Maluku Explorer, the liveaboard to dive Halmahera and the Molucca Sea
Maluku Explorer is the only liveaboard in Halmahera the whole year, being the only one in a region of Indonesia still uncovered: the Moluccan Sea and Northern Moluccas or Maluku, as is named too in divers circles. The Maluku Explorer -formerly MV Liburan-, was relaunched on October 2017 after a comprehensive refurbishment and renovation of the 34m length and 8m wide dive boat, so divers and guests can look forward for new exciting dives in astonishing marine landscapes of Maluku as was since 2011.
Last update: May 18th, 2021
MALUKU EXPLORER
1. ACCOMMODATIONS AND AMENITIES
4. PRICES, INCLUSIONS AND EXCLUSIONS
5. ITINERARIES, SCHEDULE AND BOOKINGS
6. MALUKU EXPLORER DIVING DEALS
7. PRIVATE CRUISES AND CHARTERS
1. ACCOMMODATIONS AND AMENITIES
Maluku Explorer counts with 2 spacious master cabins on the main deck, 1 large premium cabin on the upper deck and 6 cozy standard cabins, 4 double and 2 single cabins on the lower deck, all the cabins are comfortable and equipped with air conditioning and private bathroom with shower and wc.
The Maluku Explorer has three spacious decks: a cozy lower deck, plenty of room on the dive deck and a beautiful lounge and sun deck on the upper deck. The lounge is air conditioned with comfortable sitting areas, TV and DVD player. The dive deck is very spacious -45m2-, and also provides a huge camera table for photographers and charging stations. On the dive deck there are 2 showers outside ideally for after the night dive.
In the dining area, meals are served at several tables. The cruise’s price includes full board, included three meals a day offered in buffet style, coffee, tea and water, snacks and fresh fruit. Most meals are a combination of Indonesian, Chinese and Western cuisine. A larger variety of drinks, fruit juices, as well as beer are available for purchase. For coffee fans, we'll offer you every day a selection of fine Indonesian coffees which are actually one of the best in the world.
2. TECHNICAL DATA
The Maluku Explorer was built by divers for divers so it's spacious compare to other liveaboards you may dive with and provides comfortable spaces ideally for a dive cruise on the three spacious decks. Sundeck: premiun cabin, saloon, sundeck. Main Deck: master cabins 1 & 2, dining room, kitchen, dive deck, diving platform. Lower Deck: store, standard cabins, engine room.
Maluku Explorer Layout
3. DIVING DESTINATIONS
Maluku Explorer operates year-round dive cruises in Halmahera, and is also available for dive or leisure cruises and research or explorative trips, out of our regular itineraries, in all the Molucca Sea, from Sulawesi to Maluku.
Maluku Explorer diving destinations in Indonesia
Diving Molucca Sea with Maluku Explorer
Maluku Explorer dives a region that is only accessible for a little amount of divers: Halmahera, North Maluku. The turns usually start in Ternate and reach Labuha, a few begin in Lembeh and reach the area of Halmahera within two day. In route Lembeh-Halmahera, Halmahera-Lembeh we will offer you also some fantastic dive sites of Tifore.
The region of Halmahera comprises 399 islands and has scarcely been visited by divers and no divers, is truly a hard-to-reach-place also for the Maluku-Indonesian people due this remoteness, tourism is practically inexistent, so the feeling is of the out-of-the-way and remote place, ruled by ancient volcanic islands arisen from the sea.
On board are offered some land tours to discover the history of Halmahera that was closely related to those of Ternate and Tidore, both the sites of major kingdoms in the era, before Dutch East India Company colonized the entire archipelago. We will visit a former rubber plantation, an ancient Portuguese fortress, a gemstone manufacturing or the traditional local market, well known since centuries for it's spices.
Or you just have a look at a village with 250 inhabitants, we decided to support this village so they built a school and a first-aid-station and a well. Feel free to bring some gifts. We recommend some useful stuff like papers and pens for the kids, also some toys like soap bubbles. Please avoid of bringing sweets because most of the time it's wrapped in plastic and this will have an impact to this village. Thank You!
Dive sites of Molucca Sea
As you will have already understood many of the dive sites of Halmahera are true explorative dives. Halmahera's location on the heart of the Coral Triangle and its proximity to Raja Ampat suggests that soon will become a new and very hot dive destination in the Asia.
In all the area there are breathtaking cliffs and overhangs that are overgrown terrific. The character of the dive sites will vary nearly every day. From small to big staff you'll see reef slope diving, wall diving and you'll explore amazing under water landscapes might it be a pinnacle or huge under water rock formation.
The magnificent coral diversity is home to a multitude of small creatures such as pygmy seahorses, blue ring octopus, hairy octopus, flamboyant cuttlefish, pipefish, snails and crabs. Every dive our guides will show the astonishing variety of small creatures which is Indonesia world-famous for. Nudibranchs in all color variations, scorpionfish, flathead crocodile fish and other critters waiting for your exploration.
But don't forget to mention the enormous amount of big staff waiting for you nearly every dive like reef sharks, Napoleon wrasse, Halmahera parrotfish, and large schools of butterfly fish, longfin batfish, surgeonfish, longfin bannerfish, humphead parrotfish families passing by and from time to time nice visits from eagle rays, mobulas and -with a little luck on your site- manta rays.
We also have minimum two spots where you have a fair chance to spot a huge school of adult and healthy barracudas. We discovered a few month ago a dive site which we called 'Manta Bay'. If you dove in Southeast-Asia already you maybe get bored of all the Manta and Shark points they offer. Of course we can not guarantee that you'll see them but 8 out of ten trips we spot them. Best season for this amazing creatures is September/October.
With luck you can encounter the rare Epaulette shark during our night dives, which was formerly known to live only in Raja Ampat. The biodiversity in this area is amazing and impressive so you'll be flashed by huge and healthy hard and soft coral gardens colorized by sponges in all sizes and colors. No El Niño nor tsunamis destroyed this reefs and we take care that only traditional fishery is made to preserve this amazing spots.
Maluku Explorer diving operations
3-4 dives are offered daily. You should have a minimum of 50 dives and you should be prepared that we have strong currents. Check the moon calendar but if you do a two week trip you will have new moon or full moon phases and strong currents will occur - and the big stuff is coming out.
Before each dive, an English-language briefing by the Indonesian dive guides will take place.
Responsible individual diving in Buddy system is not a problem with adequate experience after talking to the tour management.
Normally your group will join one of three experienced Indonesian guides which are proud and enthusiastic to show you their pristine under water world.
During your time on board you won't need to take care of your equipment anymore. We take care for everything from refilling your tank to rinsing your equipment at the end of the trip.
4. PRICES, INCLUSIONS AND EXCLUSIONS
Rates
The rates of Maluku Explorer are in EUR but we can deal the better ex-change rate for you: USD, GBP, AUD, NZD, CAD, YEN, HKD, SGD, and many others, ASK FOR A QUOTATION IN YOUR PREFERRED CURRENCY
What is included?
- Arrival and departure airport transfer
- Accommodation on board
- Full board: meals and snacks
- Drinking waters, tea and coffee
- 3-4 dives a day, except for the first and last day
- Excursions according to on board program
- Tanks and weights
Mandatory Surcharges
- Diving Fees to be paid on board -Marine Park, Local Taxes, Harbour Clearance: €200 per person
Optional Bookable and Payable in Advance
- Domestic flights
- Transit night in airport hotel after or before your cruise
Optional Payable on Board
- Soft drinks, beer, alcoholic beverages, expresso coffee
- Nitrox
- Tips to the crew
- Onboard communications
- Dive courses
5. ITINERARIES, SCHEDULE AND BOOKINGS
Maluku Explorer offers 4 itineraries for scuba diving cruises in Indonesia, 2 itineraries depart from Bitung in the Lembeh Strait with arrival in Ternate or Labuha in Halmahera, and two other itineraries with departure and arrival in Halmahera.
Diving trip from Lembeh to Ternate and VV
Maluku Explorer runs this epic diving trip from Northern Sulawesi to Northern Moluccas once or twice a year.
Lembeh
As everybody know Lembeh is reputed as mecca of muck diving! its black sands offer Wunderpus, Mimic Octopus, Blue Ring Octopus, Hairy Frogfish, Rhinopias, Pontohi Pygmy Seahorse, Mandarin Fish, Flamboyant Cuttlefish, huge number of nudibranchs and all kind of weird critters. Good buoyancy skills matters!
Tifore
Rising between Halmahera and Sulawesi, in the very deep open Molucca Sea, the dive sites around Tifore are mostly plateaus with sheer walls and steep slopes. This is a great dive site where your adrenaline gets going with large school of barracudas and trevallys hanging in the current.
Goraici Islands
The Goraici Islands have many great dive sites with one of the most amazing fish life zones in Halmahera. Stunning reefs overgrown with colorful hard and soft corals: school of fusiliers and school of bannerfish. Also pelagic coming by. Oceanic blacktips, whitetips and also greyreef sharks have been spotted. Mantas can be seen around Pulau Lilei and Tolimao. On Pulau Lilei we have a chance to visit the local village and walk around a bit taking selfies with the local inhabitants.
Bacan
We can offer a great land tour organized by Cruising Indonesia. This normally includes visiting an old Portuguese fort, traditional dancing, and local market.
Makian
Black sand diving, similar to Lembeh and Panambuang. A descent macro site where good critter life can be found.
Ternate
In front of the Mosque there are a few wrecks on diveable depth. A perfect spot to do a check dive at the start of a trip or to end the last diveday with. Crocodile flatheads, nudibranches, ghost pipefishes, can be seen.
Diving trip from Lembeh to Labuha and VV
Maluku Explorer runs this epic diving trip from Northern Sulawesi to Northern Moluccas once or twice a year.
Lembeh
In Lembeh you will enjoy Indonesia's muck diving at it's best! On these black sands different species of seahorses, octopuses, nudibranch and many weird critters can be found. This is certainly a heaven for macro lovers.
Tifore
Rising between Halmahera and Sulawesi, in the very deep open Sea of the Maluku, the dive sites around Tifore are mostly plateau’s with sheer walls and steep slopes. Here we can find a school of thousands barracudas and trevallys hanging in the current. This is a great dive site where your adrenaline gets going.
Goraici Islands
The Goraici Islands have many great dive sites with one of the most amazing fish life zones in Halmahera. Stunning reefs overgrown with colorful hard and soft corals. Also pelagic coming by. Oceanic white tip sharks have been spotted. Mantas can be seen around Pulau's Lilei and Tolimao. On Pulau Lilei we have a chance to visit the local village and walk around a bit taking selfies with the local inhabitants.
Patinti Strait
The Patinti Strait is a channel between Halmahera and Bacan Island which holds excellent reefs full of blooming orange soft corals packed with anthias, plenty of large soft coral covered bommies in all different colors and different species. Here we can expect some good currents which gives us the chance to see lots of reef sharks; black tip, white tip and grey reef sharks as well as many other pelagic. Also during night dives the walking shark can be spotted.
But no worries, also for the less experienced divers there is plenty of sites to dive and see great underwater life.
Bacan
We can offer a great land tour organized by Cruising Indonesia. This normally includes visiting an old Portuguese fort, traditional dancing, local market.
Panambuang
Black sand diving similar to Lembeh Strait. Here we offer a few different sites, with a jetty dive as an absolute highlight! Weird critters, nudibranch, walking shark and even the bobbit worm have been spotted regularly. Good buoyancy skills matters!
Diving trip from Ternate to Labuha and VV
Maluku Explorer runs this diving trip in Halmahera year-round
Ternate
In front of the Mosque there are a few wrecks on diveable depth. A perfect spot to do check dives at the start of a trip or to end the last dive day with. Crocodile flatheads, nudibranches, ghost pipefishes, etc. can be seen.
Tifore (full charter option only if booked extra)
Rising between Halmahera and Sulawesi, in the very deep open Sea of the Maluku, the dive sites around Tifore are mostly plateau with sheer walls and steep slopes. Here we can find a school of thousands barracudas and trevallys hanging in the current. This is a great dive site where your adrenaline gets going.
Goraici Islands
The Goraici Islands have many great dive sites with one of the most amazing fish life zones in Halmahera. Stunning reefs overgrown with colorful hard and soft corals. Also pelagic coming by. Oceanic white tip sharks have been spotted. Mantas can be seen around Pulau's Lilei and Tolimao. On Pulau Lilei we have a chance to visit the local village and walk around a bit taking selfies with the local inhabitants.
Patinti Strait
The Patinti Strait is a channel between Halmahera and Bacan Island which holds excellent reefs full of blooming orange soft corals packed with anthias, plenty of large soft coral covered bommies in all different colors and different species. Here we can expect some good currents which gives us the chance to see lots of reef sharks; black tip, white tip and grey reef sharks as well as many other pelagic. Also during night dives the walking shark can be spotted.
But no worries, also for the less experienced divers there is plenty of sites to dive and see great underwater life.
Bacan
We can offer a great land tour organized by Cruising Indonesia. This normally includes visiting an old Portuguese fort, traditional dancing, local market.
Pigaraja
On the South-East of Bacan is a small island with the name Pigaraja, in front of a small village on Bacan. Here we offer a wreck dive amongst diving along amazing coral reefs. This wooden ship sank some time ago and is already covered with sponges and soft corals. A lust for the eye. Around the island are some great coral reefs, where excellent night dives can be done!
Bacan South-West
Here we have a few dive sites with stunning walls and canyons. An absolute feast for the eye! Due to open to the ocean, divers should be aware for some currents. Don’t forget to look ‘into the blue’ because a good size of schooling barracudas and trevallys can be seen as well as reefsharks, napoleons and bumphead parrotfish coming by.
Panambuang
Black sand diving similar to Lembeh Strait. Here we offer a few different sites, with a jetty dive as an absolute highlight! Weird critters, nudibranch, walking shark and even the bobbit worm have been spotted regularly. Good buoyaoncy skills are a must!
Diving trip from Labuha to Labuha
Maluku Explorer runs this diving trip in Halmahera year-round
Panambuang
Black sand diving similar to Lembeh Strait. Here we offer a few different sites, with a jetty dive as an absolute highlight! Weird critters, nudibranch, walking shark and even the bobbit worm have been spotted regularly. Good buoyancy skills are a must!
Bacan South-West
Here we have a few dive sites with stunning walls and canyons. An absolute feast for the eye! Due to open to the ocean, divers should be aware for some currents. Don’t forget to look ‘into the blue’ because a good size of schooling barracudas and trevallys can be seen as well as reef sharks, napoleons and bumphead parrotfish coming by.
Pigaraja
On the South-East of Bacan is a small island with the name Pigaraja, in front of a small village on Bacan. Here we offer a wreck dive amongst diving along amazing coral reefs. This wooden ship sank some time ago and is already covered with sponges and soft corals. A lust for the eye. Around the island are some great coral reefs, where excellent night dives can be done!
Patinti Strait
The Patinti Strait is a channel between Halmahera and Bacan Island which holds excellent reefs full of blooming orange soft corals packed with anthias, plenty of large soft coral covered bommies in all different colors and different species. Here we can expect some good currents which gives us the chance to see lots of reef sharks; black tip, white tip and grey reef sharks as well as many other pelagic. Also during night dives the walking shark can be spotted.
But no worries, also for the less experienced divers there is plenty of sites to dive and see great underwater life.
Bacan
We can offer a great land tour organized by Cruising Indonesia. This normally includes visiting an old Portuguese fort, traditional dancing, local market.
Goraici Islands
The Goraici Islands have many great dive sites with one of the most amazing fish life zones in Halmahera. Stunning reefs overgrown with colorful hard and soft corals. Also pelagic coming by. Oceanic white tip sharks have been spotted. Mantas can be seen around Pulau's Lilei and Tolimao. On Pulau Lilei we have a chance to visit the local village and walk around a bit taking selfies with the local inhabitants.
Bacan North-West
In between the islands of Kasiruta and Bacan we offer a few good dive sites. Due to current lots of reef sharks can be seen as well as other pelagic.
On the island Pogo Pogo we can offer some ‘beach’ time. A small resort is being build and we have permission to ‘’use’ their beach for a few hours. A great way to end a trip; with your feet in the sand, an refreshing drink in your hand, overthinking your trip and remember all the beauties you have witnessed under and above water!
Land Excursions in Halmahera, North Maluku
Diving Halmahera: Land excursions are offered as part of your dive cruise
6. MALUKU EXPLORER DIVING DEALS
Diving Trip: The Sultans of the Reef
"An Epic Diving Trip in Molucca Sea, from Northern Sulawesi to Northern Moluccas, to experience great diving in areas less known of Indonesia and the Culture of Sultanates and the Golden Era of Spice Islands..."
The Sultans of the Reef Special
Dive Halmahera with Maluku Explorer
The trips Lembeh-Ternate and Lembeh-Labuha are unique dive cruises happening regularly once a year, starting in Northern Sulawesi and finishing at Northern Moluccas. Reservations must be done ahead on time. Reserve for the next year, now!
A great diving experience in the remote Halmahera with Maluku Explorer. Contact now a Liveaboard Specialist
7. PRIVATE CRUISES AND CHARTERS
Maluku Explorer is ideally for private cruises and charters in Northern Moluccas, an uncovered region of Indonesia with a lot of pioneering opportunities. Take look of our review of Halmahera, North Maluku to know more.
All the images of this page were snapped on the last private dive charter cruise organized by Cruising Indonesia on Maluku Explorer.
Maluku Explorer Images
