Spice Island Halmahera – Diving in the Moluccas
Travel period
Features
Starting at
Diving around Halmahera in the Moluccas
Ready for an unforgettable diving vacation? Spice Island Resort on idyllic Kusu in southern Halmahera (North Moluccas) is a place where macro & muck diving go perfectly together with encounters of big stuff like black manta rays!
Diving in the Heart of the Moluccas
Diving at Spice Island Resort promises a diversity of marine life. Graceful blacktip reef sharks are observed on most dives, while whitetip sharks and gray reef sharks are often seen on dives along current-influenced walls. Turtles and humphead parrotfish are a common sight in this region, while lucky divers may be able to catch a glimpse of the unique Halmahera walking shark. In colorful world of both hard and soft corals, you can also find numerous rare animals such as the dwarf seahorses and angler fish.
Your home by the sea
You will stay in one of the beach villas, tucked among natural beauty, right on the beach for the ultimate feeling of tranquility. With a well-equipped dive center on-site and a house reef waiting to be discovered, Spice Island Resort is the perfect base for your diving trip. Relax after a day of diving with a drink at the bar and stay connected with the free WIFI. Spice Island Resort is part of Nabucco Resorts, by Extra Divers.
Best travel time for a diving vacation to Halmahera, Moluccas
The best time to go on dive vacation to the Spice Island Resort is between April & October. There is in the Moluccas a rain and a dry season. The rainy season runs from November to March, with stronger winds and as a result, it is less favorable for diving. The dry season offers better diving conditions with calm waters and 99% sunny weather from March to November.
The Spice Island Resort, due to weather, is closed between mid-December & early March.
Average Temperatures
Wetsuit advice for diving in the Moluccas
A 3 mm wetsuit is recommended. Water temperatures range from about 27-29°C throughout the year.
What will you experience on this diving vacation?
View itinerary here
Day 1 & 2 | The journey to Manado
Today begins the journey to the Spice Island Resort in the Moluccas. First of all, you fly to Manado. The most common route for travelers to fly to Manado is via Singapore. Once arrived in Manado, it is time to rest for a while. We will arrange a (airport) hotel by mutual agreement.
In some cases, you don’t fly to Manado but to Jakarta. We can sometimes choose to do that if those flights are more favorable at that time.
Day 3 | Arrival at Spice Island on Kusu
In the early afternoon, catch a flight from Manado to Labuha. This flight always goes with a short layover (of 20 minutes) at Ternate. The flight time then totals 02:20 minutes.
In the late afternoon you will arrive at Labuha, where the Spice Island team will pick you up at the airport. From the airport it takes about 30 minutes to drive to the coast, where Extra Divers’ boat is already waiting for you to take you to Kusu Island in 20 minutes. On this island is located the Spice Island Resort and you will spend the next 5 days making the most beautiful dives.
Since it is now dinner time, you will not dive today. Be sure to check in to your room, enjoy a delicious dinner and most of all rest. Tomorrow the underwater adventure will begin.
Day 4 to 8 | Lace & Boat Diving in the Moluccas
For the next five days, you will do both shore and boat dives on Spice Island’s large house reef. The house reef features a jetty, making it easy to get in and out of the water. More than 40 pristine dive sites are just 10-20 minutes by boat from the resort. The dives take place in small groups with a maximum of 4 divers per guide. In addition to easy-to-dive macro dive sites and coral gardens, there are also current-rich channels with opportunities to catch big fish. Two dive boats are available for diving trips.
The North Moluccas are perfect for special diving thanks to the many species of marine animals. At the dive sites you will find turtles, mackerel and lots of other special fish. A special attraction is the Halmahara walking shark, a rare shark that walks the reef at night.
The coral gardens are colorful and the underwater walls are covered with many corals, sponges and fan corals, which is great for underwater photography. For those who like small marine animals, there is much to be found, such as miniature horses, unusual fish, rare snails and various types of shrimp. Don’t miss a dive to the “magic jetty,” where you will find unique marine animals under the jetty, including the Bobbit Worm (brush worm). An added bonus is that it is not crowded with other divers, as the area has not yet been fully discovered by tourists.
Day 9 | Excursions and/or Relaxation
Today you won’t be diving, but never mind, there is so much more to explore!
Go explore the island! Between the jungle-like interior of the island and the sea, for example, you will find the home of many rare birds.
The region also has a rich history, which you can learn all about on a day trip to Labuha. Here you can learn more about the numerous spices of the Moluccas and the history of the spice islands, because in the heyday of the spice trade, spices were weighed in gold.
Besides an old castle from the 16th century, a visit to the local market is a very special experience. The original market enchants with its colorful abundance of spices, fruits and vegetables and offers perfect photo opportunities.
Various traditional spa treatments are offered at the resort by trained staff for a fee, the ideal way to end an exhilarating day. Oh, and just lying in a hammock, reading a book and relaxing is definitely among the options too!
Day 10 & 11 | Return home
Unfortunately, the beautiful diving vacation in the Moluccas comes to an end today. Via Manado, you travel back home.
Would you rather stay in Indonesia a little longer? Then extend this diving trip with, for example, another stay in Sulawesi(Bunaken, Bangka and/or Lembeh). This region is perfect to combine with the Moluccas trip because these areas are also accessible via Manado.
The accommodation
The stay and surroundings
Nabucco Spice Island Resort - Halmahera
The resort, right on a beautiful sandy beach and next to a small jungle, offers 16 spacious ocean-view bungalows just steps from the beach. In addition to a restaurant, there is a bar – ideal for an after-dive drink. For divers and snorkelers, there is a beautiful house reef right outside the door, accessible from the jetty. The dive center is close on-site. Free WIFI is available.
Of the 16 bungalows, there are 12 beach and 4 deluxe bungalows; all with air conditioning, terrace, tea and coffee making facilities, bathroom, safe, and more. The deluxe bungalows have extras such as a king-size bed and espresso machine.
The resort offers half or full board with a mix of Indonesian and international dishes. Fresh fish, buffet and BBQ nights are highlights. Free drinking water with meals. This trip includes half board as standard, of course you can expand from full board. See the cost chart for this.
The dive shop
Learn more about the dive center
Extra Divers Worldwide
In 1998, Extra Divers opened their first dive center in Makadi Bay on the Red Sea. Now there are 22 dive centers, two liveaboards, and Extra Divers has five of its own resorts at some of the most beautiful dive sites in the world.
In 2001, Extra Divers first created Nabucco Island off the coast of Borneo, Indonesia, a special combination hotel and dive center designed by divers for divers. The concept of its own hotel, top diving areas, excellent cuisine and ecologically sound construction was enthusiastically received by guests. At EWDR, the Oman Explorer liveaboard is also very popular.
Extra Divers Worldwide is run by entrepreneur and diving enthusiast Walter Harscher. To ensure high quality standards, he spends several months every year visiting the dive centers to personally check that everything is in order.
For Extra Divers, each center is an ongoing project of love, offering unforgettable diving with the best service in the most beautiful places in the world.
Travel costs
What is included
This dive vacation to Kusu, Halmahera in the Moluccas is available from €1329 per person based on two people in one Beach Villa. 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 diving vacation to Indonesia? Get in touch with us!
Included in this diving trip, from €1329, - p.p.
- 7 nights in a Beach Villa
- Half board accommodation
- Return transfers Labuha Airport / Spice Island Resort
- Dive package consisting of 10 house reef dives
- VZR, Calamity Fund & Administration fee
Excluding
- Return flight Manado (or Jakarta)
- Overnight at Manado (or Jakarta)
- Return flight Labuha via Ternate
- Tourism tax - payable locally
- from €800,- p.p.
- approx. €60, - p.p.
- approx. €300 p.p.
- approx. €20, - p.p.
Optional
- Nitrox - payable locally, per dive
- 15L - payable locally, per dive
- Diving excursion by minibus - payable locally
- Upgrade to full board
- Upgrade to Deluxe Beach Villa
- Do you have less than 25 dives? Then a dive guide is mandatory.
- €5,-
- €5,-
- €20,-
- €105, - p.p.
- €105, - p.p.
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Frequently asked questions about this diving vacation
Diving at Spice Island Resort - general information
Lace diving and boat diving. There are several fantastic muck diving sites and also a special dive site where black manta rays are often spotted.
If you go by boat, it is between 10 and 20 minutes by boat.
Standard in this package is 10 dives, but you can extend this to 20 dives. Or book additional dives on the spot. Among other things, you can dive unguided around the island’s jetty where your diving is immediately fantastic.
Yes absolutely! That, among other things, is when you can spot the walking Halmahera shark.
Yes, this is immediately a very popular dive site here. You dive both from the boat and from the shore on the reef.
Yes this is possible, SSI courses are offered.
Yes, this one is on-site at the resort.
Diving equipment
Yes, the price is €5 per dive and you can only pay this on the spot.
Yes, the price is €5 per dive and you can only pay this on the spot.
Yes, this should always be requested in advance. Cost on request.
Activities, Excursions and Wellness
Absolutely! You walk straight from your beach villa into the clear water.
Yes, you can enjoy massages here, among other things.
You can go into the jungle and spot unusual birds or book the day tour to Labuha, as described in the daily program on Day 9.
Accommodation / Resort
Yes, this is free.
Yes, by default you stay here Based on half board (breakfast & dinner). You can do this for €15. p.p.p.d. extend to full board (breakfast, lunch & dinner).
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