Maluku Tourism: Banda Islands, a paradise of diving

Located about 132 kilometers southeast of Ambon, Banda Islands are remote areas but very beautiful with colorful coral reefs, warm waters and exotic marine life.

Banda marine park also has 350 species of marine life, including various types of ancient shells that are currently endangered. The beauty of the marine park in which there are various kinds of fish. Divers will be more indulgent.

In 2001 and 2002, the Conservancy was doing the Ecological Study of the Banda Islands, the purpose for gathering information on marine resources. Preliminary research showed that the coral reefs of Banda has an incredible biodiversity, with 310 species of reef-building coral, about 871 species of fish, and very high population of shark and groupers. Banda Islands and then proposed as a World Heritage Area.

Because of the beauty of corals and marine life, in the year 2006 Banda Sea was elected as a World Heritage Area for underwater paradise in Indonesia, better than the marine park in Raja Ampat archipelago (West Papua), Bunaken (NorthSulawesi), Wakatobi (Southeast Sulawesi) and Berau (East Kalimantan).

That location could be achieved by using ferry trip for one night from Ambon city. The right time to get there is when the sea is calm and not choppy. Usually in March, April, May, September, October and November.

It could be said Banda is a paradise for divers from around the world to explore the underwater life of the most isolated and very natural in the world. Curious how the natural beauty there, here are the greatest dive sites on the island of Banda:

SONEGAT is the nearest place to dive. It is located in the middle between Banda Neira and Volcano Island. Try it you descend a steep dive in between the cliffs and extending 25 meters on a rocky cliffs. Many large tuna fish here, also few blue girled fish and angel fish. [picture 01]

KERAKA ISLAND or some people say the island of Crab. Like a carpet of sand spread on the northern coast a wonderful place for a picnic. On the south coast there are several 18-meter-high wall that is covered by a blue and yellow tunicates. On the east coast, you can see at the deep of 10 feet, a variety of reef fish and a group of barracuda. This place can be easily identified by its small lighthouse. [picture 02]

BATU KAPAL (Ship Stone) This place can be reached about 20 minutes by boat from Banda Neira. This is a good combination for a dive in the morning, picnic on the beach, or dive in the afternoon. [picture 03]

VOLCANO ISLAND (Gunung Api). In the month of May 1988, an explosion of this volcano has killed almost all offshore coral formations found around volcano, but the amazing thing happened is the growth again of variety of sponges. Some of the corals began to grow again, but the landscape still leaves a large marine pallor because there is no barrier from the volcano. [picture 04]

LONTAR ISLAND. The outer edge of the island of papyrus, which represents the rim of a sunken caldera, offers several good dive sites. [picture 05]

AI ISLAND. Same with Hatta Island, this island offers the best places for diving in the Banda.North and south-west coast of Ai surrounded by strong walls of rock, full of caves and, a fish habitat that harbors fish. [picture 06]

HATTA ISLAND. Located about 25 kilometers from the sea Banda Neira. Skaru Atoll, a coral which almost sank within a few hundred meters from the southern point of Hatta Island. Among the corals that you can watch the passing herd of Unicorn fish, Fusiliers, jack fish and rainbow runners, Whitetip sharks measuring almost two meters, napoleon wrasse, dog toothed tuna, and hawksbill turtles. [picture 07]

SYAHRIR ISLAND is also known as Banana Island because of its shape which resembles a banana. Syahrir island has a beautiful beach area decorated with a variety of coral reefs and underwater life with a variety of colorful fish. This island can be reached by motor boat ride for 40 minutes of Bandaneira. [picture 08, 09]