© 2025 Wallacea Dive Cruise. Web Design & Development by Kesato & Co.
Banda Sea itineraries on our boats brings you across the Ring of Fire and the Forgotten Islands, steeped in history and blessed with some of the finest diving in the country, with an immense variety and volumes of both large and small species. We visit many different islands and a great variety of dive sites. To make the experience unique, many of our itineraries combine the Banda Sea with another great destination as Raja Ampat, Alor or Triton Bay to always offer a precious mix of wide-angle and macro subjects.
The nutrient-rich upwelling waters bring in hammerhead sharks schooling and pelagic such as dogtooth tuna, reef shark and sailfish. Whales are also frequently are encountered in the Banda Sea. Healthy and colorful walls, drop-offs, bommies, and pinnacles!
THE SPICE ISLANDS
The Banda islands have a rich history centred around the spice trade, particularly nutmeg and mace. Located in Indonesia’s Maluku archipelago, these islands where the world’s exclusive source of nutmeg and mace,making them a crucial hub for international commerce.
Early Trade:
Before European exploration, the Banda islands were part of a sophisticated trading network stretching across Asia, Arab, Indian and Chinese merchants transporting spices to major trading hubs.
Dutch colonization:
In the early 17th century, the Dutch East India Company (VOC) emerged as the dominant colonial force, waging brutal campaigns against the local population to monopolize the spice trade. The VOC’s control allowed them to set high pricesw for spices in Europe.
Massacre and exploitation.
In 1621, Ditch forces under governor general Jan Pieterszoon Coen orchestrated a massacre and Banda islanders , effectively cementing Dutch control over the islands. The VOC established plantations operat4ed by slaves and local laborers.
The Banda Islands remained a significant centre for nutmeg production, with the Dutch maintaining control until the Napoleonic wars disrupted their monopoly. Today nutmeg is still exported from the islands, and the Banda islands became a popular destination for scuba diving.
During our trips, we make a stop on Banda Neira for a visit of the village where many colonial buildings are still visible. We also visit the museum and the Fort Belgica to get an insight of this historical past.
CLIMATE
Banda Sea is subject to consistent winds, waves and swell during the monsoon periods, especially during the South-East monsoon from June to August, and then from January to March. That's why we draw different itineraries when the seas are quiet during the inter-monsoon period, from end September to end November.
ITINERARIES
This itineray is pure Banda Sea. It includes at the South some islands of the « forgotten Islands group » : Tanimbar, (where is Saumlaki), Dawera, and Dai, and then the islands of the “Ring of fire”, an arch shaped set of volcanic islands : NIla, Serua, Manuk, and The Banda islands. The trip ends in Ambon, famous for it’s fabulous muck diving.
This 12 nights itinerary starting end September with the MSY Seahorse covers a large area with very different kind of diving. Alor with great muck dive, clear waters and beautiful corals, rarely dived Forgotten Islands, and continue with the ring of fire same as the itinerary above. Being the first trip of the season, it has a highest probability of hammerheads encounters.
This long multi destination trip is done end September with the MV Ambai. It includes the West side of Halmahera – Goraichi and Kusu groups of islands-, a few days in MIsool, the East tip of Seram and the Banda Islands. It also has a high probability of encounters with schooling hammerheads in Seram, Banda and Suangi.
With this trip on the MV Ambai, enjoy the Forgotten Islands, Ring of fire and the Misool, the South of Raja Ampat.
