Gaia Love

Komodo

Diving this famous dive destination, which is located within the Coral Triangle, the area boasts the worlds highest marine biodiversity. Under the jurisdiction of the park rangers over 1,000 species of fish and hundreds of different corals are protected. Dive sites stretch from the warm waters of the Flores Sea (Pacific Ocean) in the north to the chillier waters down south in the Indian Ocean. The underwater terrain presents many contrasts, with sheer cliff walls, pinnacles, sandy flat bottoms, underwater plateaus, slopes, caves, swim-throughs and channels all with differing colors, sizes and types of both hard and soft corals. Expect encounters with pelagics and we promise no dull moment any macro enthusiast with a wide range of critters. Get your macro lens ready for unusual critters and critters that are only special to this area.

Komodo National Park boast countless deserted beaches, hiking trails, great wildlife, lagoons and home to a large species of lizard world known as the Komodo dragons.

Although there is diving year-round in Komodo, the best period is considered to be April through November. Currents in parts of Komodo can be strong so we dive according to the tides but with so many great sites to choose from we can always adapt the schedule for the best diving.

Dive Gaia offers Komodo National Park trip itineraries on its own and in Bali-Labuan Bajo (Flores), Bima (Sumbawa) to Labuan Bajo (Flores) and Labuan Bajo (Flores) to Maumere (Flores) itineraries.

Komodo National Park 10D/9N SAMPLE ITINERARY

• Day 1
• -Embarkation Labuan Bajo.
• - One of our Cruise Directors will meet you at the airport.
• - Welcome aboard.
• - Cabin orientation, boat and dive deck briefing
• - Set up camera, dive equipments
• - Check dive
• - Welcome dinner at 7:30pm
• - Trip itinerary briefing
• - Overnight travel
• Day 2- Sangeang
• - 3 day dives and 1 night dive
• - Overnight travel
• Day 3- North Komodo
• - 3 day dives and 1 night dive
• - Sunset hike (weather permitting)
• Day 4-North Komodo & Rinca
• - 2 day dives, 1 evening dive and 1 night dive
• - Land excursion including a small hike
• - Overnight travel (schedule will depend on favorable currents)
• Day 5- South Komodo
• - 3 day dives and 1 night dive
• - Overnight travel (schedule will depend on favorable currents)
• Day 6- Horseshoe Bay
• - 3 day dives and 1 night dive
• - Wild Komodo Dragons
• - Overnight travel (schedule will depend on favorable currents)
• Day 7- Padar
• - 3 day dives and 1 night dive
• - Pink beach
• Day 8- Current City
• - 3 day dives and 1 night dive
• Day 9 - Current City
• - 2 day dives
• - Flying Foxes
• - Head back to port
• Day 10 - Sniff Sniff
• - Disembarkation Labuan Bajo
• - Airport transfer
• - Meals will be served based on your departure time

Forgotten Islands

Indonesias Forgotten Islands, also known as the Southeast Moluccas (Maluku Tenggara), are not a single destination, but rather a 1,000 km long chain of archipelagos stretching from Timor to West Papua on the island of New Guinea. Undeveloped, distant from population centers and far off any beaten path, these Forgotten Islands have been largely isolated from the rest of Indonesia and the world.

Diving the Forgotten Islands, one can expect long walls with extremely healthy coral life and immaculate, untouched seamounts. Look for the giant barrel sponges and immense sea fans. In the shallows the hard coral gardens are decorated with colorful anthias. Big stuff can include schooling hammerheads, silver, white and black tip reef sharks, napoleon wrasse, mobula rays, bumphead parrotfish, eagle rays, turtles, thresher sharks along with schooling jacks, barracuda, surgeonfish and fusiliers. Small stuff includes pygmy seahorses, nudibranchs, ghost pipefish, octopus, triggerfish, lionfish, moray eels, scorpionfish and dragon shrimps.

Indonesia is not greatly affected by seasons that prohibit diving, so instead it is more important to factor in the weather and the calmness of the seas in terms of enjoying the crossings, when planning a trip to this remote archipelago.

The Forgotten Islands on board Dive Gaia offers divers the opportunity to cruise around this chain of remote beautiful islands while enjoying the casual comfort, amenities and unique service that we offer. Itinerary embarks in Maumere (Flores) and disembarks in Tual (Kei Islands). Smaller dive itinerary coverage is also offered in Banda Sea itinerary.

Banda Sea

Diving in the Banda Sea offers some of the most unique diving adventures to be found in Indonesia. Once sought by Columbus and Marco Polo, the Banda Islands were the original Spice Islands and the most coveted destination on earth, particularly by the Dutch and Portuguese, who colonized the islands and exported the indigenous nutmeg and cloves. History tells of a violent past under colonial rule.

Now, the seas around these tropical paradise islands are coveted for their spectacular diving and snorkeling on some of the worlds richest reefs, unspoiled corals, and large pelagic fish. Steep drop offs, impressive hard coral and some fast currents make this area absolutely breathtaking. Schools of jacks are a familiar sight, as are large tuna, many turtles, Napoleon wrasse, groupers, rays, sharks, large lobsters and sea snakes. There are also special critter sites for the macro enthusiast including the chance to dive with unusual critters at sites around Ambon Bay. Along the crossing, it is possible to revel in the spectacle of thousands of seabirds, including the comical yet attractive frigate birds and boobies.

Enjoy a land excursion that covers the historical Banda Neira and surrounding islands. Visit the local museum and enjoy the art work and many antiquities from the Portuguese and Dutch. Learn about the land trade of the island of Run and Manhattan between the Dutch and the British. 150 steps or so up a hill and you will be intrigued by the old fort building design. Next, we head to the nutmeg and spice farm. Enjoy Tantes homemade cinnamon tea accompanied with her secret recipe snacks and nutmeg jam . Fresh nutmeg jam, nutmeg and yours to order cinnamon sticks are for sale. On your walk back to the pier visit the old Dutch governors mansion House of VOC, which was recently converted to a hotel. Original master pieces including the 6 old tiles were restored and kept in its original location within the property.

Dive Gaia offers trip itinerary that embarks in Maumere (Flores) and disembarks in Ambon (Ceram). Part of the Banda Sea itinerary is also covered in Tual (Kei Islands) to Ambon (Ceram) itinerary and in Ambon (Ceram) to Sorong (West Papua) itinerary.

Banda Arc 13d/12n SAMPLE ITINERARY

• Day 1
• -Embarkation Maumere
• - One of our Cruise Directors will meet you at the airport.
• - Welcome aboard.
• - Cabin orientation, boat and dive deck briefing
• - Set up camera, dive equipments
• - Check dive
• - Welcome dinner at 7:30pm
• - Trip itinerary briefing
• - Overnight travel
• Day 2- Solor & West Lembata
• - 3 day dives and 1 night dive
• - Overnight travel(schedule will depend on favorable currents)
• Day 3- West Pantar & South Pantar
• - 3 day dives and 1 night dive
• - Overnight travel(schedule will depend on favorable currents)
• - Vessel will be travelling within the pelagic migration route, keep your cameras ready
• Day 4-Pura / Alor / Reta
• - 2 day dives, 1 late evening dive
• - Diving with the kids of North Pura
• - Vessel port clearance
• - Overnight travel
• Day 5- Wetar
• - Time zone changed to WIT + 1 hour
• - 3 day dives and 1 late evening dive
• - Overnight travel
• Day 6- Nyata
• - 3 day dives and 1 late evening dive
• - Overnight travel
• Day 7- Damar Islands
• - 3 day dives and 1 late evening dive
• - Overnight travel(schedule will depend on favorable currents)
• Day 8- Nils & Desperandum
• - 3 day dives and 1 late evening dive
• - Overnight travel(schedule will depend on favorable currents)
• Day 9 - Manuk
• - 3 day dives and 1 late evening dive
• - Overnight travel(schedule will depend on favorable currents)
• Day 10 - Banda Islands
• - 3 day dives and 1 night dive
• Day 11 - Banda Islands
• - 2 day dives and 1 late evening dive (Mandarin fish)
• - Land excursion
• - Port clearance
• - Overnight travel(schedule will depend on favorable currents)
• Day 12 - Nusa Laut
• - Report in to village head
• - 2 day dives
• - Head to Ambon
• Day 13 - Sniff sniff
• - Disembarkation Ambon
• - Airport transfer
• - Meals will be served based on your departure time

Maumere & Alor (Lesser Sunda Area)

Diving the eastern waters of Lesser Sunda brings a constant source of marine life surprises, with a wealth of tiny creatures to the larger fish species and marine mammals. Handsome variety of dive sites covering eastern Flores, Adunara, Solor, Lembata (Kawula), Pantar, Alor, Pura Reta and Ternate to be explored and charm divers from all level of experience from fishy sites to critter hunting, from colorful walls to volcanic black sand. Be aww-ed by stunning sunrises, magical sunsets and witness the fireworks of one of the countrys most active volcanoes.

The Indonesian government has recently agreed to protect this area in order to secure a safe route for migrating cetaceans as they pass through the straits to their feeding grounds in the deep waters of the Banda Sea.

Trips offer divers the opportunity to see some of the most spectacular and untouched coral reefs in Indonesia along with the chance to witness unique behaviors of the many rare and wonderful critters to be found around the Pantar Strait. Divers can expect to see Rhinopias (lacey scorpionfish), pygmy seahorses, manta rays, schooling dolphins, pilot whales and even the occasional migrating blue whale! Be smitten by the charming free diving children of North Pura and catch the ladies of Pulau Ternate weaving colorful ikats.

Dive Gaia offers a range of trip dates to ensure you can experience this superb destination extensively. Dive Gaia covers a shorter Lesser Sunda experience within the Banda Sea (Maumere, Flores to Ambon, Ceram) and The Forgotten Islands (Maumere, Flores to Tual, Kei Islands) itineraries.

Lesser Sunda 11D/10N SAMPLE ITINERARY

• Day 1
• -Embarkation Mauemere
• - One of our Cruise Directors will meet you at the airport.
• - Welcome aboard.
• - Cabin orientation, boat and dive deck briefing
• - Set up camera, dive equipments
• - Check dive
• - Welcome dinner at 7:30pm
• - Trip itinerary briefing
• - Overnight travel
• Day 2- Solor & Adunara
• - 3 day dives and 1 night dive
• - Overnight travel(schedule will depend on favorable currents)
• Day 3- West Lembata
• - 3 day dives and 1 night dive
• - Overnight travel
• Day 4-West Pantar
• - 3 day dives and 1 night dive
• - Overnight travel (schedule will depend on favorable currents)
• - Vessel will be travelling within the pelagic migration route, keep your cameras ready
• Day 5- South Pantar
• - Report in to local village head
• - 3 day dives and 1 night dive
• Day 6- Pantar Strait / Pura / Alor / Reta
• - Report in to local village head is required for all areas with village within vicinity
• - 3 day dives and 1 night dive
• Day 7-Pantar Strait / Pura / Alor / Reta
• - Report in to local village head is required for all areas with village within vicinity
• - 3 day dives and 1 night dive
• - Walk on Buaya
• Day 8-Pantar Strait / Pura / Alor / Reta
• - Report in to local village head is required for all areas with village within vicinity
• - 2 day dives and 1 late evening dive
• - Diving with the kids of North Pura
• - Port clearance
• - Overnight travel
• Day 9 - North Lembata and Komba
• - 3 day dives
• - The beauty of an active volcano
• - Overnight travel
• Day 10 - North East Flores
• - 2 day dives
• - Travel to Maumere
• Day 11 - Sniff Sniff
• - Disembarkation Maumere
• - Airport transfer
• - Meals will be served based on your departure time