Page 100 - Diving Indonesia 21 November 2019

The Banda Islands and Banda Sea

Diving the Banda Sea Snorkeling MoRoTAI

Koon Island is located in the Banda Sea, and Freediving
approximately 10km east of Seram and offers Highlights of the
a stunning drift wall dive. The highlight here is
the chance to see larger marine life including Banda Islands
great barracuda, dogtooth tuna and schooling and Banda Sea
jacks.
It’s hard to say which region of
To the east of Ambon lays Nusa Laut. This is Indonesia offers the best snorkeling
a popular site with many Banda Sea divers and freediving opportunities but if
due to the sheer diversity of reef fish species you had to draw up a list, the Banda
on show. This site can be dived time and time Sea and Banda Islands would be orotai Island lies just north of the equator, on the brink of the Pacific
again and always seems to deliver something very close to the top. The highlights and it is one of Indonesia’s northernmost islands. Morotai is a
new! here are innumerable; pristine reefs,
abundant marine life, excellent Mrugged, forested island which has an area of some 2,476 square
Pombo Boi is a lush tropical island with a surface conditions, crystal clear, kilometres, stretching 80 kilometres from north to south and no more than
small rocky satellite islet, surrounded by flat warm water, the chance to see 42 kilometres wide. The island’s largest town is Daruba on the south coast.
calm water. On sunny days it’s possible to see larger predators and little tourism Almost all of Morotai’s numerous villages are traditional coastal settlements.
the vibrant colours of the reef from the boat which leads to an exclusive feel
through the crystal clear waters. Pombo Boi right from the start.
is everything you have ever imagined about Morotai gained the world’s attention military equipment, vehicles and wrecks,
diving in the tropics! Combine the Bandas’ underwater during the Second World War during what through to the arms and munitions which
attributes with the top side scenery became known as the “Battle of Morotai”. are still found from time to time buried in
Although the island of Soangi is small and and virgin white sand beaches General Douglas MacArthur established Morotai’s jungles.
uninhabited the underwater experience here and you really have got everything Morotai Island as a base for recapturing
is completely the opposite. The concentration you need for a snorkeling trip of the Philippines. During WWII 61,000 Morotai has its own airport in Daruba
of fish is second to none and every dive the lifetime. To experience all that US troops landed and lived in Morotai, (OTI) which receives domestic flights
seems to be action packed with everything is on offer here, a liveaboard is 67% of whom were engineers. Today from Ternate (4 days a week). Ternate
on the move. This is a dive site that you will undeniably the best way to explore the evidence of Morotai’s involvement can be reached by flights from Jakarta,
definitely want to return to! the region, if you prefer to stay on in the second world war can be seen Makassar and Manado Airports.
land, there are some shore based underwater in the form of abandoned
resorts which offer snorkeling in
their specific area.

Snorkeling and freediving in the Conditions
Banda’s is suitable for all levels with
excellent conditions for beginners Diving in Morotai is accessible all year round. From the end of March to early July
upwards. For more experienced is when the sea tends to be at its flattest and calmest. Outside of these months,
freedivers who are keen to make April to June is the south wind period while December to February is the north wind
longer or deeper dives, caution is season. Due to the shape of Morotai there are always some sites which are leeward
advised due to the remoteness of regardless of wind direction.
the region.
Morotai’s dive sites include walls, slopes, drop offs and shallow coral gardens,
making it suitable for all levels of divers. Some sites are prone to currents for more
experienced divers, other sites offer swimming pool like conditions which are ideal
for beginners and those who prefer to dive at a more leisurely pace.

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