Diving & Travel Guide to the Forgotten Islands

About Forgotten Islands

The Forgotten Islands, known locally as the Southwest Maluku islands, are a chain of remote volcanic islands stretching across the far southeastern reaches of the Banda Sea, representing one of the most isolated and least-visited diving regions on the planet. The main islands of Manuk, Serua, Nila, Teun, Damar, Dawera, Dawelor, Terbang, and Babar form an arc of volcanic peaks rising from depths exceeding 5,000 meters, creating isolated underwater mountains that attract an extraordinary density of pelagic life from the surrounding deep ocean. These sea mounts are the domain of schooling hammerhead sharks, thresher sharks, oceanic manta rays, and whale sharks, all drawn to the nutrient-rich upwellings created by the volcanic topography. The reef systems here are among the most pristine in Indonesia, with zero dive tourism pressure and marine ecosystems that function essentially as they have for millennia. Access is exclusively by liveaboard on expedition-style itineraries departing from Ambon or Saumlaki, typically covering 7-10 days and visiting 4-6 of the major sea mounts. The sheer isolation creates both the magic and the challenge – there are no hyperbaric chambers, limited communications, and no safety net beyond what the liveaboard provides. For the truly adventurous diver, the Forgotten Islands offer an experience that few will ever have – diving on pristine reefs in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by the raw power of the open ocean. Because the islands are so small and the surrounding water so deep, the transition from shallow reef crest to vertical wall is often dramatic, with visibility frequently exceeding 40 meters. This clarity combined with the massive coral colonies makes the Forgotten Islands a premier destination for wide-angle underwater photography, capturing the scale and raw beauty of a truly wild marine environment.

Highlights

• ✓Schooling hammerhead sharks at multiple remote sea mounts
• ✓Zero dive tourism pressure – among the most pristine reefs on Earth
• ✓Expedition-style liveaboard diving in true wilderness conditions
• ✓Deep-ocean pelagic encounters including thresher and oceanic whitetip sharks
• ✓Volcanic island topography with dramatic underwater walls and pinnacles
• ✓Authentic encounters with remote island communities virtually untouched by tourism

Getting There

The Forgotten Islands are accessible only by liveaboard, with most itineraries departing from Ambon or occasionally from Saumlaki on Yamdena Island. The journey from Ambon to the first sea mounts takes 12-18 hours of open ocean sailing, which is why multi-day expeditions of 7-10 days are standard. Some operators also offer connections from the Banda Sea itineraries, creating extended Maluku region expeditions. Flight connections to Ambon are available from Jakarta, Makassar, and Surabaya. The extreme remoteness means that careful planning and comprehensive dive insurance are absolutely essential.