[{"title":"Tanjung Nunukae","content":"A great steep slope full of hard corals and sponges with some of the most pristine coral gardens in the shallows. It is definitely worth a dive here. There is no other place with this amount of hard corals in this area.","latitude":"-7.780312","longitude":"125.85450300000002","icon_marker":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mermaid-theme-v2\/assets\/images\/icon-marker-dive.png","icon_marker_active":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mermaid-theme-v2\/assets\/images\/icon-marker-active.png","image":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/All-4-diving-liveaboards-Banda-Sea-Forgotten-Islands-Tanjung-Nunukae-Small-300x200.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/?s=&dest=banda-sea-liveaboard"},{"title":"Tanjung Reong","content":"One of the most exhilarating dive sites on Reong Island. The corner of the site is the hot spot where the fish life gets together in great numbers. Barrcudas, trevally, rainbow runners and the millions of Anthias are the usual suspects to see during a dive here.","latitude":"-7.655357","longitude":"125.92653399999995","icon_marker":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mermaid-theme-v2\/assets\/images\/icon-marker-dive.png","icon_marker_active":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mermaid-theme-v2\/assets\/images\/icon-marker-active.png","image":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/All-4-diving-liveaboards-Banda-Sea-Forgotten-Islands-Tanjung-Reong-Small-300x200.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/?s=&dest=banda-sea-liveaboard"},{"title":"Nyata Reef","content":"Nyata Reef is a wall dive that becomes a sandy steep slope covered with barrel sponges and great numbers of fish in groups. Reef sharks are occasionally seen here swimming along the wall as well as eagle rays looking for a cleaning station.","latitude":"-7.508167","longitude":"127.29800399999999","icon_marker":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mermaid-theme-v2\/assets\/images\/icon-marker-dive.png","icon_marker_active":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mermaid-theme-v2\/assets\/images\/icon-marker-active.png","image":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/All-4-diving-liveaboards-Banda-Sea-Forgotten-Islands-Nyata-Reef-Small-300x200.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/?s=&dest=banda-sea-liveaboard"},{"title":"Nusleur Reef","content":"An atoll in the middle of nowhere where the marine life is concentrated. There is a big school of big eye trevally that like this reef as their home. The amount of Napoleon wrasse that you can see here is incredible, sometimes more than 20 individuals swimming along the reef.","latitude":"-7.221009","longitude":"128.40492599999993","icon_marker":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mermaid-theme-v2\/assets\/images\/icon-marker-dive.png","icon_marker_active":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mermaid-theme-v2\/assets\/images\/icon-marker-active.png","image":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/All-4-diving-liveaboards-Banda-Sea-Forgotten-Islands-Nusleur-Small-300x200.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/?s=&dest=banda-sea-liveaboard"},{"title":"Terbang Utara","content":"A steep slope that becomes a deep wall in some areas with great shallow areas where fish like to hang around. The dramatic wall formations have some the most amazing gorgonian sea fans in the area.","latitude":"-7.309601","longitude":"128.55235800000003","icon_marker":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mermaid-theme-v2\/assets\/images\/icon-marker-dive.png","icon_marker_active":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mermaid-theme-v2\/assets\/images\/icon-marker-active.png","image":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/All-4-diving-liveaboards-Banda-Sea-Forgotten-Islands-Terbang-Utara-Small-300x200.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/?s=&dest=banda-sea-liveaboard"},{"title":"Terbang Selatan","content":"A phenomenal wall dive with great overhangs covered with some of the oldest soft corals in the area. There are fantastic hard corals in the shallows where schools of fish like to be part of this amazing dive site. Some of the barrel sponges are among the biggest in this area.","latitude":"-7.376002","longitude":"128.55226400000004","icon_marker":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mermaid-theme-v2\/assets\/images\/icon-marker-dive.png","icon_marker_active":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mermaid-theme-v2\/assets\/images\/icon-marker-active.png","image":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/All-4-diving-liveaboards-Banda-Sea-Forgotten-Islands-Terbang-Selatan-Small-300x200.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/?s=&dest=banda-sea-liveaboard"},{"title":"Damar Wall","content":"A deep wall that is covered in holes and overhangs with incredible amounts of soft and hard corals. Here there is a very big chance to see turtles feeding in the shallows of the wall or swimming along the reef.","latitude":"-7.134988","longitude":"128.522153","icon_marker":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mermaid-theme-v2\/assets\/images\/icon-marker-dive.png","icon_marker_active":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mermaid-theme-v2\/assets\/images\/icon-marker-active.png","image":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/All-4-diving-liveaboards-Banda-Sea-Forgotten-Islands-Damar-Wall-Small-300x200.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/?s=&dest=banda-sea-liveaboard"},{"title":"Dusborgh","content":"This atoll is located north west of Nila Island and is one of the few atolls in the Banda Sea where Hammerhead aggregations can be seen. The large number of resident hammerheads gives divers a dream dive come true with this amount of sharks in the sea.","latitude":"-6.694507","longitude":"129.472575","icon_marker":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mermaid-theme-v2\/assets\/images\/icon-marker-dive.png","icon_marker_active":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mermaid-theme-v2\/assets\/images\/icon-marker-active.png","image":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/All-4-diving-liveaboards-Banda-Sea-Forgotten-Islands-Dusborgh-Small-300x200.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/?s=&dest=banda-sea-liveaboard"},{"title":"Nil Desperandum","content":"In the middle of the Banda Sea there is an atoll that is home to some of the largest aggregations of hammerhead sharks in the world. The southern west corner is probably one of the most productive areas to see these amazing animals.","latitude":"-6.624369","longitude":"129.77716099999998","icon_marker":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mermaid-theme-v2\/assets\/images\/icon-marker-dive.png","icon_marker_active":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mermaid-theme-v2\/assets\/images\/icon-marker-active.png","image":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/All-4-diving-liveaboards-Banda-Sea-Forgotten-Islands-Nil-Desperandum-Small-300x200.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/?s=&dest=banda-sea-liveaboard"},{"title":"Serua","content":"Serua Island has an amazing dive site on the northern tip of the island where the schools of hammerhead sharks are often seen. This phenomenon happens during only a few months of the year and Serua is one of the best spots in the Banda Sea to dive with hammerhead sharks.","latitude":"-6.295533","longitude":"129.98501299999998","icon_marker":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mermaid-theme-v2\/assets\/images\/icon-marker-dive.png","icon_marker_active":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mermaid-theme-v2\/assets\/images\/icon-marker-active.png","image":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/All-4-diving-liveaboards-Banda-Sea-Forgotten-Islands-Serua-Small-300x200.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/?s=&dest=banda-sea-liveaboard"},{"title":"Manuk","content":"This most easterly volcano in Indonesia is home to many dive sites where hammerhead sharks can be seen as well as the big aggregations of sea snakes. The healthy shallow reefs are probably some of the most amazing in this area.","latitude":"-5.334137","longitude":"130.09874000000002","icon_marker":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mermaid-theme-v2\/assets\/images\/icon-marker-dive.png","icon_marker_active":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mermaid-theme-v2\/assets\/images\/icon-marker-active.png","image":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/All-4-diving-liveaboards-Banda-Sea-Forgotten-Islands-Gili-Manuk-Small-300x200.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/?s=&dest=banda-sea-liveaboard"},{"title":"Hatta Wall","content":"An amazing wall dive with huge sea fans and amazing barrel sponges all along the wall. There is a swimthrough in the shallows of the dive site used sometimes in the beginning of the dive or at the end of the dive. Pygmy seahorses have been seen here.","latitude":"-4.58014","longitude":"130.03527899999995","icon_marker":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mermaid-theme-v2\/assets\/images\/icon-marker-dive.png","icon_marker_active":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mermaid-theme-v2\/assets\/images\/icon-marker-active.png","image":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/All-4-diving-liveaboards-Banda-Sea-Forgotten-Islands-Hatta-Reef-Small-300x200.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/?s=&dest=banda-sea-liveaboard"},{"title":"Batu Kapal","content":"Batu Kapal means Boat Rock and is so named because of the rock that breaks the water in the shape of a boat. It is one of the most famous sites in this part of the Banda Sea. Here there are some of the biggest sponges in the area covered with butterflyfish and redtooth triggerfish.","latitude":"-4.48904","longitude":"129.93129499999998","icon_marker":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mermaid-theme-v2\/assets\/images\/icon-marker-dive.png","icon_marker_active":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mermaid-theme-v2\/assets\/images\/icon-marker-active.png","image":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/All-4-diving-liveaboards-Banda-Sea-Forgotten-Islands-Batu-Kapal-Small-300x200.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/?s=&dest=banda-sea-liveaboard"},{"title":"Lava Flow Reef","content":"This reef is at the end of the lava flow coming down from the volcano here. Hard coral formations like you will never see again are home to many different butterfly fish, sea snakes and cuttlefish.","latitude":"-4.504909","longitude":"129.88027899999997","icon_marker":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mermaid-theme-v2\/assets\/images\/icon-marker-dive.png","icon_marker_active":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mermaid-theme-v2\/assets\/images\/icon-marker-active.png","image":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/All-4-diving-liveaboards-Banda-Sea-Forgotten-Islands-Lava-Flow-Reef-Small-300x200.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/?s=&dest=banda-sea-liveaboard"},{"title":"Banda Neira Jetty","content":"Banda Neira Jetty is in front of an old colonial style hotel on the waterfront of Banda Neira, the main town of the Banda Islands. Here the stones of past jetties have fallen down to make a home for numerous mandarin fish. A sunset dive here is a must!","latitude":"-4.509091","longitude":"129.89558999999997","icon_marker":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mermaid-theme-v2\/assets\/images\/icon-marker-dive.png","icon_marker_active":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mermaid-theme-v2\/assets\/images\/icon-marker-active.png","image":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/All-4-diving-liveaboards-Banda-Sea-Forgotten-Islands-Banda-Neira-Jetty-Small-300x200.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/?s=&dest=banda-sea-liveaboard"},{"title":"Pohon Miring","content":"","latitude":"-4.509936","longitude":"129.94655699999998","icon_marker":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mermaid-theme-v2\/assets\/images\/icon-marker-dive.png","icon_marker_active":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mermaid-theme-v2\/assets\/images\/icon-marker-active.png","image":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/All-4-diving-liveaboards-Banda-Sea-Forgotten-Islands-Pohon-Miring-Small-300x200.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/?s=&dest=banda-sea-liveaboard"},{"title":"Run","content":"","latitude":"-4.560562","longitude":"129.66625599999998","icon_marker":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mermaid-theme-v2\/assets\/images\/icon-marker-dive.png","icon_marker_active":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mermaid-theme-v2\/assets\/images\/icon-marker-active.png","image":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/All-4-diving-liveaboards-Banda-Sea-Forgotten-Islands-Run-Small-300x200.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/?s=&dest=banda-sea-liveaboard"},{"title":"Pulau Sunaggi","content":"","latitude":"-4.297318","longitude":"129.69019500000002","icon_marker":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mermaid-theme-v2\/assets\/images\/icon-marker-dive.png","icon_marker_active":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mermaid-theme-v2\/assets\/images\/icon-marker-active.png","image":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/All-4-diving-liveaboards-Banda-Sea-Forgotten-Islands-Pulau-Suanggi-Small-300x200.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/?s=&dest=banda-sea-liveaboard"},{"title":"Nusa Laut","content":"","latitude":"-3.638624","longitude":"128.77182100000005","icon_marker":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mermaid-theme-v2\/assets\/images\/icon-marker-dive.png","icon_marker_active":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mermaid-theme-v2\/assets\/images\/icon-marker-active.png","image":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/All-4-diving-liveaboards-Banda-Sea-Forgotten-Islands-Nusa-Laut-Small-300x200.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/?s=&dest=banda-sea-liveaboard"},{"title":"Pulau Koon","content":"","latitude":"-3.916694","longitude":"131.213252","icon_marker":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mermaid-theme-v2\/assets\/images\/icon-marker-dive.png","icon_marker_active":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/wp-content\/themes\/mermaid-theme-v2\/assets\/images\/icon-marker-active.png","image":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/All-4-diving-liveaboards-Banda-Sea-Forgotten-Islands-Pulau-Koon-Small-300x200.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.mermaid-liveaboards.com\/?s=&dest=banda-sea-liveaboard"}]

Banda Sea – Ring of Fire Diving Cruise

(Read the German version here)

The Ring of Fire – Banda Sea Liveaboard trip with Mermaid I or II is the ultimate scuba diving adventure. Ring of Fire is a remote arc of islands in the Banda Sea, they are isolated even by Indonesian standards. This archipelago chain in the east of Indonesia, stretches from Timor in the southwest to West Papua in the northeast.

HIGHLIGHTS
Volcanic islands rise out of the deep blue waters and vast seamounts are home to schooling hammerhead sharks. Uninhabited islands are fringed by untouched reefs. Underwater pinnacles are so isolated that the reefs are immaculate. All dive sites are packed full of fish life. And some are visited by large pelagics.

Giant barrel sponges and gigantic sea fans line the deep walls. Visibility is almost always crystal clear, with warm water. The diving offers large schools of fish and beautiful corals. The Ring of Fire can only be reached by liveaboard. So, contact us to book your next adventure today!

Mermaid Liveaboards offer multiple different itineraries to explore Banda Sea as part of an extended cruise that visits other great diving destinations such as Alor, Raja Ampat and Forgotten Islands:

Biodiversity Special: Raja Ampat – Banda Sea – Ambon or reverse (12 days)

Biodiversity Special: Raja Ampat – Banda Sea – Forgotten Islands – Ambon (14 days)

Biodiversity Special: Raja Ampat – Banda Sea – Forgotten Islands – Ambon (16 days)

Biodiversity Special Ring of Fire: Maumere-Alor-Banda Sea-Ambon or reverse (12 days)

Biodiversity Super Special: Maumere-Alor-Banda Sea-Raja Ampat or reverse (16 days)

Why dive Banda Sea with Mermaid Liveaboards?

There are reasons why both Mermaid I and II have been voted every year for the last decade among the Top Ten World Best Liveaboards by DIVE Magazine.

We are a 5 star liveaboards that provides luxury and exceptional service through our friendly, experienced & professional crews. Our consistency in conducting high quality, environmentally friendly operations while at the same time supporting the local people, has brought us our most significant achievement: a high level of repeater guests.

Mermaid Liveaboards won a total of 9 (nine!!) SCUBA Diving Magazine 2024 Readers Choice awards, including First Place in these categories:
Best Overall
Quality of Staff
Level of Safety.

The other awards we won are in the following categories: Level of Value (2nd Place), Quality of Rental Gear (2nd Place), Quality of the Liveaboard, Level of Luxury, Quality of the Berths, and Quality of the Food.

More over, being steel boats, Mermaid Liveaboards structure is more stable, which significantly needed in exploring this open water.

Prices include: Transfers from/to airport and all free of charge points outlined in our FAQ section, all meals & snacks, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, soft drinks and drinking water, tanks, weights, weight belts and diving with experienced Dive masters/Instructors.

Prices do not include: Transfers outside of the free of charge zones outlined in our FAQ section,national park/port fees, Fuel Surcharges if applicable, Nitrox fills,rental equipment, on board courses, massages, souvenirs and alcoholic beverages

Read on for more useful information on how to get there, dive season and water temperature in Banda Sea.

How To Get There

There are several ways to dive in Banda Sea with Mermaid Liveaboards

For Maumere-Alor-Banda Sea-Raja Ampat (or reverse) the domestic flights needed are to/from Maumere (MOF) and Sorong (SOQ)
For Maumere-Alor-Banda Sea-Ambon (or reverse) the domestic flights needed are to/from Maumere (MOF) and Ambon (AMQ)
For Raja Ampat - Banda Sea-Ambon (or reverse) the domestic flights needed are to/from Sorong (SOQ) and Ambon (AMQ)

Transfer Times

We will co-ordinate your arrival and collect you from the airport or your hotel and bring you direct to the vessel. There are several reasonable hotels in Ambon, Maumere and Sorong should you wish to overnight before or after your cruise.These are small cities so most of the hotels are located within 10 – 30 minutes to the harbour and airport.

Dive Season

The best time to Dive Banda Sea is March to April as well as October to December as it is affected by monsoon.

Water Temperature

The water temperature in Banda Sea is between 27-30°C.Yet if your cruise start/finish in Maumere, you will visit couple dive sites in Alor with water temperature down to 21°C.