Learn to dive and get up to $100 Discount when you sign up as a group!
Learn to dive and get up to $100 Discount when you sign up as a group!
Join us in September 21st-30th, 2026 on our 5* superdeluxe Banda Sea, Ring of Fire and Ambon expedition in search of schooling scalloped hammerheads, whales, dolphins and some of the most unique macro critters you will ever see!
Join us on our quest to look for schooling hammerhead sharks, search for elusive critters like the mimic octopus, flamboyant cuttlefish and the elusive purple weedy rhinopia and dive some of Indonesia’s best-kept secrets, with the most immaculate coral reefs and the richest marine biodiversity: the Ring of Fire and the Banda Islands!
Most divers have heard of Raja Ampat and Komodo, but the islands in the Ring of Fire in the Banda Sea are the most untouched of the three! We’re returning to the Superdeluxe 5* White Manta trip (those who went on our Raja Ampat trip aboard the White Manta in 2024, know what to expect!) for their 7 night itinerary exploring three separate regions: Ambon, the Ring of Fire and the Banda Sea!
Ambon is renowned for its amazing critters, some of which we’ve mentioned above, but the critter list here is long and contains animals with names that really capture the imagination, such as the physchedelic frogfish, the pikachu nudibranch and the infamous local yellow rhinopia! Simply google “Ambon diving photography” and it will be easy to make a bucket list for when you dive this destination with us!
Exploring the unique and remote islands of the Banda Islands and the Ring of Fire is an adventure in itself! We’ll be here smack bang in the middle of hammerhead season, so the schooling hammerheads will be at the top of everyone’s bucket list! We also expect to see reef sharks, huge schools of fish, manta rays and other pelagic superstars! Both the Ring of Fire and the Banda Islands get frequented by hammerhead sharks in September and are along the highway of migrating whales, including humbpacks, short-finned pilot whales, sperm whales and even blue whales! It’s also a hot spot for various dolphin species, including spinner dolphins and the pantropical spotted dolphins (8 species of dolphins and whales can be spotted here!).
Imagine yourself swimming at 25m, cruising right next 100 scalloped hammerheads, cruising next to a 25m long blue whale (the largest animal on earth!), diving alongside a pod of spinner dolphins or finding some of the most beautiful unique creatures on the seafloor, the rhinopia – it’s all possible in this one trip!
Of course we have booked the trip on the full moon to up our chances even further to see the hammerheads and other iconic pelagic species! The full moon is on the 26th and we’ll be diving from the 22-29 of September! This is also the time that the whales are still around, right before they start migrating south, and is generally considered the best time to dive Banda!
This is a 5* superdeluxe liveaboard trip on board one of the most beautiful liveaboards you’ve ever been on: the White Manta! Nitrox and advanced certification are mandatory, as is diving insurance. Flights ex Sydney are included (Adelaide to Sydney flights can be included as well of course) and a visit to the Spice Islands is part of the trip as well.
To book, simply click on the link below or send us an email and we will send you an online booking form right away. At the time of booking, a deposit of $2500 is required to secure your spot.
Due to the remoteness of the Banda Sea Islands, this area is best dived from a liveaboard and we’ve selected the best possible liveaboard for the job!
The steel-hulled White Manta luxury liveaboard can accommodate up to 24 guests. It features 14 beautifully furnished en-suite cabins, an open outdoor alfresco dining area, and an indoor air-conditioned dining room. These elements contribute to the perfect onboard ambience for a world-class dive holiday.
Return Airfares ex Sydney via Jakarta to Ambon with Garuda Airlines.
Flights from Adelaide to Sydney can be included as well, if required. On our last trips many people travelled ex Sydney, so we have not included these flights as standard inclusions or accommodation in Sydney.
This also offers the divers the opportunity to add on a few days in Sydney or travellers from NSW/ACT to travel to the airport from home.
If you would prefer to fly to Ambon from a different airport (anywhere in the world), please let us know and our travel agents will contact you with a trip quote including airfares!
Return airport transfers in Jakarta and Ambon are included.
The package price is based on 9 nights twin share accommodation with a total of 7 nights on board the new Indo Siren.
We have 7 nights on board the superdeluxe White Manta 5* liveaboard with a total of up to 18 dives at the best dive sites of Ambon, the Banda Sea and the Ring of Fire.
Both the marine park fee (US$250) and the fuel surcharge (US$200) are already included in the package.
Tanks and weights are included in this trip. Rental gear is not included in this trip.
If you need any gear, we highly recommend having a look at our online store or contact us to rent gear for the duration of the trip at a reduced rate.
Eat, sleep, dive, repeat is a great mantra for liveaboard diving! On board the White Manta all non-alcoholic drinks (tea, coffee, juices, water and soft drinks) as well as all meals and snacks will be included.
If you have ever been on board one of the White Manta liveaboard, you know we’re in for a treat as the food is amazing on board!
Your departure and airline taxes are included with your domestic tickets.
Extra fees will apply for:
Extra fees will apply for:
We highly recommend taking out travel insurance as well as DAN diving insurance for this trip.
Any excess luggage fees can be prebooked with our travel agent beforehand or can be paid at the airport.
The trip price is based ex Sydney. Tickets ex Adelaide or any other airport in the world and accommodation in Sydney, can be included if preferred, at an additional cost, or points can be used if you have points available.
If you would like to include flights ex Adelaide and accommodation in Sydney, simply let us know at time of booking to include those.
Package price is subject to change. Flights will be in reach 11 months before travel dates and flight prices will be confirmed then. Please use package price as an indicative price only, as exchange rate and flight prices can change.
The Banda Islands, in the heart of the Coral Triangle are a unique marine park in the middle of a very remote region that is blessed with an abundance of pelagic species and a coral wonderland.
The islands are a superhighway for large whales, dolphins as well as hammerhead sharks, tresher sharks, manta rays and other huge pelagic species. Also known as “the Amazon of the Sea”, the area contains a high diversity of reef habitats and coral species and has an amazing success rate of conservation efforts, with the biodiversity here not only maintained, but increased over recent years!
The marine park gives refuse to enangered oceaenic cetaceans, including blue whales and is an outstanding example of what marine reefs are meant to look like!
See the spectacular Manta Fleet video of what we can see in Ambon and the Banda Sea and join us in 2026 to explore this unique remote region on board the luxury 5* White Manta liveaboard and see why this region is consistently rated as one of the best diving areas in the world!
Nestled in the heart of Indonesia’s Maluku province, Ambon, the Banda Islands and the Ring of Fire offer a rare blend of history, volcanic landscapes and world-class diving.
Ambon, famous for its incredible critter diving, is home to an astonishing variety of rare and unusual critters. The Banda Islands – once the world’s only source of nutmeg – are steeped in rich spice trade history. The islands’ dramatic volcanic peaks plunge into deep, crystal-clear waters teeming with life, where vast schools of fish and large pelagic species swirl over thriving coral reefs.
The Ring of Fire adds another dimension, with towering volcanoes, creating a stunning backdrop and providing nutrient-rich watersbelow. These waters attract everything from pelagic predators to graceful manta rays and schooling hammerheads, making each dive an unforgettable adventure.
Late September is considered prime season to explore the Banda Islands and the Ring of Fire. Calm seas and crystal-clear waters make for smooth crossings, while nutrient-rich currents bring the region’s marine life to its peak, without affecting visibility! This is the main season for schooling hammerhead sharks in the Banda Sea, offering one of the most thrilling big-animal diving encounters in all of Indonesia. The hammerhead season starts in early September, giving the liveaboard a few weeks to find and follow their whereabouts before we arrive.
Before we make our way to the Spice Islands, we will be diving in Ambon, which is world-famous for its critter diving. With visibility at its best at this time of the year, you will will find stunning critters that are on every diver’s bucket list and are easy to see with the naked eye! If you haven’t heard of Ambon’s incredible critter list, have a look at the wonderpus, the lilliput long arm octopus, the coconut octopus and the mimic octopus that can al be found in this region! Other amazing animals include the Ambon rhinopias, the flamboyant cuttlefish, the physchedlic frogfish and the pikachu nudibranch, just to name a few!
From Ambon, we’ll cross into the legendary Banda Sea, where late September is considered prime time for hammerheads, whales (including blue whales), manta rays and other large pelagic species. These waters host massive schools of fusiliers and trevallies, patrolling dogtooth tuna and other big pelagics as well as the occasional thresher shark! Above water, the Banda Islands reveal their history as the once-exclusive source of nutmeg (the Spice Islands were the only known source for nutmeg), with dramatic volcanic peaks plunging straight into the turquoise seas.
The voyage continues through the Ring of Fire, a chain of towering volcanic islands, that form a breathtaking backdrop to some the amazing dive sites we’ll visit on this trip. Nutrient upwellings in this area fuel reefs bursting with colour and life, from hard corals to vertical walls. The gentle winds in September and calmer seas and currents make exploring these remote sites both safe and comfortable!
September truely is the sweet spot for visiting this region, after the southeast monsoon has eased and before the onset of the northwest monsoon! This means we expect to enjoy smooth crossings, excellent visibility and the highest probability of big-animal action! Every dive will offer something different – from critter-rich dives to pelagic-filled bluewater drifts – all set in one of the most remote areas of Indonesia, right in the unspoiled heart of the Coral Triangle.
Join us for this once-in-a-lifetime adventure where perfect conditions, incredible marine life and rich cultural history combine to create an unforgettable liveaboard experience. Our trip starts on the 22nd of September, just a few days before the September full moon on the 26th, upping our chances even further of seeing the hammerheads and encountering other big animsl!
Whether you’re a seasoned diver seeking new adventures or a relatively new diver eager to discover the wonders of the ocean, diving in the Banda Sea promises an unforgettable expedition. It’s a destination that will captivate your senses, ignite your spirit of exploration, and leave you with lifelong memories of the beauty and grandeur of the underwater world.
The video below was taken at the same time of the year (September):
Never travelling with us before? Let our professional instructor and divemaster team take you on an adventure like you’ve never experienced before!
We pick the best destinations in the world for our trips and always try to book the best time of the year to go! Currents bring in big animals, so we always keep an eye on the lunar cycle and plan our trips at a time that we can expect the best possible diving at that location!
Travel with likeminded people and make dive or travel buddies for life! We have an amazing group of people that travel with us regularly that make every trip a party and keep coming back year after year!
