Page 94 - Diving Indonesia 21 November 2019

Diving Overview

iving in the Maluku’s requires a little bit Banda Sea is on the migratory route From May through to September, the
more planning than opting for one of the of many cetaceans and whale and diving around Rao, Morotai and the
Dmore developed diving destinations in dolphin sightings are frequent when numerous other small islands of North
Indonesia such as Bali where you can book things travelling by liveaboard. The Banda Sea Halmahera offers you everything you have
on a walk-in basis; but it is well worth it - there are is also a seasonal hotspot for schooling dreamed of underwater. Expect to find
a wide range of diving opportunities and divers hammerheads and dive sites here offer a range of topographies from walls and
and dive boats are few and far between which pristine reefs and an abundance of marine slopes through to shallow coral gardens.
guarantees some quality, uninterrupted dives. species. Marine life is equally as diverse with
schooling fish, passing pelagics and a host
Water temperatures are warm all year round with of critters.
an annual range of around 27 - 30 degrees Celcius.
Currents are rarely strong which makes Maluku
a good place for beginners. Topographies are
varied from deep sea atoll walls in the Weda Bay Snorkeling and Freediving Highlights in Maluku
of Halmahera to the shallow muck diving slopes
of Ambon Bay; the Maluku’s offer everything from Whether you want to snorkel islands which are bordered by pristine
pristine reefs with passing pelagics to rubble and over pristine reefs, freedive on atolls in the white sand beaches.
dark sand with some of nature’s weirdest species! middle of the vast open ocean or try to
spot unusual critters on sandy sea beds, Snorkeling in Ambon Bay can be more
Some operators in Maluku close for diving from you can do it all in Maluku! challenging as it is an industrial harbour
June to September so if you are planning to travel area but if you are hoping to catch a
in these months check in advance for availability. Weda Bay offers phenomenal glimpse of some of the most unusual and
Visibility during this period can be reduced due to opportunities at its open ocean atolls rare critters in the archipelago, this is the
the wet monsoon. for snorkeling and freediving these place to visit. Outside of Ambon Bay there
impressive marine-geo formations which are also a host of stunning reefs for when
Maluku is a popular destination for those planning offer prolific coral growth. The Banda you need a well earned break from the
liveaboard diving vacations. Sea is easily one of the best destinations sandy slopes.
for both snorkelers and freedivers in
Indonesia with clear waters, abundant All destinations in Maluku are low on
coral reef systems and the chance to tourism traffic so if you want to explore
Dive Site and Marine Life Highlights in Maluku see some of Indonesia’s largest marine reefs without other divers and without
predators. Those who prefer shallow another boat on the horizon, Weda Bay,
coral gardens will find them in abundance Morotai and the Banda Sea will allow you
Macro fanatics will be in their element Weda Bay in Halmahera is a nature lovers around the many uninhabited tropical to do just that.
in Ambon Bay whereas a wide angle paradise and home to some of Indonesia’s
enthusiast will have dives of a lifetime in most unique reef formations – imagine
Halmahera with its vast walls, gigantic being 20 kilometers off shore and find
gorgonians and variety of sharks and a coral reef atoll in the open ocean! Areas to Visit
pelagics. Maluku truly has something for It’s simply staggering. Aside from the in Maluku
every diver! stunning atolls from the surface, these
site are breathtaking in their enormity and
Ambon is one of the best known macro sheer, encrusted corals walls underwater. - Ambon
critter and muck diving destinations in You’ll also find epaulette sharks here as - Halmahera (Weda Bay)
Indonesia aside from the Lembeh Strait well as other passing pelagics and a host - Banda Sea / Banda Islands
in North Sulawesi. Ambon Bay is packed of critters. On land, this area is simply - Morotai
with dive sites which are equally as phenomenal.
packed with some of Indonesia’s rarest
and most sought after marine species, The Banda Sea is a popular liveaboard
including the elusive psychedelic frogfish. destination – for good reasons. The

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