All meals on Forgotten Islands expeditions are provided by the liveaboard, with skilled chefs creating varied and nutritious meals despite the remote location and limited resupply opportunities. The menu typically includes a mix of Indonesian staples and western dishes, with fresh fish purchased from local fishermen at island stops adding a delicious local element. Fresh fruits, vegetables, and provisions are loaded before departure from Ambon, and the galley team works creatively to maintain variety over the multi-day journey. The quality of liveaboard dining in Indonesia is generally excellent, and many operators pride themselves on their culinary offerings. Guests can expect a rotating menu of grilled seafood, spicy curries, and fresh salads, often followed by tropical desserts. Because resupply is impossible during the voyage, the initial provisioning is a critical task for the crew, ensuring that high-quality ingredients are available throughout the trip. Even in such isolation, the standard of food remains a highlight of the experience for most divers.

The Natsema Hotel Ambon (pre-trip)

Maju Hotel Ambon (pre-trip)

Swiss-Belhotel Ambon

Amansari Hotel Ambon

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.

Forgotten Islands

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.

Liveaboard Diving in Forgotten Islands