Explore Banda Islands
The Banda Islands are a remote cluster of 11 idyllic islands located in Maluku’s Banda Sea. Home to thriving coral reefs that support marine life ranging from the Ambon scorpionfish to pilot whales, divers can search for macro life as cetaceans and squadrons of mobula rays pass in the blue. As magical as it is to see large pelagics, the real treasure of Banda Islands diving is the astounding diversity of fish, both large and small, encapsulating healthy reefs and towering walls.
While some divers choose to descend into the depths of the Banda Sea from the few dive centres and dive resorts in the area, more popular are the liveaboards that sail through. As the Banda Sea is so vast, a wider variety of dive sites are accessible by liveaboards, where you can even sample Ambon’s fantastic muck diving.
Top Banda Islands Dive Sites
1. Pulau Ai
Pulau Ai is renowned for its towering walls and deep waters, providing a habitat for hammerhead sharks, thresher sharks, and silvertip sharks. Large schools of barracuda and giant trevally are also common. This site is suited for advanced scuba divers due to its depth and strong currents. There are no special features like wrecks, but the marine life is the main attraction.
2. Pulau Hatta
Featuring strong currents and vertical walls, Pulau Hatta is ideal for advanced scuba divers. It's a great place to encounter sharks, with sightings of mobula rays and eagle rays gliding by. Enormous sponges and sandy slopes enhance the underwater landscape. While there are no protected areas, this site offers a thrilling dive experience.
3. Batu Kapal
Batu Kapal offers coral-clad pinnacles where potato cod, barracuda, and grey reef sharks linger. Suitable for both scuba and freediving, it provides an easy to advanced adventure level depending on the dive plan. The site is notable for its vibrant reef fish and stunning underwater formations, although no wrecks or protected zones are present.
4. Pulau Keraka
Pulau Keraka is a haven for macro photographers, featuring rocky walls and coral boulders. Small critters like candy crabs, nudibranch, and ornate ghost pipefish are common sightings. This site offers easy scuba diving and is thrilling for night dives. There are no wrecks, but the biodiversity makes it a standout location.
5. Pombo Boi
Pombo Boi's bubble coral and rocky terrain make it ideal for discovering minuscule shrimp, while unexpected visits from dolphins and dugongs add excitement. Suited for easy scuba and freediving, this site doesn't feature any wrecks or protected zones but showcases unique marine life interactions in the Banda Sea.
