May 2 – May 14, 2028

Day 1 - AMBON BAY, EMBARKATION (1 check dive)

Guests are welcomed aboard KLM Mari at Ambon harbour. After a full safety briefing and cabin orientation, we open the expedition in the black sand slopes of Ambon Bay — one of Asia's finest muck diving destinations, and a vivid counterpoint to the pelagic and reef diving that lies ahead. Laha — Check dive. Black sand slopes and rubble fields teeming with macro subjects. Ambon scorpionfish, frogfish in multiple species, ghost pipefish, thorny seahorses and nudibranchs are common sightings. The endemic psychedelic frogfish — first described to science from this location — is the site's most celebrated resident. Mari departs overnight toward Nusa Laut.

Days 2 - NUSA LAUT (3 dives + night dive)

Nusa Laut is a small island east of Ambon whose diving stands as one of the most compelling arguments for community-led marine conservation in Indonesia. Decades of strict local protection have produced reef health and fish biomass that grow visibly year on year. In season, the island's current-swept walls offer early hammerhead encounters. Akon — A wall and slope dive on Nusa Laut's southern shore. Schools of jacks move in sweeping formations above excellent hard coral coverage, with reef sharks patrolling the deeper sections. Ameth — A current-swept reef on Nusa Laut's southeastern coast and one of the Banda Sea's most reliable early-season hammerhead sites. Solitary and small groups of scalloped hammerheads cruise the outer wall edge, with turtles, Napoleon wrasse and dense schooling fish filling the shallower sections. Nusa Laut East Wall — A less-visited aspect of the island facing the open Seram Sea, where the wall drops steeply into blue water. Tuna, eagle rays and lone hammerheads pass through on the current. Ameth — Night dive. Octopus, crustaceans and nocturnal reef fish emerge across the coral rubble after dark. Mari departs overnight toward Suanggi.

Day 3 - SUANGGI (3 dives + night dive)

Suanggi is a small, uninhabited rocky outcrop rising from the open Banda Sea, its sheer walls plunging into the abyss. During the September to November season, schooling scalloped hammerhead sharks are the defining encounter. A full day in the water. Suanggi North Wall — Drift along the wall with one eye on the reef and the other trained on the blue water beyond. Large schools of blackfin barracuda form shimmering vortexes while giant trevallies and dogtooth tuna patrol the edges. Schooling hammerheads cruise past in the deeper water during favorable conditions, with squadrons of mobula rays on productive days. Suanggi South Point — The southern tip of the island where two current streams converge, creating a focal point for pelagic life. Barracuda, jacks and tuna gather at the convergence while the wall below offers excellent coral growth and hammerhead sightings from a different angle. Suanggi Plateau — A submerged plateau on the island's sheltered side. Coral bommies, large gorgonian fans and an abundance of reef fish in calmer water — an ideal third dive after the adrenaline of the exposed walls. Suanggi North Wall — Night dive. The wall takes on a different character after dark, with nocturnal reef creatures emerging across the current-swept reef. Mari departs overnight toward the Banda Islands.

Day 4 - BANDA ISLANDS (3 dives + land excursion)

The Banda Islands are among the most historically charged places in Indonesia. Once the world's only source of nutmeg, these tiny volcanic islands were fought over by European colonial powers for two centuries. Today they have returned to their quiet volcanic beauty — and the diving is extraordinary. Gunung Api Wall — The submerged flanks of the active Banda Api volcano descend in a dramatic wall of black volcanic rock draped in multicoloured hard and soft corals. The stark contrast between the lava seabed and the reef growth above it is unlike anything else on the route. Sea snakes are a constant presence, weaving through the coral at every depth, utterly indifferent to divers. Pulau Keraka — A sheltered wall and reef circling a small lighthouse islet at the northern entrance to the Banda Neira strait. Excellent coral coverage with reef fish throughout, and a good option for a calmer third dive after the exposed walls of Gunung Api. Mandarin Point — A structured dusk dive above the volcanic rubble of the Banda Neira pier, timed for the mandarinfish mating ritual — one of the most celebrated dusk dives in eastern Indonesia. Land excursion: Guests come ashore at Banda Neira. Fort Belgica, a well-preserved 17th-century Dutch fortress perched above the harbour, offers sweeping views of the volcano and the archipelago. The tour continues through colonial-era streets to the maritime museum and through working nutmeg plantations still cultivated using techniques unchanged in centuries. Mari departs overnight toward Manuk Island.

Day 5 - MANUK ISLAND (3 dives)

A solitary active volcano in the deep open ocean. Sulphurous smoke drifts from the peak as guests descend. Manuk is known throughout Indonesia as the Island of Sea Snakes — dozens of banded sea kraits and olive sea snakes inhabit the reef at every depth, utterly indifferent to divers. Thousands of seabirds nest and soar above the waterline. Hammerhead sharks remain possible on every dive. Manuk Ridge — A volcanic ridge with dramatic topography, steep drop-offs and thriving coral gardens, and a high concentration of sea snakes woven through the reef structure. Grey reef sharks patrol the deeper sections while trevallies and tuna cruise the blue beyond. Palm Point — A good location for hammerhead and mobula ray sightings in addition to the sea snake encounters found throughout Manuk's reef system.

Day 6 - SERUA (3 dives)

Serua is a remote volcanic island rising sharply from the deep Banda Sea and one of the most emblematic hammerhead destinations in Indonesia. Nutrient-rich upwelling currents that sweep its walls attract schooling scalloped hammerheads in numbers that can rival anything in the region during peak season. Jackpot — Serua's most celebrated site and one of the Banda Sea's most consistent hammerhead aggregation points. Strong, nutrient-rich currents sweep the reef. Hammerheads, silvertips and mobula rays concentrate here during favorable conditions. Serua Wall — A vertical drop-off swept by strong current, with immense gorgonian sea fans, black coral formations and barrel sponges lining the upper sections. Schools of bigeye trevallies and dogtooth tuna patrol the wall's exposed face while hammerheads cruise the deeper water beyond the reef edge. Kekah's Corner — A sloping wall of corals with occasional barrel sponges off the tiny adjacent island of Kekah. A steady nutrient-rich current turns most dives into a pleasant drift, with hammerheads possible in the blue water beyond. Mari departs overnight toward Damar.

Day 7 - DAMAR — NUS LEUR — TERBANG (3 dives)

The approach to the Forgotten Islands proper. Damar is a volcanic island with a hard coral garden prized for afternoon and night diving, while the smaller islands of Nus Leur and Terbang Utara and Terbang Selatan to its south offer some of the most dramatic wall diving in the outer arc. Nus Leur — A small atoll with a steep sloping reef. Napoleon wrasse cruise the deeper sections while a beautiful shallow coral garden makes for a memorable safety stop and end-of-dive drift. Terbang Utara (North Terbang) — A dramatic wall with large overhangs dripping with soft corals. Deep water on all sides attracts pelagic species including dogtooth tuna, schooling barracuda and trevally, with oceanic whitetip sharks patrolling the blue on productive dives. Terbang Selatan (South Terbang) — Equally dramatic seascapes with slightly milder currents than the northern island. Rugged underwater terrain with sheer drop-offs and vibrant coral slopes, frequented by eagle rays, surgeonfish and bumphead parrotfish.

Day 8 - ROMANG (3 dives)

Romang is a small volcanic island located to the east of Wetar, surrounded by several smaller islands and unspoiled coral reefs. Remote, with excellent visibility and diverse marine life, it is one of the least-dived destinations on the entire Forgotten Islands route. Nyata — One of the most pristine reefs on the route, with very healthy hard coral formations in the shallows and incredible fish action attracted to the dive site. Steep reef to wall transitions with Napoleon wrasse, schooling jacks and barracuda throughout.

Day 9 - WETAR & REONG (3 to 4 dives)

Not many people can say they have dived Wetar Island. Swift drift dives between Wetar and the small limestone island of Reong pass walls of extraordinary color and density. The contrast between Wetar's volcanic terrain and Reong's limestone structure offers two distinct diving environments in a single day. Tanjung Nunukae — Wetar's star dive site. A large ridge where shallows form a plateau that narrows as it deepens, dropping off abruptly into a wall swathed in gigantic sea fans, cup corals and impressive sponges. Mobula and manta rays have both been encountered here. Currents are generally moderate to strong. Reong North — A current-swept channel wall between Wetar and Reong where mantas and mobula rays circle cleaning stations. Eagle rays and bumphead parrotfish are common along the ridge pinnacles. Reong Wall — The limestone island's outer wall: reef sharks, barracuda and trevallies patrol consistently, with impressive wall and overhang structure throughout.

Day 10 - ALOR (3 to 4 dives)

Alor is a favourite destination for returning divers, offering a range of habitats in a single day — dramatic walls, healthy pinnacles, world-class muck diving and some of the highest anemone density recorded anywhere in Indonesia. Water temperatures can drop significantly in the Alor/Pantar Strait due to cold upwellings. Boardroom — A majestic wall on the northern side of Pura Island dropping to 50m (164ft), with caves filled with glassfish and schooling jacks and snappers hanging at the entrances. Clown Valley — Also known as Apuri or Anemone Valley. An extraordinary concentration of anemones sheltering countless anemonefish — considered to have the highest density of anemones in the world. Babylon — A rich reef wall dropping to 28m (92ft), bustling with numerous species of reef fish and colorful corals. Sandy ledges with schooling fish and soft corals throughout.

Day 11 - ALOR CONTINUED (3 to 4 dives)

A second day in the Alor archipelago, exploring further aspects of the Pantar Strait and its surrounding reefs. The Pantar Strait is a thoroughfare for large pelagics including dolphins, whales and Mola Mola, and the diving here rewards those who look equally at reef structure and open water.

Day 12 - LEMBATA / KAWULA (2 morning dives)

Two final morning dives in the Lembata or Kawula area before the overnight crossing to Maumere. Equipment is rinsed and stowed after the second dive, respecting recommended no-fly intervals before departure. Mari departs overnight toward Maumere.

Day 13 - DISEMBARKATION MAUMERE

Following breakfast, guests disembark in Maumere at the conclusion of one of Indonesia's most ambitious expedition crossings — from the legendary critter diving of Ambon Bay through the pelagic drama of the Banda Sea inner arc, down the volcanic spine of the Forgotten Islands, and into the rich reef diversity of Alor and the Flores Sea. Please prepare to leave the boat between approximately 06:00 and 12:00, depending on your onward travel schedule. Transfers to Frans Seda Airport (MOF) or your hotel can be arranged on request.

Please note that the above itinerary is provided as a sample outline only. It is intended to illustrate the type of experience and dive sites typically explored during this expedition. Actual routing, dive selection, and daily activities may vary from cruise to cruise. The Captain and Cruise Director will adapt the itinerary at their discretion in response to weather and sea conditions, tides and currents, regulatory requirements, national park directives, local community considerations, and — above all — to ensure the safety, comfort, and optimal experience of our guests.