Maluku Divers by Ben Stokes
In his last post Ben talked about diving in the Lembeh Straits, one of the world’s premier muck diving spots. I wanted to share another spot which I thoroughly recommend for anyone who likes this style of diving and is looking to get off the beaten path in Indonesia. Ben and I visited Ambon a few years back and dived with the then recently opened Maluku Divers, we spent 5 days diving the black sand slopes found within just a few minutes of the resort and were blown away by the quality of diving and the diversity of marine life found here. Ambon Island is part of the Maluku Provence in eastern Indonesia, this region was originally much of the source of the Indonesian spice trade being rich in nutmeg, cinnamon and turmeric. The resort itself is just 20 minute from the airport (which isn’t a busy one by the way) making it relatively easy to reach from Jakarta or Makassar.
Comprised of 9 bungalows set in a coconut grove and facing out to sea the resort has both a personal and private feel, with little infrastructure and no other tourist outside of the grounds you really get a sense that you are in outback Indonesia here. All the dives sites are just a few minutes away including the Laha region, a set of dive sites which have become renown among the pro photography circuit has being highly consistent when it comes to finding species that could take lifetime of diving to spot elsewhere, including the recently discovered and magnificently colored psychedelic frogfish which is believed to be endemic to the region.
Maluku Divers is well worth a visit if muck diving is your thing and can easily be combined with diving in other locations throughout Indonesia including Raja Ampat to the north and North. For more information just give me call on 0800 955 0180 or write me at sarah@divesafariasia.com.
Pegasus Sea Moth by Sarah Kemsley
Pharaoh Cuttlefish by Sarah Kemsley
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