Day 1 : Embarkation Day- (1 check dive)Â
At 9 AM, one of our drivers will collect you from your hotel* and transfer you to the harbour in Sorong. Once onboard KLM Eliya, our crew will welcome you with refreshments while the Cruise Director introduces you to the vessel, safety procedures and the plan for the days ahead.
After settling into your cabin and preparing your gear, a relaxed check dive following lunch gives everyone the chance to get comfortable in the water before the real adventure begins. That afternoon, Eliya departs Sorong and begin her first overnight crossing, heading south toward the spectacular limestone islands of Misool.
*Guests arriving on an early morning flight may also be collected directly from the airport, provided the flight lands no later than 10AM. However, we strongly recommend arriving the day before embarkation to avoid possible delays or missing the boat!
Day 2 & 3: (3 day dives + 1 sunset/ night dive each day)
After the overnight crossing, we will wake surrounded by the limestone islands and turquoise lagoons of southern Raja Ampat. Over the next two days, we will explore some of Misool’s most iconic dive areas — sites around Daram, Boo and Fiabacet — conditions permitting.
This region is world-renowned for its extraordinary biodiversity: giant sea fans, dramatic reef formations and dense schools of fusiliers, snappers and barracudas create some of the richest reef scenes on the planet. Manta rays are regularly spotted at several cleaning stations, while sunset and night dives may reveal the elusive Raja Ampat walking shark hunting quietly amongst the reef.
Each day follows a rhythm of three day dives and one sunset or night dive, with plenty of time in between to relax onboard, soak in the scenery and experience life at sea as we settle into the pace of expedition.
Day 4: (3 day dives)
After an overnight crossing from Misool, we arrive at Pulau Koon, located at the meeting point of the shallow Ceram Sea and the deep Banda Sea.
We spend the day exploring different sections of the reef, reading the currents and conditions as we go. After the final dive, Eliya continues southward across the Banda Sea toward the remote volcanic island of Pulau Manuk.
SIGNATURE SITE: "Too Many Fish" — the name says everything. Koon's reef, protected for generations by local communities, is one of Eastern Indonesia's most extraordinary fish aggregation sites: immense schools of reef fish, vibrant coral slopes, resident turtles and constant pelagic traffic. On a good day, leopard sharks and passing hammerheads make an appearance.
Day 5: (3 day dives)
Rising in isolation from the Banda Sea, Pulau Manuk is one of the most remote and dramatic islands of the entire expedition. This active volcanic island, inhabited only by seabirds, carries a truly wild atmosphere where the raw power of nature is constantly present above and below the surface.
Underwater, steep volcanic slopes are draped in giant sponges and massive sea fans, swept by nutrient-rich currents. Large schools of pelagic fish patrol the deeper ridges, but Pulau Manuk is most celebrated for something far more unusual: its remarkable population of sea snakes. Often seen hunting in coordinated groups alongside trevallies and emperors, Manuk's sea snakes create a diving experience that is genuinely singular — unlike anything else in Indonesia, or anywhere else for that matter. This dive consistently ranks as one of the expedition's defining moments.
Following the final dive, Eliya continues overnight toward the remote forgotten islands of Teon, Nila and Serua — also known as the TNS archipelago.
Day 6: (3 day dives)
This morning, we will awaken within the remote Teon, Nila and Serua island chain — far removed from any regular tourist route. These isolated reefs are shaped by deep ocean currents and volcanic geography, and the diving reflects it: steep walls, offshore pinnacles and pristine coral filled with abundant marine life.
Dive sites are chosen according to conditions and tides, but large schools of jacks and fusiliers are commonplace, and reef sharks and other pelagic species regularly patrol the drop-offs. A true Banda Sea experience in one of its most overlooked corners.
As the day closes, Eliya turns westward through the Banda Sea, bound for Pulau Romang.
Day 7: (3 day dives)
Romang offers a compelling mix of untouched coral reefs, small island scenery and exhilarating Banda Sea drift dives. Our preferred dive area lies around the Telang island group on Romang’s eastern side, where crystal-clear water, healthy reefs and strong fish life create outstanding diving conditions.
The dive ranges from vibrant shallow coral gardens to fast-moving channels attracting sharks and large schools of pelagic fish. On a secret site, there is also a good chance of encountering silvertip reef sharks and nurse sharks resting beneath coral bommies.
Between dives, we may also enjoy time ashore that reveals the kind of remote island landscape that reminds you how far from the ordinary world you've come. Eliya then continues toward Wetar Island.
Day 8: (3 day dives)
Today's diving focuses on the spectacular northwestern coast of Wetar Island, particularly around Pulau Reong and its surrounding reefs. Nutrient-rich waters drive intense fish activity, and the incoming tides produce some of the most exhilarating drift dives of the expedition.
Huge aggregations of surgeonfish, jacks and reef fish gather in the channels, while vibrant coral gardens provide excellent conditions for more relaxed exploration between stronger current dives. Above the surface, the dramatic volcanic landscape is one of the most visually striking backdrops of the entire journey.
After the final dive, Eliya begins her last overnight crossing — toward the Alor archipelago.
Day 9: (3 day dives + 1 sunset/ night dive)
Widely regarded as one of Indonesia's hidden gems, the Alor archipelago combines spectacular underwater biodiversity with dramatic island landscapes and powerful currents. The day's diving focuses primarily on the famous Pantar Strait, where nutrient-rich waters sustain thriving coral reefs and remarkable fish activity.
Depending on conditions, cooler upwellings from the deep ocean can occasionally attract larger pelagic visitors — including mola mola and hammerhead sharks. A fitting finale for a week of Banda Sea pelagic diving.
As dusk falls, we move into Kalabahi Bay for something entirely different: one of Indonesia's finest muck dives. Strange and fascinating macro creatures lie hidden in the dark volcanic sand — a completely different world from the open-water reef dives that have defined the week.
Day 10: (2 day dives + Optional Village visit)
The final two dives complete our exploration of the Alor region, while the crew carefully rinses and stows all dive equipment in preparation for disembarkation.
In the afternoon, guests are invited to visit a local Alorese village — a chance to experience the culture and warmth of a community that lives close to its ancestral traditions, in a genuinely unhurried way of life rarely encountered on mainstream tourist routes. Depending on the day's activities, guests may witness traditional ceremonies or dances taking place naturally within the community.
As the sun sets over Kalabahi Bay, the full crew and guests gather onboard one final time — to mark the end of a journey that's difficult to leave behind, from the reefs of Raja Ampat to the remote volcanic islands of the Banda Sea and Alor.
Day 11: Disembarkation Day (Depart by 10am)
KLM Eliya concludes her expedition at Kalabahi Harbour. Breakfast will be served as usual before guests begin disembarkation. Guests may leave the boat from 5 AM, with all departures completed by 10 AM.
Transfers can be arranged either to the airport or to hotels within Kalabahi town for guests continuing their travels through Indonesia.
