Spice Island Divers Resort - Ambon
Travel period
Features
Starting from
The ultimate destination for macro and critter photography enthusiasts
Ambon is one of Indonesia’s best-kept secrets for divers. The island is located in the Moluccas, an archipelago in eastern Indonesia, and is surrounded by the waters of the Banda Sea. The Moluccas were once the heart of the global spice trade, giving Ambon a rich history that is still evident today in the island’s culture and colonial influences.
Today, Ambon is best known as one of the world’s top destinations for muck diving and macro photography. Underwater photographers travel from all over the world to Ambon Bay for its enormous diversity of rare creatures. Rhinopias, various species of frogfish, scorpionfish, wonder octopus, mimic octopus, flamboyant cuttlefish, and countless colorful nudibranchs can be spotted here. Blackwater diving is also highly recommended. During these unique night dives over deep water, you’ll encounter larval fish, transparent squid, jellyfish, and other fascinating deep-sea creatures that you almost never see during the day.
During this diving trip, you’ll stay at Spice Island Divers Resort, a small-scale boutique resort on the tranquil coast of Ambon Bay. The resort is fully geared toward the needs of divers and underwater photographers, with small dive groups, a professional camera room, excellent service, and meals prepared fresh daily by the chef. You’ll go on boat dives to Ambon’s famous muck dive sites and can also enjoy unlimited shore dives on the house reef.
Although Ambon is best known worldwide for its macro life, you’ll also find colorful coral reefs, steep walls, and beautiful soft corals there. Combined with the green hills, the relaxed atmosphere, and the hospitable locals, this makes Ambon a surprisingly well-rounded diving destination.
Best time to visit Ambon for a diving vacation
The best time to visit is from October through April. During these months, weather conditions are ideal, with calm waters and excellent visibility. The water temperature is perfect for long dives and exploring the rich biodiversity. Outside of this period, from May through September, the weather can be less predictable, with more rain and potentially rougher seas.
Average temperatures
Wetsuit advice for diving in Ambon, Indonesia
In most cases, a 3mm is sufficient. Between June and October, a 5mm may be more pleasant as temperatures can drop to 26C.
What will you experience on this diving trip to Ambon?
View itinerary here
Days 1–3 | The Trip to Ambon
The first three days of this trip are dedicated to the journey to Ambon. From Europe, you’ll fly to Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia. Depending on your departure point, this international flight takes about 13 to 16 hours. From Jakarta, you’ll continue on a domestic flight to Ambon, which takes another 3 to 4 hours.
Depending on the flight times, a layover in Jakarta can be a bit tight. That’s why we often recommend spending the night at a comfortable airport hotel. This way, you can relax a bit after your long international flight, minimize jet lag, and start the final leg of your trip feeling well-rested.
On the third day, you’ll arrive in Ambon. At the airport, you’ll be greeted by a representative from Spice Island Divers, who will take you to the resort. Thanks to its convenient location, you’ll reach your destination in no time.
After checking in, you’ll have the rest of the day to settle in at your leisure in your comfortable seafront villa or garden room. Get your diving gear and camera ready for the coming days, meet the dive crew, and take a look around the dive shop. There you’ll find various fish identification books that will help you discover which unique species you might encounter during this trip.
Days 4 through 12 - Unlimited diving in Ambon
The next 9 days will be all about diving. The dive package includes 26 boat dives, but you’ll also have unlimited diving on the house reef.
Ambon is without a doubt one of the best places in the world for critter, muck, or macro diving. The island is not only home to unique and exotic creatures, such as the “Ambon Frogfish,” but also boasts the highest concentration of small marine life you’ll ever find. A nice bonus is that you can dive here in peace, without the crowds of other divers.
Ambon has more to offer than just critter diving. In addition to beautiful reefs, the island also has a fantastic shipwreck to explore. In 1863, Dutch ichthyologist Peter Bleeker discovered 783 species of fish in Ambon Bay alone—an impressive number compared to, for example, the fewer than 700 found in all of Thailand.
Ambon Bay is deep and wide, extending 23 kilometers inland. The bay has a unique history: during the Battle of Ambon in 1942 between Japan and the Allies, coral was used to rebuild roads, thereby destroying the fringing reefs. Later, the bay’s shallows were dredged to accommodate larger ships. This has made the bay a world-class muck diving site.
While diving in Ambon, you can encounter various rare creatures, including the Ambon scorpionfish, with its long growths above each eye, and the Halimeda ghostpipefish, which resembles the leaf-like segments of Halimeda algae. There are also numerous reef fish to be found in the colorful soft coral wall dives along the island’s outer coast, which are synonymous with Indonesia. These sites offer a pleasant change of pace from the mud dives in Ambon Bay.
Days 13 & 14 | The Return Trip
Unfortunately, your wonderful diving trip to Ambon is already over. Your flight leaves in the afternoon, giving you plenty of time to pack quietly and prepare for the trip. Remember that you should not dive at least 24 hours before your flight so that you can fly safely.
If you are not yet ready to go home, there are a number of options for extending your vacation. For example, consider staying at the idyllic Saronde Island Resort, which is easily accessible via Jakarta.
Or perhaps Bali beckons? This world-famous island offers a mix of culture, nature and adventure. From beautiful temples and rice fields to amazing dive sites and surf spots, Bali has something for everyone.
Highlights of this trip
What can you expect from this trip to Ambon?
World-class muck diving
Ambon Bay is one of the best muck diving sites in the world. The dark volcanic seabed is home to a huge variety of rare creatures that you’ll hardly see anywhere else. Think of rhinopias, Ambon frogfish, wonder octopus, mimic octopus, ghost pipefish, and colorful nudibranchs. Thanks to the experienced guides, who know every nook and cranny of the bay, there’s a good chance you’ll discover new species on every dive.
Intimate Accommodations in Ambon Bay
Blackwater Diving in Ambon
For anyone looking for a truly special experience, blackwater diving is an absolute must. During these night dives, you’ll float above deep water, where fish larvae, transparent squid, jellyfish, and other mysterious deep-sea creatures rise up from the depths. No two dives are the same, and that’s exactly what makes this experience so special. Underwater photographers from all over the world travel to Ambon to capture these unique creatures on camera.
The accommodation
The stay and surroundings
Spice Island Divers Resort
Spice Island Divers Resort is a small-scale boutique resort on the tranquil coast of Ambon Bay. The resort is designed entirely with divers and underwater photographers in mind, with a focus on personalized service and comfort. With only fourteen accommodations, the atmosphere is relaxed, and there’s plenty of space to unwind after a day of diving.
The resort features a professional dive school with its own dock, comfortable dive boats, and an experienced team that knows the dive sites around Ambon like no one else. For underwater photographers, there is a spacious camera room with plenty of workstations, charging stations, and sinks for safely maintaining cameras.
It’s also a wonderful place to relax above water. The restaurant serves fresh meals prepared daily with local ingredients, allowing you to savor the flavors of the Moluccas and Indonesian cuisine. Between dives, you can relax on a lounge chair by the sea, enjoy a drink with a view of Ambon Bay, or treat yourself to a massage.
Spice Island Divers Resort features ten seafront villas and four garden rooms. All accommodations are spacious and comfortably furnished, so you can relax after a day of diving. The seafront villas are located right on the water and offer a stunning view of Ambon Bay from the veranda. The garden rooms are nestled among the tropical vegetation and offer extra privacy in a peaceful, green setting.
Every room features air conditioning, comfortable beds, a private bathroom with hot water, ample storage space, and a private veranda with seating. Here, you can enjoy the peace and quiet at the start of the day or, after diving, take a moment to reflect on all the special encounters you had underwater.
The accommodations have been deliberately kept on a small scale, allowing the resort to maintain a peaceful and personal atmosphere
Travel costs
What is included
This diving vacation to Ambon is available starting at € 2.295 per person, based on two people sharing a garden room. Traveling alone? Then the trip is available starting at € 2.840 for one person, also staying in a garden room.
You can extend the diving trip as you wish. For example, you can upgrade to a Seafront Villa. For two people, the total cost will be € 2.789. If you’re traveling alone, the cost will be € 3.939 for one person.
Prices are subject to price changes, increases or changing exchange rates. The flight price indication is always based on the cheapest possible booking class.
Want to know more about this diving vacation to Ambon? Get in touch with us!
Included in this diving trip, from € 2.295 p.p.
- 9 nights in a garden room
- Accommodation on full board basis
- Return transfers Ambon - Spice Island Divers Resort
- Dive package consisting of 26 boat dives and unlimited shore dives
- Free Nitrox upgrade
- VZR & Administration fee
Excluding
- Flight to Jakarta from € 800 p.p.
- Flight Jakarta - Ambon from € 400 p.p.
- Dive and travel insurance
✈︎ 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
- Night dive or Mandarin fish dive approx. € 80 p.p.
- Blackwater or Bonfire dive approx. € 100 p.p.
- Complete diving equipment approx. € 35 p.p.
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Frequently asked questions about this diving holiday
Ambon diving general information
Boat & shore diving on mostly muck/black sand dive sites.
Most dive sites can be reached within a few minutes' boat ride, Spice Island Divers is very centrally located from the dive sites.
3 Boat dives + unlimited shore dives
Yes, and sunset diving with mandarin fish is also offered here. Blackwater or Bonfire dives are also possible!
Yes, here you can dive right in from the shore. Lace diving, during the day, is unlimited.
Yes, you can learn to dive here, get your advanced and your nitrox certification.
Yes, on-site.
Diving equipment
Yes, it costs IDR 100,000 per day (approx. ±€ 6)
Yes, this is free because you are diving for more than 3 days at Spice Island Divers
Full diving equipment costs, including dive computer IDR 591,790 (±€ 35)
Wetsuit: IDR 147,085 (±€ 9)
BCD: IDR 147.085 (±€ 9)
Breathalyzer: IDR 171,350 (±€ 10)
Mask & Snorkel: IDR 70,955 (±€ 4)
Fins: IDR 70,955 (±€ 4)
Diving lamp: IDR 147,085 (±€ 9)
Dive computer: IDR 192,050 (±€ 11)
* Prices are based on you renting the equipment for more than 2 days. In the event of any loss or damage to the diving equipment, the replacement value will be charged.
Activities, Excursions and Wellness
You can certainly snorkel, including on the house reef but many of the little critters are too deep to view properly. In addition, the topography is mostly black sand. That might make the snorkeling a little less beautiful.
There is a Spa at the resort where you can book wonderful massages.
Not much if we are honest, this is not a suitable location for children who are not excellent at entertaining themselves. Everything is about diving.
Accommodation / Resort
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