Seven Seas

Komodo - Deep South

Diving the Southern sites of Komodo National Park, and surrounding islands, has always been very exciting and unusual. Rocky canyons and pinnacles are heavily encrusted with marine invertebrate life, with lots of color and plenty of fish. Night diving without a doubt is one of the highlights here, lots of critters and far superior to any of the sites in the north. The only problem, during the traditional Komodo season from May through September, was that most of the time the water has been cold and murky and when you got back to the boat, your towel had been blown off the deck by the South easterlies.

But we are now going to show you the south side as you have never seen it before, and during the time that you should be there, during the Northwest Monsoon! From October to May, this is the time of the year when its all different and this is when the South is the Best! During the Northwest season, everything gets turned around and upside down in Komodo. The waters in the South are clear and warm, and a new underwater world opens up with many of our favorite sites now accessible, in the right conditions and with new sites waiting to be explored!

This is why we will be staying in Komodo when the South is Best, while the rest of the fleet heads for Raja Ampat. And this will not be the first time we do this, as we have done it many times in the past, by ourselves and with guests, starting when we operated the Evening Star in the Komodo area all year round from 1997 till 2002, and while we monitored all the sites around Komodo National Park, with The Nature Conservancy during the same years. So we definitely know what were doing here!

What many people dont know is that during the North West Monsoon, between October and May, The south side of the island group completely changes. Conditions in the south improve dramatically as crystal clear currents move into the southern regions of the park, and while the prevailing wind moves from the South East to the North West, the Southern swell calms down, and the cold and murky southern upwelling ceases. This is giving us a great opportunity to focus on a wide variety of southern sites that would hardly be accessible during the other months of the year.

During our Deep South voyages we will be visiting all our currently known high class sites down South, but on top of that youre invited to join in the further exploration of new and promising areas that have already produced mind blowing dives for us over the years. We will visit all the well known world class sites such as Manta Alley, Cannibal Rock, Torpedo Point, The Three Sisters, Lankoi, etc. plus many new and exciting sites all across the Southern territory and halfway up into the straits (such as Rainbow Reef, Indihiang Island, Batu Tiga and the mantas at Karang Makassar which aggregate there during this time of year). We will not be surrounded by many other boats on these cruises, and that is something which is probably as important to us as it is for you.

Our itineraries in the Deep South of Komodo are exploring the Southern Sape Strait and all around South Komodo, South Rinca, South West Flores, Gili Mota and the Southern part of Selat Molo. Without a doubt some of the worlds most unusual tropical diving. We have discovered some very pristine and never visited world class sites in this area and are looking forward to continue the exploration of the south side with you in the next couple of years. Come and see the south as youve never seen it before!

The right conditions await us on our new itineraries down South. This is where we have filmed everything from the largest living animal in the world, the elusive Blue Whale, all the way down the food chain, via great fish life and vibrantly colored reefs created by orange and green cup corals, to soft coral heavens and the most unusual critters hidden in the black sand of volcanic islands that continue to re-create Indonesias Ring of fire.

Raja Ampat & Triton Bay

For most divers, Raja Ampat is truly the trip of a lifetime an unforgettable opportunity to experience one of the most incredible marine environments on the planet.

With more species than anywhere else on earth, diving in and around Raja Ampat can feel like the underwater equivalent of bird watching youll have a chance to see species that youve not found anywhere else. From rare invertebrates and coral species, all the way up to whale sharks, manta rays, dolphins, and even migrating orcas, sperm whales and baleen whales Raja Ampat offers the ultimate variety of dive sites to suit even the most experienced underwater explorer.

From the unforgettable reefs of the Fam Island group, the pelagic fish and manta rays of the Dampier Strait, the incredible critter & macro diving at Batanta and Aljui Bay, to the beautiful coral gardens and snorkeling spots around Misool, youll have the chance to fill up your cameras memory card (or your own memory bank) with something youve never seen underwater before.

The core itinerary usually requires the full fourteen days of cruising, allowing enough time to explore several of the highlights of Raja Ampat as well as allowing time to explore new areas away from the typical route.

Our newest cruises have ventured to Triton Bay, where divers and snorkelers have the chance to dive and snorkel with whale sharks (and sometimes dolphins) below the traditional bagan used by local fishermen to catch small fish.

With new dives and snorkels discovered on many of our voyages here, your divemasters aboard the Seven Seas invite you to experience an unbelievable variety of dive spots in Raja Ampat.

Banda Sea

Once sought by Columbus and Marco Polo, the Banda Islands were the original Spice Islands and the most coveted destination on earth, particularly by the Dutch and Portuguese who colonized the islands and exported the indigenous nutmeg and cloves. History tells of a violent past under colonial rule. Now, the seas around these tropical paradise islands are coveted for their spectacular diving and snorkeling on some of the world's richest reefs, unspoiled corals, and large pelagic fish.

Steep drop-offs, impressive hard coral and some fast currents make this area absolutely breathtaking. Schools of jacks are a familiar sight, as are large tuna, many turtles, Napoleon wrasse, groupers, rays, sharks and large lobsters. Great visibility is a blessing.

The Banda Sea is surrounded by islands from the large islands of Buru, Halmahera, Ambon and Seram in the north towards Gorom, Kei and Aru in the east, the islands of Tanimbar, Wetar and Reong, and a series of smaller islands such as Babar and Moa, touching East Timor in the south. Ambon Bay is host to some of Indonesia's best critter diving. The nearby island of Halmahera is still largely unexplored and has recently produced some stunning sites.

Gunung Api is an isolated volcanic peak rising from the heart of the Banda Sea. Surrounded by crystal clear waters this uninhabited island is home to thousands of nesting seabirds. Exuding sulphur both above and below the landmark, the water is also home to extraordinary numbers of banded kraits (sea snakes), which have become a special attraction for divers. It's not unusual to have swarms of these non-aggressive sea snakes around you while diving on Gunung Api.

The 5 tiny atolls of Lucipara in the middle of the Banda Sea are the tops of undersea mountains rising up over a mile from the ocean floor. The uninhabited beaches are ideal green turtle nesting sites, while the reef's breathtaking drop off to ocean waters is ideal for diving and snorkeling. A highlight here is night diving with the rare Photoblepheron bandanensis or more commonly known as the "flashlight fish".

East Of Flores

With new dives discovered on nearly every one of our voyages here, your divemasters aboard the Seven Seas invite you to experience an unparalleled diversity of dive sites on our East of Flores cruise.

From classic wall dives and panoramic gardens of hard and soft corals to newly-discovered muck dives in Lembata and Pantar, the incredible range of dives we offer our guests has earned enthusiastic reviews from even the most well-traveled underwater explorers.

Experienced divers thrill at the opportunity to drift rocky corners, islets and pinnacles along the Southern shores and in the straits between these islands adrenaline diving at its most exciting, offering the chance to see large pelagic species and schools of tuna.

Underwater naturalists can explore a stunning array of diverse habitats, with hard coral reefs, pinnacles and walls covered in combinations of hard and soft corals and other invertebrates. Other sites offer sandy habitats (volcanic black, reef white), sea grass beds and even a few blue water mangrove forests.

In Lembata we have a fantastic new site believed to be one of the regions best new muck dives. At this site we have found the Holy Grail of underwater photography, the rare Rhinopias or weedy scorpionfish on every visit to date.

Numerous other rare and unusual forms of marine life are found here, such as frog fish and various species of octopus. Combined with existing critter sites at Maumere, the Brewery at Lembata, Beang Abeng in Pantar, Clownfish Alley at Pura and Ghost Town in Alor we can offer a wide range of sites to build the ultimate dive itinerary.

Our core itinerary usually requires the full twelve nights of cruising, however at certain times (weather permitting), our itinerary has ventured as far as Wetar the next island to the East of Alor. Located even further beyond the beaten track of a typical live aboard dive trip where the legendary Forgotten Islands begin.

Indonesia's Forgotten Islands

Indonesia's "Forgotten Islands" - also known as the Southeast Moluccas (Maluku Tenggara), are not a single destination, but rather a 1,000 km long chain of archipelagos stretching from Timor to West Papua on the island of New Guinea. Undeveloped, distant from population centers and far off any beaten path, these "Forgotten Islands" have been largely isolated from the rest of Indonesia and the world.

The Forgotten Islands offer some of the best diving in Indonesian waters. Attractions include gin-clear waters, patch reefs and coral bommies, spectacular wall dives on impossible drop-offs.

On our inaugural trips to the Forgotten Islands in 2010, our excited visitors enjoyed seeing rare Weedy, Bumphead parrotfish, Jacks (Big-eye trevallies), Giant trevallies, Spanish mackerel, schooling barracuda, hammerhead sharks, a 3-meter saltwater crocodile, and a whale shark!

Since 2012 we are offering two expeditions to the Forgotten Islands each year in November/December. One trip starts in Maumere (Flores) or Kupang (West Timor) and ends in Saumlaki, in the Tanimbar Islands, and another trip returns along the same or a similar route. Detailed itineraries in this area will vary according to weather and diving conditions and other factors.

Wakatobi National Park

Also known as the Tukang Besi Archipelago, the Wakatobi Marine National Park is the second largest Marine Park in Indonesia. Its four main islands of Wangi-Wangi, Kaledupa, Tomia and Binongko each lend the first two letters of their names to give the area its name.

Fast attracting a reputation as one of the top dive spots in the world, it's hardly surprising as the islands enjoy some of the healthiest coral reefs you are likely to dive. Wakatobi has the largest atoll in the world (Kaledupa), which is home to some of the most bio-diverse marine life in the world. Dolphins, manta rays, whales, turtles, hammerhead sharks, whale sharks and dugongs can all be found here.

Especially the small outer Islands, with their colonies of nesting seabirds and steep drop-offs for fantastic wall diving, will bring you eye to eye with some impressive schools of fish and some massive dogtooth tuna.

Cenderawasih Bay

The largest marine national park in South-east Asia, in Cenderawasih Bay we can encounter in the shallows species that normally live in deeper waters. We will also find a wide variety of corals. The good muck diving will keep the lovers of the tiny and strange critters busy, they will enjoy searching for pigmy seahorses, tiger prawns and frog fish among other species.

Cenderawasih Bay: All Cenderawasih - 10D/9N Sample Itinerary

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• DAY 1: Transfer to the boat upon arrival. Welcome drink and accommodation. Check dive in the wreck of a PBY Catalina, a World War 2 American flying boat.
• DAY 2: Dive the western end of Pulau Yapen, in Sewandeh and Slamiapien islands and other submerged reefs, with giant fans, soft corals and plenty of fish.
• DAYS 3-5: Wall diving in the atolls, in Tridacna Wall and Spag Point, and the shallow plane wrecks in Pulau Rouw.
• DAYS 6-7: Dive with the whalesharks under the local fishing boats (bagans).
• DAY 8: Dive north Roon, Pulau Auri and the remains of a Zero plane wreck in Tanjung Ayami.
• DAY 9: Dive around Pulau Purup, with beautiful coral formations, giant barrel sponges and glassfish.
• DAY 10: Dive the wrecks of the landing barges in Pulau Numfor, completely covered in soft corals and small fish creating little oasis of life on the white sand slope in which they lay. Sail back to Biak to fly the morning after.