The following is a sample itinerary of dive sites we may visit during your liveaboard safari on board S/Y lndo Siren. We wish to show you the very best diving possible, however, several factors can determine which sites we visit. Our Cruise Director and Diving Director, along with the Captain will take weather, tides, currents and many other factors into consideration to determine which route the yacht takes, and which sites are selected for diving. Whilst we attempt to ensure the number of dives we have scheduled is fulfilled; bad weather can hinder the yacht's ability to reach a specified dive site in good time.
Dive sites we visit may include but are not limited to:
Dai & DaweraOn our way to Saumlaki, these islands have lots to offer from pristine shallow hard corals gardens, deep walls to rocky slopes covered with massive Sponges. The seamounts are swarming with curtains of Pyramid Butterflyfishes and the friendliest Longfin Batfishes we have ever encountered.
Spiny Lobsters hide in the numerous cracks and overhangs in Dai, while shoals of Snappers, Unicornfishes and rivers of Fusiliers inhabit the pristine reefs.
Nil Desperandum & SeruaUpwelling and currents around these islands bring nutrient rich waters and with them an abundance of marine life.
Manoek IslandNext we will voyage to this tiny island in the middle of the Banda Sea, which offers a wide variety of dive topography including walls, coral slopes and sandy areas. Famed as the home of a multitude of sea snakes and where you can witness the snakes hunting together. Spice (Banda) Islands
This group of islands boasts fantastic diving, with up to 40 meters of visibility.
There are various dive sites that we may visit:
Karang Hatta - We will dive in a spectacular submerged reef south of Hatta, which offers steep slopes surrounded by deep waters. Loads of Redtooth Triggerfish, alongside Fusiliers, Napoleon Wrasse and Hawksbill Turtles populate this long reef.
Hatta Blue Hole - This site is formed by a widespread hard coral shallow plateau, which extends away from the island to a majestic drop off.
Pohon Miring - Stunningly covered with colourful Soft corals and Gorgonian fans, a swim through will take you through a sheer wall covered in Leather corals. Numerous big Napoleon Wrasses inhabit the reef and Dogtooth tunas patrol the blue waters.
Batu Kapal - This island is named for its boat-like shape and is an exhilarating dive. The walls are decorated with vibrant Yellow Soft corals. Curtains of Redtooth Triggerfish, Pyramid Butterflyfish, Fusiliers and Surgeonfish merge into a multicolour fish soup.
Banda Jetty - Famous for the Mandarin fish that can be observed at sunset, which you can see just by looking from the jetty. In many places, these fishes are elusive, small and shy. Here, it's the opposite
Koon Island - Between the Ceram and Banda Seas lies Koon Island, an area that is projected to be the biggest coral fish breeding spot in eastern Indonesia.
Sanggala Bay- Situated along the coast of the Fak Fak Province, Sanggala offers both great diving and breathtaking landscapes. Cool water from the Papuan's mountains flows through thick primary jungle to enter the turquoise waters of the Ceram Sea.
Mike's Mount - Hundreds of meters long, this seamount attracts large pelagics, such as Oceanic Manta Rays, Grey Reef Sharks and big Dogtooth Tunas.
Mikado - Years ago during a storm, a ship transporting tree trunks had to release its cargo to avoid running aground the shallow seamount in the center of the bay. As a result, dozens of these trunks are littered forming a huge "Mikado" structure on the grey sand.
South Aiduma & Dramai Islands
The strait between Aiduma and Papua is the heart of Triton Bay, where the nutrient rich current feeds some of the most diverse colourful Soft coral reefs in the whole of Indonesia. We will spend a whole diving in these waters, in (some of) the following dive spots:
7th Heaven - Undoubtedly a well-earned name, as the walls are entirely covered with Pastel and Purple coloured soft corals. When there is a current flowing, the corals are pumped with water which releases a fantastic purple carpet cover on the rocks.
Batu Jeruk - This site literally means 'orange rock' in Indonesian, which is not overstated. We will dive over a shallow rocky plateau and slope carpeted with Orange soft corals where Sweetlips, Snappers & Fusiliers hover.
Tim's Rock - Expect to see an array of boulders decorated with Green Black coral, a resting spot for Sweetlips, Snappers & Glassfishes.
La Ultima Frontera - Located on the outskirts of Triton Bay where the visibility is typically better, this small island is pierced by a large swim through near the surface.
Mauwera & Pelican Bay
Triton Bay also offers spectacular sights above the surface that can be explored, including white sand beaches, turquoise lagoons, mangroves, mushroom shaped island and even some Pelicans for the patient eyes.
Pintu Arus, Saruneus Island - In the channel between Aiduma & Papua, this small island offers beautiful remote diving spots. The area is known for three specific dive sites: Little Komodo, Larry's Heaven and Saruneus.
Little Komodo - Known as the penultimate dive site of Triton Bay, which boasts shallow boulders that are covered in colourful large Soft corals, this dive site is a true photographer's paradise.
Deeper down the slope, a large Black coral forest with large Gorgonian fans meets the sandy bottom. When the current hits the boulders, huge colonies of Orange Cup Orange extend their polyps to feed on the nutrients carried by the current. Wobbegong sharks, Spiny Lobsters and Pipefishes hide beneath large table corals.
Bitsyara Bay - Not far from Kaimana is this large shallow bay which contains Bagans (local fishing platforms). Whale sharks are regularly spotted in this area, as they love the smell of deceased fish from the fishing boats.