Maumere-Ambon
14D/13N

JAYA EXPEDITION

17-30 Oct 2022

Base price: US$3612 (en-suite cabin) / US$3200 (twin cabin)

**10% discount to return customers of Scuba Republic

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The expedition starts with muck diving in Maumere and continues with the crossing to the Banda Sea, tracing the perimeter of the mystical Spice Islands. Our experienced crew will show you the pristine reefs and stunning drop-offs of these remote and almost untouched locations. Marine life here is in abundance from macro critters, schooling fish and sea snakes, to the ‘big fish’ favourites such as manta rays, reef sharks and even the chance to encounter some scalloped hammerhead sharks. The final destination is Ambon, for some more muck diving.

Eastern Indonesia and the area between Bali and Papua is part of “The Ring of Fire”, famous for being highly volcanic, full of unique underwater seascapes and extraordinary conditions for marine life.

The Banda Sea is famous for steep walls covered in soft corals, sponges and sea fans. Warm, clear blue waters full of schooling fish attracts divers there pretty much all year around. From September to early November there might also be some bigger surprises passing by – schooling hammerhead sharks and even whales have been spotted in this area!

Visibility: 20-30 meters

Current: medium to strong

Recommended diver level: intermediate to advanced

Best time to dive in the area: mid-March to end of April and mid-September to early December

Water temperature: 26 to 28 degrees centigrade. Deep water upwelling and thermoclines, especially in Sept-Nov, can mean temperatures as low as 25 degrees. It can be colder around Lembetta and Alor, with the temperature around 22-26 degrees, and we do recommend you bring extra exposure suit for this section of the cruise.

Itinerary

Our schedule will always be determined by currents, conditions, weather, marine life on site etc. Maumere – Alor – Banda – Ambon is famous for its spectacular coral reefs and marine biodiversity, so we ensure to select the optimal diving locations the area has to offer at that time of the year.

DAY 1. Our staff will pick you up at your local hotel or at Maumere Airport at 10:30 AM and transfer you to the harbour where the Jaya will depart.

DAY 2 to DAY 13. We will explore the diving around Maumere – Lembata – Alor – Wetar – Romang – Damar – Serua – Manuk – Banda – Ambon. With a visit to one of the famous Spice Islands.

DAY 14. After breakfast & farewells, we transfer you to a local hotel or to the airport in Ambon.

Flights

As domestic flights in Indonesia are known to be unreliable, we recommend that you plan to arrive the day before departure. For your departing flight, remember to give yourself at least 24 hours of no fly time after diving, so don’t book your flight any earlier than the evening of the arrival day. These websites are very useful for booking flights in Indonesia: www.tiket.com, www.traveloka.com, www.nusatrip.com, www.skyscanner.net. Please book the domestic flight BEFORE confirming your International flights to ensure you make your connection to Maumere and from Ambon.

Embarkation / Disembarkation: Maumere (MOF) / Ambon (AMQ)

How to get to Maumere (MOF), Flores:

Wings Air, Garuda Indonesia and Nam Air have daily flights from Bali to Maumere, flight time is around 2 hours.

Flight from Ambon (AMQ):

Lion Air, Garuda, Citilink and Batik Air have daily direct flights to Jakarta, or you can get to Bali through Makassar, Sulawesi.

What's included:

  • 30 or more dives (We aim for 34 dives but cannot guarantee this)

  • Transfer between your local hotel/the airport, and the harbour in both ends of the journey

  • 3 meals a day

  • Drinking water, tea and coffee

  • Light snacks and refreshments

  • Fresh towel and linen

  • Weights, weight belts and tanks

What's not included:

  • Flights and hotels

  • Dive and travel insurance

  • Laundry services

  • Diving equipment (BCD, regulator, wetsuit, fins, mask)

  • Diving computer

  • Torch and 15L tank are extra

  • Crew gratuities

  • Marine park fees and harbour fee, US$250 per person (foreign nationals)

  • Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages

Important information for all expedition trips

Travel Documents

Note, if we receive your passport details too late, it may very likely lead to delayed departure and significant changes to the itinerary. We MUST receive guests’ details well in advance of the trip.

Visa Exemption or Visa on Arrival (VoA); people of several nationalities now receive a free 30 days stamp on arrival, some pay USD35 to obtain VoA (30 days extendable by 30 days), others will have to obtain Visa BEFORE Arrival.

Passport; ensure your passport is in good order, has enough pages, is valid for at least 6 months from entering the country and that you are able to enter Indonesia. Check with your local Indonesian Embassy if unsure.

Departure Tax; Indonesian Passenger Service Charge (IPSC) has changed (Mar-2015) to be included in your flight ticket price. Please check though as previously it was 200,000 IDR to leave Indonesia and up to 75,000 IDR for Domestic flights. Carry small bills, Indonesia Rupiah preferred, as often no change given. Just in case…

Health & Insurance

Dive Insurance is compulsory for this trip. We also strongly advise you get adequate travel insurance. Please check your travel insurance policy for your diving needs. If diving is not covered, we recommend DAN (Divers Alert Network) or their Asia Pacific branch.

Travel Insurance

Please note, we cannot be held accountable for airline flight changes, delays or cancellations. We STRONGLY advise you take out adequate insurance to cover such eventualities. We recommend World Nomad for their flexible worldwide cover for travel insurance.

Malaria Zone; in this part of Indonesia we advise you take the proper precautions against malaria. The following anti-malaria drugs are considered safe with diving: Doxycycline or Malarone. Mefloquine (Lariam) is NOT recommended with diving. To protect yourself from mosquitoes, we recommend you use an anti-mosquito spray or cream, wear long sleeves and long trousers in the evenings. If unsure about which measures to take, please consult a medical professional.

Internet/Mobile Signal

Telkomsel has the best coverage and if you are thinking about getting a local SIM-card for internet, but be prepared for the signal to be very limited throughout the trip. A SIM-card costs around US$3 plus the amount of credit you want to add to it.

Paying for things on-board

We accept payments in cash, EUR, USD and IDR as well as credit card payments (+3%).

Packing tips:

  • GoPro (if you have one). Large UW camera setups are not always suitable for the current and all dive sites.

  • Log book, dive card, or proof of certification

  • Hat and sunglasses

  • Lightweight long sleeve shirt (for the occasional chili night)

  • Lightweight trousers (for the occasional chili night)

  • Swimwear

  • Sunscreen if you are a sun worshipper

  • Mosquito spray

  • Medical and dive insurance (we recommend DAN)

  • Dive gear with 3mm wetsuit with a hooded vest or 5mm wetsuit (if bringing)

  • Spirit of adventure :)

Booking

Once you are happy with the offer, we will send you details for a deposit. A 20% non-refundable deposit is required to confirm the booking. The rest of the balance can be paid later, one month before departure. If you cannot attend the trip due to covid, we provide a voucher for reschedules.