LIVEABOARD ROUTE

Dewi Nusantara — Ambon, Historic Banda, The Forgotten Islands & Alor — Ambon to Kalabahi — 11 Nights

A 11-night Dewi Nusantara expedition from Ambon to Kalabahi following Ambon, Historic Banda, The Forgotten Islands & Alor.
Vessel Dewi Nusantara
Country Indonesia
Duration 11 nights
Estimated diving Approximately 34 dives
Embarkation Ambon
View Departures & Cabins Explore the Itinerary

The route

Route Overview

A classic eastward transition from Ambon through the Banda Islands and the Forgotten Islands to Alor. The itinerary blends critter-rich Maluku waters, historic volcanic islands, remote open-ocean reefs and the current-influenced biodiversity of the Alor/Pantar region.

This Matrixify route represents the exact 11-night Ambon-to-Kalabahi version shown in the Dewi Nusantara / Inseanq schedule. It links 2 scheduled departures currently loaded from September 2026 through January 2029.

Sample itinerary descriptions, dive areas and wildlife highlights are indicative. The captain and cruise director retain final authority over route, dive-site order, timing and participation according to weather, currents, permits, guest experience and safety. Wildlife encounters are never guaranteed.

Official operator itinerary concept: Dewi Nusantara Cruising Itinerary 26. Source library: https://dewi-nusantara.com/scheduled/indonesia-cruise-itineraries

Day by day

Operator Itinerary

This is the operator’s indicative itinerary. The captain and cruise director may change the sequence according to conditions, safety and marine-park regulations.

Embarkation — Ambon. Vessel orientation, emergency procedures, dive paperwork and equipment setup are completed before the expedition begins.

The vessel continues to the historic Banda Islands, where volcanic slopes, walls and offshore reefs sit within one of Indonesia’s most storied maritime regions.

The middle-to-late cruise traverses the remote Forgotten Islands chain, with long passages linking isolated reefs and islands rarely visited by land-based divers.

Final expedition phase — The final sector reaches Alor, where strong tidal exchange supports clear water, dramatic walls, colourful reefs and exceptional small-life potential before disembarkation in Kalabahi.

Disembarkation — Kalabahi. Exact transfer and flight windows are confirmed by the operator for each sailing.

Diving profile

Diving Ambon, Historic Banda, The Forgotten Islands & Alor

Diving overview

This itinerary is built around Ambon, Lease Islands, Banda Islands, Forgotten Islands. Dewi Nusantara schedules up to four dives per day when passage time, current, daylight and operational conditions allow.

Diving is conducted from two 7 m tenders. The dive team normally works with small groups; a maximum guide ratio of four divers to one dive guide is the operator’s stated planning standard.

Every day’s sites and timings remain flexible. The captain and cruise director may change sequence, anchorage and dive sites for weather, current, permits, local information and safe operation.

Conditions and experience

Remote eastern Indonesian routes can include strong current, blue-water crossings, exposed walls and variable visibility. Some sites are suitable only when the tide and sea state are favourable.

Dive plans are adjusted to the group’s experience and conditions. A conservative approach is used on remote sectors where medical evacuation can require significant time.

Underwater photography

Dewi Nusantara is particularly well equipped for underwater photographers: a dedicated camera room, approximately 12 m of camera-table space, multiple charging points, storage and a camera-only rinse tank support both large housings and compact systems.

The route can support both wide-angle and macro work. Representative subjects include Ambon macro life, Banda Sea walls, Remote Forgotten Islands, Alor reefs, Sea snakes — possible in Banda region. Wildlife and individual photographic subjects are never guaranteed.

Bring critical batteries, chargers, storage media, O-rings and spares; remote itineraries have limited access to replacement equipment.

Representative dive areas

  • Ambon
  • Lease Islands
  • Banda Islands
  • Forgotten Islands
  • Alor
  • Pantar Strait

Listed sites are representative and cannot be guaranteed for a specific departure.

Marine highlights

  • Ambon macro life
  • Banda Sea walls
  • Remote Forgotten Islands
  • Alor reefs
  • Sea snakes — possible in Banda region
  • Pelagic encounters — possible

Wildlife encounters are natural and are never guaranteed.

Best suited to

Banda Sea crossing Remote islands Experienced divers Macro and wide-angle photography

Destination gallery

The route in pictures

Destination and underwater imagery for this specific route. Open any image for a larger view.

Dewi Nusantara — Ambon, Historic Banda, The Forgotten Islands & Alor — Ambon to Kalabahi — 11 Nights

Plan the region

Related diving destination guides

THE VESSEL

Dewi Nusantara

A 58 m traditional three-masted wooden topsail schooner carrying a maximum of 18 guests in eight Deluxe Staterooms and one 46 m² Master Suite, purpose-built for long-range luxury diving expeditions in eastern Indonesia.

Dewi Nusantara — the ‘Goddess of the Archipelago’ — is a 58 m wooden three-masted US topsail schooner built in Kalimantan in 2007–2008 for long-range Indonesian liveaboard expeditions. Her 12 m beam and unusually high space-to-guest ratio provide expansive indoor and outdoor areas for a maximum of 18 guests.

Accommodation consists of eight 20 m² Deluxe Staterooms and one 46 m² full-beam Master Suite. Public areas include a 95 m² lounge/restaurant, a 100 m² combined dive and outdoor-dining deck and an 80 m² sun deck.

The vessel is supported by an experienced Indonesian crew, cruise director and dive masters. Dewi’s route programme covers Raja Ampat, Triton Bay, the Banda Sea, Maluku, the Forgotten Islands, Alor, Flores, Komodo and other remote sectors of eastern Indonesia.

Operated by Dewi Nusantara / CTDL Ltd.

Vessel type Wooden 3-mast US topsail schooner
Length 58 m overall (48 m over deck)
Beam 12 m
Cruising speed 8–9 knots
Guest capacity 18
Cabins 9
Year built 2008

Shared spaces

A 95 m² lounge and indoor restaurant, outdoor dining, bar/relaxation area and large sun decks provide generous common space for only 18 guests.

The midship and bow sun decks offer loungers and open views of the Indonesian islands. Dining combines Western and Indonesian dishes, snacks throughout the day and dietary accommodation with advance notice.

Dining & dietary needs

The onboard kitchen serves a mix of Western and Indonesian cuisine with breakfast, lunch, afternoon snacks and dinner structured around the dive programme.

Dietary requirements can usually be accommodated with advance notice. The standard dive package includes meals, snacks, soft beverages, local beer and one glass of wine with dinner according to the operator’s current terms.

Dive deck

The main dive/outdoor-dining deck measures approximately 100 m². Divers have personal equipment areas and direct tender access.

Dewi supplies 12 L aluminium cylinders as standard, with limited 15 L and 10 L cylinders; DIN and yoke-compatible arrangements are available. Up to four dives per day may be scheduled depending on itinerary, passage time, conditions and safety.

Dive tenders

Two custom-built approximately 7 m fibreglass dive tenders, introduced in 2019 and powered by 200 hp four-stroke engines, support the diving programme.

Each diver has a dedicated position and semi-dry storage area. The tenders are stored on the top deck during longer passages and handled by the vessel’s crane/winch system.

Camera facilities

A dedicated large camera room on the main deck is built for serious underwater photography. The approximately 12 m camera table has shelving, lighting, charging points and ample storage.

Separate rinse arrangements include a camera/computer-only wash tank and a general-equipment wash tank. Camera handling is supported during tender operations, but guests remain responsible for personal equipment.

Rental equipment

Scubapro rental equipment is available as complete sets or individual items, subject to size and availability. Lights and selected safety equipment can also be rented or purchased.

Pre-book specialised sizes or equipment well before travel; remote itineraries offer limited replacement options.

Safety equipment

Dive safety procedures include site-specific briefings, surface-marker buoys and whistles, first-aid and emergency oxygen arrangements, and personal Nautilus Marine Rescue GPS locators.

A vessel safety drill is conducted after embarkation. These itineraries visit remote areas where evacuation can take considerable time; suitable dive-accident and evacuation insurance is strongly recommended.

Navigation equipment

Navigation and communications equipment includes Furuno radar, twin GPS systems, VHF and SSB/USB radio plus Starlink satellite internet. Final connectivity remains dependent on coverage and operational conditions.

Languages spoken

  • English
  • Indonesian

ON BOARD

Vessel gallery

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Official Dewi Nusantara partner media.

ACCOMMODATION

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Dewi Nusantara

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