Ternate, Morotai, Halmahera & Lembeh
ItinerariesTernate, Morotai, Halmahera & Lembeh onboard White Manta
Welcome to Halmahera where remote, unspoiled, and stunning underwater landscapes await, tracing, the coast of Northern Halmahera, visiting the remote island of Morotai where bucket list marine life: sharks, macro, & WWII wrecks await. Returning south-west, sailing across the Molucca Sea, we finish in the world-famous critter heaven of the Lembeh Straits.
11 Days / 10 Nights
Sample Itinerary
11 Days / 10 Nights
Note: All schedules are subjected to changes according to weather, sea, diving, & local conditions.
Day 1. (0-2 dives) 1pm. Our staff will meet you upon your arrival at Ternate Airport and transfer to White Manta. Once all the guests are on board you will receive a very warm welcome, briefing, dinner. Depending on arrival dive(s) at Pulau Hiri, North Ternate: This rocky island just north of Ternate is a haven for marine life and colorful coral reefs, a great spot for both beginner and experienced divers. Sail north overnight.
Day 2. (3-4 dives) Loloda Bay & Kahatola: Reef slopes, steep walls, tunnels, overhangs, all covered with a vast variety of soft corals, regular encounters with black tip sharks, tuna, barracuda, jacks and more.
Day 3-4. (3-4 dives x 2 days) Pulau Bau & Morotai: Imposing walls, canyons, sloping reefs with vibrant coral, and solid drift dives provide a stunning backdrop to encounter manta rays, sharks and more, you may even spot the dugongs! There are also some amazing macro dives plus the possibility of exploring a WWII wreck.
Day 5-6. (4 dives x 2 days) Pulau Morotai & Metita: With over 40 mapped dive sites there is something here for everyone.
Day 7. (3-4 dives) Pulau Doi/ Dagasuli: Exploration dives south of Morotai Island.
Day 8. (3 dives) Tracing the northern coast back towards Ternate. A chance to explore this remote & less visited destination where more & more operators are reporting some amazing dive sites to explore.Day 9. (3 dives) Pulau Tifore: Amazing dive site island in the Moluccan Sea equidistant Halmahera & Lembeh, schools of jacks, snappers, and massive school of barracuda. Sail overnight Lembeh.
Day 10. (2 dives) Lembeh: Angels Windows, Nudi Retreat. Sail to Bitung Port, Manado, where you spend the last night on board. Plenty of time to wash & dry equipment, rest & relaxation, and if needed, an early flight the next day.
Day 11. (0 dives) Check-out (between 5am-10am) after light breakfast & farewells, and transfer to airport. Departure from Bitung Port, Manado to local hotel or transfer to Manado Airport.
Diving days: 10 days (28 dives)
Embarkation / Disembarkation
- Ternate (TTE), North Maluku / Manado (MDC), North Sulawesi
How to get to Ternate (TTE), North Maluku
- From Manado (MDC): Daily flights around just 1 hour, with Sriwijaya Air or Wings Air (part of Lion group)
- From Jakarta (CGK): Daily flights around 3.5 hours, with Garuda Indonesia / Batik Air / Lion Air / Super Air Jet
- International: Fly to Manado and connect with Scoot, or Jakarta with Garuda Indonesia for connecting flights direct to Singapore.
How to get from Manado (MDC), North Sulawesi
- To Bali, direct flights with Lion Air daily flights, Citilink or Garuda Indonesia, via Jakarta/ Makassar/ Surabaya.
- To Jakarta, direct flights with Batik Air, Citilink & Garuda Indonesia, or with Lion Air, via Surabaya.
- International to Singapore, direct flights with Scoot.
- Note: Departing flight on trip return day should be no earlier than 9am to allow for early morning departure & transfer from the boat with plenty of time for check-in & flight.
Dive Site Information (Halmahera-Morotai)
- Water Temp: 27-30 degrees Celsius, Air Temp: 27-32 degrees Celsius.
- Visibility: 15-30 meters, Currents: Medium to strong, Level: Intermediate to advanced
- Best Time to Dive: March to November (less rain & much less wind: perfect for diving).
Dive Site Information (Lembeh)
- Water Temp: 27-30 degrees Celsius, Air Temp: 27-32 degrees Celsius,
- Visibility: 20-30 meters, Currents: Mild, Level: Beginners to advanced.
- Best Time to Dive: April to October (less rain & much less wind: perfect for diving)
What’s included?
- Round trip transfer local Hotel/Airport – Boat
- All nights’ accommodation on Boat
- All meals (Western & Indonesian) snacks, hot beverages, coffee, tea, Milo, soft drinks
- Towels, toiletries, & cabin services
- FOC replacement if equipment breakdown
- Warm towel & drink after every dive
- Regular air tanks, weights, belt, 6 dive guides (1x instructor, 5x dive masters)
What’s excluded?
- All flights & hotels stay
- Marine Park & Harbour fee
- Dive & Travel insurance
- Fuel surcharge. Please see our Booking Information page ‘Fuel surcharge’ section for more details and fees per person.
- Massage services
- Laundry services
- Nespresso coffee, alcohol; beer & wine
- Satellite Wi-Fi
- Diving gear: Dive computer, torch, large tank, BCD, regulator, wetsuit, fins mask.
- Nitrox Enriched Air fills
- Note: Nitrox & diving gear Items priced per diving day and are subject to availability.
- Note: Exposure suits; 3mm shorty wetsuits available ONLY.
Trip Schedule
- Departure: 1pm, 1st day – Bitung Port, Manado, North Sulawesi. Or earlier if everyone arrives before and all trip preparations are completed. Free pickup upon arrival from Sam Ratulangi Airport, Manado (transfer time 1 hour) or local hotel* (10am) to White Manta on trip departure day.
- Return: 5am, last day – Ternate, North Maluku. After a light breakfast and fond farewells, we take you to local hotel or Sultan Babullah Airport, Ternate in time for check-in & flight (transfer time 20-30 mins). Note: Latest White Manta check-out at 10am, trip return day.
- Last dive ends: 12pm, penultimate day. Then sail back to Ternate where we spend the last evening onboard. If you have booked an earlier flight, then you may have to skip 1 or 2 dives to allow for your minimum 18 hours’ surface interval/ No Fly Time (as recommended by PADI) before flying the next day.
Additional Trip Information
Travel Documents
- Please find our updated Travel & Visa Information page, to aid you with your travels to Indonesia.
- Visa On Arrival (VOA), single entry is now available for many countries and Visa Exemption Arrangement (VEP) for some ASEAN countries for stay up to 30 days. VOA cost: IDR 500,000 (approx. EUR 32/ USD 35). Payment can be done by: Visa, Mastercard or Debit Card or Cash Indonesian Rupiah (IDR). Note: Please check here for eligibility & application. If you are from one of countries not on the VOA or VEA lists, or if you simply wish to get 60 day visa in advance, you MUST apply for an eVisa (B211A) online PRIOR to arrival before entering all other airports.
- Passport. Please ensure your passport is in good order, at least 2 blank pages, is valid for at least 6 months, and that you are able to enter Indonesia. Check with your local Embassy of Indonesia if unsure. Note: Late receipt of Passport details may very likely lead to delayed departure & significant changes to the itinerary.
- Departure Tax. Indonesia Passenger Service Charge (IPSC) has changed (Mar-2015) to be included in your flight ticket price. Please check though as previously it was 200,000IDRp to leave Indonesia, & up to 75,000IDRp for Domestic flights. Carry small bills, Indonesia Rupiah preferred, as often no change given.
Domestic Flights
- Please book BEFORE confirming your international flights to ensure you make your connection to Manado & from Ambon.
- Travel agent: If you require assistance with your itinerary: obtaining an e-visa, booking domestic flight tickets, hotels, transfers, and additional land arrangements etc, we can recommend local Indonesian Travel agents, our friends at Come2Indonesia. Contact Rendy & the team here rendy@come2indonesia.com. Note:If booked with credit card please ensure the card is with you upon check-In or have an official Airline form filled in & signed by card holder authorizing the use of.
- Our ticketing agents are not responsible for any flight delay or cancellation, luggage lost or delay. In any case, please contact our ground staff in Bali for assistance for flight delay issue.
- Domestic Airlines normally have 20Kg allowance, although you may pay for 10Kg extra when booking, if needed (around US$3/kilo). With an additional 7kg carryon.
Health & Insurance
- Dive Insurance: Compulsory for this trip. We also strongly advise you to get adequate travel insurance. Please check your travel insurance policy for your diving needs. If not covered, then we recommend DiveAssure for their single trip policy cover.
- Dive Computer: Compulsory on this trip. We have rentals onboard if you do not have.
- Follow Safe Diving Practices at ALL times plus No Deco Diving and No Solo Diving.
- Dive & Travel insurance are compulsory for our trips. Our trips are not inclusive of any form of insurance. White Manta Diving cannot be held responsible for any trip disruption or cancellation due to unforeseen circumstances beyond our control or any flight / hotel expenses. This includes any costs resulting in delay/ medical/ extraction/ or trip costs, refusal of admittance to the country or your trip, before, during or after. We strongly recommend all guests purchase adequate travel insurance, as such an occurrence will affect all guests on trip. For more details see our Booking Information page, travel insurance section.
Internet/ Mobile
- Satellite Wi-Fi
- Mobile signal: Local Telkomsel is best local card to buy. Not long after you leave port, we have intermittent/ limited mobile signal until we return.
- Telkomsel pre-paid SIM or eSIM is the best value. Plus, can add credit top up!!!
Trip Extras payment onboard
- By Credit card comes with 4.5% additional handling fee.
- By Cash we accept US dollars, Euros, Singaporean dollars, and Indonesian rupiah. Please ensure ALL bills are in good order; NOT worn or torn and unmarked or we are UNABLE to accept. Current Exchange rate to be determined onboard. ATMs are available in town.
Trip Extras
- Marine Park & Harbour fee: US$300 per person. To be settled in advance of trip.
- Fuel Surcharge fee: US$400 per person. To be settled in advance of trip.
- Massage US$40/ hour, laundry services US$10/ basket
- Nespresso coffee: US$3, beer US$4, wine US$40-50
- Satellite Wi-Fi: US$35 per person/ 10Gb card.
- Nitrox: US$20/ diving day or US$7/ fill.
Equipment rental
Diving gear: Full Set* US$50/ diving day (except large tank & torch) or if individual items then following rates apply per diving day**
- BCD US$15*
- Regulator US$15*
- Dive Computer US$15*
- Wetsuit US$10*
- Fins US$10*
- Mask US$10*
- Large Tank US$15
- Torch** US$15 per sunset/ night dive.
Diving gear items priced per diving day*. Please provide sizes in advance of the trip, as all gear is subject to availability. If not known then provide your height, weight, shoe size, where applicable.
- Note**: Torch rental price is per use/ sunset/ night dive.
- Note: Exposure suits: 3mm shorty wetsuits available ONLY.
- Note: Large tank AL100, 100 cu ft (13.2 liters)
- Note: Gear included, regular air tank AL80, 80 cu ft (11.1 liters), weights, belt.
Ready to Dive?
Checkout our our schedule and book your adventure today!
