Exclusive liveaboard Adelaar – Banda Sea & Alor
Board the luxurious Adelaar and explore the pristine underwater paradise of the Banda Sea, the Moluccas and Alor. Experience dramatic wall dives, healthy coral systems and meet hammerhead sharks, pelagic fish and unique macro life.
Travel period
Features
Starting from
The forgotten paradise: diving in the Banda Sea, Moluccas and Alor
Step aboard liveaboard the Adelaar and be taken to one of the most pristine diving areas in the world: the Banda Sea & Alor. This remote area, also known as the “Forgotten Paradise,” is barely accessible and visited by very few diving tours. It is precisely this isolation that makes for exceptional biodiversity, crystal clear waters, volcanic islands and a rich history. During this special trip, you will discover an underwater world that is still virtually untouched.
The route takes you through the Moluccas and the reefs of Alor, where dramatic wall dives, volcanic underwater reefs and black sand bottoms meet healthy coral systems. In the Banda Sea, you have a chance of seeing schools of hammerhead sharks, large barracudas, tuna and rainbow runners. On the shallow reefs, many fish move through the coral gardens, while at Alor you have a chance to spot migrating whales from the boat. At locations such as Gunung Api and the reefs around Ai and Hatta, you’ll also encounter unusual macro life, such as sea snakes and ghost whale fish.
In the Moluccas and around Alor you will dive past steep walls, vast coral gardens and black sandy bottoms, where mimic octopus, hairy shrimp and gray reef sharks can be found. This combination of large marine life and rare macro species makes the route exceptionally versatile and attractive to experienced divers and underwater photographers.
In this regard, the stay aboard the Adelaar is a highlight in itself. With only four cabins for up to eight guests, a teak interior with high ceilings and a highly experienced crew, this ship is among the most exclusive liveaboards in Indonesia. The small scale ensures tranquility, personal service and maximum attention to each guest.
This particular itinerary is sailed only twice a year, making it one of the most exclusive liveaboard trips in Indonesia. The combination of unique cruising grounds, exceptional diving, rich history and the comfort of the Adelaar makes this “Forgotten Paradise” an experience few divers get to experience.
Best travel time for a diving vacation to the Banda Sea & Alor
Thanks to its unique location, the Banda Sea is influenced by two monsoon seasons. From December to March, the northwest monsoon brings more rain and changeable weather, while the southeast monsoon from June to September brings drier conditions. The best time to dive here is in the transition months: April to May and mid-September to November. During this period, the seas are usually calmer, visibility is optimal and the chances of encounters with large schools of hammerhead sharks are greatest.
The departure dates
The Adelaar is an exclusive liveaboard and has room for only 8 people per trip. As a result, the boat fills up quickly. In addition, the boat sails different routes. This particular route to the Banda Sea and Alor is only possible twice a year. Would you like to join the Adelaar but these dates are not convenient? Feel free to ask us about other routes. These are the dates for this route:
- April 17 – 27, 2026 and Sept. 22 – Oct. 1, 2026
- May 7 – 17, 2027 and Sept. 23 – Oct. 1, 2027
Average Temperatures
Wetsuit advice for diving in Banda Sea & Alor 
The water has a pleasant temperature, so a 3mm wetsuit may be sufficient. You will make up to 4 dives a day, so if you get cold easily, a 5mm may be nicer.
What will you experience on this diving vacation?
View itinerary here
Day 1 & 2 | The journey to Indonesia
The liveaboard starts from Ambon, an island in the Indonesian archipelago of the Moluccas. The journey from Europe to Ambon usually begins with an international flight to Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia. From Europe, there are direct flights to Jakarta that take about 13 to 16 hours, depending on your point of departure. Arriving in Jakarta, take a domestic flight to Ambon, which takes another 3-4 hours.
Because the connecting flight to Ambon can sometimes be a bit tight, we are happy to arrange a stay in a comfortable airport hotel in Jakarta by mutual agreement. This gives you the opportunity to relax and recover from the long journey. This way you will start your diving adventure in Ambon well rested.
Staying overnight in an airport hotel is a good idea anyway to avoid jet lag and start your diving vacation fresh and energized. Then you can continue on a short flight from Jakarta to Ambon and arrive at your liveaboard on time.
Day 3 | Arrival in Ambon & boarding the Adelaar
Today you arrive in Ambon after your last flight from Jakarta. Upon arrival at the airport, a transfer will be waiting for you to take you to the port. Upon arrival you can unpack quietly, prepare your dive gear and meet the other divers on board.
The boat sails out this very day: to the heart of the blue Banda Sea. The Banda Sea is deep, tropical sea in the eastern part of Indonesia. It lies between Sulawesi, the Moluccas and Timor. It is a remote area known for spectacular volcanic islands, excellent dive sites with hammerhead sharks and rich coral reefs. It is also one of the deepest seas in the world: about 7740 meters deep. It is a rather unique route that is sailed only twice a year by the Adelaar.
Day 4 | Diving in Lucipara Penyu Archipelago
Today is your first full day of diving and you’ll begin it at the remote Lucipara Archipelago: a group of uninhabited, low-lying sand islands with lush tropical vegetation. The islands themselves are barely accessible because they are surrounded by extremely shallow coral reefs stretching hundreds of meters.
At the edge of these reef plateaus, the sea floor suddenly plunges steeply down into the crystal clear depths of the Banda Sea. This is where the real adventure begins.
Diving here feels like pure discovery. Due to its isolated location, in the middle of the open sea, these reefs regularly attract pelagic fish. This increases the chances of spectacular encounters with tunas, rainbow runners, thresher sharks, silky sharks and even hammerhead sharks, among others.
Today you will make a total of 4 dives at this special location.
Day 5 | Diving in Lucipara Maisel Archipelago
Again today there are 4 top dives on the program. Besides the chance of seeing large marine life, these dives are notable for the excellent condition and enormous size of the reefs. Some steep walls and slopes are richly covered with colorful soft corals. In other places, giant barrel sponges and enormous fan corals dominate the landscape.
In the shallows you will find beautiful, virtually untouched hard coral gardens, where thousands of reef fish swim around in all colors of the rainbow.
Day 6 | Diving at Gunung Api volcano
Today you will dive at Gunung Api, which simply means “volcano” in Indonesian. This lone, ancient volcano rises from the depths of the Banda Sea and provides an impressive backdrop both above and below the water.
Above the waves you will see large colonies of seabirds, while underwater you will be surrounded by schools of horse mackerel, doctor fish, tuna, barracuda and other pelagic species. In addition, Gunung Api is known for its many sea snakes. You will encounter these venomous but non-aggressive reptiles here almost during every dive – sometimes even in large numbers. That makes this location truly unique.
Today you will make four special dives around this impressive volcano.
Day 7 | Diving at Wetar: walls, currents and whales
During your last stop in the Moluccas, you will dive along the walls and slopes of Reong and Wetar. Depending on currents, these spots can be exceptionally fish-rich.
Here you have a good chance of seeing gray reef sharks, bamboo sharks, giant trevallies, schools of bigeye jacks, rainbow runners and tunas. During quieter dives, you may discover entire fields of zebra anemones. With some luck, you may even spot the rare leopard shrimp, which lives here in symbiosis.
After three dives, you will hoist the sails for the crossing towards Alor and Nusa Tenggara Timur. During this trip you have a chance to see migrating whales.
Day 8 | Diving in Pantar Strait
Today in the beautiful Pantar Strait you will experience a day of three day dives and one night dive, each one completely different.
The day begins with an exciting dive, where there is a good chance of encountering schools of hammerhead sharks. This is followed by a spectacular wall dive, so rich with soft corals that you almost don’t know where to look.
In the afternoon you will dive at a unique site full of anemone fields, known for encounters with mola molas and thresher sharks. End the day with one of Indonesia’s most species-rich black sand night dives, perfect for lovers of small and unusual marine life.
Day 9 | Diving in macro paradise Beangabang
The dark sandy bottoms of Beangabang Bay, in southern Pantar, set the stage for three day dives and one night dive full of unusual discoveries.
Here you will look for hairy angler fish, mimic octopus, rhinopias, Ambon scorpion fish, seahorses, hairy shrimp and ghost whistle fish, among others. Each dive may bring new surprises.
There is also a highlight above the water: when you visit the village, you are enthusiastically welcomed by the children, who are happy to show you their surroundings.
Day 10 | Diving in Alor Strait: colorful reefs and big life
Thanks to the stable weather during this period, today you will dive at the more open and rugged sites in the south of the Alor archipelago. During three dives you will discover impressive underwater landscapes here.
Giant soft coral formations, colorful reefs and clouds of anthias set the scene. There is also plenty of opportunity for pelagic fish and, with some luck, encounters with mola molas or thresher sharks.
Day 11 | Diving in Boling Strait: looking for macro
Today is once again all about finding small and unusual marine life. During three day dives and one night dive you will explore the reefs and sandy bottoms under the imposing Lewotolo volcano.
Lurking here are blue-ringed octopuses, ghost whistle fish, rhinopias, angler fish, tiger shrimp and wonderpus octopus, among others. Perfect for macro photography and lovers of rare species.
Day 12 | Diving in Adonara
At the underwater mountains off Adonara, you will make two final dives today among a diverse mix of hard and soft corals.
These seamounts attract many reef fish, as well as larger hunters such as horse mackerel, tuna and blacktip and gray reef sharks. You can regularly see juvenile silvertip sharks patrolling the clear blue waters here.
After the last dive, you will sail off into the sunset and arrive in Maumere in the evening for a farewell dinner together.
Day 13 & 14 | Arrival in Maumere & return trip
After a final delicious breakfast, it is time to say goodbye and disembark. The boat is docked in Maumere, the largest city on the island of Flores. Located on the northeast coast of the island, the city serves as a major gateway, thanks in part to the presence of an airport.
You will fly back home from this airport, often with a stopover in Jakarta or Bali. Allow for a long travel time, often more than 24 hours, depending on transfer times. For those who want, you can also spend a few days in Bali. There are beautiful boutique resorts on the east side, for example, where you can dive, stay and rest. Several excursions are also possible here, such as to the rice fields. Staying longer on Flores or exploring the surroundings of Jakarta is of course also possible. We are happy to create a tailor-made trip for you!
Highlights of this trip
What can you expect from this liveaboard in the Banda Sea & Alor?
The stay on the liveaboard
Staying aboard the Adelaar is a highlight in itself. This is one of the most exclusive liveaboards around, due to its small scale with a maximum of eight guests and the personal atmosphere on board. The interior is built with attention to detail, with teak, high ceilings and stylish finishes that feel both elegant and spacious. Combined with the experienced crew, their dedication and excellent service, the Adelaar offers an unparalleled luxury experience at sea.
Hammerhead sharks & pelagic life
The Banda Sea is known for its impressive encounters with large marine life. During this trip you will dive in remote locations where schools of hammerhead sharks are regularly seen, especially during the transitional seasons. In addition, you have a chance to encounter tunas, barracudas, rainbow runners, silky sharks and thresher sharks. Due to their isolated location in the middle of the open sea, these dive sites attract many pelagic species, making each dive exciting and unpredictable.
Unique and remote dive sites
This route combines spectacular volcanic dives, colorful walls and rich macro areas. At Gunung Api you will dive around an active underwater volcano with large schools of fish and numerous sea snakes. At Pantar and Beangabang you will discover black sand bottoms full of rare animals such as rhinopias, mimic octopuses and ghost whistle fish. Around Adonara and Wetar you will find vast reefs with sharks and large schools of reef fish, providing maximum variety.
Adelaar
The liveaboard and onboard facilities
You will sail aboard a beautiful 127-foot-long Dutch schooner: the Adelaar. The interior is finished in teak and has remarkably high ceilings, a rarity on a liveaboard and immediately felt in the spacious, luxurious atmosphere on board.
The crew consists of ten experienced Indonesian sailors, supplemented by a Western Cruise Manager / PADI instructor and a Divemaster. All crew members are fully certified, professionally trained and have a great passion for the sea, Indonesia and liveaboard diving. Some have been working on the Adelaar for over 25 years.
On board, you’ll enjoy a delicious mix of Indonesian and Western dishes specially tailored to life at sea. All meals are freshly prepared with carefully selected ingredients from local markets and regular suppliers.
Chefs Wayan and Made, trained by a top Belgian chef and with years of experience on board, provide surprising and tasty dishes every day. You dine in the comfortable salon or, weather permitting, under the stars on deck.
On board are only four comfortable cabins, which means a maximum of eight guests will sail along. This creates a personal, quiet and exclusive atmosphere.
The Master Suite is a real eye-catcher: spacious, stylish and one of a kind. In addition, there are three staterooms. Stateroom 2 and 3 are identical, while Stateroom 4 has a slightly different layout.
All cabins have individually controlled air conditioning and a modern entertainment system. They are equipped with private bathrooms with high-quality Kohler sink, Grohe faucets, hot shower and JETS vacuum toilet.
For extra comfort, care products from Sensatia Botanicals are on hand: an Indonesian brand with natural shampoo, conditioner and body wash.
Travel costs
What is included
This diving vacation to the Banda Sea and Alor is available from AUD 8.857 per person based on two people in one cabin. The diving trip can be expanded as desired. A number of things are included by default in this travel package.
Prices are subject to price changes, increases or changing exchange rates. Flights are always based on the cheapest possible booking class.
Want to know more about this liveaboard trip to Indonesia? Get in touch with us!
Included in this diving trip, from AUD 8.857 p.p.
- 10 nights in a stateroom
- Accommodation on full board basis
- Drinking water, coffee/tea, fruit juices, snacks
- Dive package with 32 dives
- Land excursions
- Return transfers
- VZR & Administration fee
Excluding
- Flights from AUD 2.303 p.p.
- Dive & Travel Insurance
- Visa to Indonesia (approx. €30)
- Port & Park Fees (€300)
- Fuel surcharge 10 nights (€250)
✈︎ The quoted (international) flight prices are indicative prices and based on departures from Europe. However, we can arrange flights from any location worldwide. Booking your own flights is of course also possible.
Optional
- Rental diving equipment (€400)
- Rental dive computer (€160)
- 15L tank (€128)
- Nitrox (€180)
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Frequently asked questions about this liveaboard
The liveaboard
There are only a few departure dates for this particular itinerary. However, the Adelaar sails multiple routes in Indonesia, so you can also choose other dates and explore another part of Raja Ampat.
The Adelaar sails several routes in Indonesia. These different itineraries depart from different islands in Indonesia and vary in the length of the trip. The shortest route lasts 6 nights, the longest 11 nights. Feel free to ask us for more information about the other itineraries.
- Raja Ampat (central and south)
- Total Raja Ampat
- Raja Ampat & Triton Bay
- Raja Ampat & Banda Sea
- Triton Bay & Misool
- Banda Sea – Ring of Fire
- Komodo Exclusive
- Komodo & whale sharks
- Komodo Extended & whale sharks
- Beyond Komodo & whale sharks
Yes
Diving general
An Open Water certification is sufficient for this liveaboard trip. There is no indication that you must have done a minimum number of dives. Just keep in mind that there can be considerable current during the dives. So it’s definitely nice if you already have some experience with this.
During this trip you will make different types of dives: reef dives, drift dives and deep dives. You will always receive a clear briefing beforehand.
The dive sites are close by. Sometimes you go directly from the yacht, sometimes from a zodiac.
Yes, it is possible to make night dives. The daily program indicates the days on which night dives are scheduled.
No, this is not possible.
Diving equipment
Both tanks are available.
Yes, there are a number of 15L tanks available. Using these costs €128 for the entire trip. You must pay this amount in advance.
Yes, the cost for using nitrox during the whole trip is €180. You need to pay this in advance.
Yes, renting a full set costs €400 for the entire trip. A dive computer is not included in the set. Renting the computer costs €160 for the trip. You need to pay this in advance.
You leave your diving equipment on the dive deck of too boat.
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