesi then across the mouth of the gulf to the northern tip of Central Sulawesi.

The next 4 days will be spent navigating and diving around the islands located in the middle of the gulf before heading north for a day diving around Gorontalo on the southern shore of North Sulawesi.

As the itinerary continues back to Bitung, a day each will be spent diving the southeastern sites of North Sulawesi, Tifore Island and Banka Island.

MANDATORY Experience Requirements: PADI Advanced Open Water, or equivalent certification, and a minimum of 50 logged dives. It is also strongly recommended that divers have previous experience and are comfortable diving in strong currents.

The diversity of marine life in Komodo National Park is so unique that the park became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991, and is considered one of the seven nature wonders of the world! The combination of marine and land wildlife, reef and pelagic creatures, invertebrates and vertebrates, shallow reefs, drop-offs and drift dives, produces exceptional diving, as expected of a key site within the Coral Triangle - the epicentre for the planet’s marine biodiversity.

While on board we expect to visit multiple, globally-renowned manta ray sites within the marine park both in the north and south of Komodo and visit the famous manta cleaning stations of Karang Makassar and Manta Alley, where mantas often aggregate in large numbers to socialise and mate during this season!

The itinerary will vary depending on manta sightings and will be aimed at maximising our encounters with these ocean giants. With one of the largest populations of reef manta rays in the world, resident year-round, Komodo National Park is among the best destinations to encounter these inquisitive species. It also offers a chance to encounter the elegant black morph reef mantas that are typical of this region’s population!

Experience Requirements: Advanced Open Water with minimum 50 logged dives

Below is an example of the 10-night itinerary schedule. The cruise manager will schedule 3-4 dives per day, depending on cruising distances; Typically this will comprise 3 day dives and, where possible, either a sunset or a night dive - Day 1: Ambon embarkation at 13:00 followed by introductions, boat and safety briefings and a late afternoon check dive. - Day 2: Banda Islands - Days 3-5: Manuk and Serua - Days 6-8: Banda Islands - Day 9: Nusa Laut / Ambon - Day 10: Two morning dives before the boat cruises into Ambon harbour where it will remain at anchor overnight. - Day 11: Disembarkation between 08:00 and 10:00