DIVES TOTAL: 28
Day 1 (Dives Total: -)
Check-in on board Mermaid I. We recommend all guests to arrive the day before the cruise departure. After all the guests have settle into the cabins and set up the diving equipment, we will start crossing overnight to our first destination at Suangi (Banda Islands), 90 nautical miles.
Day 2 (Dives Total: 4)
Suangi is a small uninhabited island about 12 nautical miles north of Banda Neira, the capital of the Banda Islands. This tiny island is surrounded by hard coral reefs, ridges and pinnacles. And it is not uncommon to see individual hammerheads patrolling the hard-coral reefs, as well as larger groups of hammers in the pinnacles that are close to the island. Dogtooth tunas, Spanish mackerels and other pelagic species are often seen hunting smaller fish in the reefs surrounding the island.
Today we will 4 dives around the island of Suangi, and after the last dive of the day we will head overnight to the volcano island of Manuk, 80 nm south of Suangi.
Day 3 (Dives Total: 4)
Manuk, an active volcano about 55 nautical miles south of the Banda Islands, is one of two places in Indonesia where there are huge aggregations of sea snakes: Chinese sea snakes and banded sea kraits. It is an incredible experience to dive surrounded on all sides by sea snakes. The island is surrounded by black sandy slopes with hard coral reefs and volcanic ridges covered in gorgonians with zillions of fusiliers and pelagic fishes such as Spanish mackerels and dogtooth tunas passing through. Hammerheads, mobula rays and eagle rays are often seen around this beautiful active volcano. Cruise overnight to the island of Nila, 70 nautical miles.
Day 4-5 (Dives Total: 8)
Surrounding Nila Island there are two atolls, Dusborgh and Nil Desperandum. These two atolls are quite large and can be dived all the way around It’s at these atolls that there is a good chance of seeing hammerhead sharks. We will therefore spend one full day at Nil Desperandum and one full day at Dusborgh. Even without the hammerheads, the reefs are fabulous, with healthy walls and big schools of fish. Cruise to Serua Island, 20 nautical miles.
Day 6 (Dives Total: 4)
Serua Island is probably one of the most emblematic spots in the Banda Sea to see schooling hammerhead sharks. Also, an amazing side to see schooling fish such as big eye trevallies, Pinjalo snappers and different schools of surgeonfish. Chinese sea snakes and banded sea kraits are also very common. Today we will do 4 day light dives at Serua since the best times to see the hammerheads is either early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
Day 7-8 (Dives Total: 6)
Banda Islands for the next 2 days! Walls, swim throughs, sponges and sea fans – good diving and great for wide angle. Several sites have swim throughs large enough for several people to go through at the same time and is especially nice for wide angle shots, as they are covered in soft corals and sponges. Dive sites in the Banda Islands drop down thousands of meters, offering spectacular walls and stunning reef tops, with visibility usually in the 40-50 meters range.
The sunset dive is at the pier in front of an old colonial hotel! Black sand and volcanic rock with an unusual amount of large and not shy mandarin fish – also great for critters.
For the second day here, in addition to great diving, you will go on land for an excursion on the island of Banda Neira visiting the local museum, Dutch fort, nutmeg plantation and local market. You will even get to have breakfast at the nutmeg plantation! Cruise overnight to Nusa Laut, 75 nautical miles or Ambon, 110 nautical miles.
Day 9 (Dives Total: 2)
Today you will either do two dives at Nusa Laut – healthy reefs, chance for dugong…or onto Ambon for some fabulous muck dives with critters galore. This area is known for many rare and unusual species including the psychedelic frogfish and Ambon scorpion fish.
Day 10 (Dives Total: -)
Disembark at 8 am. Mermaid I staff will transfer you to the airport or hotel.
This is a sample itinerary and is subject to changes beyond the operator’s control. The exact itinerary, route and number of dives for your cruise may be adapted to best suit the weather conditions, tides and currents, season and other prevailing events.