AMBON – BANDA SEA – WAISAI

11-Day / 10-Night Crossing: Spice Islands, Hammerheads & Raja Ampat Gateway

The Ambon – Banda Sea – Waisai crossing is one of the most exciting routes we run: a true expedition-style trip that links the volcanic Spice Islands of the Banda Sea with the coral-rich reefs of Raja Ampat.

Over 11 days / 10 nights, you’ll dive sheer walls, volcanic slopes, remote reefs and (when conditions allow) sea-snake islands, before finishing near the gateway to Raja Ampat in Waisai.

With only 8 guests, solar-powered wooden phinisi boats, friendly Indonesian crew and incredible food, our Banda Sea crossing is an affordable way to experience a bucket-list route without the big-boat crowds.

Route: Ambon → Banda Sea → Misool / Southern Raja Ampat → Waisai
Duration: 11 Days / 10 Nights
Trip Price: 44,000,000 IDR per person
Marine / Local Area Fees: Additional
Minimum Certification: Advanced Open Water Diver (or equivalent)
Dives: 25+ (conditions dependent)
Boats: Kira Kira & Akomo Isseki

📧 Email: liquidadventuresindonesia@gmail.com

🐟 Why Choose This Ambon – Banda – Waisai Liveaboard

1. True Expedition Feel, Without the Luxury Price Tag

This is an adventure route: open ocean crossings, remote islands and “nowhere else in the world” vibes — for a price closer to a budget liveaboard than the usual high-end Banda crossings.

We keep things simple, safe and comfortable rather than fancy:

  • Small wooden phinisi

  • Shared twin/double cabins

  • Amazing Indonesian-style food

  • Focus on diving, community and fun

2. Only 8 Guests On Board

With just 8 divers, you get:

  • Small dive groups

  • Flexible dive planning

  • A relaxed, social atmosphere

  • Crew who know your preferences by name, not cabin number

3. Experienced Indonesian Crew

Our captain, guides, chef and engineer are all Indonesian and have been with us for years — some even helped build the boats. Their experience in Indonesian waters, local knowledge and calm approach to problem-solving are a huge part of why guests return.

4. Eco-Friendly & Community-Minded

  • Solar power reduces generator hours

  • Limited single-use plastics

  • Food bought from local markets and fishermen where possible

  • Local area fees paid in villages to support communities that protect the reefs

5. Rare Route, Unique Story

Ambon–Banda–Waisai is a seasonal route that not many boats run, especially in such small groups. You’ll finish the trip not just with dives logged, but with a genuine sense of journey.

🗺️ 11-Day / 10-Night Ambon – Banda – Waisai Itinerary

This is a typical sample itinerary. Exact sites and order can change with weather, currents and permits. Our priority is always:

  • Safety

  • Comfort

  • The best possible diving for the conditions

🧭 Day 1 – Ambon: Boarding & Check Dive

  • Board the boat in Ambon in the afternoon.

  • Meet your Indonesian crew and fellow guests, move into your cabin, and get a full safety and trip briefing.

  • If time and conditions allow, we’ll do a relaxed check dive — often on a muck or reef site close to Telehu.

Evening: dinner, gear prep, and overnight sail toward the Spice Islands.

🌶️ Days 2–4 – Banda Sea & the Spice Islands

Welcome to the legendary Banda Sea – deep blue water, volcanic islands, and rich history from the original Spice Trade.

Typical Diving Themes

  • Steep coral-covered walls dropping into deep blue

  • Volcanic slopes with sand, sponges and big schools

  • Clear blue water and dramatic underwater relief

  • Occasional pelagics cruising in the blue

These stops are never guaranteed – we only go when it is safe, legal and sensible for the guests and crew.

Marine Life Highlights

  • Schooling fusiliers, snappers and surgeonfish

  • Reef sharks patrolling the drop-offs

  • Napoleon wrasse and bumphead parrotfish

  • Tuna, trevallies and barracuda hunting in the blue

  • Banded sea kraits (on specific sites when visited)

Between dives, you’ll see the classic cone-shaped volcanic islands rising out of the sea, with small villages, nutmeg trees, and clove plantations on the slopes.

🏝️ Day 5 – Spice Island Walls & Village Visit (When Possible)

One of the highlights of the Banda region is combining:

  • Morning & afternoon wall dives on coral-rich drop-offs

  • A land visit (when schedules allow) to experience the spice history: nutmeg, cloves, old Dutch forts, and local village life

We keep this flexible depending on conditions and how far we still need to travel, but this day is often a favourite for guests who love both culture and diving.

🌊 Days 6–7 – Crossing & Offshore Reefs

We continue east and north toward Raja Ampat, stopping at offshore reefs or isolated islands along the way when conditions allow.

These dives can include:

  • Seamounts rising from deep water

  • Walls and plateaus with strong currents

  • Big-fish potential: sharks, tuna, trevallies, schooling fish

  • Great visibility and blue water

This part of the trip reminds you how remote you are: long horizons, minimal boat traffic, and the feeling of being between two different worlds — the Banda Sea and Raja Ampat.

🪸 Days 8–9 – Misool / Southern Raja Ampat: Soft Corals & Limestone Islands

As we move into the Raja Ampat region, we typically spend time in Misool and/or Southern Raja Ampat, depending on conditions and permits.

This change of scenery is dramatic:

  • Limestone islands and narrow channels

  • Overhangs, walls and bommies decorated with soft corals

  • Shallow turquoise lagoons and bays for anchoring

Possible Dive Sites & Themes

  • Soft coral slopes with clouds of anthias

  • Overhangs filled with glassfish

  • Sea fans with pygmy seahorses

  • Drift dives through colourful channels

Marine life here includes:

  • Reef sharks

  • Schooling snappers and fusiliers

  • Turtles

  • Pygmy seahorses & macro critters

  • Healthy coral gardens in every direction

Evenings are usually calm, with the boat anchored in a sheltered bay among towering limestone cliffs.

🐠 Day 10 – Final Reef Dives & Cruise Toward Waisai

On your last full day of diving, we plan two relaxed reef dives in the Raja Ampat region (often Central / Southern area, depending on where we anchored overnight) and then begin the final leg toward Waisai.

Look out for:

  • Colourful, easy reefs

  • Lots of fish life

  • A relaxed “farewell to the sea” mood on board

After rinsing gear and hanging wetsuits, enjoy sunset on deck, a final dinner with the crew, and plenty of stories.

⚓ Day 11 – Disembark in Waisai

After breakfast, we say goodbye and disembark in Waisai.

Guests arrange their own onward travel from Waisai:

  • Ferry to Sorong (SOQ) for flights

  • Or onward Raja Ampat stays (we can advise on timing and logistics in advance)

🦈 Banda Sea & Raja Ampat Marine Life Highlights

This crossing combines the blue, volcanic Banda Sea with the reef explosion of Raja Ampat.

In the Banda Sea

  • Steep walls and deep drop-offs

  • Reef sharks

  • Pelagic fish: tuna, trevallies, barracuda

  • Schooling reef fish

In Raja Ampat (Misool / Southern)

  • Oceanic & reef mantas (seasonal, not guaranteed)

  • Wobbegong sharks (on some sites)

  • Reef sharks

  • Soft coral coverage

  • Pygmy seahorses, nudibranchs, macro life

  • Turtles, schooling fish and dense reef life

📅 Season & Conditions

The Ambon – Banda – Waisai crossing is run during the Banda Sea season in October, when sea conditions are generally suitable for these open-water passages and Raja Ampat is also within season.

Typical conditions:

  • Warm water (around 27–30°C)

  • Good to excellent visibility (site dependent)

  • Some crossings between islands can be long and occasionally choppy

  • Currents on seamounts and walls can be strong – perfect for Advanced divers who enjoy drift diving

💰 Trip Price & What’s Included

Trip Price

44,000,000 IDR per person
11 days / 10 nights

Included

  • 11 days / 10 nights accommodation onboard

  • Approximately 25+ guided dives (conditions and route dependent)

  • Tanks and weights

  • All meals, snacks, tea, coffee and drinking water

  • Kayaks and snorkelling equipment

  • Daily dive briefings and trip planning

  • Shared twin/double cabins

  • Indonesian crew and experienced dive guides

Not Included

  • Local area / regional fees in the Banda Sea.

  • Raja Ampat Marine Park Fees

  • Dive equipment rental

  • Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages

  • Transfers between airport, hotel and harbour (Ambon and Sorong/Waisai)

We send full details in your pre-trip information pack so there are no surprises.

🚢 Boats on the Ambon – Banda – Waisai Route

Kira Kira

  • Traditional 22m wooden phinisi

  • Shared twin and double cabins

  • Shaded relaxation areas

  • Perfect for social, small-group diving adventures

Akomo Isseki

  • Slightly larger with more deck space

  • Shared twin cabins

  • Great for photography, stretching out, and long ocean views

  • Same relaxed, family-like atmosphere

Both boats feature:

  • Solar-powered systems (reduced generator use)

  • Fresh Indonesian and Western-style meals

  • Friendly crew who eat with guests

  • A calm, inclusive vibe on board

🌱 Eco-Friendly & Respectful Travel

Throughout the crossing we:

  • Minimise waste and limit single-use plastics

  • Use solar power for much of our onboard electricity

  • Buy from local markets where possible

  • Pay local reef and area fees that support village communities

  • Brief all guests on responsible diving and snorkelling behaviour

This route lets you see some of Indonesia’s most special places in a way that keeps them special.

🙋 Frequently Asked Questions

Do you guarantee hammerhead sharks in the Banda Sea?

No. The Banda Sea has a reputation for hammerheads, but sightings are never guaranteed. We choose sites and times that give the best chance while staying safe and respecting conditions.

How many days are spent in the Banda Sea vs Raja Ampat on this trip?

This crossing typically spends the first half of the trip around the Banda Sea and Spice Islands, and the latter part of the trip in the Raja Ampat region (Misool / Southern Raja Ampat and Central/Reef areas on the way toward Waisai). The exact split can change with weather and timing, but this is always communicated clearly in briefings.

Is this trip OK for less experienced divers?

We require Advanced Open Water (or equivalent) and comfort in moderate currents. We welcome divers with around 25–30 dives who want an adventurous but well-managed experience.

Where do I need to fly to and from?

You typically:

  • Start in Ambon – fly to Ambon (AMQ)

  • Finish in Waisai – ferry to Sorong (SOQ) for onward flights

We’ll send detailed info about ferry times and recommended hotel stops.

Can I combine this with a Raja Ampat-only trip?

Yes. Some guests pair this crossing with a Raja Ampat liveaboard after. Ask us for current schedules for Kira Kira and Akomo Isseki.

Check Dates & Reserve Your Berth

Curious about departure dates for our Ambon – Banda – Waisai liveaboard?

👉 View our schedule & rates (link this to your schedule page)
👉 Or email liquidadventuresindonesia@gmail.com

We can help you decide if this Banda Sea crossing is the right trip for your experience level, travel plans and budget — and how to link it with Raja Ampat if you want a longer Indonesian dive adventure.