Spice Island Divers Resort - Ambon
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Diving vacation to Spice Island Divers - Ambon
This diving vacation to Spice Island Divers Resort in Ambon, Indonesia, promises to be an unforgettable experience. This boutique resort offers first-class service for divers and photographers alike, and provides access to some of the best “critter” diving in the world. During this diving vacation you will enjoy a combination of boat diving combined with unlimited shore diving.
Diving in Ambon
Diving in Ambon is a unique experience. This remote destination in eastern Indonesia, in the Moluccas, offers world-class muck diving and the chance to see rare critters. You can expect during dives in Ambon, rhinopias, scorpion fish, frogfish, octopus and many species of nudibranchs. There are also beautiful soft corals, colorful reefs and impressive walls with caves and overhangs. Underwater photographers and lovers of small stuff will really love it here.
Stay at Spice Island Divers Resort – Ambon
A stay at Spice Island Divers Resort in Ambon is a luxury experience designed specifically for divers. Set in an idyllic location on the shores of Ambon Bay, the resort offers a perfect base for all your intended diving. The resort features 10 seafront villas and 4 garden rooms, all equipped with modern conveniences and comfortably furnished. The seafront villas offer stunning ocean views, while the garden rooms are surrounded by lush gardens.
Best travel time to dive in Ambon
The best time for a diving vacation to Ambon is from October to April. During these months, weather conditions are ideal, with calm waters and excellent underwater visibility. The water temperature is pleasant, ranging from 27°C to 30°C, which is perfect for long dives and exploring the rich biodiversity. Outside this period, from May to September, the weather can be less predictable with more rain and possibly rougher water, which can affect diving conditions.
Ambon is an enchanting island located in the Moluccas archipelago in the eastern part of Indonesia. Located in the province of Maluku, the island is surrounded by the clear waters of the Banda Sea. An important gateway to the rest of the Moluccas, Ambon is known for its beautiful natural landscapes and rich history.
Historically, Ambon has played an important role as a hub in the spice trade, leading to influences from Europe, especially the Netherlands, which are still visible in its architecture and culture.
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
Day 1 & 2 | The journey to Ambon
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 enjoy your stay at Spice Island Divers Resort.
Day 3 | Arrival in Ambon
Today you arrive in Ambon after your last flight from Jakarta. Upon arrival at the airport, you will be warmly welcomed by a Spice Island Divers staff member, who will be ready to take you to the resort. The resort is in a convenient location, close to the airport, getting you to your destination quickly.
You can use the rest of the day to settle down quietly in your comfortable seafront villa or garden room. Take time to get your photo camera ready for the upcoming dives and explore the dive shop where you can meet the dive crew.
This first day is perfect for acclimatizing and preparing for the diving days ahead. In the dive shop you will find several FISH ID books, browse through them in advance because you will be amazed at what you will soon see!
Day 4 to Day 12 - Diving in Ambon: Critter Carnival!
The next 9 days are completely devoted to diving. You will make as many as 26 boat dives in total. Oh, and did we mention that these 9 days also include unlimited shore diving? So you can make it as crazy as you want.
Ambon is without a doubt one of the best places in the world for Critter, Muck or Macro diving. The island not only houses unique and exotic creatures, such as the“Ambon Frogfish,” but also has the highest concentration of critters you can find. A very nice feature is that you can dive here quietly, without the crowds of other divers.
Ambon has more to offer than just Critter diving. In addition to beautiful reefs, the island also offers a fantastic wreck to explore. Dutch ichthyologist Peter Bleeker discovered 783 species of fish in Ambon Bay alone in 1863, which is an impressive number compared, for example, to the less than 700 in all of Thailand.
Ambon’s bay is deep and wide, cutting 23 kilometers back into the island. The bay has a special history: during the 1942 Battle of Ambon between Japan and the Allies, coral was used to rebuild roads to destroy the fringing reefs. Later, the shallows of the bay were dredged to allow for larger ships. This has ensured that the bay is now a world-class mud diving (muck diving) site .
Several rare creatures can be found while diving in Ambon, including the Ambon scorpionfish with its long growths above each eye and the Halimeda ghostpipefish, which resembles leaf-like segments of Halimeda algae. Numerous reef fish can also 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 from the mud dives in Ambon Bay.
Day 13 & 14 | Return home
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.
The accommodation
The stay and surroundings
Spice Island Divers Resort
Spice Island Dive Resort offers divers a wonderful stay on Ambon. The resort is fully geared to the needs of divers. The team at Spice Island Dive Resort is great and always ready to make sure your stay is unforgettable.
The resort features 10 seafront villas and 4 garden rooms, all equipped with modern conveniences and comfortably furnished. The seafront villas offer stunning ocean views, while the garden rooms are surrounded by lush gardens. Each room has a private veranda where you can relax after a day of diving. All accommodations are fully air-conditioned and have private en-suite bathrooms, ensuring a pleasant and refreshing stay.
The resort’s menu offers delicious fresh meals and snacks using only the highest quality local ingredients, including some of the tastiest dishes from Indonesia and Maluku. After a full day of diving, relax with a massage, drinks on the seaside lounge chairs or in your comfortable room.
Travel costs
What is included
This dive vacation to Ambon is available from US$ 2.424 per person based on two people in one garden room. Are you traveling alone? Then the trip is available from US$ 3.000 for one person, also with accommodation in a garden room.
The diving trip can be expanded as desired. So you can upgrade to a Seafront Villa. For 2 persons the travel sum will then be US$ 2.946 If you travel alone, it comes to US$ 4.160 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 US$ 2.424 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, Calamity Fund & Administration fee
Excluding
- Flight to Jakarta from US$ 845 p.p.
- Flight Jakarta - Ambon from US$ 422 p.p.
✈︎ 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. US$ 84 p.p.
- Blackwater or Bonfire dive approx. US$ 106 p.p.
- Complete diving equipment approx. US$ 37 p.p.
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Frequently asked questions about this diving vacation
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. ±US$ 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 (±US$ 37)
Wetsuit: IDR 147,085 (±US$ 10)
BCD: IDR 147.085 (±US$ 10)
Breathalyzer: IDR 171,350 (±US$ 11)
Mask & Snorkel: IDR 70,955 (±US$ 4)
Fins: IDR 70,955 (±US$ 4)
Diving lamp: IDR 147,085 (±US$ 10)
Dive computer: IDR 192,050 (±US$ 12)
* 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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