Raja Ampat to the Spice Islands Dive Expedition

Day 1

Welcome to Raja Ampat

Sorong, Indonesia
Embarkation

Your expedition begins in Sorong, the gateway to Raja Ampat. Our team will meet you at the airport and transfer you to Calico Jack, where the crew will welcome you aboard and show you to your cabin. Once everyone is settled, we head out for a relaxed check dive in the surrounding reefs – the perfect way to test gear, get comfortable in the water and start spotting the first reef life of the journey. As evening falls, enjoy dinner on deck while the boat begins its overnight cruise south toward the legendary reefs of Misool, one of the most biodiverse marine environments on Earth.

Day 2

The Reefs of Misool

Misool, Raja Ampat
Diving

Wake up to towering limestone islands rising from turquoise water. Today you begin exploring southern Raja Ampat, an underwater paradise famous for its vibrant coral reefs and immense biodiversity. Dives around Wayilbatan feature colourful pinnacles covered in soft corals, sea fans and clouds of reef fish. Barracuda, trevallies and batfish often patrol the currents here. In the afternoon there’s time to explore Misool’s spectacular hidden lagoons by kayak or paddleboard, gliding through calm emerald waters between towering karst cliffs. As darkness falls, an optional night dive reveals a completely different side of the reef.

Day 3

Hidden Lagoons of Balbulol

Balbulol, Raja Ampat
Diving & lagoon exploration

  Today’s dives take you through some of Misool’s most vibrant reefs, where coral-covered pinnacles attract large schools of snapper, jacks and bumphead parrotfish. After diving, the adventure continues above the water. Your guides will take the dinghies deep into the hidden lagoons of Balbulol, where narrow passages open into surreal turquoise pools surrounded by jungle-covered cliffs. As evening arrives, keep an eye on the treetops — this remote area is home to the remarkable Palm Cockatoo, often seen returning to roost at sunset.

Day 4

Daram’s Colourful Reefs

Daram Islands
Diving

  The reefs around Daram Island are famous for their extraordinary coral density. Many divers describe sites here as feeling like swimming through an underwater garden. Giant sponges, soft corals and sea fans cover the reef slopes in vibrant colours, while reef sharks and Napoleon wrasse occasionally cruise the deeper blue. This is classic Raja Ampat diving — rich coral life, swirling fish schools and endless macro discoveries.

Day 5

Fiabacet Ridge

Southern Raja Ampat
Diving

  Today’s dives explore the famous Fiabacet ridge, a vast reef system connecting several islands across southern Raja Ampat. Sites such as Whale Rock, Nudi Rock and Tank Rock combine dramatic underwater topography with some of the richest marine biodiversity in the region. Keep an eye out for pygmy seahorses, nudibranchs and reef sharks, while huge schools of fish sweep across the reef slopes.

Day 6

Magic Mountain & Boo Islands

Boo Islands
Diving

  One of the highlights of the expedition. Today you dive Magic Mountain, one of the most celebrated sites in Raja Ampat. This submerged reef ridge often attracts oceanic manta rays, along with large schools of fish and cruising reef sharks. Later dives around Boo Island reveal beautiful coral formations and unique reef structures, including the famous coral “windows” that pierce through the reef.

Day 7

Pulau Koon – Where the Seas Converge

Ceram Sea
Diving

Leaving Raja Ampat behind, the expedition continues west toward the Banda Sea. At Pulau Koon, nutrient-rich currents attract enormous schools of fish. Massive gatherings of red snappers, trevallies, barracuda and batfish swirl across the reef in one of the most impressive fish aggregations in Indonesia. After today’s dives, Calico Jack begins the overnight journey toward the historic Banda Islands.

Day 8

Into the Banda Sea

Banda Islands
Diving

Rising from one of the deepest ocean trenches on Earth, the Banda Islands offer a very different underwater landscape. Volcanic seamounts and steep reef walls plunge into the deep blue, creating ideal conditions for encounters with tuna, barracuda, turtles and occasionally hammerhead sharks. The reefs here are wild, dramatic and beautifully preserved.

Day 9

Banda Neira & the Spice Islands

Banda Neira
Island exploration & diving

  This morning you step ashore in Banda Neira, once the centre of the global nutmeg trade. Explore colonial-era streets and visit Fort Belgica, where sweeping views overlook the volcanic island of Banda Api and the surrounding sea. Later in the day, return to the water for dives around the island’s volcanic reefs before finishing with a sunset dive to search for mandarin fish, one of the ocean’s most colourful reef species.

Day 10

Pulau Ai & Run Island

Banda Islands
Diving

  Today you explore the outer Banda islands, where pristine coral walls drop into deep blue water. Drift dives along Pulau Ai reveal vibrant reef life and clouds of tropical fish, while nearby Run Island offers beautiful coral gardens and fascinating history — this tiny island was once traded by the British for Manhattan. Exploratory dives in this region often reveal rarely visited reefs and untouched marine habitats.

Day 11

Nusa Laut Reefs

Near Ambon
Final dives

Your final dive day takes place near Nusa Laut, a community-protected marine area known for exceptionally healthy coral reefs. Sites such as Amet Reef are full of life — turtles glide across coral gardens while reef sharks patrol the deeper water. After the final dives, relax on deck as Calico Jack sails toward Ambon for the final evening of the expedition.