Maumere Bay- Alor - Islands of Gunung Api, Lucipara and Penyu - Banda Islands- Gorong - Misool- Raja Empat Archipelago – Sorong

One of the very few opportunities for a great sea adventure yet in the world. Exploration, discovery, outstanding diving, isolated and lush islands. Everyday a new wonder !

Exploratory Cruise: Very, very few operators sail through this remote waters, that is why this can still be named a real diving exploratory cruise. We have done it several times and can tell you by heart this Cruise is really worthy!!!

Bay of Maumere: It is extremely interesting to dive in waters that once were considered exceptional, the headquarters of the most reputed World Championship of Underwater Photography, until in 1992 an earthquake followed by a tsunami wave hit with anger all the area. Ten years later the walls that surround these islands have managed to recover in their totality from that natural disaster to the scientists surprise and they actually offer excellent dives in mild currents, with a healthy population of gorgonias and sponges, with big groupers lurking in crevices, antias and butterfly fish. In the blue big tuna and carangids patrol the depths seeking for their prey.

Straits of Alor: Like Komodo and Rinca, the straits between the islands of Pantar and Alor, East of Flores, are simply superb. The currents are not for beginners, but with good chase boats taking care and our well trained crew, we will dive with security through these beautiful and deep straits home of the greater biodiversity of the planet. The macro lovers will enjoy the colourful chromodoris nudibranchs, the curious shrimps and strange crabs, while those of you watching the blue will frequently make out large groupers, rays, and black tip sharks, as well as occasionally grey tips, silver tips and at times even Whale Sharks. In the anchorages of the islands of Adonara and Lomblen great dives at less depth and in more protected waters can be done, with the classical exuberant coral gardens and schools of tropical fish. The straits are also the place to see large whales in transit. In this area we have sighted dolphins of various types, pilot whales and even killer whales.

From Alor, we will sail Northeast through a volcanic chain of islands situated in the middle of the Banda Sea. These remote islands separated by some tens of miles one from the other are surrounded by deep and vertical walls overlooking one of the biggest depths in the Indian Ocean: 7.000 meters!.

Banda Archipelago: Known as one of the areas with greater potential for diving in Indonesia, this group of islands offer dives of all types: from "lagoons" with shallow waters, to adrenaline drift dives along deep walls decorated with an extensive marine profusion of life and a great abundance of fish. This is one of the regions in Indonesia with smaller environmental impact caused by the hand of man.

Sorong: The west tip of the greater island of the world, New Guiney, politically divided in two halves: the independent country of Papua New Guiney (PNG) in its more eastern half, and the province where Indonesia ends towards the east, now called Papua and previously known as Irian Jaya.
This really is the last frontier for adventure. Exploratory diving together with one of the really few remaining wild regions on this planet. Leaving from the port of Sorong, in the "Bird' s head peninsula", we will travel through the archipelago of the Four Rajas (Rajah Empat), among the island of Waigeo to the north and Misool to the south. The area where we will sail holds the record of the biggest number of different species counted in a single dive. National Geographic compares the species found here with the ones that can be seen in Palau. The reefs of Rajah Empat enjoy a healthy marine biodiversity with more than 400 species of coral having been discovered here. Besides the abundance of fauna, this region contains numerous wrecks of Japanese ships and aeroplanes from the terrible battles held during the Second World War in this area.
All the ingredients for a perfect adventure!

LAND EXCURSIONS: additionally to the traditional fish barbecue in the beach, in this route the following visits are carried out:

- Climbing of the Lewotolo Volcano of 460 m of height in whose skirt there is an abandoned village which was inhabited by merchants who traded with the sailors of these seas. In this village we can still find the remainders of that commerce: Chinese porcelain, elephant ivory and old tusks, a cannon from an old Portuguese schooner, drums and spears. The excursion takes some 3 hours, and has magnificent views on the surrounding bay.

- additionally to the traditional fish barbecue in the beach, in this route we will carry out a minimum of four land excursions visiting fishing villages, climbing steep hills to see some of the most magnificent landscpaes in the world and, of course, walk through the forest early in the morning to find the magnificent Paradise Birds, other excursions are to be determined.....remember this is an Exporatory Cruise.
Any way, Pak Ambo, the captain of the SMY Ondina, worked during 5 years in this region as captain of another Pinisi Schooner and has a deep knowledge of the area.