Raja Laut

Location: Banda Sea (Indonesia)
Embarkation: Ambon
Disembarkation: Ambon
Duration: 7 days
Note: Keen scuba divers can combine the Banda Sea with the Raja Ampat on a single yacht charter holiday.

Please remember our sample itineraries are samples only and may be subject to change; extended, shortened, or re-arranged to suit your private yacht charter preferences or the weather conditions, captain's advice, and so on.

Day 1: Embarkation aboard the yacht Raja Laut in Ambon harbour. Ambon harbour is a long, deep harbour surrounded on both sides by steep, volcanic slopes. It is a scenery that will inspire you with thoughts of ancient explorers and of adventure to come. For keen scuba divers there is great muck diving here and there is also a pristine wreck dive resting upright in relatively shallow water. The yacht sails overnight to Nusa Laut.

Day 2: In the morning the yacht arrives at Nusa Laut island just east of Ambon. Here is spectacular island location and a scuba diving paradise made famous by the pioneers from the dive liveaboard M/V Pindito. Some of the best reefs in the Banda Sea are here for you to dive or snorkel over. The yacht sails overnight to Banda Neira.

Days 3: Banda Neira island has an important place in Indonesian and world history. Dominated by a 2500-foot active volcano. The islands' rich history is reflected in its architecture, population and the culture. In the Banda islands you can feel the history and taste a palpable sense of adventure, the diving all around Banda is pretty spectacular too all of which makes the journey so unforgetable. The yacht anchors here overnight.

Day 4: Around Banda Neira the diving is also full of surprises. There are some exceedingly good reef dives on the east and north sides of the islands, but the real gem is under the pier and in front of a small hotel's sea wall. The yacht anchors here for the evening.

Day 5: Nearby Banda Neira is Gunung Api, an active volcano whose summit breaks the sea's surface by 800 feet yet which has it's base on the seabed some 13,000 feet below. The scuba diving here is absolutely world class and not-to-be missed by avid divers. The yacht anchors here for the night.

Day 6: North of Gunung Api is a remote archipelagic atoll named Lucipara. These atolls are also surrounded by a seafloor that is 3,000 feet below. Consisting of three large islands and a few tiny reefs that just break the surface the islands offer divers vertical walls and visibility of over 120 feet with very mild currents. Another diving paradise. The yacht anchors here overnight.

Day 7: Sailing overnight from Banda we return to Ambon, stopping on the way at Pulau Tiga group of islands for a last dip in the Banda Sea!

BEST TIME TO GO: Between March-April and September-November.

PORTS OF EMBARKATION/DISEMBARKATION: Ambon, or Sorong.

HOW TO GET THERE: Fly to Ambon or Sorong from Jakarta.