TRANSNUSA

9 Days/8 Nights Bima – Maumere Cruise Itinerary

Day 1 Satonda (1 dive)

• Embarkation in Bima: Guests board the vessel and set sail towards Pulau Satonda.
• Afternoon Dive: Satonda Reef – A gentle sloping reef with a sandy bottom that is home to a variety of critters. This dive can reveal giant frogfish nestled in sponges, mushroom coral pipefish, and the elusive Bargibanti pygmy seahorse. Nudibranchs, ghost pipefish, and other macro subjects make this site a paradise for underwater photographers.

Days 2 Saleh Bay & Sumbawa Surprise (4 dives)

• Morning Dives (3 dives) at Saleh Bay
  • Saleh Bay is a hotspot for whale shark encounters. These gentle giants are frequently seen feeding near traditional baganfishing platforms, offering an incredible opportunity to observe them up close. You will have the chance to both dive and snorkel with whale sharks in an exclusive setting—no other groups will share the experience with us!
• Night Dive at Sumbawa Surprise
  • This site is famous for rare critters, making it a muck diving paradise. Expect to see frogfish, flamboyant cuttlefish, ghost pipefish, and even the elusive rhinopias scorpionfish among the black volcanic sand.

Days 3 Pulau Sangeang (4 dives)

Pulau Sangeang, an active volcanic island, boasts breathtaking underwater topography with bubble vents, ridges, and diverse marine life.

• Hot Rocks – Experience volcanic activity underwater as sulfurous gas escapes from the seabed. Ribbon eels, pygmy seahorses, and cowries are commonly found here.
• Lighthouse Reef – A mix of drift diving and macro-friendly zones, with nudibranchs, ghost pipefish, and saw blade shrimp hidden among black coral bushes.
• Black Diamond – This black sand slope is home to ornate ghost pipefish, reef octopus, and peacock mantis shrimps.
• Bontoh Reef – A perfect night dive location with spaghetti garden eels, juvenile angelfish, mimic octopus, and many other rare critters.

Days 4 Pulau Banta (4 dives)

Pulau Banta, located just outside Komodo National Park, offers pristine coral reefs and a chance to spot stargazers and pelagic species.

• The Canopy – A stunning coral-covered slope, where reef sharks, Napoleon wrasse, and groupers roam.
• Banta Wall – A dramatic drop-off with excellent visibility, making it ideal for spotting eagle rays and barracudas.
• Banta Lagoon – A sheltered bay teeming with macro life, such as leaf scorpionfish and frogfish.
• Stargazer Beach (Night Dive) – A sandy bottom where the rare stargazer fish, bobtail squid, and flamboyant cuttlefish can be found.

Days 5 North Komodo (4 dives)

These are among the world’s most famous dive sites.

• Crystal Rock – A pinnacle dive with schools of fusiliers, anthias, and hunting trevally. Whitetip, blacktip, and grey reef sharks patrol this site.
• Castle Rock – Currents bring in huge schools of fish, making this one of Komodo’s most adrenaline-filled dives.
• Aquarium – A colorful reef, home to mandarinfish, cardinal fish, cuttlefish, and blue-ringed octopus.
• Batu Montjo – A stunning hard coral garden in the shallows, with leaf fish, jawfish, and turtles. High chances to see the unique Spanish Dancer!

Days 6 Komodo-Flores Channel (4 dives)

• Sebayur Island – A mini wall dive with leaf fish, nudibranchs, and lionfish.
• Tatawa Besar – A thrilling drift dive past soft coral gardens and schools of sweetlips and batfish. Mantas sometimes appear here.
• Tatawa Kecil – Canyons and swim-throughs, where crocodile fish and schooling fusiliers are common.
• Siaba Kecil – A turtle haven, where hawksbill and green turtles feed among hard corals.

Days 7 Walk with Dragons & 2 Dives

• • Morning Dives:
    • Takat Makassar – A high-speed drift dive, where manta rays, turtles, and sharks are regularly seen.
    • Siaba Besar – A macro hotspot, featuring frogfish, ghost pipefish, and devil scorpionfish.
  • Afternoon: Walk with Komodo Dragons at Loh Buaya
    • Trek through Komodo National Park to see the legendary Komodo dragons in their natural habitat. Spot wild boar, deer, and exotic birds along the way.

Days 8 Central Flores (2 dives)

• Palu’e Island: A remote paradise north of Flores, with stunning underwater topography, dramatic walls, and crystal-clear visibility.
  • Raja River – A vertical wall adorned with massive sponges, gorgonian sea fans, and black coral bushes. Leaf scorpionfish and juvenile reef fish thrive here.
  • Palu’e Deep Blue – A steep drop-off with unspoiled reefs, offering spectacular visibility and rare pelagic encounters.

Days 9 Disembarkation in Maumere

• After breakfast, guests disembark in Maumere and are transferred to the airport or their next destination.

Total dives: 25