Diving

Fact Sheet about diving in the Moluccas (Spice Islands) (FAQ)

he most important facts like dive conditions and climate, a list of dive operators (for places where there are more than 10 dive centers I have listed dive centers not anymore), dive safety (addresses of the hyperbaric chambers), and how to get to the Moluccas on one page and ready to print.

On this page: diving facts about Ambon, Banda islands, Halmahera
Look at my website about dive sites in Ambon
Click here to look at underwater photos taken in Ambon
Indonesian dive terms


How to get to the Moluccan islands

Maps of Indonesia: Collection of maps / Overview map Indonesia (keyword Indonesia)
Maps of Maluku: map of Maluku / map of Maluku / map of Maluku / Google maps
Articles about Maluku: Alfred Russel Wallace in the Moluccas

Nusa Tenggara (Indonesia)

   

The closest international airport is in Manado in Sulawesi. The best connections the Moluccan islands are via Makassar to Ambon (Pattimura airport).

Some of the islands can only be reached by ferry (Pelni liners and local ferries) or by liveaboard. Please notice, that the schedules of feries change often and if there is bad weather some of them are better avoided!

   

Nusa Tenggara (Indonesia)

There are also several airports on the Moluccan islands but they are usually small and airplanes can't land when it is dark. Flights can be very irregular and are sometimes canceled, so plan plenty of time for your trip and plan in some extra days if you need to connect to an international flight!! Please notice that you might have to pay for dive luggage exceeding 20 kg.

Airports: Ambon, Langgur, Morotai, Ternate
Air line offices:
International Airlines Offices in Jakarta - Offices of Domestic Airlines in Indonesia


Dive conditions

Weather averages in Ambon - weather map Indonesia

 

JAN

FEB

MAR

APR

MAY

JUN

JUL

AUG

SEP

OCT

NOV

DEC

Best time to travel
Highest temperatures (°C)
30
31
31
31
32
31
31
31
31
31
31
31
Lowest temperatures (°C)
23
23
22
22
22
22
22
22
22
22
22
23
Daily hours of sunshine
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
Rainy days
16
14
16
17
18
17
17
15
12
11
13
15
Water temperatures (°C)
29
29
29
29
29
28
27
27
27
29
29
29

Dive operators in the Moluccas

Ambon

Maluku Divers (former Ambon Dive Centre)
Blue Rose Divers in Latuhalat
Nabucco's Cape Paperu Dive Resort in Saparua
Blue Motion
Dive into Ambon

Most of the resorts are usually closed in the summer months

Banda

Blue Motion
Diving Banda

Halmahera

Weda Dive Resort east coast of Central Halmahera

The weather

In general Indonesia has two yearly seasons of monsoon winds: the southeast monsoon (dry) and the northwest monsoon (rain). The dry season usually runs from May through September and the rainy season from November through March. Exception are the Moluccas (Maluku) where seasons are reversed. Map with weather in Indonesia - weather now - weather records and average in Ambon.


Dive safety

Phone DAN (Divers Alert Network) outside Australia +61-8-8212 9242

Hyperbaric chambers (or recompression chamber) in Manado:

Manado: At the Malalayang Hospital (chamber for 3 to 4 persons) Phone: 0812-4302970 / Dr Glen Hawkins HP +61 407700701 / Dr Sosiawati HP 0812 467 2923 / Dr Hanry Takasenseran HP 0813 4000 0840

Makassar: Rumah Sakit Umum Wahidin Sudirohusodo. Contact person: Pak Daniel Address: Jl. Perintis Kemerdekaan Km. 11, Tamalanrea Kampus UNHAS Indonesia TEL:++ 62 - 0411 (584677) , 584675 . Said to be for 3 to 4 persons.

Singapore: The Singapore Naval Underwater Medicine Centre. Phone +65-6758 1733 (24-hours Emergency Hotline) / +65-6796 4197 (appointments)
Hyperbaric Medical Services, 1 Orchard Boulevard #08-05, Camden Medical, Centre, Singapore 248649, Phone: +65-6732 8552
Hyperbaric Medicine Centre, 11 Jalan Tan Tock Seng, Tan Tock Seng, Hospital, Basement 1, Singapore 308433, Phone: +65-6355 9021/2
www.hyperbaric-singapore.com / Medical Director: Dr Wong Ted Min

For more information about hyperbaric chambers look at the Indonesia page or the dive safety page.


More Information about scuba diving in south-east Asia

Description of dive sites

Asia: Burma / Thailand
Indonesia: Bali (east, north, south) / Nusa Tenggara (Lombok, Komodo, Flores, Alor) / Sulawesi (Bunaken, Manado, Bangka, Tukangbesi islands, Makassar and Selayar, Lembeh strait, Siau and Sangihe islands, Palu, Togian and Banggai islands) / Kalimantan
Malaysia: East coast (Perhentians, Redang) / Overview Borneo / Sabah and Sarawak / Lankayan / Mabul and Sipadan
Philippines: Visayas (Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, Siquijor) / Sangat and Palawan (Tubbataha Reef)
Galapagos islands: center Galapagos, north Galapagos, southeast Galapagos, west Galapagos

Fact sheets

Bali - Borneo and Kalimantan - Burma and Thailand - Galapagos - Malaysia(east coast) - Manado, Lembeh and Siau islands - Nusa Tenggara (Lombok, Sumbawa, Komodo, Flores, Alor) - Moluccas (Ambon, Banda, Halmahera) - Palawan (Sangat, Tubbataha) - Sulawesi - Sulawesi central - Visayas (Bohol, Cebu, Negros, Siquijor)

Tauchplätze

Indonesien allgemein - Bali - Bali Nord - Bali Ost - Bali Süd - Bunaken - Bangka - Manado- Lembeh

Informations-Seiten

Bali - Bunaken, Manado, Lembeh, Siau

This page www.starfish.ch/dive/info/Moluccas-info.html . Copyright Teresa Zubi (write to me).
I am not responsible for the contents of any sites linked to this website or any other off-site pages. Link to them at your own risk.