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 Banda Neira, member of Banda group, about 132 kilometers southeast of Ambon, consist of three larger islands and seven smaller ones, perched on the rim of Indonesia’s deepest sea, the Banda Sea. Near Manuk Island the water reaches a depth of more than 6,500 meters. Gunung Api Islands is an active volcano, the last major eruption occured only a few years ago.
These islands are too far east to catch the full impact of the monsoon
rain clouds, and many are too small either to make the clouds release
their moisture or to catch whatever rain does fall. They are rocky,
mountainous, dry, covered for the most part by jungle or scrub. They
grow little or no rice, and the original staples were taro, sago and
yams, with sweet potatoes and cassava arriving here in the early
Portuguese ships.
The seas around Banda are the site of famous Maluku sea gardens with
their fantasy-land coral reefs and kaleidoscopic array of multi-colored
fish darting through the crystal clear water. Huge wrasse and emperors
patrol the reefs in herds along with swarms of triggerfish, fusiliers,
unicornfish, and more.
Turtles and stingrays seem to be bigger and more plentiful here than
almost anywhere else. Around the Bandas, all the big stuff you normally
just hope to catch a glimpse of is virtually guaranteed to be out in
force. Pulau Karaka, Pulau Pisang and Pulai Ai are particularly
well-known for their amazing snorkeling and diving. Facilities for
sightseeing, snorkeling and skin diving as well clean, comfortable
cottages are available on some islands.
NUSA LAUT
Only a few hours away from Ambon, but so different, it is the best
example we know of a village taking care of a reef. The reef is as it
was hundreds of years ago. The locals have protected it and now it is
an outstanding diving site, many people's favourite dive.
BANDA ISLANDS
Obligated stop for a cultural tour: the fort, the governor's house, the
church, nutmeg plantations, the chance to have a beer on land with the
locals.
Let's not forget the diving: both Pulau Run and Pulau Ai have pristine
clear waters, lovely walls and good fish life; we might go a bit deeper
in search of more hammerheads, big fish can be seen here as well,
napoleons, schools of black snappers, bumpheads etc.
We will not miss the hard coral garden under the lava flow of Gunung
Api, the impressive volcano that dominates Banda. It erupted in 1988
and now it is a miracle to dive in a garden that has grown in such a
short period of time.
Batu Kapal, at the entrance of Banda offers some of the bigger fans you will see and it is full of life, a real fishy dive.
A bit south is Hatta consisting of an underwater coral garden with a
friendly school of bumpheads and some white tips among its highlights.
To finish the area in Banda Besar we will dive the underwater window.
LUCIPARA
Lucipara means wall diving, atolls surrounded by a stunning wall
system. This remote archipelago is often visited by dolphins and pilot
whales. The walls are in great state, good fans, nice schools of
fusiliers, snappers, banners, but keep an eye in the blue: schools of
rainbow runners, big tunas, both, yellow fin and dog tooth will be
there!
GUNUNG API
Already a legend, what Cocos is for sharks and Sipadan for turtles Gunung Api is for sea snakes!
KOON
On the way from the Bandas to Papua a stop in Koon is mandatory. The
name of the dive site says it all: "Too many fishes". With the right
current the diving could be unforgettable, millions of fish, schooling
jacks, barracudas, sharks... but never too many.
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