Oct 4 – Oct 16, 2027

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 open-ocean 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.

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 deliver the first hammerhead encounters of the expedition. 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 October 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 NEIRA (2 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. The diving is extraordinary. 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, with 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 reliable location for hammerhead and mobula ray sightings in addition to the sea snake encounters found throughout Manuk's reef system. Mari departs overnight toward Serua.

Day 6 - SERUA (3 dives)

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 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 current turns most dives into a pleasant drift, with hammerheads possible in the blue water beyond. Mari departs overnight toward Nil Desperandum.

Day 7 - NIL DESPERANDUM (3 dives)

Named after a ship stranded on the reef centuries ago — "never despair" — Nil Desperandum is a submerged atoll rising from deep water in the open Banda Sea, surrounded by a basin dropping to over 4,000 metres (13,100 ft). The upwelling currents generated around the atoll rim concentrate prey and create the conditions that draw aggregating sharks. This is one of the most remote and extraordinary dive locations in all of Indonesia. Nil Desperandum Atoll — A big atoll with very deep drop-offs and walls covered in massive barrel sponges and expanses of hard corals. Schooling hammerhead, silky and grey reef sharks have all been spotted in the deep here. Dogtooth tuna and mobula rays patrol the upper sections. Keep a constant eye on the blue water throughout every dive. Dusborough — Close to the island of Nila, this companion seamount is surrounded by very deep water with a sloping reef, deep walls and prolific reef life — with the possibility of hammerheads on every descent.

Day 8 - TEUN (3 dives)

Pulau Teun is a small active volcano rising from the southern Banda Sea, part of the celebrated TNS triad — Teun, Nila and Serua — all hotspots for schooling hammerhead shark sightings. Above the surface, smoke rises from the crater and a distinct sulphur scent hangs in the air. Below, the geological forces that built this island have shaped one of the most dramatic underwater landscapes on the route. Teun Wall — Steep walls, ancient lava ridges and cavernous overhangs, all adorned with vibrant hard and soft corals in exceptional condition thanks to the island's remote location. Dogtooth tuna patrol the reef edges, Napoleon wrasse cruise the ridges, bumphead parrotfish work the shallower sections and reef sharks — blacktip, whitetip and grey — are regular presences throughout. Teun Pinnacle — A submerged pinnacle at around 25m where hammerheads patrol. Drift along the numerous spurs and ridges watching for mobula and eagle rays in the blue water. Visibility is typically outstanding at 20–40m.A visit to Mesa, the small traditional village on the island, may be arranged at the Cruise Director's discretion.

Day 9 - DAWERA (3 to 4 dives)

Dawera is one of the Forgotten Islands' most rewarding reef destinations and a vivid contrast to the pelagic intensity of the preceding days. The local village does not fish the surrounding waters, leaving the reefs spectacularly intact. Operators who know this route regard Dawera's pinnacle as one of the finest reef dives in the entire Forgotten Islands chain. Dawera Pinnacle — A profusion of color where each and every rock is covered in coral. Dense schooling pyramid butterflyfish mix with neon fusiliers and surgeonfish for a striking visual effect. A resident school of big-eyed trevallies sweeps back and forth across the site. Batfish, schooling jacks and barracuda share the structure with white tip reef sharks, grey reef sharks and the occasional silvertip. Reef so untouched that even the fish seem curious about divers. Dawera Wall — Dramatic vertical walls with pygmy seahorses, colorful nudibranchs and elusive mantis shrimps among the hard and soft coral formations. Macro photographers will find as much here as pelagic hunters. A visit to the Dawera village, where the community welcomes guests with traditional ceremonies, may be arranged at the Cruise Director's discretion.

Day 10 - KARANG BARASADI (3 to 4 dives)

Karang Barasadi is a remote reef formation approximately 40 nautical miles north of Saumlaki — one of the least-visited dive sites on this entire crossing. Pristine coral gardens, dramatic reef walls dropping into the deep blue, and expansive sandy patches that contrast vividly with the colorful reef structure above. Barasadi Reef Wall — Healthy coral gardens with gobies, parrotfish and damselfish throughout the reef-associated community. Sandy areas harbour smaller creatures preferring open habitats. Pelagic species including tuna pass through unpredictably, and schools of bumphead parrotfish are encountered on productive dives.

Day 11 - NUSTABUN / YAMDENA APPROACHES (3 to 4 dives)

The final full dive day as Mari approaches the Tanimbar archipelago. Pulau Nustabun is a small uninhabited island near Saumlaki offering a gentle sandy slope, scattered coral heads and rubble fields — a perfect setting for macro exploration after the pelagic intensity of the preceding days. Nustabun Slope — Anemones, leaf scorpionfish and colorful nudibranchs throughout the sandy rubble. Mantis shrimp and frogfish are regular sightings. The contrast with the preceding days of open-ocean walls and hammerhead hunting could not be more complete. Between dives, guests may land on Nustabun's white sand beach — a quiet and memorable end to the diving portion of the expedition. A visit to a traditional Tanimbar village on Yamdena may be arranged at the Cruise Director's discretion. The Tanimbar people are known for powerful ancestral woodcarvings and hand-woven ikat textiles rarely encountered by outside visitors.

Day 12 - YAMDENA / SAUMLAKI APPROACHES (2 morning dives)

Two final morning dives in the waters approaching Saumlaki, respecting recommended no-fly intervals before departure. Equipment is rinsed and stowed after the second dive. Mari navigates toward Saumlaki harbour for a final overnight at anchor.

Day 13 - DISEMBARKATION SAUMLAKI

Following breakfast, guests disembark in Saumlaki at the conclusion of one of Indonesia's most ambitious expedition crossings — from the legendary critter diving of Ambon Bay, through the volcanic hammerhead arcs of the Banda Sea, into the pristine and largely unexplored Forgotten Islands of the Tanimbar archipelago. Please prepare to leave the boat between approximately 06:00 and 12:00, depending on your onward travel schedule. Transfers to Mathilda Batlayeri Airport (SXK) 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.