MV Cheng Ho - Dive Trip Itinerary - 13 Days - 12 Nights

Including: Ambon, Nusa Laut, Banda Neira, Maisel, Alor, Flores

The Ambon, Banda Sea and Flores cruise is a twelve night voyage from Ambon to Flores via the Banda Sea or the opposite direction.

Please note that these itineraries are subject to change depending on local weather and diving conditions and that all times are approximate.

Detailed itinerary for cruises from Ambon to Flores, for cruises starting in Flores the same itinerary applies in reverse.

Days One and Two: Ambon
Ambon holds an important place in both the rich history of Indonesia, and as one of its best diving destinations. Ambon harbour is long, deep and surrounded by steep, verdant volcanic slopes. The first dive site is the first great muck site in the world and is located beneath a pier close to the Ambon airport, here you can get a glimpse of the rare Ambon scorpion fish. Also on offer is a pristine wreck covered with hard and soft corals, lots of fish and resting upright in relatively shallow water.

Day Three: Nusa Laut
Nusa Laut just east of Ambon was made famous from two of east Indonesia’s famous diving pioneers, Larry Smith and Edi Frommenweiler. Larry said it was his favourite reef in the entire eastern region of this great archipelago. It is truly a spectacular location and a full days diving will be on offer.

Days Four, Five and Six: Banda Neira
There are some exceedingly good reef dives on the east and north sides of the islands, but the real gem is under the pier and in front of a small hotel’s sea wall. Here not only marine life treasures such as pipe fish of all varieties, frog fish of many varieties and colour variations, and a plethora of juvenile fish seeking sanctuary in the calm waters, but also the least bashful and largest mandarin fish ever! These colourful gems are out of their hiding places all day and are in such shallow water that they can be seen from the pier.

Day Seven: Maisel
Day seven holds a full day of diving among excellent reefs and plenty of critters.

Days Eight and Nine: Alor
Not only does Pura offer pristine reefs, each village protects the reef on its shores and practices a sustainable fishing system of traditional fish traps and spear fishing, but also the opportunity of watching the spear fishermen carrying out their trade. The men and kids are a delight, diving down to 20 meters on occasion to tend the traps or shoot a nearby reef fish. They also make willing underwater photo subjects. There are also great opportunities to take split shots of the small outriggers with the spear fishermen hunting below. When dusk sets in everyone with a camera changes to a macro set-up and prepares for the mandarin fish dive in the shallows in front of the village.

Day Ten: Kawula
This will be a fantastic day of muck diving looking for critters.  Expect to see nudibranchs, ghost pipefish and frog fish all in one dive. In the afternoon you'll have the chance to visit the whaling village.

Days Eleven and Twelve: Flores
Pulau Raja offers wonderful drop offs and spectacular reef dives. This is a very special site as it is a rarely dived site due to its distance from the mainland.

Day Thirteen
Departure to your next destination will be from Maumere’s airport with daily service to Bali.

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