Pindito

Komodo National Park was declared a World Natural Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1991. The National Park includes the three larger islands of Komodo, Rinca and Padar, as well as numerous smaller islands.

The dive spots around Komodo offer unbelievable variety. One day you can admire rare critters creatures in the morning and in the afternoon drift along with giant mantas and schools of big-eye jacks. There are patch reefs, bommies (pinnacles), sheer walls, and shallow coral gardens to be explored. There are more than 1000 fish species, 260 species of corals, 70 different sponge species, 17 species of whales and dolphins and at least 2 different kinds of sea turtles living in the waters of Komodo National Park.

Pindito never has a set itinerary. We plan our trips and water activities based on weather, tides and currents. From our expertise and experience, we know the ideal sea conditions for all the best and famous sites and when to dive them. And of course we have the not so famous, and even secret, equally spectacular sites that only a few of us know about.

A new addition to our route stop overs the bay of Saleh is a huge bay just south east of the island of Moyo. Depending on where the beginning of the trip starts it is almost always possible to move the ship into this bay for a day and see the traditional fishing boats the locals call ‘Bagan’. Wake up before sunrise and take a view of the dark scenery out on the deck and watch as many of these local fishing boats attach anchovies and krill into their nets. By attracting them with lights the ships look like intensely shimmering stars right on the horizon where sky meets the sea. Once sunrise comes the fishermen bring up the nets and sort their catch for the day, and here is the important part; The locals and the whale sharks in the area have formed a symbiotic relationship with each other, as the whale sharks come up and feed on the fisherman catch that spill over when hauling in their nets. This then will be our chance to take you snorkelling with a few whale sharks.

A definite highlight of the dive site are the hot underwater springs. The volcanic island send up gas bubbles from the black sand forming a magnificent contrast to the huge black corals and sea fans. If you look closely here you can find pygmy seahorses on the sea fans. Other Dive sites around the island, such as Masuk Sungai, Pohon Mera and Tanjung Barat offer fascinating dives. Soft and hard corals are fighting for the best places, countless nudibranchs, pipefish, frogfish, seahorses and cuttlefish can be admired.On the island itself there are two active volcanoes, the Doro Api and Doro Montoi. At the hot and dry coastal area, savannah-like grasslands have formed with shrub vegetation. From the deck of the Pindito you can regularly observe large water buffalo grazing. Due to the volcanic origin the sand is black, which offers a stunning contrast to the remaining vegetation, both above and below water.

Banta has two of the most famous dive sites, the “Banta Corner” and the “GPS point”. With regular strong currents in the open water, these dive sites are just for big fish encounters. With a little luck you will find swarms of surgeon fish, red snapper, mackerel of all kinds, and of course barracudas, white tip sharks and grey reef sharks. For lovers of night-dives “Critters” is a highlight of the tour! Here, all the animals “hang” out in the sand: hunting lionfish, stonefish and wandering octopuses. The stars of the evening, however, are the Stargazers who bury themselves almost unrecognizable in the sand, waiting to be discovered.

The small island of Tatawa Besar is located to the north of Rinca which means warmer waters! The island always has some slight current. It is perfect for a relaxing drift dive along the approximately 0.6 mile long island. You drift very relaxed along a slanted slope that is covered with beautiful yellow and orange soft coral. With a bit of luck, Mantas can be seen here. “Karang Toko” and “Batu Batu Dekat” at Gili Lawa Laut are first class dive sites. These are two drop offs which are perfect for divers. You’ll be taken in by the amount of fish in the water and hardly have time to notice the stunning beauty of the surrounding reefscape. Again the whole array of pelagic fish will come in from jacks in all shapes and forms to white tip and grey reef sharks. If you like adrenalin rushes, the “Shotgun” will top this experience with a roller coaster dive. This beautiful wall, surprises ever again with its varying strong currents.

Komodo National Park was declared a World Natural Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1991. It lies in the region of the Sunda Islands (aka Nusa Tenggara). The National Park includes the three larger islands of Komodo, Rinca and Padar, as well as numerous smaller islands. The total area covers 1817 km2. Originally the Park was established as a protection zone for the Komodo goannas. Later the focus was changed to the conservation of the regions entire flora and fauna, on land as well as underwater.

The dive spots around Komodo offer unbelievable variety. One day you can admire rare macro creatures in the morning (“critters”) and in the afternoon drift along with giant mantas and schools of big-eye trevally jacks. There are patch reefs, bommies (pinnacles), sheer walls, and shallow coral gardens to be explored. There are more than 1000 fish species, 260 species of corals, 70 different sponge species, 17 species of whales and dolphins and at least 2 different kinds of sea turtles living in the waters of Komodo National Park. You will love it!

The famous Komodo Islands with their “Komodo Dragons” will be visited on every Family Dive Cruise. Komodo dragons are actually giant monitor lizards, the largest of all the lizards reaching a length of nearly 10 feet and weighing 150lbs! A guide from the National Park Service will lead this excursion keeping everybody safe and sound. They are experts in the local flora and fauna (water buffalos, birds, goannas, dragons, etc.) and they’ll share their knowledge during treks along island paths through the bush.

The port of Maumere is an amazing and diverse dive area. Discover various pipefish and seahorses, frogfish, scorpion fish, various, countless colorful nudibranchs, as well as barracuda and batfish. The Pindito crew calls this dive site “blue water muck diving”!

Can you handle the cold? The waters around Rinca are fairly cool for this part of the world and can drop to 71 F/22 C degrees. A 5-7mm wetsuit is strongly recommended to enjoy the beauty of Horseshoe Bay. The “Yellow Wall of Texas” and “Cannibal Rock” will be your reward with the fish action, critters and incredible bursts of colourful reefs and corals that come alive in these nutrient rich waters.

Miraculous and mostly untouched dive sites around Alor are waiting to be discovered by you. Most of them are hidden in the nutrient-rich Pantar Straits between Alor and Pantar. Over many years, Pindito uncovered some of the most secret mysteries of marine wonderlands that remain unknown to other liveaboards. Expect to immerse yourself in a diving paradise brimming over with vibrant creatures. And with a little luck, you might run into sunfish, hammerhead sharks, humpback whales and even marlin and sailfish.

What about the muck diving? There are many sites here to explore. Got a critter wish list? Start ticking these off here.

Pindito never has a set itinerary. We plan our trips and water activities based on weather, tides and currents. From our expertise and experience, we know the ideal sea conditions for all the best and famous sites and when to dive them. And of course we have the not so famous, and even secret, equally spectacular sites that only a few of us know about.

On the island of Kumba there is a spectacular volcano that contributes to some of the most gorgeous sunsets and sea vistas in this exotic destination. The surrounding waters harbor food-rich currents and cool waters (70-75 F), fantastic conditions for encounters with larger marine animals. White-tip and grey reef sharks, giant groupers, mantas, mola-mola, and whale sharks can be spotted around Kumba Island. Due to the volcanic activity you can also see streams of bubbles dramatically rising from the sand and surrounding reef.

On Alor you will have an opportunity to visit a local village. Here there are still local rituals that are practiced regularly. Visit the local market, where people sell everything from fresh exotic fruits, seafood, spices, handicrafts and clothing. The locals are very friendly and their smiling faces welcome visitors coming to their islands.

These small islands are situated in the Pantar Strait between Alor and Pantar. The water here at some dive spots like “The Bullet” or “Sharks Gallore” can get really cool (70-72F). We highly recommended that our divers use a 5-7mm wetsuit here and for some, a hood provides welcome warmth. But with the cool waters comes the opportunity of pelagics and riotous marine-life richness. There are also a couple of beautiful critter spots with mating mandarinfish, cryptic crawling Ambon scorpion fish, pensive Pegasus sea moths, secretive seahorses and unusual crustaceans. One of the highlights of these dives are the bamboo shark sightings, a species found very few other places in the world. Above water you can see whales and dolphins and with a little luck you can spot pilot whales and whalesharks.

Around these small islands you should keep your eyes open for octopus. Along the seabed move “close and slow” as you scan for mimic octopus, wonderpus, and the blue-ringed octopus. Also look for various scorpionfish species including Rhinopias. Next watch out for flying gurnards sneaking around the black sand landscape. Nestled in small sea fans, hydroids or crinoids, you can spot ghost pipefish, skeleton shrimps, decorator crabs, commensal shrimps and angling frogfish. The black sand provides welcome contrast for the vivid colors of the otherwise cryptic critters and it guarantees images that “pop”!

Kawula offers the perfect habitat for muck critters. The visibility may be limited to 25ft, but these sites are meccas for frogfish, seahorses, rare scorpionfish, pipefish, and commensal crustaceans.

In Solor you may get the chance to visit the small village “Lamalera”, which is located in a little bay close to an old volcano. It is the extremely unique and traditional way of sustenance hunting that brings us to this village.

Lamalera may be the only place in the world where the locals go whale hunting using traditional methods. The methods are ancient and are passed on from generation to generation. The villagers sail out to the sea in their wooden dug-outs and hunt for sperm whales with simple bamboo spears. Occasionally they are successful, and when this rare event occurs the meat is shared throughout the village providing the rare necessity of protein for these people.

This area also has some amazing diving. We have spent some time exploring new places and have discovered pristine beautiful reefs, that are super fishy, lots of reef sharks and with occasional big stuff passing by.

Many colorful species of corals and textured sponges adorn these lovely reefs. The 3-D structure forms rich habitat for a diverse fauna of coral reef species. Adonara sites are also notable places to see and film pygmy seahorses clinging to the gorgonian sea fans whose polyps and coloration the pygmies have evolved to match perfectly. You will also see schools of snappers, sweet lips and giant trevallies along the drop-offs. Keep an eye out for sea turtles, manta rays, reef sharks and other pelagics as you approach reef points and buttress edges.

We may finish this cruise with dives in “Muck Central”… Maumere (on the island of Flores). Pindito is the original pioneer of this sleepy Indonesian fishing port that teems with cryptic odd-balls including frogfishes, Ambon Scorpionfishes, leaf-fishes, mercurial schools of venomous catfishes, mandarinfishes, seahorses, giant pen shells in black coral hedges under the town pier, bunches of purple tunicates, harlequin shrimps and so on. This is an awesome place for you to Photograph cool critters. And here you can fill up the final bits of digital memory in your reserve and you can create memories that will fuel your imagination for years to come.

This journey takes you from Sorong in Irian Jaya, through the Molucca Sea past Halmahera, and ends in the historic city of Ternate in the North Maluku islands. The 650-nautical-mile expedition offers a remarkable blend of breathtaking land and seascapes.

The adventure begins with a taste of the stunning coral reefs of Raja Ampat. On the southern coast of Halmahera, you’ll dive dramatic walls and drop-offs teeming with large pelagic fish. The small islands off Halmahera’s western coast offer vibrant coral reefs and exceptional marine biodiversity.

The trip concludes in Ternate, a city rich in history and culture, framed by the iconic volcanic Mount Gamalama. Ternate’s surrounding waters boast pristine reefs and abundant marine life, making it the perfect finale to a journey filled with awe-inspiring underwater discoveries and exploration.

Diving on several different dive sites from beautiful slopes overgrown with soft corals and seafans to steep walls with big schools of fish. At one spot we have the chance to dive with grey and whitetip reef sharks. One real highlight of Kofiau is a “critterdive” under a small pier by the village of Deer. Diving at dusk you can see wunderpus, mandarin fish, ghost pipefish and all manner of weird and wonderful creatures.

Joronga is a small group of islands to the south of Halmahera with picture postcard white sand beaches. The reefs in this area boast beautiful hard coral growth from huge, intact table corals to fields of staghorn and other acropora species. Anywhere with such a diversity of coral species will be home to plenty of reef fish, and cuttlefish can be seen camouflaged in the reef. In the afternoon we reach an inlet on the south coast of Halmahera where the pretty reefs offer many fusiliers, nudibranchs and more. There is a small pier for muck diving fans where we can hunt for frogfish and other critters.

In the bay of Maregarano steep walls with excellent soft coral growth, sponges, sea fans and hard corals are the foreground to schools of barracuda, sharks, eagle rays and jacks. Humphead parrotfish, sweetlips and batfish and many other species can be seen here. Visibility is often 20 metres plus. For the nightdive we move to a protected bay in southern Mandiolis.

The remote island of Tifore which lies in between Halmahera and Sulawesi. We will dive in 3 different spots with big fish action guaranteed. On the submerged reef we have a chance to see a big, big school of barracuda, and with a bit of luck you will watch as they form a barrel above you. Also look out for bigeye trevally, humphead parrotfish, sweetlips and many more. Really a dive not to miss.

Arrival in Bangka / North Sulawesi renowned for its diversity, coral growth and beautiful underwater scenery. Exciting dive sites with huge boulders and rocks overgrown with black coral. Rich coral gardens provide habitat for scores of fish. Pygmy seahorses, leaf scorpionfish, ghost pipefish and frogfish can also be found.

Here our journey will end, but not before we enjoy the special critter dives on offer here. The last 4 dives will be on different dive sites in the Lembeh Strait. On the black sand you can find mimic octopus, hairy frogfish, flying gurnards, Pegasus seamoths and so many kinds of nudibranchs. Muck diving at its best.

Indonesia’s remote islands and marine parks offer some of the most spectacular biodiversity on the planet, both above and below the water. Our expertly crafted liveaboard itinerary takes you through a stunning array of ecosystems, from vibrant coral reefs to deep drop-offs and mangrove-lined shores teeming with life.

Lembeh Strait is world-renowned for its rare and fascinating macro life, while Gorontalo’s towering walls are adorned with surreal Salvador Dali sponges. Pulau Dua and the Banggai Islands reveal thriving reefs and unique marine species, while the remote waters of Manui and Batuata remain largely unexplored, offering untouched dive sites rich with marine biodiversity. Wakatobi and Taka Bonerate feature some of the most pristine coral reefs in Indonesia, while Komodo National Park delivers exhilarating currents, majestic manta rays, and encounters with its legendary dragons.

This journey offers an extraordinary opportunity to explore Indonesia’s incredible marine diversity. Whether you’re drawn to rare critters, dramatic underwater landscapes, or pristine reef systems, our biodiversity cruise immerses you in some of the most breathtaking and biologically rich waters in the world.

Lembeh Strait, between Lembeh Island and North Sulawesi, is the world’s “Critter Capital.” This narrow waterway is a paradise for underwater photographers and macro enthusiasts.

Unlike destinations with strong currents and big fish, Lembeh’s calm waters and black volcanic sand host rare creatures like flamboyant cuttlefish, blue-ringed octopuses, hairy frogfish, and mimic octopuses.

Beyond macro life, Lembeh has coral reefs and historical wrecks teeming with marine species. Our itineraries blend muck diving with expert guidance, ensuring every dive reveals something extraordinary. Whether you’re a photographer or marine life enthusiast, Lembeh promises an unforgettable adventure.

Gorontalo, on Sulawesi’s northern coast, is a hidden gem known for its dramatic underwater landscapes and rare marine life. Towering coral walls, unique limestone formations, and caverns create a breathtaking diving experience.

The region is famous for its Salvador Dali sponges, named for their surreal, swirling shapes. Divers can also encounter whale sharks, schooling barracuda, and vibrant coral reefs teeming with life.

With a mix of stunning topography and diverse marine species, Gorontalo offers a one-of-a-kind diving adventure. Our itineraries ensure you explore its best sites, making every dive truly unforgettable.

Pulau Dua, located off Gorontalo’s southern coast, is a remote diving paradise known for its dramatic seascapes and rich marine biodiversity. Towering rock formations, steep drop-offs, and vibrant coral gardens make every dive an adventure.

This area is home to schooling fish, reef sharks, eagle rays, and stunning hard and soft corals. The nutrient-rich waters attract a variety of marine life, offering excellent visibility and exciting encounters.

With its untouched beauty and diverse underwater scenery, Pulau Dua is perfect for divers seeking a unique and less-explored destination. Our itineraries ensure you experience the best this hidden gem has to offer.

The Banggai Islands, off Central Sulawesi’s eastern coast, are a stunning and diverse diving destination. Known for crystal-clear waters, rich coral reefs, and unique marine species, this remote paradise offers a mix of vibrant reefs, walls, and muck diving.

One of its highlights is the endemic Banggai cardinalfish, found only in this region. Divers can also encounter schooling barracuda, reef sharks, and thriving coral ecosystems teeming with macro life.

With its pristine waters and diverse marine habitats, the Banggai Islands offer an unforgettable experience. Our itineraries take you to the best sites, ensuring every dive is a remarkable one.

Manui, a secluded gem off Sulawesi’s eastern coast, offers untouched reefs and thriving marine life. With crystal-clear waters, dramatic drop-offs, and vibrant coral gardens, it’s a dream for divers seeking pristine underwater landscapes.

This remote area is home to reef sharks, schooling fish, and a rich variety of macro life hiding among the corals. Strong currents bring nutrients, attracting larger pelagic species and ensuring exciting encounters.

With its unspoiled beauty and diverse dive sites, Manui is perfect for those looking to explore beyond the usual destinations. Our itineraries guarantee an unforgettable adventure in this hidden paradise.

Wakatobi, a world-class diving destination in Southeast Sulawesi, is famed for its pristine reefs, incredible biodiversity, and crystal-clear waters. As part of a protected marine park, it offers some of the healthiest coral ecosystems in Indonesia.

Divers can explore vibrant coral walls, sea grass beds, and reef slopes teeming with marine life. Expect encounters with turtles, reef sharks, schooling fish, and countless macro species hiding in the coral.

With stunning underwater scenery and exceptional visibility, Wakatobi is perfect for divers of all levels. Our itineraries ensure you experience the very best of this breathtaking marine paradise.

Batuata Island, a remote jewel in Indonesia’s waters, offers unspoiled reefs, dramatic drop-offs, and abundant marine life. Its isolation ensures pristine diving conditions with excellent visibility and thriving coral ecosystems.

Divers can encounter reef sharks, schooling fish, and majestic manta rays, while the vibrant coral gardens are home to countless macro species. Strong currents bring a steady flow of nutrients, attracting a diverse range of marine life.

With its untouched beauty and rich biodiversity, Batuata Island is perfect for adventurous divers seeking a hidden paradise. Our itineraries take you to the best sites for an unforgettable experience.

Taka Bonerate, home to the third-largest atoll system in the world, is a spectacular marine paradise in South Sulawesi. Its vast reef formations, crystal-clear lagoons, and diverse marine life make it a dream destination for divers.

The atoll’s nutrient-rich waters attract reef sharks, turtles, schooling fish, and vibrant coral ecosystems. Its remote location ensures pristine dive sites with excellent visibility, offering a mix of wall dives, drift dives, and macro encounters.

With its stunning underwater landscapes and rich biodiversity, Taka Bonerate promises an unforgettable diving experience. Our itineraries take you to the best sites in this extraordinary marine haven.

Komodo National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of Indonesia’s most spectacular diving destinations. Known for its strong currents and nutrient-rich waters, it boasts an incredible variety of marine life, from vibrant coral reefs to large pelagic species.

Divers can encounter manta rays, reef sharks, schools of barracuda, and an abundance of macro life. The park’s diverse dive sites range from thrilling drift dives to calm coral gardens, offering something for every experience level.

Beyond the water, Komodo’s rugged landscapes and famous Komodo dragons add to the adventure. Our itineraries ensure you experience the best of this world-renowned marine paradise.

Miraculous and mostly untouched dive sites around Alor are waiting to be discovered by you. Most of them are hidden in the nutrient-rich Pantar Straits between Alor and Pantar. Over many years, Pindito uncovered some of the most secret mysteries of marine wonderlands that remain unknown to other liveaboards. Expect to immerse yourself in a diving paradise brimming over with vibrant creatures. And with a little luck, you might run into sunfish, hammerhead sharks, humpback whales and even marlin and sailfish.

What about the muck diving? There are many sites here to explore. Got a critter wish list? Start ticking these off here.

Pindito never has a set itinerary. We plan our trips and water activities based on weather, tides and currents. From our expertise and experience, we know the ideal sea conditions for all the best and famous sites and when to dive them. And of course we have the not so famous, and even secret, equally spectacular sites that only a few of us know about.

On the island of Kumba there is a spectacular volcano that contributes to some of the most gorgeous sunsets and sea vistas in this exotic destination. The surrounding waters harbor food-rich currents and cool waters (70-75 F), fantastic conditions for encounters with larger marine animals. White-tip and grey reef sharks, giant groupers, mantas, mola-mola, and whale sharks can be spotted around Kumba Island. Due to the volcanic activity you can also see streams of bubbles dramatically rising from the sand and surrounding reef.

On Alor you will have an opportunity to visit a local village. Here there are still local rituals that are practiced regularly. Visit the local market, where people sell everything from fresh exotic fruits, seafood, spices, handicrafts and clothing. The locals are very friendly and their smiling faces welcome visitors coming to their islands.

These small islands are situated in the Pantar Strait between Alor and Pantar. The water here at some dive spots like “The Bullet” or “Sharks Gallore” can get really cool (70-72F). We highly recommended that our divers use a 5-7mm wetsuit here and for some, a hood provides welcome warmth. But with the cool waters comes the opportunity of pelagics and riotous marine-life richness. There are also a couple of beautiful critter spots with mating mandarinfish, cryptic crawling Ambon scorpion fish, pensive Pegasus sea moths, secretive seahorses and unusual crustaceans. One of the highlights of these dives are the bamboo shark sightings, a species found very few other places in the world. Above water you can see whales and dolphins and with a little luck you can spot pilot whales and whalesharks.

Around these small islands you should keep your eyes open for octopus. Along the seabed move “close and slow” as you scan for mimic octopus, wonderpus, and the blue-ringed octopus. Also look for various scorpionfish species including Rhinopias. Next watch out for flying gurnards sneaking around the black sand landscape. Nestled in small sea fans, hydroids or crinoids, you can spot ghost pipefish, skeleton shrimps, decorator crabs, commensal shrimps and angling frogfish. The black sand provides welcome contrast for the vivid colors of the otherwise cryptic critters and it guarantees images that “pop”!

Kawula offers the perfect habitat for muck critters. The visibility may be limited to 25ft, but these sites are meccas for frogfish, seahorses, rare scorpionfish, pipefish, and commensal crustaceans.

In Solor you may get the chance to visit the small village “Lamalera”, which is located in a little bay close to an old volcano. It is the extremely unique and traditional way of sustenance hunting that brings us to this village.

Lamalera may be the only place in the world where the locals go whale hunting using traditional methods. The methods are ancient and are passed on from generation to generation. The villagers sail out to the sea in their wooden dug-outs and hunt for sperm whales with simple bamboo spears. Occasionally they are successful, and when this rare event occurs the meat is shared throughout the village providing the rare necessity of protein for these people.

This area also has some amazing diving. We have spent some time exploring new places and have discovered pristine beautiful reefs, that are super fishy, lots of reef sharks and with occasional big stuff passing by.

Many colorful species of corals and textured sponges adorn these lovely reefs. The 3-D structure forms rich habitat for a diverse fauna of coral reef species. Adonara sites are also notable places to see and film pygmy seahorses clinging to the gorgonian sea fans whose polyps and coloration the pygmies have evolved to match perfectly. You will also see schools of snappers, sweet lips and giant trevallies along the drop-offs. Keep an eye out for sea turtles, manta rays, reef sharks and other pelagics as you approach reef points and buttress edges.

We may finish this cruise with dives in “Muck Central”… Maumere (on the island of Flores). Pindito is the original pioneer of this sleepy Indonesian fishing port that teems with cryptic odd-balls including frogfishes, Ambon Scorpionfishes, leaf-fishes, mercurial schools of venomous catfishes, mandarinfishes, seahorses, giant pen shells in black coral hedges under the town pier, bunches of purple tunicates, harlequin shrimps and so on. This is an awesome place for you to Photograph cool critters. And here you can fill up the final bits of digital memory in your reserve and you can create memories that will fuel your imagination for years to come.

Roam the vast expanse of the Banda Sea, where the Dutch once took over the Portuguese colony in a bloody fight. Many remains of the colonies are still left to be discovered. Uncover the mysteries of the intriguing world of marine life and get ready for views like you have never seen before. The Banda Sea is in the heart of Indonesia, while still maintaining that off the beaten path feel, best explored by liveaboard.

The diving here is very diverse and spectacular. As these volcanic islands rise up to the surface surrounded by deep-sea water, the chances for sightings of large pelagics are good. That’s what makes this area so thrilling; you never know what’s around the corner.

Pindito never has a set itinerary. We plan our trips and water activities based on weather, tides and currents. From our expertise and experience, we know the ideal sea conditions for all the best and famous sites and when to dive them. And of course we have the not so famous, and even secret, equally spectacular sites that only a few of us know about.

Right at the shores of the village Ahmed, a vibrant reef-scape of miraculous coral gardens and an abundance of fish wait for you in Nusa Laut. Schools of surgeon fish, big eye jacks, and a crazy quilt of reef fish that go with barracudas guarantee a heart-stopping show and a divers dream come true. If you’re lucky you can even see otherworldly hammerhead sharks. Prepare to be amazed when you embark on a quest to spot critters. Frogfish, scorpion fish, pipefish and many other exotic creatures hidden in the white sand.

Banda Neira is the main island of the “Banda Islands”, which are part of the Maluku archipelago. The “Banda Islands” consists of 10 small volcanic islands. Visit the old fortress of the Dutchman on Banda Neira, or climb a volcano can all be part of our program. Over 20 years ago lava flowed into the sea and formed a hard coral garden in this “short time”.

The reefs here excel through their unique underwater fauna in all colors and shapes. Large schools pass by and the macro world is ever present. With a little luck at dusk dives, the mating ritual of the mandarin fish can be observed. The coral gardens in the lava units with their 5-meter-wide plate corals are just a small sample of what you can see here.

A famous dive site which the Pindito lovingly calls “S**t place”. Everything a diver could wish for can be seen in this canal, which flows towards the Banda Sea. It guarantees a unique school of fish spectacle; Giant groupers, large Schools Barracudas, snapper, surgeon fish, sweet lips in the midst of beautiful coral. Many photographers are overwhelmed at this place, because you often do not know where to look first and. The sometimes violent currents cannot guarantee the best visibility, but it is a big chance to see large fish such as manta rays, sharks and even mobulas.

Diving in the endless maze of the islands of Misool is a very special treat for any diving career. It is paradise for macro enthusiasts, but encounters with larger fish such as manta rays are often possible. Misool is one of the most biodiverse regions in the world with fish, corals, sponges, soft corals, shrimps, crabs and countless nudibranchs and other invertebrates. Huge shoals of sardines are a definite highlight. Soft corals and sea fans (diameter of 3-4 meters) in all sizes and colors dominate the underwater landscape.

One of Pindito’s special places is called “Vrenelies Gärtli”. It is a legendary dive site that has it all, because of its very diverse landscape. Overhangs, huge caverns with swim throughs, lush steep walls with all kinds of corals are found here.

There is also plenty to do on land. With a unique speedboat ride you will explore the beautiful scenery. Crystal clear, turquoise water awaits you as well as a variety of exotic tropical plants such as orchids and even carnivorous plants.

The Dampier Straight separates the “Birdshead” Peninsula from Waigeo and Mansuar. The name comes from Dutch colonial times. It refers to the shape of the peninsula on the map, but it is also a paradise for many rare bird species.

Here the Pacific Ocean meets the Halmahera Sea, with an explosion of marine life as consequence. With regular strong currents, big fish feel especially comfortable. Manta rays, reef sharks, different schools of mackerel, tuna and barracuda are seen again and again.

Even dolphins and whales (Bryde’s whales, pilot whales) keep spending time in the Dampier straight. Since May 2011, we offer a special Whale-Macro tour that combines the macro-diving with whale and dolphin watching. This tour is accompanied by a marine expert in whale and dolphin behavior.

This special cruise offers guests a glimpse into the world of the largest mammals on earth. Learn incredible details from a qualified expert on whales and dolphins and watch them with your own eyes! The crew is organized into “observation teams” who also keep a sharp eye on the water surface for blows or other signs of whale activity, as some species can’t be located by acoustics alone. The Whale expert and MV Pindito knows the areas that are preferred by these large marine mammals (including sperm, Bryde’s and orcas or killer whales) and both our long experience and trained eyes do the rest.

On this cruise we offer approx. 24 dives. Macro enthusiasts will love it: A whale in the morning, a sea horse at noon. And of course you will be diving Raja Ampat’s famous and beautiful reefs.

AN ALL-OUT DIVING EXPERIENCE

The tour departs from Sorong and heads towards Waigeo before it leads to Batanta. As dolphins and whales are the focus of this cruise the itinerary is laid out to maximize the encounters. From experience we know that most whales are sighted in the Dampier Straight near Batanta. Because it often has strong currents you cannot only see Cetaceans. Manta rays are also frequent visitors.

At the beginning of the journey our whale expert will present a special briefing to inform the guests about the process. When animals are sighted, Our expert will give us detailed information about the species and the occurrence, its routines and hunting behavior. Morning until noon will be planned for whales and dolphin tracking and monitoring. In the afternoon and evening Pindito offers “normal” dives, if you can call diving here normal. As we deal with nature, this sequence might be reversed, i.e. diving in the morning, whale watching the afternoon.

This area has a fascinating landscape. Many famous Raja Ampat landscape photographs were shot here. On the north, on the island of Wayag, is the famous “Mount Pindito”. From here you get a fantastic view of the many islands. Pindito on anchor in the middle of the Bay, completes the beautiful landscape. “Sele Pele” offers the opportunity to look at a pearl farm up close. Depending on the production stage you will be invited to witness the fertilization or harvest! A unique opportunity you cannot afford to miss. With a little luck you can snorkel with the animals (our whale expert decides if it is suitable). Guests of the first ever tour in March 2011 enjoyed an incredible snorkelling experience with orcas.

A special feature of this tour is the crossing of the equator. This area has a fascinating landscape. Many famous Raja Ampat landscape photographs were shot here.

Komodo National Park was declared a World Natural Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1991. The National Park includes the three larger islands of Komodo, Rinca and Padar, as well as numerous smaller islands.

The dive spots around Komodo offer unbelievable variety. One day you can admire rare critters creatures in the morning and in the afternoon drift along with giant mantas and schools of big-eye jacks. There are patch reefs, bommies (pinnacles), sheer walls, and shallow coral gardens to be explored. There are more than 1000 fish species, 260 species of corals, 70 different sponge species, 17 species of whales and dolphins and at least 2 different kinds of sea turtles living in the waters of Komodo National Park.

Pindito never has a set itinerary. We plan our trips and water activities based on weather, tides and currents. From our expertise and experience, we know the ideal sea conditions for all the best and famous sites and when to dive them. And of course we have the not so famous, and even secret, equally spectacular sites that only a few of us know about.

A new addition to our route stop overs the bay of Saleh is a huge bay just south east of the island of Moyo. Depending on where the beginning of the trip starts it is almost always possible to move the ship into this bay for a day and see the traditional fishing boats the locals call ‘Bagan’. Wake up before sunrise and take a view of the dark scenery out on the deck and watch as many of these local fishing boats attach anchovies and krill into their nets. By attracting them with lights the ships look like intensely shimmering stars right on the horizon where sky meets the sea. Once sunrise comes the fishermen bring up the nets and sort their catch for the day, and here is the important part; The locals and the whale sharks in the area have formed a symbiotic relationship with each other, as the whale sharks come up and feed on the fisherman catch that spill over when hauling in their nets. This then will be our chance to take you snorkelling with a few whale sharks.

A definite highlight of the dive site are the hot underwater springs. The volcanic island send up gas bubbles from the black sand forming a magnificent contrast to the huge black corals and sea fans. If you look closely here you can find pygmy seahorses on the sea fans. Other Dive sites around the island, such as Masuk Sungai, Pohon Mera and Tanjung Barat offer fascinating dives. Soft and hard corals are fighting for the best places, countless nudibranchs, pipefish, frogfish, seahorses and cuttlefish can be admired.On the island itself there are two active volcanoes, the Doro Api and Doro Montoi. At the hot and dry coastal area, savannah-like grasslands have formed with shrub vegetation. From the deck of the Pindito you can regularly observe large water buffalo grazing. Due to the volcanic origin the sand is black, which offers a stunning contrast to the remaining vegetation, both above and below water.

Banta has two of the most famous dive sites, the “Banta Corner” and the “GPS point”. With regular strong currents in the open water, these dive sites are just for big fish encounters. With a little luck you will find swarms of surgeon fish, red snapper, mackerel of all kinds, and of course barracudas, white tip sharks and grey reef sharks. For lovers of night-dives “Critters” is a highlight of the tour! Here, all the animals “hang” out in the sand: hunting lionfish, stonefish and wandering octopuses. The stars of the evening, however, are the Stargazers who bury themselves almost unrecognizable in the sand, waiting to be discovered.

The small island of Tatawa Besar is located to the north of Rinca which means warmer waters! The island always has some slight current. It is perfect for a relaxing drift dive along the approximately 0.6 mile long island. You drift very relaxed along a slanted slope that is covered with beautiful yellow and orange soft coral. With a bit of luck, Mantas can be seen here. “Karang Toko” and “Batu Batu Dekat” at Gili Lawa Laut are first class dive sites. These are two drop offs which are perfect for divers. You’ll be taken in by the amount of fish in the water and hardly have time to notice the stunning beauty of the surrounding reefscape. Again the whole array of pelagic fish will come in from jacks in all shapes and forms to white tip and grey reef sharks. If you like adrenalin rushes, the “Shotgun” will top this experience with a roller coaster dive. This beautiful wall, surprises ever again with its varying strong currents.

Komodo National Park was declared a World Natural Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1991. It lies in the region of the Sunda Islands (aka Nusa Tenggara). The National Park includes the three larger islands of Komodo, Rinca and Padar, as well as numerous smaller islands. The total area covers 1817 km2. Originally the Park was established as a protection zone for the Komodo goannas. Later the focus was changed to the conservation of the regions entire flora and fauna, on land as well as underwater.

The dive spots around Komodo offer unbelievable variety. One day you can admire rare macro creatures in the morning (“critters”) and in the afternoon drift along with giant mantas and schools of big-eye trevally jacks. There are patch reefs, bommies (pinnacles), sheer walls, and shallow coral gardens to be explored. There are more than 1000 fish species, 260 species of corals, 70 different sponge species, 17 species of whales and dolphins and at least 2 different kinds of sea turtles living in the waters of Komodo National Park. You will love it!

The famous Komodo Islands with their “Komodo Dragons” will be visited on every Family Dive Cruise. Komodo dragons are actually giant monitor lizards, the largest of all the lizards reaching a length of nearly 10 feet and weighing 150lbs! A guide from the National Park Service will lead this excursion keeping everybody safe and sound. They are experts in the local flora and fauna (water buffalos, birds, goannas, dragons, etc.) and they’ll share their knowledge during treks along island paths through the bush.

The port of Maumere is an amazing and diverse dive area. Discover various pipefish and seahorses, frogfish, scorpion fish, various, countless colorful nudibranchs, as well as barracuda and batfish. The Pindito crew calls this dive site “blue water muck diving”!

Can you handle the cold? The waters around Rinca are fairly cool for this part of the world and can drop to 71 F/22 C degrees. A 5-7mm wetsuit is strongly recommended to enjoy the beauty of Horseshoe Bay. The “Yellow Wall of Texas” and “Cannibal Rock” will be your reward with the fish action, critters and incredible bursts of colourful reefs and corals that come alive in these nutrient rich waters.

Roam the vast expanse of the Banda Sea, where the Dutch once took over the Portuguese colony in a bloody fight. Many remains of the colonies are still left to be discovered. Uncover the mysteries of the intriguing world of marine life and get ready for views like you have never seen before. The Banda Sea is in the heart of Indonesia, while still maintaining that off the beaten path feel, best explored by liveaboard.

The diving here is very diverse and spectacular. As these volcanic islands rise up to the surface surrounded by deep-sea water, the chances for sightings of large pelagics are good. That’s what makes this area so thrilling; you never know what’s around the corner.

Pindito never has a set itinerary. We plan our trips and water activities based on weather, tides and currents. From our expertise and experience, we know the ideal sea conditions for all the best and famous sites and when to dive them. And of course we have the not so famous, and even secret, equally spectacular sites that only a few of us know about.

Right at the shores of the village Ahmed, a vibrant reef-scape of miraculous coral gardens and an abundance of fish wait for you in Nusa Laut. Schools of surgeon fish, big eye jacks, and a crazy quilt of reef fish that go with barracudas guarantee a heart-stopping show and a divers dream come true. If you’re lucky you can even see otherworldly hammerhead sharks. Prepare to be amazed when you embark on a quest to spot critters. Frogfish, scorpion fish, pipefish and many other exotic creatures hidden in the white sand.

Banda Neira is the main island of the “Banda Islands”, which are part of the Maluku archipelago. The “Banda Islands” consists of 10 small volcanic islands. Visit the old fortress of the Dutchman on Banda Neira, or climb a volcano can all be part of our program. Over 20 years ago lava flowed into the sea and formed a hard coral garden in this “short time”.

The reefs here excel through their unique underwater fauna in all colors and shapes. Large schools pass by and the macro world is ever present. With a little luck at dusk dives, the mating ritual of the mandarin fish can be observed. The coral gardens in the lava units with their 5-meter-wide plate corals are just a small sample of what you can see here.

A famous dive site which the Pindito lovingly calls “S**t place”. Everything a diver could wish for can be seen in this canal, which flows towards the Banda Sea. It guarantees a unique school of fish spectacle; Giant groupers, large Schools Barracudas, snapper, surgeon fish, sweet lips in the midst of beautiful coral. Many photographers are overwhelmed at this place, because you often do not know where to look first and. The sometimes violent currents cannot guarantee the best visibility, but it is a big chance to see large fish such as manta rays, sharks and even mobulas.

Diving in the endless maze of the islands of Misool is a very special treat for any diving career. It is paradise for macro enthusiasts, but encounters with larger fish such as manta rays are often possible. Misool is one of the most biodiverse regions in the world with fish, corals, sponges, soft corals, shrimps, crabs and countless nudibranchs and other invertebrates. Huge shoals of sardines are a definite highlight. Soft corals and sea fans (diameter of 3-4 meters) in all sizes and colors dominate the underwater landscape.

One of Pindito’s special places is called “Vrenelies Gärtli”. It is a legendary dive site that has it all, because of its very diverse landscape. Overhangs, huge caverns with swim throughs, lush steep walls with all kinds of corals are found here.

There is also plenty to do on land. With a unique speedboat ride you will explore the beautiful scenery. Crystal clear, turquoise water awaits you as well as a variety of exotic tropical plants such as orchids and even carnivorous plants.

The Dampier Straight separates the “Birdshead” Peninsula from Waigeo and Mansuar. The name comes from Dutch colonial times. It refers to the shape of the peninsula on the map, but it is also a paradise for many rare bird species.

Here the Pacific Ocean meets the Halmahera Sea, with an explosion of marine life as consequence. With regular strong currents, big fish feel especially comfortable. Manta rays, reef sharks, different schools of mackerel, tuna and barracuda are seen again and again.

Even dolphins and whales (Bryde’s whales, pilot whales) keep spending time in the Dampier straight. Since May 2011, we offer a special Whale-Macro tour that combines the macro-diving with whale and dolphin watching. This tour is accompanied by a marine expert in whale and dolphin behavior.

Let us show you around Pindito’s gigantic playground, made up of hundreds (if not thousands!) of dive sites. Edi is one of the real pioneers of Raja Ampat, having not only discovered numerous sites but also must hold some kind of record for the highest amount of dives around here. And still counting!

Raja Ampat, which means “4 Kings” lies in the Coral Triangle. The four main islands are Misool, Salawati, Batanta and Waigeo. This expanse of 40,000 square kilometers of marine territory and pristine reefs make these waters a diving haven second to none. Reputed to be the most biodiverse marine habitat on Earth, Raja Ampat is home to many species not found anywhere else. Spectacular, is a word often used to describe this region and is irresistible to divers.

Imagine descending into the big blue, encountering a rainbow of colors in the vibrant, thriving reefs. Then the marine life comes alive, as if they know how special they are and want to share their secret. Schools of fusiliers and jacks duck and sway in the currents, bump head parrot fish chomp away on the corals, shy Denise’s pygmy seahorses hide among gorgonian coral, frogfish try to keep themselves expertly camouflaged and white/black/grey tip reef sharks patrol effortlessly through the sea. Majestic mantas, rare wobbegong and epaulette sharks (walking shark) guarantee plenty of variety, schools of big-eyed trevally and barracudas, they put on a spectacular show.

Pindito never has a set itinerary. We plan our trips and water activities based on weather, tides and currents. From our expertise and experience, we know the ideal sea conditions for all the best and famous sites and when to dive them. And we of course have the not so famous, and even secret, equally spectacular sites that only a few of us know about.

Diving in the endless maze of the islands of Misool is a very special treat for any diving career. It is paradise for macro enthusiasts, but encounters with larger fish such as manta rays are often possible. Misool is one of the most biodiverse regions in the world with fish, corals, sponges, soft corals, shrimps, crabs and countless nudibranchs and other invertebrates. Huge shoals of sardines are a definite highlight. Soft corals and sea fans (diameter of 3-4 meters) in all sizes and colors dominate the underwater landscape.

One of Pindito’s special places is called “Vrenelies Gärtli”. It is a legendary dive site that has it all, because of its very diverse landscape. Overhangs, huge caverns with swim throughs, lush steep walls with all kinds of corals are found here.

There is also plenty to do on land. With a unique speedboat ride you will explore the beautiful scenery. Crystal clear, turquoise water awaits you as well as a variety of exotic tropical plants such as orchids and even carnivorous plants.

A special feature of this tour is the crossing of the equator. This area has a fascinating landscape. Many famous Raja Ampat landscape photographs were shot here. On the north, on the island of Wayag, is the famous “Mount Pindito”. From here you get a fantastic view of the many islands. Pindito on anchor in the middle of the Bay, completes the beautiful landscape. “Sele Pele” offers the opportunity to look at a pearl farm up close. Depending on the production stage you will be invited to witness the fertilization or harvest! A unique opportunity you cannot afford to miss.

“Jef Fam” is the name of a group of karst islands with great diving, lots of fish and colorful corals. Night dives at the “Red Wall” are always a special experience. In the sand under the pearl diving pier, a lot of special and peculiar creatures, especially wobbegongs and epaulette sharks (walking sharks) can be found. Countless nudibranchs, pipefish, seahorses, frogfish, scorpion fish cannot escape the well trained eye. A great highlight is the manta cleaning station near Mansuar.

The Dampier Straight separates the “Birdshead” Peninsula from Waigeo and Mansuar. The name comes from Dutch colonial times. It refers to the shape of the peninsula on the map, but it is also a paradise for many rare bird species.

Here the Pacific Ocean meets the Halmahera Sea, with an explosion of marine life as consequence. With regular strong currents, big fish feel especially comfortable. Manta rays, reef sharks, different schools of mackerel, tuna and barracuda are seen again and again.

Even dolphins and whales (Bryde’s whales, pilot whales) keep spending time in the Dampier straight. Since May 2011, we offer a special Whale-Macro tour that combines the macro-diving with whale and dolphin watching. This tour is accompanied by a marine expert in whale and dolphin behavior.

This trip takes you from Sorong in Irian Jaya, through the Molucca Sea past Halmahera to Manado in North Sulawesi. The 650 nautical mile journey takes us through a range of different land and seascapes. The trip starts with a taste of the beautiful coral reefs of Raja Ampat. On the south coast of Halmahera we will dive walls and drop-offs with big fish action. The small islands off the west coast of Halmahera are home to great coral reefs. The end of the trip in North Sulawesi offers you pristine coral reefs, great fish life and spectacular critter diving in the famous black sand of the Lembeh Strait. A diverse trip with something for everybody!

Pindito never has a set itinerary. We plan our trips and water activities based on weather, tides and currents. From our expertise and experience, we know the ideal sea conditions for all the best and famous sites and when to dive them. And of course we have the not so famous, and even secret, equally spectacular sites that only a few of us know about.

Diving on several different dive sites from beautiful slopes overgrown with soft corals and seafans to steep walls with big schools of fish. At one spot we have the chance to dive with grey and whitetip reef sharks. One real highlight of Kofiau is a “critterdive” under a small pier by the village of Deer. Diving at dusk you can see wunderpus, mandarin fish, ghost pipefish and all manner of weird and wonderful creatures.

Joronga is a small group of islands to the south of Halmahera with picture postcard white sand beaches. The reefs in this area boast beautiful hard coral growth from huge, intact table corals to fields of staghorn and other acropora species. Anywhere with such a diversity of coral species will be home to plenty of reef fish, and cuttlefish can be seen camouflaged in the reef. In the afternoon we reach an inlet on the south coast of Halmahera where the pretty reefs offer many fusiliers, nudibranchs and more. There is a small pier for muck diving fans where we can hunt for frogfish and other critters.

In the bay of Maregarano steep walls with excellent soft coral growth, sponges, sea fans and hard corals are the foreground to schools of barracuda, sharks, eagle rays and jacks. Humphead parrotfish, sweetlips and batfish and many other species can be seen here. Visibility is often 20 metres plus. For the nightdive we move to a protected bay in southern Mandiolis.

The remote island of Tifore which lies in between Halmahera and Sulawesi. We will dive in 3 different spots with big fish action guaranteed. On the submerged reef we have a chance to see a big, big school of barracuda, and with a bit of luck you will watch as they form a barrel above you. Also look out for bigeye trevally, humphead parrotfish, sweetlips and many more. Really a dive not to miss.

Arrival in Bangka / North Sulawesi renowned for its diversity, coral growth and beautiful underwater scenery. Exciting dive sites with huge boulders and rocks overgrown with black coral. Rich coral gardens provide habitat for scores of fish. Pygmy seahorses, leaf scorpionfish, ghost pipefish and frogfish can also be found.

Here our journey will end, but not before we enjoy the special critter dives on offer here. The last 4 dives will be on different dive sites in the Lembeh Strait. On the black sand you can find mimic octopus, hairy frogfish, flying gurnards, Pegasus seamoths and so many kinds of nudibranchs. Muck diving at its best.

Wakatobi, a world-class diving destination in Southeast Sulawesi, is famed for its pristine reefs, incredible biodiversity, and crystal-clear waters. As part of a protected marine park, it offers some of the healthiest coral ecosystems in Indonesia.

Divers can explore vibrant coral walls, sea grass beds, and reef slopes teeming with marine life. Expect encounters with turtles, reef sharks, schooling fish, and countless macro species hiding in the coral.

With stunning underwater scenery and exceptional visibility, Wakatobi is perfect for divers of all levels. Our itineraries ensure you experience the very best of this breathtaking marine paradise.

From volcanic island chain in the Banda sea to the vast dry grasslands of Flores to the vibrant coral reefs of the legendary Raja Ampat, this cruise is all about unique discoveries. Seeing both the reef and topside view change from flat grasslands to towering limestone island formations is one of the many treats this cruise has to offer. Known to be home of the rarest species on earth that can’t be found anywhere else on the planet, this mysterious archipelago is a truly moving experience for every passionate diver. Be it vibrant coral reefs, colorful seahorses and imposing mammals such as whales and dolphins, this epic trip guarantees diversity above and below water.

Pindito never has a set itinerary. We plan our trips and water activities based on weather, tides and currents. From our expertise and experience, we know the ideal sea conditions for all the best and famous sites and when to dive them. And of course we have the not so famous, and even secret, equally spectacular sites that only a few of us know about.

The port of Maumere is an amazing and diverse dive area. Discover various pipefish and seahorses, frogfish, scorpion fish, countless colorful nudibranchs, as well as barracuda and batfish. The Pindito crew calls this dive site “blue water muck diving”!

For lovers of lush vegetation Alor cliffs and slopes offer great variety. Mainly pipefish and nudibranchs of all colors move about here. The north coast of Alor has much current and you can expect plenty of big fish. The west coast of Wetar offers beautiful places with drop-offs, colorful reefs and many fish. From the top of the reef until well into the depths is a seemingly endless growth in all shapes, colors and sizes to be admired. Since very few divers visit this area it is very untouched and attracts mainly schools of large fish.

Seroea, another volcano rising from the Banda Sea is situated far into open sea. Darwin might have run his research on evolution here as well. Despite lower biodiversity on land, the walls below the sea are amazing. The night dive surprises many with shrimp and crabs. Especially the shy Saron shrimp can be observed frequently. Sharks, mackerels, tunas and barracudas are seen in the blue.

A highlight is the Snake Island Gunung Api. Here in 2008, the second part of the movie “Edi’s paradise” was filmed. During night dives it is especially exciting to watch the snakes. Called the snake island simply because in one dive you can encounter hundreds of banded sea kraits.

Banda Neira is the main island of the “Banda Islands”, which are part of the Maluku archipelago. The “Banda Islands” consists of 10 small volcanic islands. Visit the old fortress of the Dutchman on Banda Neira, or climb a volcano can all be part of our program. Over 20 years ago lava flowed into the sea and formed a hard coral garden in this “short time”.

The reefs here excel through their unique underwater fauna in all colors and shapes. Large schools pass by and the macro world is ever present. With a little luck at dusk dives, the mating ritual of the mandarin fish can be observed. The coral gardens in the lava units with their 5-meter-wide plate corals are just a small sample of what you can see here.

A famous dive site which the Pindito lovingly calls “S**t place”. Everything a diver could wish for can be seen in this canal, which flows towards the Banda Sea. It guarantees a unique school of fish spectacle; Giant groupers, large Schools Barracudas, snapper, surgeon fish, sweet lips in the midst of beautiful coral. Many photographers are overwhelmed at this place, because you often do not know where to look first and. The sometimes violent currents cannot guarantee the best visibility, but it is a big chance to see large fish such as manta rays, sharks and even mobulas.

Diving in the endless maze of the islands of Misool is a very special treat for any diving career. It is paradise for macro enthusiasts, but encounters with larger fish such as manta rays are often possible. Misool is one of the most biodiverse regions in the world with fish, corals, sponges, soft corals, shrimps, crabs and countless nudibranchs and other invertebrates. Huge shoals of sardines are a definite highlight. Soft corals and sea fans (diameter of 3-4 meters) in all sizes and colors dominate the underwater landscape.

One of Pindito’s special places is called “Vrenelies Gärtli”. It is a legendary dive site that has it all, because of its very diverse landscape. Overhangs, huge caverns with swim throughs, lush steep walls with all kinds of corals are found here.

The Dampier Straight separates the “Birdshead” Peninsula from Waigeo and Mansuar. The name comes from Dutch colonial times. It refers to the shape of the peninsula on the map, but it is also a paradise for many rare bird species.

Here the Pacific Ocean meets the Halmahera Sea, with an explosion of marine life as consequence. With regular strong currents, big fish feel especially comfortable. Manta rays, reef sharks, different schools of mackerel, tuna and barracuda are seen again and again.

Even dolphins and whales (Bryde’s whales, pilot whales) keep spending time in the Dampier straight. Since May 2011, we offer a special Whale-Macro tour that combines the macro-diving with whale and dolphin watching. This tour is accompanied by a marine expert in whale and dolphin behavior.

Indonesia’s remote islands and marine parks offer some of the most spectacular biodiversity on the planet, both above and below the water. Our expertly crafted liveaboard itinerary takes you through a stunning array of ecosystems, from vibrant coral reefs to deep drop-offs and mangrove-lined shores teeming with life.

Lembeh Strait is world-renowned for its rare and fascinating macro life, while Gorontalo’s towering walls are adorned with surreal Salvador Dali sponges. Pulau Dua and the Banggai Islands reveal thriving reefs and unique marine species, while the remote waters of Manui and Batuata remain largely unexplored, offering untouched dive sites rich with marine biodiversity. Wakatobi and Taka Bonerate feature some of the most pristine coral reefs in Indonesia, while Komodo National Park delivers exhilarating currents, majestic manta rays, and encounters with its legendary dragons.

This journey offers an extraordinary opportunity to explore Indonesia’s incredible marine diversity. Whether you’re drawn to rare critters, dramatic underwater landscapes, or pristine reef systems, our biodiversity cruise immerses you in some of the most breathtaking and biologically rich waters in the world.

Lembeh Strait, between Lembeh Island and North Sulawesi, is the world’s “Critter Capital.” This narrow waterway is a paradise for underwater photographers and macro enthusiasts.

Unlike destinations with strong currents and big fish, Lembeh’s calm waters and black volcanic sand host rare creatures like flamboyant cuttlefish, blue-ringed octopuses, hairy frogfish, and mimic octopuses.

Beyond macro life, Lembeh has coral reefs and historical wrecks teeming with marine species. Our itineraries blend muck diving with expert guidance, ensuring every dive reveals something extraordinary. Whether you’re a photographer or marine life enthusiast, Lembeh promises an unforgettable adventure.

Gorontalo, on Sulawesi’s northern coast, is a hidden gem known for its dramatic underwater landscapes and rare marine life. Towering coral walls, unique limestone formations, and caverns create a breathtaking diving experience.

The region is famous for its Salvador Dali sponges, named for their surreal, swirling shapes. Divers can also encounter whale sharks, schooling barracuda, and vibrant coral reefs teeming with life.

With a mix of stunning topography and diverse marine species, Gorontalo offers a one-of-a-kind diving adventure. Our itineraries ensure you explore its best sites, making every dive truly unforgettable.

Pulau Dua, located off Gorontalo’s southern coast, is a remote diving paradise known for its dramatic seascapes and rich marine biodiversity. Towering rock formations, steep drop-offs, and vibrant coral gardens make every dive an adventure.

This area is home to schooling fish, reef sharks, eagle rays, and stunning hard and soft corals. The nutrient-rich waters attract a variety of marine life, offering excellent visibility and exciting encounters.

With its untouched beauty and diverse underwater scenery, Pulau Dua is perfect for divers seeking a unique and less-explored destination. Our itineraries ensure you experience the best this hidden gem has to offer.

The Banggai Islands, off Central Sulawesi’s eastern coast, are a stunning and diverse diving destination. Known for crystal-clear waters, rich coral reefs, and unique marine species, this remote paradise offers a mix of vibrant reefs, walls, and muck diving.

One of its highlights is the endemic Banggai cardinalfish, found only in this region. Divers can also encounter schooling barracuda, reef sharks, and thriving coral ecosystems teeming with macro life.

With its pristine waters and diverse marine habitats, the Banggai Islands offer an unforgettable experience. Our itineraries take you to the best sites, ensuring every dive is a remarkable one.

Manui, a secluded gem off Sulawesi’s eastern coast, offers untouched reefs and thriving marine life. With crystal-clear waters, dramatic drop-offs, and vibrant coral gardens, it’s a dream for divers seeking pristine underwater landscapes.

This remote area is home to reef sharks, schooling fish, and a rich variety of macro life hiding among the corals. Strong currents bring nutrients, attracting larger pelagic species and ensuring exciting encounters.

With its unspoiled beauty and diverse dive sites, Manui is perfect for those looking to explore beyond the usual destinations. Our itineraries guarantee an unforgettable adventure in this hidden paradise.

Wakatobi, a world-class diving destination in Southeast Sulawesi, is famed for its pristine reefs, incredible biodiversity, and crystal-clear waters. As part of a protected marine park, it offers some of the healthiest coral ecosystems in Indonesia.

Divers can explore vibrant coral walls, sea grass beds, and reef slopes teeming with marine life. Expect encounters with turtles, reef sharks, schooling fish, and countless macro species hiding in the coral.

With stunning underwater scenery and exceptional visibility, Wakatobi is perfect for divers of all levels. Our itineraries ensure you experience the very best of this breathtaking marine paradise.

Batuata Island, a remote jewel in Indonesia’s waters, offers unspoiled reefs, dramatic drop-offs, and abundant marine life. Its isolation ensures pristine diving conditions with excellent visibility and thriving coral ecosystems.

Divers can encounter reef sharks, schooling fish, and majestic manta rays, while the vibrant coral gardens are home to countless macro species. Strong currents bring a steady flow of nutrients, attracting a diverse range of marine life.

With its untouched beauty and rich biodiversity, Batuata Island is perfect for adventurous divers seeking a hidden paradise. Our itineraries take you to the best sites for an unforgettable experience.

Taka Bonerate, home to the third-largest atoll system in the world, is a spectacular marine paradise in South Sulawesi. Its vast reef formations, crystal-clear lagoons, and diverse marine life make it a dream destination for divers.

The atoll’s nutrient-rich waters attract reef sharks, turtles, schooling fish, and vibrant coral ecosystems. Its remote location ensures pristine dive sites with excellent visibility, offering a mix of wall dives, drift dives, and macro encounters.

With its stunning underwater landscapes and rich biodiversity, Taka Bonerate promises an unforgettable diving experience. Our itineraries take you to the best sites in this extraordinary marine haven.

Komodo National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of Indonesia’s most spectacular diving destinations. Known for its strong currents and nutrient-rich waters, it boasts an incredible variety of marine life, from vibrant coral reefs to large pelagic species.

Divers can encounter manta rays, reef sharks, schools of barracuda, and an abundance of macro life. The park’s diverse dive sites range from thrilling drift dives to calm coral gardens, offering something for every experience level.

Beyond the water, Komodo’s rugged landscapes and famous Komodo dragons add to the adventure. Our itineraries ensure you experience the best of this world-renowned marine paradise.