Lembeh-Halmahera-Ambon

 

Starting in the world-famous critter heaven of the Lembeh Straits, we to travel Halmahera where remote, unspoiled, and stunning underwater landscapes await, Halmahera’s pristine beauty is staggering and made all the more alluring by the lack of crowds. Finishing in Ambon where the marine life here is in abundance from macro critters.

Sample Itinerary 

Note: All schedules are subjected to changes according to weather, sea, diving, & local conditions.

Day 1. (0-2 dives) 3pm. Our staff will meet you upon your arrival to Manado Airport & transfer to White Manta. Depending on arrival time, we can do Check dive(s) plus night dive in Lembeh.  After critter dive(s) we sail overnight to Pulau Tifore.

Day 2. (3-4 dives) Pulau Tifore: amazing dive site island in the Moluccan Sea equidistant from Goraichi & Lembeh, schools of jacks, snappers, and massive school of barracuda.  Sail to Halmahera.

Day 3. (4 dives) Palau Bacan: reef sharks, schools of barracuda & jacks along a coral & sponge packed reef.

Day 4. (4 dives) Pulau Tolimau & Goraichi: Manta cleaning station & fish packed reefs amongst pristine hard coral gardens or Pulau Bacan: shark point, reef sharks, schools of barracuda & jacks along a coral & sponge packed reef.  Sail to Pulau Obi.

Day 5. (3-4 dives) Pulau Obi & Pulau Gomumu.  Sail overnight Ambon.

Day 6. (2 dives) Muck dives in Ambon Bay.  Sail back to Ambon where you spend last night on board.  Plenty of time to wash & dry equipment, rest & relaxation, and if need be, an early flight on trip departure day. 

Day 7. (0 dives) 5am-12pm. Check out after light breakfast, farewells, and transfer to local hotel or Pattimura Airport, Ambon.  Departure from Ambon to Jakarta, or Bali/ Manado, via Makassar.

Diving days: 6 days (17-18 dives)

Note: 3 dives are scheduled per diving day*.  This is due to deeper dives and long distances covered between islands.  Where possible a bonus night dive may be scheduled at the discretion of the Cruise Leader. *Except trip departure day & trip return day.

Starting in the world-famous critter heaven of the Lembeh Straits, we to travel Halmahera where remote, unspoiled, and stunning underwater landscapes await, Halmahera’s pristine beauty is staggering and made all the more alluring by the lack of crowds. Finishing in Ambon where the marine life here is in abundance from macro critters.

Sample Itinerary 

Note: All schedules are subjected to changes according to weather, sea, diving, & local conditions.

Day 1. (0-2 dives) 3pm. Our staff will meet you upon your arrival to Manado Airport & transfer to White Manta. Depending on arrival time, we can do Check dive(s) plus night dive in Lembeh.  After critter dive(s) we sail overnight to Pulau Tifore.

Day 2. (3-4 dives) Pulau Tifore: amazing dive site island in the Moluccan Sea equidistant from Goraichi & Lembeh, schools of jacks, snappers, and massive school of barracuda.  Sail to Halmahera.

Day 3. (4 dives) Palau Bacan: reef sharks, schools of barracuda & jacks along a coral & sponge packed reef.

Day 4. (3-4 dives) Palau Kusu: strong currents & amazing action in the Patintie Strait.

Day 5. (4 dives) Pulau Tolimau & Goraichi: Manta cleaning station & fish packed reefs amongst pristine hard coral gardens or Pulau Bacan: shark point, reef sharks, schools of barracuda & jacks along a coral & sponge packed reef.  Sail to Pulau Obi.

Day 6. (3-4 dives) Pulau Obi & Pulau Gomumu.  Sail overnight Ambon.

Day 7. (2 dives) Muck dives in Ambon Bay.  Sail back to Ambon where you spend last night on board.  Plenty of time to wash & dry equipment, rest & relaxation, and if need be, an early flight on trip departure day. 

Day 8. (0 dives) 5am-12pm. Check out after light breakfast, farewells, and transfer to local hotel or Pattimura Airport, Ambon.  Departure from Ambon to Jakarta, or Bali/ Manado, via Makassar.

Diving days: 7 days (21-22 dives)

Note: 3 dives are scheduled per diving day*.  This is due to deeper dives and long distances covered between islands.  Where possible a bonus night dive may be scheduled at the discretion of the Cruise Leader. *Except trip departure day & trip return day.

Embarkation / Disembarkation

  • Bitung Port, Manado (MDC) / Ambon (AMQ)

How to get to Manado (MDC)

  • We will be there to transfer you to the White Manta.  Airport transfer to Bitung Port 1 hour.
  • From Bali, direct flights with Lion Air daily flights, Citilink or Garuda Indonesia, via Jakarta/ Makassar/ Surabaya. 
  • From Jakarta, direct flights with Batik Air & Citilink, or with Lion Air, via Surabaya.
  • nternational from Singapore, direct flights with Scoot.  Or fly to Jakarta, stay 1x night, and catch early morning domestic flight to Manado.
  • Note: If staying in Manado, please review our ‘Hotels in Manado’ section in the Celebes Sea Fact Sheet for included pickups for local hotel in Bitung area or Sam Ratulangi Airport, Manado (transfer time 1 hour).   Manado City hotels are NOT included in our free pickups.  If NOT local then OWN way from hotel to Manado Airport or Bitung Port.

How to get from Ambon (AMQ)

  • To Jakarta.  Direct morning flights with Batik Air or Citilink
  • To Bali.  Morning flights with either Batik Air or Lion Air, both via Makassar (UPG, Ujung Pandang), arriving to Bali mid-afternoon.
  • Note; if staying in Ambon please review our ‘Ambon Hotels’ section in the Banda Sea Fact Sheet for included drop offs from Laha Bay to local hotel. If NOT local then we can help arrange a taxi (at own expense) to hotel.

Dive Site Information (Lembeh-Halmahera-Ambon)

  • Water Temp: 27-30 degrees Celsius
  • Air Temp: 27-32 degrees Celsius
  • Visibility: 20-30 meters,
  • Currents: mild to strong,
  • Level: Intermediate to Advanced,
  • Best Time to Dive: September to April
  • What to See/ Highlights: macro heavan with weird & wonderful critters all around

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, 5 dive guides (1x instructor, 4x dive masters)

What's excluded?

  • All flights & hotels stay
  • Marine Park & Harbour fee  
  • Dive & Travel insurance
  • Fuel surcharge (if applicable). 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 rental, 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; 3pm, 1st day - Bitung Port, Manado, North Sulawesi.  Or earlier if everyone arrives before and all trip preparations completed. Free transfer from local hotel or Sam Ratulangi Airport, Manado to White Manta on trip departure day (transfer time 1 hour).
  • Return; 5am, last day - Laha Bay, Ambon.  After a light breakfast and fond farewells, we take you to local hotel or Pattimura Airport, Ambon in time for check-in & flights (transfer time 10 mins).  Note: Latest WM check-out midday, trip return day.
  • Last dive ends; 12pm (midday), penultimate day. Plenty of time for R&R while we sail back to Ambon where we spend last night on Blue Manta.  This also allows for your minimum 18 hours’ surface interval/ No Fly Time (as recommended by PADI) before flying next day.

New White Manta Reminders

Travel Documents

  • Please see our Travel & Visa Information page to help prepare and plan in advance for your travels and entry into Indonesia, as detailed by the Government of Indonesia.
  • Guest Info. We MUST receive guest’s details well in advance in the trip.  Note: Late receipt of passport details may very likely lead to delayed departure & significant changes to the itinerary.
  • 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). You may also apply for an eVOA prior to your travel, making it super easy. Note: Please check here for eligibity. If you are from one of countries not on the VOA or VEA lists, or if you simply wish to get a 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, has enough 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.
  • Departure Tax. Indonesia Passenger Service Charge (IPSC) has changed to be included in your flight ticket price. Please check though as previously it was 200,000IDRp to leave Indonesia, & up to 100,000IDRp 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 the team here tour2@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 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.
  • Travel insurance is 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/ medical/ extraction/ delay/ 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 occurance will affect all guests on trip. Please see our Booking Information page 'Travel Insurance' section for more details and recommended insurers.
  • Malaria Zone: NOTE that in this part of Indonesia we advise you take the proper precautions against malaria.  The following anti-malaria drugs are considered safe with diving; Doxycycline or Malarone.  Mefloquine (Lariam) is NOT recommended with diving.  Good preventative measures include DEET and long armed/legged clothing in evenings. If unsure consult a diving doctor.

Internet/ Mobile

  • Satellite Wi-Fi
  • Mobile signal; local Telkomsel is best local card to buy.  Not long after you leave port we have has intermittent/ limited mobile signal until we return.
  • Telkomsel prepaid card is the best value. Plus can add credit to top up!!!

Trip Extras payment onboard

  • By Credit card comes with 4.5% additional handling fee.
  • By Cash we accept US Dollars, Euro, 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.  Exchange rates differ for USD100/50 bills and USD20/10 bills. Current Exchange rate. ATMs available in town.

Trip Extras

  • Marine Park & Harbour fee; US$150 per person. 
  • Fuel Surcharge fee; US$200 per person.
  • Massage US$35/ hour,  Laundry services (US$10/ basket)
  • Nespresso coffee: US$2, beer US$4, wine US$30-50
  • 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) ONLY if paid in advance of the trip, else individual 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 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.
  • Note: Additional tank US$15/ day

TRIP BOOKING