Page 95 - Diving Indonesia 21 November 2019
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Ambon Bay Overview
raditionally farming and fishing have spoken together with local dialects,
been the main industries in Ambon, in Ambon city and when dealing
Tparticularly the farming of nutmeg with dive crews Basic English is
and cloves for which the island is famed. understood.
Nowadays these industries still provide
many with their main source of income Ambon is surprisingly easy to access
and fishing boats moored at jetties with direct flights from Jakarta
still punctuate the coastline of the bay. or if travelling from Bali then via
Ambon also continues to be a strategic Makassar. Many liveaboards will
port for boats travelling to further eastern pick up / drop off guests in Ambon
parts of Indonesia. Tourism has yet to who are combining a resort stay with
develop here and facilities for travelers liveaboard trip.
are basic outside of the few international
hotels. Bahasa Indonesian is widely
Conditions
Dutch Ichthyologist range – this combined with a lack of
Peter Bleaker was strong currents make diving in Ambon
suitable for all levels of divers from
probably the first to
AMBoN BAy demonstrate that the diving in Ambon beginners through to seasoned experts
would be something very special when
and underwater photographers.
in 1863 he discovered 783 species of
fish, just in Ambon Bay alone. You can
put this achievement into some kind The Duke of Sparta Wreck in one dive in
Ambon Bay which does require a deeper
of perspective when one compares dive. This wreck is a highlight for any
mbon Island is just 51km long (775km square) and that number with, for example, the less wreck divers visiting the region but be
sits on the north side of the Banda Sea to the south than 700 fish species in the whole of prepared to make a decompression dive
Awest of the larger island of Seram. Ambon has a Thailand. if you plan to spend time at depth here.
mountainous topography with predominantly tropical Ambon Bay is best dived between If you do not like muck diving and would
rainforest covered highlands which ensure a good rain November and May, July and August prefer to dive on coral reefs, other
supply and fertile lands flourishing with coconut palms, being the major monsoon months when area in Maluku such as the Banda Sea,
nutmeg and cassava. The island itself is an odd shape; some operators close. Year round water Morotai or Weda Bay may be better
temperature is between 27 degrees
almost divided in two from north east to south west by a Celcius and 29 degrees Celcius and options.
large Bay. Ambon City is located on the water front at north visibility ranges from as low as 5 meters
end of the east bank of the Bay. As you travel South from directly after the monsoon season to 20
the city the area becomes more rural much like the west meters plus in the dry season. The Bay
bank which has several small villages along its coast line but is tidal but tidal exchanges are generally
small, for better visibility dive on a rising
no major city development. The airport, Pattimura (AMQ), tide.
is located to the south west of the island and most hotels,
liveaboards and dive resorts provide airport pickups. Dive sites are shallow and there is no
need to dive deep here, indeed, most
of the species are found in the 15 metre
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