Banda Sea Liveaboard Expedition: From Alor to Ambon Through Indonesia’s Wildest Waters

Some dive trips are built around a single destination.

You spend a week exploring the same reefs before returning home with a logbook full of incredible dives.

A Banda Sea liveaboard expedition is different.

The destination isn’t just one island or one famous dive site. It’s an entire journey across one of Indonesia’s least explored regions, where every few days the landscape, the marine life and even the feeling of the ocean change completely.

This October, our Scuba Junkie KLM Eliya will set sail on her very first Alor to Ambon expedition, kicking off the launch of our new destination, Ambon — one of Indonesia’s finest macro diving capitals, connecting remote islands, volcanic seascapes and historic spice islands in a voyage that is as much about the adventure above the surface as the diving below it.

For divers looking for something beyond the familiar, this is where the next chapter begins.

What Makes a Banda Sea Liveaboard Expedition Different?

If you’ve already explored destinations like Komodo or Raja Ampat, the Banda Sea feels different from the moment you arrive.

The distances between islands are greater. The landscapes become more dramatic. Small volcanic peaks rise straight out of the ocean, while tiny coral atolls appear hundreds of kilometres from the nearest city.

Every overnight crossing feels like you’re travelling somewhere new.

And that’s exactly the point.

Rather than diving the same region for a week, this expedition takes you through several completely different ecosystems, each with its own character both above and below the water.

It’s a journey that rewards divers who enjoy discovering what lies beyond the next horizon.

From Alor to Ambon: A Journey That Keeps Changing

The expedition begins in Alor, a destination already well known among experienced divers for its healthy reefs, colourful coral gardens and impressive biodiversity.

As KLM Eliya heads north, the scenery begins to transform.

Volcanic islands emerge from the sea, creating dramatic underwater topography shaped by centuries of geological activity. Around Manuk, one of the expedition’s highlights, divers may encounter large numbers of sea snakes weaving effortlessly through the reef while schools of pelagic fish patrol the blue.

A few days later, the reefs change once again.

The remote Lucipara Islands feel almost untouched, with pristine coral formations surrounded by open ocean. Far from busy coastlines, these reefs offer a completely different diving experience, reminding you just how vast Indonesia’s archipelago really is.

Then comes another surprise.

Instead of another remote reef, the expedition arrives at Banda Neira, the historic heart of Indonesia’s spice trade. Walking through its colonial streets after days at sea offers a welcome change of pace before the adventure continues underwater.

By the time you reach Ambon eleven days later, it feels less like visiting a single destination and more like completing an expedition across several worlds.

October: The Season of Hammerheads

Every season in Indonesia offers something different.

For the Banda Sea, October has earned a special reputation.

It is traditionally the time of year when divers have the best chance of encountering schooling hammerhead sharks around the Hatta Islands. Like all wildlife encounters, nothing can ever be guaranteed, but generations of divers return during this period hoping to witness one of the ocean’s most iconic sights.

Of course, hammerheads are only part of the story.

Large schools of fish, pelagic species, vibrant reefs and dramatic underwater landscapes make every day feel different from the last.

That unpredictability is part of what makes expedition diving so rewarding.

No two crossings are ever exactly the same.

Designed for Divers Who Enjoy the Journey

This isn’t a trip built around ticking famous dive sites off a list.

It’s designed for divers who appreciate exploration.

Over eleven days aboard KLM Eliya, you’ll complete approximately 28 to 30 dives, depending on weather and sea conditions, while travelling through one of Indonesia’s most diverse marine regions.

Some mornings begin beneath towering volcanic islands.

Others start over remote coral reefs with nothing but open ocean stretching to the horizon.

And occasionally, the best moments happen between dives, watching another island slowly appear on the horizon as the crew prepares for the next adventure.

Why Explore the Banda Sea with Scuba Junkie KLM Eliya?

Expeditions are about more than the places you visit.

They’re about the people you share them with.

Aboard KLM Eliya, the goal isn’t simply to show you great dive sites. It’s to create an experience where every part of the journey feels considered, from the dive planning and safety briefings to meals shared around the table after a full day in the water.

As with every Scuba Junkie Liveaboards trip, routes remain flexible, allowing the Cruise Director to adapt the itinerary according to sea conditions and wildlife activity while always putting guest safety first.

That flexibility is one of the reasons expedition diving feels so different from a fixed itinerary.

Nature sets the schedule.

We simply make the most of it.

A New Chapter for KLM Eliya

A New Chapter for Scuba Junkie KLM Eliya

October 2027 marks an exciting milestone as KLM Eliya embarks on her very first October Banda Sea crossing with a three-part Banda Sea Crossing Series that bridges some of Indonesia’s most legendary diving hubs..

The three expeditions that are in this series are:

1. Komodo (Labuan Bajo departure) to Alor | 1–10 October 2027 
2. Alor to Ambon | 12–22 October 2027
3. Ambon to Raja Ampat | 25 October–3 November 2027

To celebrate, we’ve got a little surprise planned for guests who have sailed with us before as part of your loyalty reward.

We’re not saying any more just yet…

But if you’ve been part of the Eliya family before, keep an eye on your email (before 31st August 2026).

We think you’ll like it.

Is This Expedition Right for You?

If your idea of the perfect dive trip is staying in one place, this probably isn’t it.

But if you enjoy waking up somewhere new, exploring remote islands, and never quite knowing what tomorrow’s dive will bring, then the Banda Sea liveaboard expedition offers something genuinely different.

It’s an adventure that rewards curiosity as much as experience.

And once you’ve crossed from Alor to Ambon, you’ll understand why so many divers describe expedition diving as their favourite way to explore Indonesia.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does the Banda Sea liveaboard expedition take place?

Scuba Junkie KLM Eliya sails this expedition in October, traditionally the season offering the best chance of encountering schooling hammerhead sharks.

How long is the expedition?

The Alor to Ambon expedition lasts 11 days and 10 nights.

How many dives are included?

Depending on weather and sea conditions, divers can expect approximately 28 to 30 dives during the expedition.

Do you guarantee hammerhead sightings?

No. Wildlife encounters are never guaranteed, but October has traditionally offered the best opportunity to encounter schooling hammerheads.

Who is this expedition suitable for?

This expedition is designed for experienced divers who enjoy exploration, changing environments and multi-day crossings.