13 nights

Duration

16 People

Max Group Size

Journey onboard the beautiful Coralia Dua snorkeling liveaboard as we explore the breathtaking reefs around the Banda Islands, followed by Triton Bay for more incredible reefs and whale sharks!

We will board the vessel in Ambon, one of the critter capitals of Indonesia. We’ll then sail into the Banda Islands, aka the Spice Islands, where we’ll indulge in the rich history of the area and, of course, the reefs and brilliant marine life.

The coral density of the Bandas makes it difficult to spot any patches of the reef’s limestone foundation. Expansive fringing shallow hard coral plateaus form many of the reefs. These extend from the islands before plunging into deep blue waters. Sponges, colorful soft corals, and sea fans cover these walls and slopes. Additionally, you can rest assured that there will also be plenty of reef dwellers including dazzling schools of tropical fish, larger pelagic species like tunas, jacks, and batfish passing in the blue, and juvenile reef sharks patrolling the shallows.

The Banda Islands are historically significant in that they were the original spice islands that stimulated the entire global spice trade. We will have the opportunity to get a full tour of Banda Neira town. Here we’ll visit the fully intact colonial buildings and even a fort. We will also visit old nutmeg plantations and enjoy some delicious teas and biscuits garnished with nutmeg jam!

From the Banda Islands, we’ll make our way east into the area known as Triton Bay. Here, we’ll have the opportunity to snorkel around some incredible sites, with corals and marine life far different from what we’ve experienced in the Banda Sea, not to mention opportunities to snorkel alongside whale sharks and even dolphins.

A Snorkel Venture team member accompanies the group and escorts the tour.

* Please note that this particular itinerary covers a lot of territories. Thus, there will be multiple overnight crossings between regions. We will be in the open sea and exposed to the elements, particularly swell. If you have any reservations about what it’s like onboard a liveaboard, please get in touch with us and/or read this blog about what you can expect from a liveaboard itinerary such as this.

David Powel, May 2026

“Every aspect of each tour, from the initial point of contact through to the conduct of the tour itself, is first class. We particularly like the fact that Snorkel Ventures have a wide range of available snorkelling experiences and we have fully enjoyed every trip we have taken. The tours are so good that we already have bookings for 2027 and 2028.”

Marine Life Guide

This tour is partnered with Thrive Conservation. Find out how we support Thrive Conservation via this tour here.

Additional information

Dates	October

Please note that the liveaboard’s itinerary/exact route is subject to change, at the sole discretion of the cruise director, based on the weather and ocean conditions.

Day 1 - Meet the group in Jakarta

On arrival in Jakarta (CGK) you will check into the hotel and relax before a group dinner where you can meet your fellow tour snorkelers and the Snorkel Venture group leader. We will then check out of the hotel and check in for our flight to Ambon.

Day 2 - Arrive into Ambon

On arrival in Ambon, we’ll board Coralia.

Depending on our arrival time, we may be able to enjoy an afternoon snorkel in Ambon before setting sail for the Banda Islands.

Each day onboard begins with a “light” breakfast before starting a site briefing for our first snorkel session. Each snorkel session will run for 60 – 120 minutes, depending on the reefs and conditions. From Coralia Dua, we will board the smaller zodiac boats so we can be safely dropped in the shallows. All the snorkel sessions have surface support, and you can jump on a tender and return to the main vessel if you prefer a shorter snorkel session. After our morning snorkel, we will return to our boat and dry off. There will be dry towels waiting on the dive deck for us as well as a refreshing beverage. A full hot breakfast will then be served.

After breakfast, we hit the water again for another snorkel session on a nearby site. We return to the main boat for a delicious buffet lunch. After a little break to allow our food to digest, we prepare for the third snorkel session of the day. Afterward, snacks are served (you will not go hungry on this cruise!)

For the duration of this tour, we intend to offer 2 -4 snorkel sessions a day. There may be a few days when we have to make a longer crossing, in which case we will do two longer morning snorkels. You are not obliged to participate in them all.

After the final snorkel of the day in Ambon, we will cruise overnight to the Banda Islands. This will be an overnight crossing.

Day 3 - 6 - Snorkeling the Banda Islands

We intend to spend four days snorkeling around the Banda Islands, depending on conditions. There are a multitude of different reefs to choose from around these magical little islands. If conditions allow, we’ll also enjoy a couple of night snorkels here in the Bandas.

We will also have the opportunity to take a guided tour of Banda Neira village, where we’ll get a full historical overview of how the Banda Islands became the original Spice Islands and the role these tiny islands played in the world. We’ll also get to see an active nutmeg plantation as well as a tour of the old Dutch fort that sits upon the hillside.

After our time in the Banda Islands, we will make our way to Triton Bay, stopping at two different locations.

Between each of these destinations, there will be 3 overnight crossings.

Day 7 - 8 - Crossing to Triton Bay

Our first stop is at a little atoll called Koon, where we will spend a day exploring the beauty of this magical little atoll in the eastern part of the Ceram Islands.

We will then make an overnight crossing to an area in West Papua called Momon. Here we’ll enjoy some brand new snorkeling sites as well as a waterfall that flows right into the sea, and an island full of bats.

We’ll then make another overnight crossing, which will bring us into Triton Bay.

Day 10 - 13 - Snorkeling in Triton Bay

For the next four days, we’ll be exploring the reefs of Triton Bay. Here we’ll enjoy the truly unique and shockingly beautiful sites that have made Triton Bay famous. The reefs will look vastly different than what we’ve previously experienced in the Banda Islands, from the structure of the reefs to the coral compositions and marine life. The reefs in Triton Bay are generally characterized by large limestone boulders covered in a vast array of brightly colored soft corals, sea fans, and black coral bushes, with some hard corals mixed in.

Snorkeling beautiful reefs in Triton Bay | Snorkel Venture

Along with its robust reefs, Triton Bay is also famous for its whale sharks and, quite often, dolphins, which gather around the traditional Indonesian fishing platforms called Bagans. There are only a few places in the world where you can predictably swim alongside multiple whale sharks for hours at a time without anyone else in the water, and Triton Bay is one of them.

Whale sharks in Triton Bay | Snorkel Venture

Day 14 - Fly to Jakarta

This will be our final morning onboard, so we’ll have breakfast, say farewell to our lovely Coralia Dua crew, and then transfer to the airport for our flight back to Jakarta. Upon arrival in Jakarta, we will bid farewell to our new snorkeling friends and part ways.

Please speak to a member of our team before booking any international flights.

Coralia Dua Liveaboard

Coralia Dua is a new premium Indonesian liveaboard, designed for comfort and space. She offers eight well-appointed cabins, a dedicated camera room, a spacious dive center, and outdoor dining areas ideal for relaxing between snorkels. With modern amenities throughout, she blends traditional Indonesian craftsmanship with contemporary design to create one of the most inviting luxury liveaboard experiences in Indonesia.

We can cool down in the air-conditioned lounge and restaurant on the main deck with its wraparound sofas and large family-style dining room table. There is a spa on the top deck for massages too! There is WiFi for guests onboard, but please do not rely on being able to get online during this trip, as it comes and goes depending on our location.

Deluxe Double Cabins – Below Deck

The four Deluxe Cabins on the lower deck offer comfortable accommodation for guests looking for a premium liveaboard experience in Indonesia. These include two double cabins and two twin cabins, each designed to provide a bright and quiet retreat during your journey. Our Deluxe Cabins are named Orbicella, Millepora, Favia, and Acropora.

Deluxe Twin Cabins – Below Deck

In the cabin itself, there are double or twin side-by-side beds, a sofa, a work desk, and a closet. A safety box, regular and USB charging stations provide further comfort.

Master Cabins – Main and Upper Decks

Vessel Guide

Snorkel Tenders: We will be reaching most of the snorkeling sites via a tender boat. There is a ladder, and the Coralia Dua crew are on hand to assist with water entry and exit. Therefore, a certain level of fitness is required to climb the ladder – if you have any questions on this you can contact us here.

On this page you will find our Tour Dates & Pricing, a Request to Book Form and Details of Payment schedule including deposit and final balance.

My name is Graham and I’ll be your personal consultant for this tour, I’ll manage your booking right up until you meet our tour leader in destination. I’ll be on hand to assist with everything from additional nights before and after your tour and making sure you are on time for our ‘Welcome Dinner’ to guidance on what to bring and the snorkeling conditions you are likely to experience. We share an email inbox at Snorkel Venture, you can fill out the form below or drop me an email at hello@snorkelventure.com. I look forward to assisting you on this tour.

Make an Enquiry or Request to Book this Tour

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2028 Tour Dates

5 – 18 October

Tour Price:

$11,500 USD per person in a deluxe cabin

$12,500 USD per person in a master cabin

Single Person Supplement: Upon request

How to book your place:

Initial deposit to secure your booking $800 per person

12 Months before departure, an interim deposit of $1000 per person

6 Months before departure, an interim deposit of $1000 per person

Balance due 3 months before departure

Please note that for single supplement bookings, we ask for 2x the deposit for each payment.

Inclusions:

1 night at Jakarta Hotel with dinner
12 nights on the Coralia Dua with all meals, snacks, drinking water, sodas, tea and coffee.
Internal flights- Jakarta – Ambon, Kaimana – Jakarta (economy class, with 20Kgs checked luggage)
Group transfers
Wifi on board the Coralia Dua (suitable for messages and light browsing)
2 – 4 guided snorkel sessions per day, excluding arrival day, and 2 on the last full day of the tour.
Accompanied by a member of the Snorkel Venture team
Port and Park fees are included

Please note that noise from the engines and water purifiers can be heard while on liveaboard trips.

Exclusions: