Join This Epic 17 Day Liveaboard Journey Through Amazing Indonesia
April 17 – May 3, 2027
This epic Raja Ampat Banda Sea and Alor snorkeling trip is a one-way journey on a liveaboard yacht, between Sorong in Raja Ampat and Maumere in East Nusa Tenggara Indonesia. You will get to snorkel some of the best reefs in the world on this journey. Our two favorite places, Raja Ampat/Misool and Alor, are included on either end. In between are some more wonderful parts of Indonesia where you will see an incredible variety of sea life and vibrant abundant reefs. You can expect high biodiversity of fish, coral and creatures, dense reefs, high numbers of fish, big pelagic species, and lots of unique creatures native to these areas.
You will be snorkeling many areas including the Dampier Strait and Fam Islands in northern Raja Ampat, Misool in southern Raja Ampat, Koon Island (Seram Islands), the Banda Islands and the Forgotten Islands in the Banda Sea, and the eastern islands of East Nusa Tenggara: Wetar, Alor and Lembata.
Some highlights and likely sightings will be colorful soft corals and sea fans, abundant hard and leather corals, sponges, mangroves, manta rays, wobbegong (carpet shark), epaulette (walking) shark, sparkling schools of colorful reef fish, schools of jacks and batfish, juvenile reef sharks, moray eels, pipefish, crocodilefish, scorpionfish, octopus, cuttlefish, anemones and their resident anemonefish, sea turtles, Bumphead Parrotfish, colorful giant clams, the unique Chinese Sea Krait and related Yellow-lipped Sea Krait, nudibranchs, and so much more!
Your home for this trip will be the wonderful Mermaid II liveaboard yacht. It has all the luxuries and amenities of a comfortable resort, and will serve as a functional base for your breathtaking snorkeling sessions. We have taken a tour aboard the Mermaid II and can vouch for the quality of the accommodation, food and crew.
The Banda Islands are the original Spice Islands. You will have a tour of Banda Naira town, complete with a museum, an old Dutch fort, and a visit to a nutmeg farm. At the farm you will have cinnamon tea and treats garnished with nutmeg jam.
This trip is being run by our partner and friend Ben and his team. Based in the U.K., they are experts in the Coral Triangle, run amazing excursions, and have a great appreciation for the underwater world.
Raja Ampat Banda Sea and Alor Snorkeling Trip Itinerary and Maps
You will be traveling and snorkeling in Indonesia, within a region known as the Coral Triangle, which has more species of fish and corals than anywhere else in the world.
Your tour begins in Jakarta (CGK). After your international flight arrives you will check into a comfortable hotel and relax before a group dinner where you will meet your guide and fellow snorkelers. Shortly after dinner your group will check out and take an overnight flight to Sorong.
At the airport in Sorong, you will be met by crew of the Mermaid II liveaboard. They will transfer you by car a short distance to the port where you will board.
You will have 15 nights aboard the yacht and will make your way from Sorong south and west to disembark in Maumere on the island of Flores. On the last morning of the tour your group will make your way to the airport where you will board a final flight to Bali, which ends the tour.
What Will the Snorkeling Be Like on This Liveaboard Trip?
For this tour, 2-3 snorkel sessions per day will be offered, and each session will last for 60-90 minutes. Expect to be moving most of the nights, with a few nights at a mooring or anchor. You will board small boats that will take you from the main boat out to the snorkel sites.
Snorkeling in North Raja Ampat
You may have heard of the incredible underwater biodiversity of the Coral Triangle area of Indonesia. Well, Raja Ampat is known to have the most species of marine life in all of the Coral Triangle. There are nearly 1,500 species of reef fish, 600 species of hard corals, seven giant clams species, seven species of sea turtles, and 57 species of mantis shrimp. And pelagic life is abundant in the area. We snorkeled this area in 2023 and 2024 and found it to be exceptional!
You can expect to see healthy coral gardens dense with hard and soft corals in perfect snorkeling depths. You will find large volumes and varieties of fish schools, and will have good chances seeing bigger fish such as manta rays, reef sharks, and schools of barracuda and jacks. The Dampier Strait is in the central region of a marine protected area. The strait pumps nutrient rich waters through the area which supports an abundance of marine life, large and small.
Snorkeling in Misool, South Raja Ampat
Misool’s reefs are absolutely brimming with life. Thanks to their conservation efforts it is one of the rare places where sea life is not only flourishing, but has increased in health and diversity in recent years. The Misool Marine Reserve protects around 300,000 acres (nearly 500 square miles) of remote islands and the underwater marine life. It is our favorite place in the world to snorkel.
Misool’s reefs have unique soft corals with vibrant colors and unique structures. You will find a vast range of snorkeling sites like coral covered walls, reef flats, pinnacles, and placid lagoons which all host a wealth of marine life. The colorful soft and hard coral reefs are healthy and a joy to see.
Fish life is very busy on the reefs here, with clouds of smaller reef fish in the shallows over the corals, and massive schools of fish over the drop-off, and regular sightings of larger pelagic species like sharks. You can see schools of Bumphead Parrotfish and sea turtles are common.
Snorkeling Koon
Before entering the Banda Sea to the south, you will stop at a site in the Seram Islands called Koon. The World Wildlife Fund discovered that this area is one of the largest reef fish spawning sites in eastern Indonesia. Huge schools of Bluefin and Giant Trevally, batfish and pompano may be seen, if the conditions are favorable. There is also coral reef to explore with interesting creatures like the pair of Crocodilefish pictured below.
Snorkeling in the Banda Islands
The Banda Islands are a small group of islands in a remote part of the Banda Sea. You will spend several days enjoying fantastic snorkeling around these islands. You will find vibrant colorful hard and soft coral reefs full of life. You will see many anemonefish, butterflyfish, schools of anthias, fusiliers, triggerfish, trevally, needlefish, parrotfish, Napoleon Wrasse, Bumphead Parrotfish, and so much more! We really enjoyed snorkeling the Banda Islands.
Besides snorkeling in the Banda Islands, a tour will be included to explore the history of the original “Spice Islands” which stimulated the entire spice trade. Your tour of Banda Neira town will be full of cultural highlights, including fully intact colonial buildings and a fort to explore. You will also visit an old nutmeg plantation and enjoy some delicious tea and treats garnished with nutmeg jam! This was our favorite land tour in Indonesia.
Snorkeling in the Forgotten Islands
As your liveaboard moves south along the chain of islands, you will be stopping at different atolls and semi-dormant volcanoes in the Banda Sea. This is a highly remote area that very few snorkelers have ever seen, which is the reason why it is called the Forgotten Islands. The fringing reefs in these areas will astound you with their health and density, as will the variety and quantity of fish and other sea life. We loved our experience snorkeling in the Forgotten Islands.
These abundant reefs are home to many fish: Napoleon Wrasse, large pelagic species, like sharks and barracuda, schools of jacks and batfish, schooling Pyramid Butterflyfish, Red-toothed Triggerfish, and fusiliers, Bumphead Parrotfish, and eagle rays are some of the awesome sea life you may encounter. Smaller creatures on the reef you could see are leaf scorpionfish, moray eels, nudibranchs, and colorful mantis shrimps.
If weather and conditions permit, you will also visit one of the “Snake Islands”, which are home to a rare species of sea snake, the Chinese Sea Krait. These harmless snakes hunt in groups, and you may be snorkeling with 20 or 30. This is one of only a few places in the world where you can experience this.
Snorkeling in Wetar, Alor and Lembata
During the final section of this trip, you will be exploring the eastern end of East Nusa Tenggara, specifically Wetar, Alor and Lembata.
Wetar has beautiful reefs to explore. The coral thrives in this area due to fresh currents that bring lots of nutrients. The area is also known for having zillions of triggerfish of every species. Huge schools of fish, and beautiful soft coral formations are common here.
Alor is an outstanding snorkeling destination. The reefs are incredibly healthy and dense with life. You can snorkel amazing walls inside clouds of red anthias. There are shallow reefs where it is easy to get close to corals and creatures. There are sloping reefs dotted with big coral bommies and drop-offs so full of fish that it is mind-blowing. There is a jetty with pilings covered in the most amazing array of corals and sponges, offering tiny worlds to explore close-up. There is also black sand that is known to attract some of the most amazing critters around, also known as muck snorkeling. It is one of our favorite destinations!
Just some of the sea life you can see in Alor are clouds of anthias, frogfish, scorpionfish, octopus, nudibranchs, and even seahorses. There are good chances of spotting the weird and very large mola mola! From the boat, you might spot pods of dolphins and melon-headed whales, and it’s even possible to spot blue whales.
On the way to disembarking in Maumere, you will snorkel a number of other spots on Lembata Island. On the north side of Lembata is Lewaling Bay. Beneath the scenery of a volcano, the bay offers numerous spots with walls and slopes, where you can see critters small and large and schooling fish.
What Is the Mermaid II Liveaboard Like?
The Mermaid II is a 108 foot (33 meter) long twin engine steel yacht that has been exclusively chartered for this snorkeler-only adventure. She is a very comfortable and safe ship for exploring the remote regions of Indonesia.
There will be 16 snorkelers, along with one of Ben’s snorkeling guides, as well as a full complement of crew.
We have done a trip on the Mermaid II, and it has a fantastic crew, and they were fantastic with our diet requirement.
You will occupy one of eight deluxe cabins on the main deck. All of the deluxe cabins offer the choice of either a double bed only, or a twin bunk bed configuration, with large panoramic sea view windows, air-conditioning and en-suite bathrooms.
There is a sundeck in the front area of the upper deck, and a shaded outdoor lounge in the rear of the upper deck, as well as an air-conditioned lounge. The entire upper deck is a great place to lounge between snorkeling sessions, and to enjoy the views, sunsets and sunrises, as you travel.
There is an air-conditioned restaurant in the front of the main deck, where you will be served delicious meals featuring local species and fresh ingredients. The buffets are a mix of Asian and Western food. They can deal with many dietary requirements.
The entire rear of the main deck is where you can store your gear and also where you either enter the water directly, or where you will board one of two rigid inflatable boats that will take you to close snorkeling spots. These smaller boats have ladders to help you get back on board, with crew to assist, as well.
Trip Details and How to Sign Up
This is a small group charter and we expect it to fill quickly. Your spot is reserved with your deposit. Contact Ben below for deposit instructions.
Trip Date:
Aptil 17 – May 3, 2027 – Available.
Trip Price:
Deluxe Cabin: $12795 US per person (Twin/Double Share)
The initial deposit for this trip is $800 US per person. At 12 months before departure there is a $1000 US per person interim deposit, and at six months there is another $1000 US per person interim deposit. The final balance will be due three months before departure. A few payment options are available including debit and credit cards.
Individual travelers – Ben will happily find someone of the same sex for you to share a room with. If he cannot find you someone, no single supplement surcharge will apply.
Inclusions:
- 1 night accommodation at Jakarta Airport Hotel with dinner
- Round trip domestic flights, transfers, and connections (Jakarta – Sorong, Maumere – Bali) with 20kg/44lbs checked baggage
- 15 nights accommodation and full board (all meals) on the Mermaid II Liveaboard
- 2-3 guided snorkel sessions per day
- Local snorkel guides
- A guide from Ben’s team
- Marine park and port fees
Exclusions:
- International flights and visas
- Snorkeling equipment rental
- Tips
- Travel and health insurance
- Alcoholic drinks, laundry and general sundries
Trip Organizers
Ben and his U.K. based team are the organizers and leaders of this trip (more about them below). Galen and Nicole from TropicalSnorkeling.com are promoting this trip, but all signups, trip organization and payments are made to and managed by Ben’s team. TropicalSnorkeling.com does receive a referral fee in exchange for promoting the trip, at no extra cost to attendees.
How to Sign Up or Learn More?
Use the contact form below to contact Ben and his team to request more information about them and express your interest in signing up. They will get back to you shortly with full details.
More About Ben and Our Partnership
Ben (pictured with Nicole) is our friend and snorkeling trips partner. He and his team are based in the U.K. and have over 20 years of experience guiding in Asia and beyond. He has been running his own business since 2010 and is primarily offering guided snorkeling trips, but he started with diving. He began offering snorkeling specific trips because he was aware that snorkelers often get the short end of the stick when thrown in with divers. He and his team love the freedom and low stress of snorkeling, and are very aware of the different needs of snorkelers versus divers, in terms of the reef depth, and calm surface conditions needed.
From our experience going on some of his snorkeling trips we found them very well organized, the guides were fantastic and very helpful, and the underwater experiences were exceptional. Snorkeling groups really get the benefit of all of Ben and his guides’ years of experience in the water, and with different resorts and liveaboards.
All of his trips are small groups of 12-18 guests, or with a similar ratio of snorkelers to guides. These are premium trips including nearly everything you will need, accommodation, meals, transportation, and more.
His company is licensed and insured. Barring extreme circumstances they do not cancel trips.