The Forgotten Islands
Banda Sea Ring of Fire liveaboard expeditions in 2027 offer exceptional diving opportunities, particularly for schooling hammerhead sharks from September to November.
The Banda Sea Ring of Fire experience
The Banda Sea presents liveaboard experiences featuring unspoiled reefs, significant pelagic encounters, and a deep sense of exploration. Typical voyages span 10 to 12 nights from Ambon or Maumere through the Forgotten Islands.
The best chance for encountering schooling hammerhead sharks in significant numbers occurs from mid-September to mid-October. Peak sightings correlate with south-easterly winds from June to September.
Early booking is strongly recommended due to high demand for September to November hammerhead season dates.
The region
The best chance for encountering these magnificent creatures in significant numbers occurs from mid-September to mid-October. Peak sightings correlate with south-easterly winds from June to September.
Hammerheads are generally present from September to the end of November, but the narrow window in which they school in numbers is what the crossing series is built around.
Popular routes include Banda Sea to Raja Ampat in November, Ambon to Raja Ampat in November, and Komodo to Alor crossings, typically as 10 to 12 night expeditions.
Key sites across the region feature schooling hammerheads, pristine coral reefs, and dramatic volcanic underwater landscapes.
Early booking is strongly recommended due to high demand for September to November hammerhead season dates.
Only a handful of liveaboards run this crossing series, and the dates that matter are the only ones most divers want.
Good to know
Encounters with schooling hammerhead sharks, pristine coral reefs, and dramatic volcanic underwater landscapes characterize these expeditions across key sites.
The optimal period for hammerhead shark sightings in the Banda Sea is from mid-September to mid-October.
Options include crossings from Ambon to Maumere, incorporating the Forgotten Islands, with routes to Raja Ampat and Alor also available.
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