Beyond the Spice Islands
The Banda Sea stretches between Ambon, Timor, and Papua, one of Indonesia’s deepest and least visited seas. Scubaspa Zen crosses it on routes from Sorong, Kaimana, Ambon or Alor, connecting the Banda Islands, once the world’s only source of nutmeg, with the Forgotten Islands, a remote volcanic chain rarely reached by liveaboards.
Highlights
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Banda Islands and Gunung Api
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Hammerheads in season
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Schooling fish
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Forgotten Islands villages
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Spice trade history
Available Routes
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Raja Ampat & Banda Sea
- Starts: Sorong
- Ends: Ambon
- Apr 9 – 19, 2027 (10 nights)
- Starts: Sorong
- Ends: Ambon
- Sept 2 – 12, 2028 (10 nights)
Sailing from Sorong to Ambon, this route connects the limestone islands and vibrant reefs of southern Raja Ampat with the volcanic Banda Islands. Along the way, discover the historic nutmeg plantations of Banda Neira, incredible reefs, and opportunities for pelagic encounters in the Banda Sea and Raja Ampat.
View route map
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Banda Sea Round Trip
- Starts: Ambon
- Ends: Ambon
- Sept 14 – 24, 2028 (10 nights)
Starting and ending in Ambon, this route explores the heart of the Banda Sea, combining deep walls, the lava flow reefs of Gunung Api and opportunities to encounter schooling hammerheads in season. Banda Neira’s spice trade history and Ambon’s renowned muck diving add another dimension to the itinerary.
View route map
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Forgotten Islands & the Banda Sea
- Starts: Alor
- Ends: Ambon
- Sept 26 – Oct 8, 2027 (12 nights)
Departing from Alor, known for its vibrant reefs and rich marine life, our longest Banda Sea itinerary crosses the remote Forgotten Islands, with opportunities to encounter schooling hammerheads and sea snakes at Manuk Island. Along the way, discover rarely remote island communities before reaching the historic Banda Islands, where we like to visit the Banda Neira’s colonial fort.
View route map
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Banda Sea & Triton Bay
- Starts: Ambon
- Ends: Kaimana
- Oct 10 – 20, 2027 (10 nights)
- Starts: Ambon
- Ends: Kaimana
- Sept 26 – Oct 6, 2028 (10 nights)
Crossing the Banda Sea from Ambon to Triton Bay, this route combines Ambon’s muck diving and rare critters with opportunities for hammerhead encounters, the lava flow reefs and spice trade history of Banda, and Triton Bay’s colorful soft corals and whale sharks.
View route map
A Typical Day in the Banda Sea Routes
Out in the open Banda Sea, days follow the swell, the season and the long crossings between island groups. The sample day below shows how diving, wellness and time ashore usually come together, though times and activities may change with conditions and your cruise director’s plan.
- 05:45
- Sunrise Yoga Start the day with a stretch
- 06:30
- Dive
- 08:00
- Breakfast Live cooking station
- 10:30
- Dive / Snorkeling
- 12:30
- Lunch Live cooking station
- 14:30
- Dive / Snorkeling
- 15:30
- Activity of the day Beach, island visit, etc
- 17:30
- Dive Occasional dusk/night dive
- 19:30
- Dinner À la carte or special evening
Diving Details
Diving in the Banda Sea means deep blue water, steep walls, and reefs that see very few divers. The surrounding deep waters attract pelagic marine life, and in September and October, schooling hammerheads are sometimes encountered around the Banda Islands. From colorful coral walls and volcanic reefs to remote seamounts, divers can expect a remarkable variety of underwater environments, with dive sites selected daily according to tides, swell, and local conditions.
Dive sites may include the Lava Flow in the Banda Islands, where hard corals have grown over the 1988 eruption site of Gunung Api, and the walls of Pulau Hatta. In the Forgotten Islands, Manuk is known for its sea snakes, and Nil Desperandum for soft corals and sea fans. Routes passing through Ambon may also include muck diving in Ambon Bay, home to frogfish, ghost pipefish, and other rare critters.
Practical Information for diving in the Banda Sea
- Water temperature: 25–29°C (77–84°F), with cooler conditions possible in September and October.
- Dive experience: Minimum Advanced Open Water certification (or equivalent) and 30 logged dives. Best suited to advanced divers with good buoyancy control and open-water experience.
- Currents: Generally mild to moderate, but can become strong around points and seamounts. Many dives take place along deep walls in exposed waters.
- Wetsuit recommendation: 5 mm full wetsuit (three dives a day, with an occasional fourth, can leave you chilled).
Rates & Dates
09 – 19 Apr
Banda Sea / Forgotten Islands
Sorong to Ambon
From $8,650
26 Sep – 08 Oct
- Fully Booked
Banda Sea / Forgotten Islands
Alor to Ambon
Moments on Board
Far from everywhere, close to everything
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before setting sail
Why are they called the Forgotten Islands?
The Forgotten Islands are a remote chain of volcanic islands in southwest Maluku, between Timor and the Banda Sea. Far from flight routes and rarely visited by tourists, they were long left off the travel map, which is why their reefs remain so untouched today.
Was Banda really traded for Manhattan?
In a way, yes. Banda was once the world’s only source of nutmeg, and under the 1667 Treaty of Breda, the English gave up their claim to the tiny Banda island of Run while the Dutch gave up theirs to New Amsterdam, today’s Manhattan. On Banda Neira, you can still visit old Dutch forts and nutmeg plantations.
Are there long open-sea crossings?
Yes. The Alor to Ambon route includes longer crossings between island groups, often sailed overnight, and the open Banda Sea can bring some swell. If you are prone to seasickness, we recommend bringing your preferred remedy, and our crew is always happy to advise.
Cenderawasih Bay
July and August 2028
Indonesia’s largest marine national park, where whale sharks gather beneath fishing platforms and isolated reefs shelter species found nowhere else.
Alor
April, May, September and October 2027
A remote archipelago at the eastern end of Nusa Tenggara, with cold, clear currents, some of Indonesia’s best muck diving and villages rich in tradition.