Day trips from town
Half and full-day boats, typically two to three dives, leaving directly from Banda Neira.
Diving · day boat or liveaboard
Diving and liveaboard packages
Two formats: day boats out of Banda Neira town, or a multi-day Banda Sea liveaboard out of Ambon. Most people end up combining one of them with the forts, the nutmeg groves and the volcano.
- Oct–Apr
- Calm season and hammerheads
- 18–28 m
- Typical visibility
- 4–10
- Liveaboard nights
In short
A day-boat package uses Banda Neira as a fixed base and returns to town each evening; a liveaboard sleeps on board and reaches the outer Banda Sea — which one is right depends on whether you are here to dive or to see the islands.
- We broker cabins on partner vessels rather than running a fleet.
- Far fewer liveaboards pass through Banda than Komodo or Raja Ampat.
- Open Water minimum for dive days; Advanced for the outer walls.
Two formats
What we actually arrange
Mixed dive and snorkel days
One boat, both activities — for groups travelling together at different certification levels.
Banda Sea liveaboards
Four to ten nights, usually out of Ambon, linking Neira with Ai, Run, Hatta and the outer seamounts.
Gear and Nitrox
Rental available; Nitrox on request. Confirm before arrival — stock on the island is genuinely limited.
Seasonal extended routes can link Banda with Raja Ampat, Alor or Komodo, subject to vessel schedule.
Indicative bands
What diving here costs
Broad planning bands for 2026, not fixed quotes. Remote-region diving genuinely varies with group size, season, vessel class and dive count.
| Package | Indicative range | Per |
|---|---|---|
| Single day trip, 2–3 dives | USD 90–160 | per person |
| Full-day private charter | USD 250–450 | per boat |
| Liveaboard, 4–6 nights | USD 1,400–2,800 | per person |
| Liveaboard, 7–10 nights | USD 2,800–5,500+ | per person |
Excludes flights, conservation fees where they apply, and personal dive insurance. We do not publish a fixed rate card because these trips genuinely vary — ask for a written quote against your dates.
Full dive site guide
Do I need to be certified?
For the dive component, yes — Open Water at minimum, and the deeper current-exposed sites such as Karang Hatta suit Advanced divers. Non-certified travellers can still join snorkelling days or a mixed dive-and-snorkel package.
Can non-divers join a liveaboard?
In most cases, yes. Cabins are booked per person regardless of whether that person dives; non-divers usually snorkel the same sites and join the island landings. Tell us in advance so cabin and activity planning account for it.
Day trip or liveaboard?
A day trip keeps you based in town, which suits anyone combining diving with the forts, the nutmeg history and Gunung Api. A liveaboard covers more distant sites and a higher dive count, which suits divers who came for the water and nothing else.
How far ahead should I book?
Several months for the Oct–Apr season, and earlier still for a specific vessel or cabin category. Liveaboard schedules through the Banda Sea are limited and flights via Ambon have finite seats.
Next in this silo
Read before you dive
Diving guide
Sites, depths, levels and the best windows.
Snorkelling spots
Drop-offs you can reach from the surface.
Best time to visit 2026
Season by season, including hammerhead months.
Compare all packages
Options, inclusions and trip styles side by side.
Getting there via Ambon
Flights, the Pelni ferry and the charter hop.
Plan your trip
Get a diving quote
Send your dates, certification level and roughly how many dives you have logged. We lay out realistic options for that week and quote against them.
Fastest reply is WhatsApp. No spam, and we do not sell your details.