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irian jaya, banda sea & ambon

A liveaboard cruise through a combination of some of the most remote and sought after dive destinations on the planet. The cruise itineraries include Misool and the Rajah Empat Islands plus a voyage through the fabled Banda Sea stopping at Gunung Api and Banda Neira on the way to Ambon.

why we go there

Traversing more than 800 sea miles across the remote Eastern seas of Indonesia this cruise offers scuba divers and underwater photographers the adventure of a lifetime and some of the world's best scuba diving.

Irian Jaya (Papua)

Irian Jaya comprises the western half of the world's second largest island, New Guinea. Irian Jaya is a true patchwork of ethnicity and one of the last great unexplored regions of our precious earth.

Irian Jaya’s Raja Empat islands boast an enormous variety of creatures on the reefs and have recently become a world heritage site. Marine biodiversity is evident everywhere rivaling any tropical rainforests in species density.

Irian Jaya comprises the western half of the world's second largest island, New Guinea. Irian Jaya is a true patchwork of ethnicities and one of the last great unexplored regions of our precious earth. Twenty percent of Irian Jaya's land and marine parks are designated conservation areas yielding the highest fish and coral count of any sea.

Marine biodiversity is evident everywhere rivaling any tropical rainforests in species density. Irian Jaya has a tremendous variety of creatures on the reefs. From over 3000 recorded fish species, 300 scleractinian (reef building corals), 100 sponge species, dolphins, dugong, hawksbill (Ertmochelys imbricata), green (Chelonia) and leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea).

Fewer than two million people live in Irian Jaya's 410,660 square kilometers. Unique flora and fauna abound including the bird of paradise, the giant cassowary bird and bird winged butterflies Idyllic islands fringed with white sand beaches, dotted isles filled with hanging orchids and venus fly traps, Irian Jaya's western tip holds some truly stunning regions both above water and below.

Banda Sea & Ambon

Banda and Ambon have an important place in Indonesian world history. The famed spice, nutmeg, which was once worth more than gold, made this region the centre of wealth for the Dutch colonies.

Large volcanoes are all around with forests filled with endemic plants and animals. The diving offers excellent reef, pier, wreck and wall dives where a plethora of rare and unusual marine life can be seen.

cruise itineraries

From or to Irian Jaya, this liveaboard cruise is offered in both directions. Departures are from Sorong (Irian Jaya) to Ambon and vice-versa.

scheduled cruises & availability

06-08: 04 - 16 April, 2008

ambon to sorong (irian jaya)

The Ambon to Sorong twelve night cruise is an amazing liveaboard scuba diving adventure from the spice island of Ambon through Indonesia's remote Eastern archipelago to Irian Jaya offering an amazing array of unique dive sites and land based adventures.

how do I get there?

Kararu recommends that all guests arrive and overnight in Bali or Manado before embarking on a domestic flight to Sorong or Ambon.

Kararu Dive Voyages will arrange all domestic flight ticketing and transporting between Bali or Manado & Irian Jaya or Ambon.

The flight time from Bali to Sorong is 5 hours. Currently, an overnight stay is required in Makassar (Sulawesi) which can be arranged by Kararu.

The flight time from Manado to Sorong is 2 hours. The flight is direct.

The flight time from Bali to Ambon is 2 hours. The flight is direct.

Please contact kararu to obtain the most recent flight information and recommended routes.

All luggage and check-in procedures will be handled by a member of Kararu Dive Voyages. Each passenger is allowed 50 kg of luggage, excess baggage is charged at $1.50 US per kilo per route (subject to change without notice).

Port Clearance fees are applicable.

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