AMBON

THE SCUBA PLACE
© Dive into Ambon
WHERE TO DIVE :
INDONESIA


INDONESIA
There is more marine life found in Indonesia than any where else. Over 3,000 fish species and 600 species of coral, steep walls, deep water trenches, underwater volcanic mountains, World War II wrecks, and a seemingly endless variety of colourful macro life.
This tour takes us from Ambon, through the Banda Sea and north to Raja Ampat. We begin in Ambon Bay or the island of Nusa Laut. In Ambon Bay, there are several options such as wreaks, caves or doing some really interesting muck dives looking for rhynophias, frogfish (including the psychedelic frogfish), harlequin shrimps, and many other critters. Nusa Laut is a small island, next to the island of Saparua, which has some beautiful hard coral fringing reefs as well as walls similar to those of the Banda Islands.
The next two days will be spent in the Banda Islands, also known in the old days as the Spice Islands. Many of the dive sites around the Bandas are wall dives. Walls covered in massive gorgonians, soft corals, barrel sponges and some very interesting swim throughs. There are also other attractive dive sites such as pinnacles with enormous groups of schooling pyramid butterfly fish, triggerfish and even tunas passing through. There are spectacular hard coral reefs next to the volcano, and great muck dives with lots of mandarin fish in the local jetty. But the Banda Islands are much more than diving. It is also a cultural and historical experience. We will spend one morning walking around the village of Banda Naira with a local guide, and visit the local museum, the Old Dutch fort, the old colonial governor’s house, the local fish market, and we will have breakfast at a nutmeg plantation.
Manuk, an extinct volcano about 65 nm 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
[email protected] | 020 7644 8252 | www.comedivewithus.co.uk


© Alex Lindbloom
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, volcanic ridges covered in gorgonians with zillions of fusiliers and pelagic such as spanish mackerels and dogtooth tunas.
Next is Pulau Koon is a small island half way between Raja Ampat and the Banda Islands. Walls covered in soft corals, and sandy slopes with hard coral bommies. But the most interesting feature of this island is the amount of schooling fish and pelagic, barracudas, big eye trevallies, aggregations of red snappers, pompanos, batfish, and giant groupers.
The next two days will be around the island of Misool, where there literally hundreds of dive sites. Misool is a heaven for wide angle photographers! The prettiest soft corals reefs in the world are here, as well as multiple pinnacles surrounded by masses of schooling fish, barracudas, jacks and snappers. There will be some excursions in the tenders through some amazing inner lagoons, with fantastic scenery and wild life sightings.
The last three days will be spent around the Dampier Strait, the strait between the island of Waigeo, the Bird’s Head peninsula and the northern side of Batanta island. The Dampier Strait is known for the variety of diving, from giant mantas, to mangroves, beautiful reefs, pinnacles and sea mounts covered in schooling fish, aggregations of sweetlips, schooling barracudas, schools of bumphead parrotfish, massive schools of fusiliers, and the wobbegongs shark. It is also a great location for critters and macro subjects, with several species of pygmy seahorses, and a large variety of nudibranches. There are several jetties to do some great night dives, where we can see raja epaulette sharks, toadfish, frogfish and crocodile fish. And in between dives, we can visit several traditional Papuan villages, meet the locals and walk in white sandy beaches.
[email protected] | 020 7644 8252 | www.comedivewithus.co.uk


MERMAID I
This is diving the best of the best! Mermaid dives the truly spectacular destinations of Raja Ampat, Ambon, Banda Sea, Alor, Lembeh Triton Bay and offers unbelievable Bali-Komodo cruises and more.
M/V Mermaid I comfortably holds 15 guests in eight staterooms. All cabins are ensuite with the master, single and deluxe cabins offering panoramic sea view windows with doors opening onto the gangway. All cabins are air conditioned, have flat screen TV and DVD players, bathrobes and toiletries and loads of fluffy towels.
The huge purpose built dive deck and wide stern dive platform with two exit ladders and fresh water showers and six camera rinse tanks are a diver’s dream. Delicious Thai, Indonesian and western meals are served in the ‘Sawasdee Restaurant’ with large windows to enjoy the views. There are two outside decks, one shaded with outside seating and the fabulous sundeck with sunshade plus cushioned sun beds – a great place to relax. NITROX is available on every cruise.
[email protected] | 020 7644 8252 | www.comedivewithus.co.uk


MALUKU RESORT & SPA
Set in beautiful Baguala Bay, away from the built up area of Ambon Bay, Maluku Repost & Spa offers a perfect island getaway. Set in lovely gardens, on the sea front, it is a hidden jewel of Ambon.
Completely renovated in 2015, Maluku Resort & Spa is Ambon’s first and only truly boutique hotel. With four cottages, two sea-front studios and six deluxe rooms you can feel the personal touch. Super friendly staff, good food and a relaxing atmosphere.
Cottages are set in the garden with views of the Baguala Bay and the pool. Cottages can accommodate up to three people, are split level with a private balcony, living room and Bali- styled bath. The sea-front studios can accommodate up to four people and directly face the sea. And the deluxe room offer a simple yet comfortable accommodation for two with views of the sea and air-con. Meals are served in the open air restaurant and provide ample fuel for divers and guests.
[email protected] | 020 7644 8252 | www.comedivewithus.co.uk


DIVE INTO AMBON
Kaj and Barb, the owner-operators of Dive into Ambon are both avid underwater photographers and videographers with an unsurpassed knowledge of the critters in the area and their behaviour.
Dive Into Ambon is located on-site at Maluku Resort & Spa. DIA has been based in Ambon since 2013 and offers first class full service diving with a helpful and knowledgable team.
Offering day trips with three dives to over 60 dive sites, Dive into Ambon keeps groups small and lets the divers determine their bottom time! Dive sites include the best of muck diving but also pristine reef diving on the southeast side of the island. You'll find critters large and small, caves, wrecks and much more!
On a typical day boats depart from the resort at 8.15am, returning around 4.30pm. When all the sites are open they run one day of diving in Ambon Bay, followed by one day of the southern and eastern sites, and then repeat, so you can enjoy everything Ambon has to offer.
[email protected] | 020 7644 8252 | www.comedivewithus.co.uk


ITINERARY
COME DIVE WITH US
RAJA AMPAT LIVEABOARD AND AMBON RESORT 21 night Itinerary : Friday 27 March 2020 departure
TRIP SUMMARY
- Return airfare London Heathrow to Ambon
- 11 night cruise onboard Mermaid I for the Ambon-Banda Sea-Raja Ampat Itinerary
- Overnight accommodation in Sorong after live aboard
- Domestic ight from Sorong to Ambon
- 7 nights at Maluku Resort & Spa in Ambon
- 5 days diving with Dive into Ambon
- Airport and local transfers
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PRICING:
£7250 per person based on double occupancy
£1000 non-refundable deposit per person at time of booking £2000 payment per person due before 22 November 2019 balance due 12 weeks prior to departure
please review all Booking Conditions here
________________________________________________________________________________ FLIGHT DETAILS : for reference only - ights will be published 11 months prior to departure
Friday 27 March 2020 : Turkish Airlines
departing : London Heathrow LHR at 17:45 arriving : Istanbul IST at 00:45 (GMT+3/next day)
Saturday 28 March 2020 : Turkish Airlines
departing : Istanbul IST at 02:35 (GMT+3)
arriving : Jakarta CGK at 18:00 (GMT+7)
departing Jakarta CGK at 23:45 (GMT+7)
arriving Ambon AMQ at 06:50 (GMT+9/next day) on Sunday 29 March 2020 details : economy seating, baggage allowance based on airline selected
Friday 10 April 2020 : Garuda Airlines
departing : Sorong SOQ at 13:15 (GMT+9)
arriving : Ambon AMQ at 14:35 (GMT+9)
details : economy seating, baggage allowance based on airline selected
Friday 17 April 2020 : Turkish Airlines
departing : Ambon AMQ at 14:55 (GMT+9) arriving : Jakarta CGK at 16:15 (GMT+7) departing: Jakarta CGK at 21:00 (GMT+7) arriving : Istanbul IST at 05:00 (GMT+3/next day)
Saturday 18 April 2020 : Turkish Airlines
departing : Istanbul IST at 08:10 (GMT+3)
arriving : London Heathrow LHR at 10:25
details : economy seating, baggage allowance based on airline selected
[email protected] | 020 7644 8252 | www.comedivewithus.co.uk


ITINERARY
ACCOMMODATION DETAILS :
Mermaid I : Indonesia
check in : Sunday 29 March 2020 in Ambon
check out : Thursday 9 April 2020 in Sorong
details : 12 days/11 nights with 32 to 34 dives, cruising from Ambon through the Banda Sea and north to Raja Ampat. Deluxe cabin, full board basis
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ACCOMMODATION DETAILS :
Swiss-Belhotel (or similar) : Sorong, West Papua, Indonesia
check in : Thursday 9 April 2020
check out : Friday 10 April 2020
details : overnight stay due to domestic ight schedule and to allow su cient surface interval prior to ying. double occupancy
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ACCOMMODATION DETAILS :
Maluku Resort & Spa : Ambon, Maluku, Indonesia check in : Friday 10 April 2020
check out : Friday 17 April 2020
details : co age room, full board
DIVING :
Dive into Ambon : Ambon, Maluku, Indonesia details : 5 days diving with 3 dives per day
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NOT INCLUDED :
airline upgrades : we can arrange for higher class seating and/or extra baggage, please contact us for up to date pricing
liveaboard extras on Mermaid I : NITROX €140 total per person, National Park fees €200 per person, beer and wine, fuel surcharge (if applicable)
resort and diving extras in Ambon : NITROX $20/day or $8/ ll, extra dives, 15ltr tanks, fuel surcharge (if applicable), alcohol and soft drinks extra. ________________________________________________________________________________ BOOKING DETAILS :
To book this trip please contact us 020 7644 8252 or at [email protected]
Any change in pricing due to ight availability or other circumstances will be disclosed and discussed at time of booking.
Tickets and full travel documentation for group travel will be issued to all passengers 2 weeks prior to departure. All passengers will receive con rmation of their booking and receipt for deposit or any payment immediately after processing along with an ATOL certi cate.
Passenger names as listed on passport, together with passport number and expiry date, date of birth and nationality is required for each passenger travelling before nal documents can be distributed.
Travel and Diving Insurance are mandatory. Please review all Booking Conditions here
[email protected] | 020 7644 8252 | www.comedivewithus.co.uk


INDONESIA GALLERY
images : © Alex Lindbloom, Dive Into Ambon and The Scuba Place by Nigel Wade