Holiday Reference: TRP 49659 - 03 Oct 2026 - Blue Manta Explorer - £3515 *

Blue Manta Explorer – Banda Sea

03 Oct 2026 · 8 nights · Far East, Indonesia

£3515 *

2 twin cabins and 1 space available

Why divers love Blue Manta Explorer

  • 45 m purpose-built steel liveaboard offering stability, space and comfort for trips to Raja Ampat, Komodo, Ambon and more. Accomodating 22 divers.
  • Enjoy freshly prepared meals daily plus snacks, hot drinks and water, with indoor and alfresco dining options.
  • Up to five experienced dive guides ensure small dive groups with personalised attention and expert site briefings.
  • A dedicated team of around 20 seasoned crew members deliver seamless service, from dive deck help to housekeeping.
  • Blue Manta comes with modern navigation, emergency gear, life jackets, fire and smoke alarms and safety systems for secure cruising.
  • Fourteen air-conditioned cabins with private bathrooms and ample space provide a comfortable and relaxing retreat after diving.

What's included in your holiday

  • Your journey on Blue Manta Explorer is based on a lower deck cabin on a full board basis (3 meals/day onboard, tea, coffee, soft drinks, fruit, snacks)
  • 12lt tank, weights, air fills, weight belts and diving with experienced dive masters/instructors - up to 4 dives a day
  • UK passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival 500 000IDR (cash). It is your responsibility to ensure you meet all entry requirements.
  • Komodo park fees $200 or Raja Ampat/Banda fees $250 pp have to be prepaid and will be added to your UK booking as a prepaid extra

What's not included

  • This holiday excludes international flights to Bali or Jakarta and domestic flights to your embarkation point. Do ask for a competitive quote to add flights from a number of UK airports to your holiday. As of 14th Feb 2024, there is a Bali tourist tax of 150 000 (prepay via http://lovebali.baliprov.go.id)
  • To pay locally are alcohol, kit hire, nitrox and any souvenirs or private guiding services. From September 2022, a fuel surcharge will be prepaid $200pp for trips including the Banda Sea/crossing trips or $150 pp for Komodo, Raja Ampat and Sangalaki.
  • Crew gratuities are not included in the charter. All gratuities should be voluntary and based upon the quality of service the crew has provided.
  • A 4.5% service charge is levied on all on board credit card payments

Liveaboard Details

Blue Manta Explorer is possibly the largest, purpose built steel hulled liveaboard diving in Indonesia to date. Measuring 45 meters in length (148 feet) the 22 spacious cabins are situated over three decks. Modern and classy, Blue Manta Explorer is t ...

Blue Manta Explorer is possibly the largest, purpose built steel hulled liveaboard diving in Indonesia to date. Measuring 45 meters in length (148 feet) the 22 spacious cabins are situated over three decks. Modern and classy, Blue Manta Explorer is the perfect choice for exploring the thrilling diving around Raja Ampat, Ambon and Komodo. She's crewed by no less than 20 experienced staff, all dedicated to providing exceptional service

Blue Manta Explorer has 14 cabins, each with en suite bathroom and toiletries. There are 4 double bed cabins and two twins cabins on the upper deck. 4 twin cabins are location on the main deck, towards the bow. The final 4 cabins on the lower deck. Supplements apply for main and upper deck reservations, so please ask at the time of booking if you have a preference.

On a boat this large, you have bags of space to enjoy the communal areas. There is a salon with a plasma TV, DVD and media server. 24 hour satellite internet providing on board wifi available so you can easily stay in touch with family at home. On the upper deck is a is a sun deck with lounge chairs for sunbathing and a covered area for shade, perfect for relaxing in between dives. Up to 5 meals a day are served by the top notch chefs - dine alfresco in the outdoor dining area or in the indoor air-conditioned dining area, You will never go hungry. The dive deck is equipped with personal rinse tanks and a wide outdoor work table for underwater digital cameras. On the main deck you will find dedicated indoor camera room with plenty of space & charging stations. Full equipment rentals are available onboard, all scuba tanks have din or yoke fittings and there are larger tanks available for those requiring a little extra air. Enjoy a warm towel, hot drink and fresh fruit after every dive.

Want to know more about Blue Manta Explorer?

Click here for more details about Blue Manta Explorer This link contains lots of the information you need, pictures, reviews, and other FAQ information. Or call one of our diving holiday experts on +44(0)1483 411590.

Itinerary Details

The Banda Sea is a remote diving location that can only be reached by liveaboard. For a few weeks each year, the wind make diving this exciting new hot spot in Indonesia a must do for any diver that loves pelagics and pristine reefs

Banda Sea Description

In recent years, the Banda Sea has become Indonesia's newest dive spot. This remote arc of islands in the Banda Sea, and are isolated even by Indonesian standards. With Bali to the south and Ambon and Raja Ampat to the north east, Banda Sea offers both critter diving as well as action packed walls and pelagics.

The Banda Islands themselves offer some of the most pristine reef walls found in the world. Seven volcanic islands rise out of the deep blue waters and vast seamounts are home to schooling hammerhead sharks. Uninhabited islands are fringed by untouched reefs. Underwater pinnacles are so isolated that the reefs are immaculate. All dive sites are packed full of fish life. Ambon is famous for the macro life, and Raja for her majestic manta and giant sea fans. Alor is a secret gems of Indonesia, offering some of the most varied diving around. Exceptional black sand muck to gorgeous reef walls, plenty of sharks, from spotted wobbegongs to larger pelagic sharks.

This is a seasonal itinerary that wends its way through the Banda Sea. Itineraries will vary, depending on the liveaboard you chose and the exact time of year. Your embarkation and disembarkation point will change, with each trip offering a unique adventure through far flung dive sites. These may include:

Banda Sea
Ambon and Banda
Alor/Maumere to Ambon and visa versa

This is not an itinerary for beginner divers. Currents can be fast, and the wall dives can be deep. Trips tend to be longer than 7 nights. Set sail and dive sites that can only be reached by liveaboard.

Want to know more about Banda Sea?

Click here for more details about Banda Sea contains all the detailed information you need, a full day by day itinerary, pictures, videos, reviews, and other practical information. Or call one of our diving holiday experts on +44(0)1483 411590.

 


Your holiday details

Dive the Banda sea and discover the Spice islands, volcanos and seasonal hammerheads. Your Banda Sea adventure is 7 nights, based on a lower deck cabin (full board basis) - cabin upgrades are available. All trips are fully guided by expert dive guides and include 12lt tank, weights, full board and soft drinks. There are usually 3/4 dives a day. Banda Sea park fees $250pp & $200 fuel surcharge have to be prepaid and will be added to your UK booking. Excluded are alcohol, kit hire, nitrox ($7 per fill), wifi $35, and any souvenirs or private guiding services.



This holiday excludes international flights to Jakarta CGK or domestic flights to Ambon. Please confirm your boat space, embarkation and disembarkation times with your travel consultant before booking and confirming any flights yourself. We are able to add flights with a wide range of airlines, including regional departures. Please ask your consultant for competitive quote for any flight option. You will typically require a night in Jakarta before and possibly after your liveaboard, which can be added to your booking on request.

* prices are subject to change according to availability at the time of booking

 

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Please DO NOT book any connecting flights, insurance, or additional parts to this holiday as your trip is subject to availability and will NOT be confirmed until you have spoken with our operators. If you have any requests beyond our normal itineraries please note them in the comments and we will discuss these with you when we call to arrange your holiday.

All the flights and flight-inclusive holidays on this website for customers based in the UK or EU are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. When you pay you will be supplied with an ATOL Certificate. Please ask for it and check to ensure that everything you booked (flights, hotels and other services) is listed on it. Please see our booking conditions for further information or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to: www.atol.org.uk/ATOLCertificate

Holidays that do not include a flight originating from the UK,for customers based in the UK or EU, are financially protected by our ABTOT license 5194
The Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT) provides financial protection under The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 for Tony Backhurst Scuba ltd t/a Scuba Travel - member number 5194, and in the event of their insolvency, protection is provided for:

• Non-flight packages for UK and EU customers only

ABTOT cover provides for a refund in the event you have not yet travelled or repatriation if transportation was included in your package. Please note that bookings made outside the UK are only protected by ABTOT when purchased directly with Tony Backhurst Scuba ltd t/a Scuba Travel.
In the unlikely event that you require assistance whilst abroad due to our financial failure, please call our 24/7 helpline on 01702 811397 and advise you are a customer of an ABTOT protected travel company.
You can access The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 here: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2018/634/contents/made
You can find out more about ABTOT here: https://www.abtot.com/

All holidays sold for customers with a postal address outside the EU or UK are not financially protected. It is your responsibility to ensure you have insurance in place to protect your holiday in the event of our insolvency. The holidays are covered under their own specific terms and conditions, which are issued on the booking/payment confirmation.

 

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