5.0 
11 Night Sorong ↔ Ambon Dive Expedition
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From $5300
- Save up to $200
An Epic Crossing Through Indonesia’s Wild East
This 11-night expedition links Raja Ampat, the remote islands of the Banda Sea, and the critter-rich waters of Ambon Bay. Sailing between Sorong and Ambon, the route delivers up to 33–35 dives across three of Indonesia’s most iconic dive regions. This is a true expedition-style journey for divers seeking variety, remoteness, and some of Indonesia’s most celebrated underwater experiences.
This expedition operates in both directions, depending on the season and schedule.
Looking to book for a group of 8 or more?.
Calico Jack is available for private charter, meaning deals and savings on group bookings. It also gives you the flexibility to tailor this itinerary to your exact wishes. Contact us for more information.
Trip Schedule
See when our next scheduled sailings for this trip are.
Need help or have questions before booking?
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Call or Whatsapp: +62 813-3932-5544
Email: calicojackbookings@gmail.com
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Explore more routes and availability through our charter & liveaboard agency, Boatique Charters, featuring Indonesia’s finest yachts and expanded sailing schedules.
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This is one of Indonesia’s great dive crossings.
Route Direction Options
This expedition operates in both directions, depending on the season and schedule:
- Sorong → Ambon – Begins in Raja Ampat and finishes with macro-rich dives in Ambon Bay.
- Ambon → Sorong – Starts with critter diving in Ambon Bay before progressing through the Banda Sea and ending among Raja Ampat’s iconic reefs.
While the dive regions and highlights remain the same, the order of experiences changes, offering a slightly different rhythm to the journey.
Sailing from Sorong to Ambon aboard Calico Jack, this 11-night expedition traces a rarely travelled route through the eastern reaches of the Coral Triangle, combining iconic biodiversity, open-ocean seamounts, volcanic islands, and world-famous muck diving into a single, unforgettable journey.
The voyage begins in Raja Ampat, where warm, nutrient-rich currents feed some of the most diverse reefs on Earth. Early dives explore the Dampier Strait and surrounding islands, an area renowned for dense fish life, healthy coral systems, manta rays, and rare macro species. Sheltered reefs, submerged ridges, and jetty dives offer a perfect balance of wide-angle spectacle and small critter encounters.
As the expedition moves south and east, the scenery shifts dramatically. Crossing into the Banda Sea, dives become more remote and exploratory. Isolated islands, deep-water drop-offs, and current-swept seamounts attract large schools of fish and pelagic species. Sites such as Koon Island and Manuk are famed for sheer biomass — vast clouds of snapper, barracuda, trevallies, and, with luck, passing sharks and hammerheads.
The Banda Islands themselves offer a rare blend of history and diving. Volcanic walls, dramatic lava flows, and coral gardens sit beneath islands once central to the global spice trade. Between dives, there’s time to step ashore at Banda Neira, exploring colonial forts, nutmeg plantations, and quiet island streets that feel untouched by time.
The journey concludes in Ambon Bay, one of the world’s most celebrated muck diving destinations. Here, the focus shifts from big reefs to extraordinary detail. Frogfish, mimic and wunderpus octopus, ghost pipefish, nudibranchs, and rare endemic species make these final dives a photographer’s dream and a perfect contrast to the open-ocean diving earlier in the trip.
With up to 33–35 dives planned across the itinerary, days follow a steady, well-paced rhythm: multiple dives per day, generous surface intervals, and the occasional night dive when conditions allow. As always, dive sites and daily plans remain flexible, allowing the crew to respond to weather, visibility, and guest experience to deliver the best possible diving throughout the voyage.
This expedition is ideal for experienced, curious divers, those looking to go beyond a single destination and experience the full spectrum of Indonesia’s underwater world in one remarkable crossing.
Included
- Land transfers to and from the aipoirt and hotel
- Full crew with planned itinerary
- Full board accommodation
- 3 x meals a day + snacks & drinks
- 3-4 dives per day + alternating additional night dives
- Dive guides
- Fishing equipment where allowes
- Snorkeling equipment
- Kayaks & stand-up paddleboards
Frequently asked questions
Q: Where does the trip start and end?
A: This expedition either starts in Sorong and ends in Ambon or starts in Ambon and ends in Sorong based on the direction of travel. Airport transfers are included on embarkation and disembarkation days.
Q: What’s the difference between Sorong–Ambon and Ambon–Sorong?
A: The itinerary, dive regions, and total number of dives are essentially the same. The difference is the order in which regions are visited. Sorong–Ambon starts with Raja Ampat and finishes with macro diving in Ambon Bay, while Ambon–Sorong begins with critters and ends with Raja Ampat’s large-scale reefs and fish life.
Q: How many dives are included?
A: The trip includes up to 33–35 dives, with 3–4 dives per day depending on conditions, plus night dives when suitable.
Q: What level of diving experience is required?
A: This itinerary is best suited to certified divers with recent experience. Some dives may involve currents or deeper profiles, particularly in the Banda Sea. Advanced certification is not required, but confidence in open-water conditions is recommended.
Q: Is this a good trip for photographers?
A: Yes — this route offers exceptional variety. Raja Ampat delivers vibrant reefs and schooling fish, the Banda Sea offers dramatic wide-angle scenes and pelagic potential, and Ambon Bay is world-class for macro and critter photography.
Q: What makes this trip different from a Raja Ampat loop?
A: This is a true crossing expedition, not a return route. It links three very different dive regions — Raja Ampat, the Banda Sea, and Ambon Bay — offering far more diversity in terrain, marine life, and overall experience.
Q: Are non-divers welcome on this trip?
A: Yes, non-divers are welcome onboard. They can enjoy snorkelling, kayaking, paddleboarding, island visits, and life aboard Calico Jack, though this itinerary is primarily dive-focused.
Q: Will we go ashore during the trip?
A: Yes. Weather permitting, there is an island visit in the Banda Islands, including time ashore at Banda Neira to explore its historic town and spice plantations.
Q: Can the itinerary change?
A: Yes — and intentionally so. Dive sites and daily plans are adjusted based on weather, sea conditions, and guest experience to ensure the best possible diving throughout the expedition.
Q: Is dive equipment rental available onboard?
A: Yes. Full dive equipment rental is available onboard. Guests are encouraged to bring their own mask and dive computer for comfort, but all other gear can be arranged in advance.
Q: What’s included in the trip price?
A: Accommodation, meals, soft drinks, diving, dive guides, transfers, snorkelling equipment, kayaks, SUP boards, and onboard amenities are included. Park fees, alcohol, equipment rental, and courses are not included.
Q: Who is this expedition best suited for?
A: This trip is ideal for divers looking for variety, remoteness, and exploration — those who want to experience multiple iconic regions in one journey rather than staying in a single destination.
Trip gallery
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