FORGOTTEN ISLANDS LIVEABOARD DIVING
Liveaboard diving in Southeast Indonesia’s “Forgotten Islands” – also known as the Southeast Moluccas (Maluku Tenggara) – is not a single destination. A long chain of 1000 km long of islands is stretching from Timor to West Papua on the island of New Guinea.
Very distant from any population and far off any routes, these “Forgotten Islands” have been mostly isolated from the rest of Indonesia.
The ground of these islands varies from forested mountainous peaks in the Inner Banda Arc of islands that include Wetar, Roma, Damar & Nila. On the opposite sides, some high mountains with a top closed to 900 m on the island of Damer. All other volcanic ground is mostly flat of the such as Aru and Kei island groups, dominated by savannah, mangroves and broadleaf forests.
Forgotten islands are in the Inner Arc islands. All of them are volcanic.
Together, the islands of Maluku Tenggara make up the eastern end of the bio-geographic province of Wallacea, a transitional region between continental Southeast Asia and Australia-New Guinea, with flora and fauna of the easternmost islands the most similar to New Guinea.
Culturally, people of the islands of Maluku are the Austronesian peoples. They are closely related, sharing similar languages, myths, and traditional beliefs. Famous for all woodcarvings and sculptures representing ancestral figures, distinctive handwoven ikat fabrics, and plaited bamboo and palm baskets.
We are offering this destination because we believe that The Forgotten Islands offer some of the best diving in Indonesian waters.
Coral bommies, surprising reefs, impressive wall dives and unforgettable drop off is part of your daily activities. You will meet some schools of Bumphead parrotfish, giant schooling of Big-eye trevallies, Giant trevallies, Spanish mackerel, schooling barracuda, hammerhead sharks and a whale shark to mention a few of them.
Few Liveaboard is doing the “forgotten islands” as it’s difficult to go there, and far away. As we are located in Easter Nusa Tenggara, and following the high number of request, we add as a fix itinerary the Forgotten Island.
We are offering some expeditions to the Forgotten Islands each year between late May, October and early November. The first trip starts in Maumere (Flores), heads East through the Forgotten Islands, and ends in Saumlaki, in the Tanimbar Group.
The second cruise starts in Saumlaki and circles around the outer and inner Banda Arcs to returns to Saumlaki after a full circle of the South East Maluku archipelago.
The third and final cruise of the season starts in Saumlaki, hits all the best spots of the Forgotten Islands, and back to Alor / Komodo where we are doing the South Komodo during 3 months before going back East.
We are the ‘specialist ‘liveaboard of the Southeast Indonesian waters, join us and discover the unbelievable Forgotten Island with Dragon Dive.
Amazing untouched macro life will offer you one of the best liveaboards you ever made. Without airports, inhabited only by small fishing communities, these islands are surrounded by deep and transparent sea waters. Open to the currents coming from northern Australia, which is just over 200 miles to the south. They are ideal for the development of life marina.
FORGOTTEN ISLAND LIVEABOARD – DIVING INFORMATION
General information for scuba diving in East Flores
Airport
MAUMERE – SAUMLAKI
Visibility
20 – 50 meters
BEST TIME
APRIL/MAY – OCT/NOV
Current Level
Gentle to Moderate
DIVE SITES
MORE THAN 60+
Topography
Wall – Muck – Pinnacle
WATER TEMP
21°C – 28°C
Requirement
Advanced Diver