12 days
Please note, the cruise portion of this trip costs USD6900 (-10% for non-divers), plus extras. The Australian dollar price may be adjusted for additional exchange rate costs at the time of final
payment. See Terms and Conditions for details.
The Luciparas are a simply stunning staging post for large tuna and other big marine fish like Napoleon Wrasse. It is remarkable to see big intact reefs so far out to sea and so remote, as to be quite protected from people.
Many of these islands remoteness is the reason they are in good condition. Manuk Island, despite rat infestation, is a powerful place. You get this impression as you’re surrounded by frigatebirds. Then we continue to Banda Neira, which is lovely. There is chance to swim over the flourishing plate corals and staghorns of the lava flow reef, a reminder of the incredible resilience of coral reef, as the eruption only happened in 1985.
Of course Blue Whales are a highlight. Simply to float in the company of a dozen of the largest animals that ever lived on Earth, is amazing. There is nowhere on Earth you can have this experience. Watching these whales doing their thing day in, day out, gives you a real impression of their sheer importance. These are animals that have been present on Earth for millions more years than people.
The Banda Sea is a place of myths and legends, pirates and sea monsters. It was the centre of a bloody spice trade for thousands of years. Oceanic processes drive climate worldwide, with sweeping currents emanating from depths that challenge the height of Everest. From the bottom of the Weber Deep to the summit of Mount Binaiya, the highest peak on the island of Seram, is an elevation of over 10,000m.
On each trip we will visit the ‘forgotten’ Spice Islands to learn
about the colonial history we share with them and explore some
spectacular snorkel-dive locations nearby. It was the centre of the spice trade for thousands of years. Archaeologists may have found recent evidence of villages from long before Dutch rule, where Bahasa Tana (language
of the Earth) may have been spoken. It is a sacred language only sung in rituals. Sadly this ancient culture was all but lost
at the hands of the Dutch East India company.
On
this expedition cruise we will live aboard the luxurious Pindito with
one of the region's most experienced crews. You will see and experience
marine life like you’ve never done before. Winds are traditionally low during this, the doldrum season. Also, it’s at the peak of Blue Whale activity, before they begin their migration south to Australia.
*Note, we prefer to collect the fuel surcharge and harbour fees upfront (these are added for you to select on checkout when you pay your deposit). Remaining extras can be paid on board at the end of the trip. For budgeting purposes, the total cost of all extras usually comes to about AUD1,000 or USD680.
Flying around Indonesia is quite simple. We often arrive and depart from places you won’t have heard of but they are usually well-serviced airports nevertheless. We have a local travel agent we use for domestic flights so they can reschedule any changes for us, in the local language. Foreign travel agents often struggle with booking and are rather helpless when things go wrong. For international flights it’s usually a case of arriving in either Bali or Jakarta but that depends on connections at the time. We are able to advise on all of this and make bookings, if you need. Before our trips everything will be planned for you, so you simply have to turn up with nothing much to think about, other than enjoying your holiday with us.
You don't need to pay anything now. Submit this Reservation Request and we will send you a copy of our standard travel Terms and Conditions to review, as well as an invoice for 20% of the tour price, which will become a non-refundable deposit. Once that is paid, your trip will be confirmed.
**Until you have heard from us and your trip is confirmed, please do not book any flights or make any other related travel arrangements.**