Scuba Diving in Banda Sea
The Ultimate Guide
Hidden between Indonesia’s Maluku Islands lies the Banda Sea – an untouched stretch of ocean famous for its schools of hammerhead sharks and abundant sea snakes. Part of the Coral Triangle, this remote sea spans over half a million square kilometres and plunges to depths beyond 7 km. Cold, nutrient‑rich upwellings feed pristine reefs bursting with life: imagine gliding along steep walls encrusted with giant gorgonians while dogtooth tuna, thresher sharks and squadrons of mobula rays cruise past. Volcanic islands such as Manuk and Gunung Api rise from the blue, their warm vents attracting banded sea kraits by the dozen and drawing divers from all over the world. Because there are no large towns here, the Banda Sea is usually explored on liveaboards – the reward is some of Indonesia’s wildest and most exhilarating diving.
Difficulty
Advanced
Temperature
26–29°C
Visibility
20–40m
Diving Highlights
Best Months to Dive
Getting to Banda Sea for Diving
✈️Transportation
Diving the Banda Sea usually starts with a flight to Ambon (AMQ).
Ambon is served by domestic flights from Jakarta, Surabaya, Makassar and occasionally Bali via Lion Air, Batik Air and Garuda.
After arriving in Ambon, most visitors board a liveaboard that sails through the Banda archipelago.
There is a slow PELNI ferry between Ambon and the Banda Islands, but schedules are infrequent and journeys take 12–16 hours.
Because of the remoteness and lack of tourist infrastructure, joining a liveaboard departing from Ambon, Sorong or Maumere is by far the easiest way to explore the sea’s remote reefs and sea‑snake islands.
Country
Indonesia
Currency
Indonesian Rupiah
Electricity
220V, 50Hz, Euro Plug
Cost of a Dive Trip in Banda Sea
Liveaboard
Best Dive Sites in Banda Sea
🐠Lucipara Atolls
The Lucipara Islands are a chain of remote sandy atolls rising from deep oceanic water. Steep walls drop into blue infinity where scalloped hammerheads school by the dozen, while the shallows host turtle nesting beaches and lush coral bommies. Look out for mola mola, thresher sharks and pelagic tuna during the shoulder season.
🐢Suanggi Island
Suanggi sits on the northwestern edge of the Banda Sea and is swept by strong currents that bring in huge pelagics. Early‑morning dives reveal walls blanketed in soft corals and schooling hammerheads, along with barracuda, trevally and the occasional dolphin or whale passing by.
🦈Pulau Ai
The northernmost of the main Banda Islands, Pulau Ai combines history with high‑energy diving. Encounters with hammerhead, thresher and silvertip sharks are common, and squadrons of mobula rays glide above slopes dotted with hard corals and sponges. Between dives you can explore Dutch forts and nutmeg plantations ashore.
🐙Batu Kapal (Ship Rock)
A dramatic offshore pinnacle nicknamed “Ship Rock,” Batu Kapal features vertical walls encrusted with soft corals and sponges. Currents funnel around the seamount attracting dogtooth tuna, bumphead parrotfish, reef sharks and swirling jackfish. This site is for advanced divers prepared for deep water and strong flows.
🐚Manuk Island
Known as “Snake Island,” volcanic Manuk hosts hundreds of banded sea kraits that swim fearlessly around divers. Hot vents dot the seabed and release streams of bubbles, creating an otherworldly scene while barracuda and trevally cruise above.
🦑Gunung Api
The conical volcano of Gunung Api rises from the sea floor and is another haven for sea snakes. Its steep slopes drop into blue water where surgeonfish, barracuda and occasional hammerheads appear. The remote location means you’ll often have this surreal site all to yourself.
🐡Banda Neira Jetty
Beneath the wooden jetty of Banda Neira is a muck‑diving dream. Mandarin fish perform sunset mating dances among old timbers, flashlight fish blink in the dark and a variety of shrimp, nudibranchs and juvenile sweetlips hide among debris. It’s perfect for night dives after a day of big‑fish action.
What Divers Say About Diving in Banda Sea
Yuki Tanaka
Underwater Photographer / Master Scuba DiverThe Banda Sea blew me away. 🦈 Waking up before sunrise and jumping into cobalt‑blue water to watch a river of scalloped hammerheads gliding past is something I’ll never forget. Later that same day we surfaced amid a swirling cloud of barracuda, only to drift over Manuk’s bubbling vents where dozens of banded sea kraits twisted through the thermals like ribbons. At Batu Kapal, the wall drops away into a blue abyss; dogtooth tuna and bumphead parrotfish patrol the reef while you hang in the current, heart racing. Evenings were for quieter dives at Banda Neira’s jetty – mandarin fish courting among old timbers and flashlight fish blinking like stars. Life on the liveaboard was just as memorable: salty sunrises, spicy nutmeg coffee on deck and the history of the old spice trade echoing from the islands. This is adventure diving at its finest.
Frequently Asked Questions About Diving in Banda Sea
When is the best time to go scuba diving in the Banda Sea?
The prime season runs from September to early December when seas are calm and schooling hammerhead sharks gather around Lucipara and Suanggi. A shorter shoulder season in April–May also offers good visibility and fewer boats.
What marine life can I see while diving in the Banda Sea?
Expect scalloped hammerhead sharks, thresher and silvertip sharks, vast schools of barracuda and jacks, mobula and manta rays, turtles, bumphead parrotfish, dogtooth tuna and even mola mola. Macro lovers will enjoy mandarinfish, frogfish, ghost pipefish and flamboyant cuttlefish near Banda Neira and Ambon.
Is the Banda Sea suitable for beginners?
Many Banda Sea sites feature strong currents, deep walls and remote conditions, so advanced certification and experience with drift diving are recommended. Some sheltered slopes around Banda Neira provide easier dives, but overall this destination suits confident divers.
How many dive sites are there in the Banda Sea?
Liveaboards typically visit 30–40 named sites across the Banda and Lucipara islands, Suanggi, Manuk and Gunung Api. Each island offers multiple reefs, walls, pinnacles and jetties to explore.
How do I see hammerhead sharks in the Banda Sea?
Join a liveaboard itinerary that includes the remote Lucipara atolls and Suanggi Island between September and November. Early‑morning dives at 25–40 m depths offer the best chance of witnessing schooling hammerheads.
What are the water temperatures and visibility in the Banda Sea?
Water temperatures generally range from 26–29 °C, with surface temperatures slightly warmer. Visibility is often 20–40 m thanks to the remote location and nutrient‑rich upwellings.
Do I need to join a liveaboard to dive the Banda Sea?
Yes. Aside from a few small guesthouses in Banda Neira, there are no dive resorts here. Liveaboards departing from Ambon, Sorong or Maumere are the only practical way to reach the remote sites and maximise your diving time.
Are there land excursions or historical sites to explore?
Absolutely. The Banda Islands were once the heart of the spice trade. Between dives you can visit Dutch fort ruins, nutmeg plantations and friendly villages on Banda Neira, and sample the region’s famous nutmeg jam and clove‑spiced treats.