...Highlights: hammerhead sharks, shark action, manta rays, turtles, schooling fish & big pelagics, great macro life/ marine diversity...
...Dving environment: healthy reefs, drift diving, caverns, advanced divers, off the beaten track...
Nestled in the remote southeastern reaches of Indonesia, the Forgotten Islands are an alluring treasure for intrepid scuba divers seeking untouched reefs, dramatic drop-offs, and extraordinary marine biodiversity with both pelagic giants and rare macro life. This isolated region marks the border between the Banda Sea and the Arafura Sea, and remains largely unexplored due to its challenging accessibility, offering incredible dive sites far from the crowds. The islands stretch for just over 500 km from East Timor in the southwest to the northern islands of Tanimbar in the northeast. They can be divided into 2 distinct geological zones:
• The Inner Arc (volcanic) - Closer to the Banda Sea, this arc consists of younger, volcanic islands with rugged terrain and nutrient-rich waters. Key islands include Wetar (known for its active volcanoes), Romang (volcanic peaks and deep-sea trenches), Damar (aka Bebar - steep slopes and black sand dive sites), and Nila (aka Rumadai - uninhabited stratovolcano). These islands often feature adrenaline-pumping drift dives along sheer walls that bring encounters with schooling hammerhead sharks, swirling schools of barracuda, and patrolling dogtooth tuna, all swept by the nutrient-rich currents of the Banda Sea.
• The Outer Arc (non-volcanic) - Further south and east, these islands are older, composed of uplifted coral limestone and sedimentary rock, with gentler slopes and extensive fringing reefs. Key islands include Tanimbar (Yamdena, Selaru), Babar, and Kisar (shallow lagoons and WWII wrecks). The outer arc of the Forgotten Islands reveals a different diving wonderland. The coral-fringed islands of Tanimbar host manta ray cleaning stations where these graceful giants hover above vibrant reefs, while the atolls of Babar dazzle with some of the region's healthiest hard coral gardens, their crevices hiding pygmy seahorses and flamboyant cuttlefish. Unique muck diving sites around Kisar and Leti showcase the area's incredible biodiversity, with black sand slopes yielding blue-ringed octopuses, ghost pipefish, and other rare critters.
The ultimate frontier lies around uninhabited volcanic islands like Nila, where uncharted walls plunge into the abyss, promising encounters with deep-water pelagics and possibly undiscovered species. With visibility often exceeding 30m and no dive crowds, these remote islands deliver what might be Indonesia's last truly exploratory diving experiences, where every descent feels like a first discovery. The combination of pristine reefs, thrilling big animal encounters, and unparalleled remoteness makes the Forgotten Islands one of the world's most rewarding destinations for adventurous liveaboard diving.
Also known as Gunung Wetar and not to be confused with the volcano with the same name in the Banda Islands, Gunung Api is a small volcanic island located approximately 100 km north of Wetar. It is uninhabited apart from by a huge number of frigate birds. The underwater topography features steep volcanic slopes and walls covered with soft and hard corals, sea fans, and sponges, and some hydrothermal vents that attract an abundance of marine life. Divers can encounter masses of sea snakes (banded kraits), and large pelagics such as reef sharks and hammerheads, tuna, mackerel, as well as schools of barracuda, trevally, and occasional sightings of manta rays.
Start the dive along the northwest wall, along the coral-covered slope, descending to where the wall drops into the abyss. The depth of the site ranges from 10-40m, with some section of the wall plunging deeper. Look for reef sharks patrolling the edge, bumphead parrotfish, black surgeonfish, fusiliers, and schools of jacks swirling in the blue. Mid-dive, explore the overhangs and small caves on the wall for octopus and macro life. Currents are moderate to strong, particularly around the island's drop-offs, making it ideal for drift diving. Gunung Api is best suited for intermediate to advanced divers due to currents and depth. The visibility here is typically 20-40m, though occasional thermoclines may reduce water clarity.
Wetar is a rugged, sparsely populated island, just north of East Timor and marks the western end of the Forgotten Islands. Part of the Barat Daya Islands, this volcanic region remains one of Southeast Asia's least-explored dive destinations, offering pristine reefs, dramatic drop-offs, and exceptional biodiversity. The Ombai-Wetar Strait is a known migration route for whales and dolphins, offering potential for incredible encounters with these cetaceans. Wetar's underwater terrain is defined by steep walls, slopes of giant barrel sponges and sea whips, and hard coral gardens fed by nutrient-rich currents. The island's isolation has preserved its ecosystems, attracting large pelagics like hammerhead sharks, dogtooth tuna, and mackerel. Macro enthusiasts can spot rare critters such as pipefish, blue-ringed octopus, and tiger shrimp.
The Canyon is situated on the southern side of Goli Island, near Wetar Island. Descend along a coral-lined chasm to 35m where grey reef sharks patrol. Then explore the overhangs, swim-throughs, and cave for sleeping white-tip reef sharks, and admire the schools of fusiliers. End the dive drifting over a plateau of staghorn corals. The small islet of Reong has a current-swept wall where mantas and mobula rays circle cleaning stations. Focus on the ridge's pinnacles for action, then drift along the wall to spot eagle rays and bumphead parrotfish. Dive sites at Wetar are quite deep and currents are moderate to strong, making the island suitable to intermediate to advanced divers.
Pulau Romang is a small island located to the east of Wetar and is surrounded by several smaller islands, including Nyata to the northwest and Mitan, Tellang, Laut, Kital, and Maopora to the east. The region is remote, with unspoiled coral reefs, diverse marine life, and excellent visibility, making it an emerging destination for adventurous Indonesian liveaboard divers seeking untouched destinations.
Scuba diving around Pulau Romang itself and Nyata offers spectacular soft and hard coral gardens with excellent coral coverage, and large sea fans and barrel sponges decorating gentle slopes that descend in to Banda Sea. There are plenty of reef sharks, barracuda, trevallies, schools of fusiliers, and humpback snappers lurking in the shadows, while lucky divers may spot manta rays or eagle rays passing through deeper seas. Macro enthusiasts will find critters like Coleman shrimp often perched on fire urchins, colourful squat lobsters hiding in sponges, decorator crabs and spider crabs, egg cowries, as well as Ceratosoma trilobatum or Chromodoris annae nudibranchs. Bring a good torch and a keen eye for the tiny, weird, and wonderful!
At Mitan Island, a typical dive plan might begin where the sloping reef transitions into a wall dive at around 15m. After exploring the coral-covered wall, divers can drift along the reef edge, observing schooling fish and occasional reef sharks. Tellang is known for its shallower coral gardens and macro life, perfect for a relaxed, critter-focused dive. Divers can spot rhinopias, Randall's frogfish, black-saddled tobies, obscure Waspfish, and Schultz's pipefish. A dive at Laut Island might involve a deeper descent to 25 meters along a current-swept ridge, where pelagics are more common, before ascending to a shallower coral plateau for safety stops. Candy basslets, diagonal-banded sweetlips and eclipse butterflyfish can all be found here.
Damar is a volcanic island stretching roughly 20 km in length, flanked by 4 smaller, uninhabited islands. Located about 125 km east of Romang, this remote region is occasionally visited by passing sperm whales, reinforcing its untamed, off-the-grid allure. The reefs here remain pristine - so untouched that even the fish seem curious about divers. Massive, thriving coral formations, so familiar in the Forgotten Islands, dominate the underwater landscape.
To the south of Damar lies Terbang Utara ('North Island'), where deep waters and powerful currents create some of the most exhilarating diving in the region. Steep walls and thrilling drift dives attract manta rays, dogtooth tuna, and swirling schools of barracuda and trevally. Advanced divers may even encounter oceanic whitetip sharks patrolling the blue. Just south of Utara, Terbang Selatan ('South Island') offers equally dramatic seascapes but with slightly milder currents. Its rugged underwater terrain features sheer drop-offs and vibrant coral slopes, frequented by eagle rays, surgeonfish, and lumbering bumphead parrotfish.
To the west, the crescent-shaped Nus Leur presents a steep reef teeming with Napoleon wrasse, reef sharks, and clouds of fusiliers and midnight snapper. But the real magic lies in its macro diving: its shallow coral garden hide wonderpus octopus, rhinopias scorpionfish, ribbon eels, hairy frogfish, and delicate skeleton shrimp. Night dives bring Spanish dancers and hunting cephalopods to life under the beam of a torch.
Pulau Teun is a small, remote volcanic island located in the sapphire blue waters of the Banda Sea, roughly equidistant between Damar and Nila. It is located in the 'Ring of Fire', with underwater topography featuring steep walls, pinnacles, and vibrant coral gardens, and part of the triad of islands that are hotspots for hammerhead shark sightings - Teun, Nila and Serua (aka 'TNS').
Diving around Teun is an adventure reserved for experienced divers due to its strong currents, deep drop-offs, and remote location. Marine life is abundant, with the main attraction for divers visiting the Forgotten Islands being the frequent sightings of schooling hammerhead sharks. Descend 25m to a submerged pinnacle where hammerheads patrol, then drift along the numerous spurs and ridges and watch for reef sharks and mobula rays. Visibility is typically excellent (20-40m), though plankton blooms can reduce it seasonally. Currents here range from mild to very strong. Most dives at Teun are deep (18–40m), so proper buoyancy control and awareness are essential, especially this far out at sea.
Pulau Nila is a small, remote volcanic island located in the southeastern Banda Sea, northeast of Teun and southwest of Serua. This isolated region is renowned for its pristine reefs, dramatic underwater topography, and exceptional marine biodiversity. Scuba diving here offers a thrilling mix of steep drop-offs, vibrant coral gardens, and pelagic encounters, making it a bucket-list destination for experienced divers. The island sits within the famed Coral Triangle, and its nutrient-rich waters attract schooling hammerhead sharks, large schools of fish, reef sharks, and even occasional sightings of whales. When the dive in this part of the Forgotten Islands, you may feel as if you have reached the ends of the Earth and you will have an appreciation of how the region got its name!
Diving at Pulau Nila is characterised by strong currents, deep walls, and crystal-clear visibility, often exceeding 30m. The reef flats are covered in hard corals, sea fans, and giant barrel sponges, while the steep slopes plunge into the abyss, creating ideal conditions for pelagic action. Common marine life includes massive schools of surgeonfish, fusiliers, barracuda, bigeye trevally, snappers, emperors, reef sharks, and Napoleon wrasse. A typical dive plan involves descending along a wall or drift diving along a reef edge, staying mindful of currents. Divers usually explore depths between 18-30m, with safety stops back on top of the coral-covered flats that are covered with thousands of baitfish, olive sea snakes, sweetlips, goatfish, and butterflyfish. Night dives in a small bay on the east side of the island reveal a different world of crustaceans such as spider crabs and tiger shrimp, octopus, and hunting trevallies.
Nil Desperandum, a nearby submerged reef northeast of Pulau Nila, is famous for its adrenaline-pumping drift dives and shark encounters. The site features a seamount rising from the depths, attracting grey reef sharks, white tips, silkies, and frequent hammerheads. Schools of jacks and rainbow runners swirl around divers, while the reef itself hosts vibrant gorgonians and black coral trees. Currents can be strong, so divers often use a reef hook to stay in place and observe the action. A dive here typically starts with a negative entry to reach the seamount quickly, followed by a drift along the ridge before ascending up the reef slope.
Dusborgh Atoll is another submerged atoll with stunning coral gardens and thrilling drift dives. The atoll’s outer walls drop dramatically into the blue, offering chances to spot eagle rays, manta rays, and even passing tuna or wahoo. The shallower sections are filled with hard coral formations and anemones hosting clownfish, while the sandy patches may reveal blue-ringed octopus or flounders. Dives here often involve exploring the atoll's perimeter, riding mild to moderate currents, and finishing in the sheltered lagoon where turtles and reef sharks lurk.
The best time to dive Pulau Nila and its surrounding sites is during the dry season (October - November and April - May), when seas are calm and visibility peaks. Water temperatures range from 26-29°C, and most dives due to currents and depth.
Overall, Pulau Nila and its neighbouring reefs offer some of the most exhilarating and unspoiled diving in Indonesia, combining big pelagics, pristine corals, and thrilling underwater landscapes for those willing to venture off the beaten path. Forgotten Islands liveaboards are the only way to dive in this region. Strong currents, deep waters, and temperamental surface conditions require advanced diving skills.
Leti is a small, remote island in Indonesia's Maluku Barat Daya archipelago, situated near the Timor Sea and closer to Timor-Leste than to the central Banda Sea. It is located at the western end of the outer arc of the Forgotten Islands. Part of a cluster with Moa, Lakor, and Tombra, Leti is one of the least-visited dive destinations in the region, offering untouched reefs, dramatic limestone formations, and a unique mix of Banda Sea and Timor Sea marine life.
Leti's underwater terrain features steep coral walls, sloping reefs, and sandy muck-diving bays, making it ideal for both macro enthusiasts and reef explorers. Unlike the shark-heavy northern Banda Sea, Leti's waters are richer in rare critters and vibrant coral diversity, though pelagics still pass through. Healthy coral ecosystems dominated by table corals and gorgonian fans provide shelter for reef fish including anthias, butterflyfish, emperors, goatfish and reef squid.
Diving conditions around Leti are generally more relaxed than in the current-swept inner arc of the Forgotten Islands, with visibility ranging from 15-25m and water temperatures a consistent 27-30°C. Currents are typically mild to moderate, though stronger flows can be found near the channels between Moa and Lakor islands. A typical dive day here might begin with some fantastic muck diving in Tombra Bay's sandy slopes at 8-15m searching for rare macro life, followed by a drift dive along Leti's west wall at 18-30m to search for reef sharks and schools of trevally. More advanced divers can explore the deeper channels between Moa and Lakor islands (25-40m) where hammerhead sharks and eagle rays occasionally pass through. Night dives reveal mandarinfish and other nocturnal creatures.
The nearby islands of Moa and Lakor, while less dived than Leti itself, offer interesting variations. Moa's fringing reefs feature exceptional hard coral diversity and occasional pelagic action, while Lakor's channels can produce hammerhead sightings in the right conditions. What makes Leti truly special is its combination of untouched reefs, exceptional macro life, and complete absence of dive crowds.
The Sermata coral atoll/islands complex includes the Amortaun reef, which extends west from Sermata Island to withing 20 km east of Leti. This little known island and reef system is one of the highlights of scuba diving in the Forgotten Islands. Under the right conditions, the big fish action here can be mind-blowing. Lucky divers can see schooling hammerheads, endless streams of black snapper, giant and big-eye trevally, and enormous groupers. Oh, and the groupers! Sermata's grouper aggregations are a hidden wonder of the Forgotten Islands - an unforgettable dive for those lucky enough to time their visit with nature's schedule.
The island's pristine reefs, particularly around Meaterialam Atoll, host seasonal gatherings of squaretail coral trout, black-saddled coral groupers, tiger groupers, and camouflage groupers. These fish congregate in large numbers during specific lunar phases, typically around full or new moons in October and April, to reproduce in a spectacular display of nature. The dive sites at Meaterialam Atoll feature steep slopes and reef flats where groupers gather. The deeper zones (25-40m) are patrolled by tiger groupers, their normally camouflaged bodies transforming into striking white-and-black patterns during spawning. Shallower areas (15-5m) host schools of female squaretail coral trout, their dark-spotted bodies heavy with eggs, while vibrantly coloured territorial males compete for mating rights.
At Tanjung Pomelu on Pulau Kelapa, divers may encounter thousands of sailfin snappers, their yellow-and-blue bodies shimmering in the current. Yet these aggregations are fragile. Overfishing, driven by demand for live groupers in Asian markets, has decimated many such sites. Sermata remains one of the few places where these gatherings persist, offering a rare glimpse into an untouched marine world. For scuba divers, witnessing this event in the Forgotten Islands is a privilege, a chance to observe nature's grandeur while recognising the urgent need for conservation.
The Babar Islands form an isolated archipelago in Indonesia's southeastern Banda Sea, some 300 km northeast of Timor-Leste. This rarely visited group consists of 5 small islands surrounding the central island of Babar: Dai, Wetan, Masela, Dawera, and Daweloor. The region is surrounded by deep oceanic waters and fringing reefs. The nutrient-rich waters support spectacular coral growth, including massive sea fans, black coral trees, and vibrant soft coral formations. Pelagic encounters for scuba divers include dogtooth tuna, giant trevally, and occasional hammerhead sharks, while reef dwellers include six-banded angelfish, flame hawkfish, and rare critters like the Ambon scorpionfish. Currents can be strong, especially around channel entrances and submerged pinnacles, making many sites suitable for experienced divers only.
Dawera is a small island in the north east of the Babar Islands offering some of Indonesia's most untouched dive sites. Dominated by a spectacular seamount, Dawera's reefs explode with marine life - schools of fish swarm in such density it's almost overwhelming. The north coast features multiple world-class sites including Tanjung Raja, where divers float through gardens of vibrant soft corals that sway in the current. Just east lies Sponge Delight, named for its massive sponge formations and home to a permanent squadron of barracuda that circle endlessly in the blue. Seasonally, lucky divers may spot hammerhead sharks patrolling the deeper edges.
The reef system here remains perfectly balanced, supporting massive schools of bigeye trevally and fusiliers, solitary Napoleon wrasse that glide over the coral,, patrols of dogtooth tuna, and various reef sharks cruising the drop-offs. Currents can be strong, but they bring the nutrients that sustain this incredible biodiversity, making every dive here in the Forgotten Islands an unforgettable experience.
Daweloor, the twin island of Dawera, showcases the striking limestone formations typical of the southern Forgotten Islands, where rugged cliffs soar over 500m from the sea. This dramatic landscape creates exceptional scuba diving opportunities, including spectacular wall dives, expansive coral plateaus teeming with diverse hard corals, and thriving seamounts in the channel separating the islands.
What makes these sites particularly special is their combination of vibrant marine life and accessible conditions. While many locations feature gentle currents suitable for all skill levels, they maintain extraordinary colour and biological richness. The area's remarkable biodiversity ranges from dazzling reef fish populations to rare macro species perfect for underwater photographers. For those hoping to encounter larger marine life, visitors include patrolling reef sharks, graceful eagle rays, and even hammerhead sharks, adding an exciting dimension to these nutrient-rich waters. This unique blend of dramatic topography, thriving coral ecosystems, and diverse marine encounters makes Daweloor a standout diving destination within the Forgotten Islands.
Wetan Island boasts the archipelago's most impressive walls, plunging vertically beyond 50m. These nutrient-rich drop-offs host schools of scalloped hammerheads (October-November) and are decorated with giant gorgonian fans over 3m wide. Night dives reveal the unusual walking epaulette shark (Hemiscyllium sp.) hunting in the shallows.
Located 20 km north of Babar Island, Dai Island's striking limestone cliffs and terraces mirror its neighbouring twins Dawera and Daweloor. This remote destination offers some of the most unspoiled diving in the Forgotten Islands, featuring dramatic seamounts, steep walls, and thriving coral gardens. Dai's premier sites cluster around its northeastern and southeastern points, including a spectacular marine life-rich ridge. Nutrient-rich currents attract feeding aggregations of bigeye trevally and manta rays, while the reefs attract with giant trevally, barracuda, Napoleon wrasse, and eagle rays moving through dense schools of fusiliers and surgeonfish.
The island's rich marine ecosystem supports frequent shark encounters, including blacktip, whitetip, grey reef, and often hammerhead sharks. Its position along a migration corridor occasionally rewards divers with dolphin and whale sightings. The sheltered west coast reveals exceptional macro life, with 3 species of ghost pipefish among its treasures, while steep slopes host hunting predators and vibrant coral formations covered in anthias. Visibility regularly exceeds 30 metres in these undisturbed waters.
Masela Island's lagoon entrance creates a unique tidal flow that concentrates marine life. Divers can witness Napoleon wrasse cleaning stations and massive schools of convict blennies swirling in the current. The eastern side features a breathtaking coral cathedral - an underwater arch at 22m covered in orange cup corals. Local communities have recently established marine protected areas around Masela and Dai Islands, helping safeguard critical spawning grounds for groupers and snappers.
The Tanimbar Islands (Kepulauan Tanimbar) are a remote archipelago in Maluku, situated between the Arafura Sea and the Banda Sea, featuring rugged limestone cliffs, equatorial forests that are home to the indigenous cuscus, secluded caves, and waterfalls. The region forms the northern and central section of the outer arc of the Forgotten Islands, renowned for its pristine reefs, dramatic drop-offs, and abundant marine life. Scuba diving here offers a mix of wall dives, coral gardens, pelagic encounters, and macro critters, with conditions ranging from gentle slopes to strong currents that attract large fish.
The Forgotten Islands' nutrient-rich waters support reef sharks and hammerheads, schooling barracuda, giant trevallies, and Spanish mackerel. Manta rays are occasionally seen, while pygmy seahorses, crustaceans, and rare cephalopods can be found in the shallows. The reefs are covered in hard and soft corals, sea fans, and sponges, creating a vibrant backdrop for scuba divers.
Saumlaki, the main town in Tanimbar, serves as a gateway to Yamdena, the largest island in the Tanimbar archipelago. The diving here is less explored than other parts of Indonesia, offering a sense of discovery. Reefs around West Yamdena feature steep walls, caverns, and coral-covered slopes. Wobbegongs, epaulette sharks, schooling bumphead parrotfish, barramundi cod, and oceanic triggerfish can be encountered here. Highlights of the area include Secret Bay, a sheltered muck dive cove with sea robins, snake eels, ribbon eels, dragonets, mandarinfish mating displays at dusk, and rare crustaceans in the rubble zones.
Visibility is typically 15-30m, though plankton blooms can reduce it slightly. Water temperatures range from 26-30°C, with thermoclines in deeper areas. Currents vary as some sites have strong drifts, while others are calm, making the area suitable for intermediate to advanced divers. Surface conditions can be choppy, especially during transitions between monsoons (best diving is October - November and March - April).
The Kei Islands (Kepulauan Kei) are located to the north of Tanimbar, in the Arafura Sea, and are pretty much exclusively dived as part of a Forgotten Islands liveaboard expedition. Tual is the main gateway to the islands and offers access to nearby reefs and unique dive sites. Known for their powdery white beaches, crystal-clear waters, and untouched reefs, the Kei Islands offer some of the most pristine and biodiverse diving in Indonesia, yet remain far off the mainstream tourist radar. They boast healthy coral reefs, dramatic walls, and pelagic action, with a mix of macro life and larger species.
Reef sharks, hammerheads, wobbegongs, and manta rays (particularly around Dullah Laut) are all found here. Large dawn-feeding aggregations of bumphead parrotfish, schooling barracuda, giant trevally, and dogtooth tuna could all be noted in your dive log book. Green and hawksbill turtles are seen grazing on seagrass beds. Rare critters include rhinopias, harlequin shrimp, pipefish, painted frogfish, peacock mantis shrimp, ribbon eels and pom-pom crabs. Visibility is typically 20-40m, with the clearest conditions in the dry season (October–April).
The Forgotten Islands are 2 very remote chains in southeastern Maluku that stretch from East Timor in the southwest to Indonesian Papua in the northeast. They mark the division between the Banda Sea to the west and the Arafura Sea to the east. Indonesian liveaboards are the only practical way to dive here, typically departing from Ambon, Saumlaki, Tual, Alor, or Timor. Cruises are usually combined with dives in Alor, the Banda Sea, and Triton Bay (and occasionally Raja Ampat). There are no dive resorts here that can cover this large expanse of water.
Due to their extreme remoteness and challenging conditions, diving the Forgotten Islands requires careful timing and preparation. Liveaboards only operate during 2 short seasonal windows when the seas are calm enough for safe navigation: October-November and March-April. These waters are not for beginners. Strong currents sweep through many dive sites, and the nearest emergency support is often days away. Divers should have advanced training (or equivalent experience) with excellent buoyancy control, ability to handle strong currents, and self-reliant diving skills. But for adventurous divers, liveaboard trips in the Forgotten Islands deliver raw, expedition-style diving - the closest you'll get to discovering untouched reefs in the 21st century.
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The Forgotten Islands offer prime diving conditions during 2 distinct seasonal windows each year when the open seas are calm enough for liveaboard operations. The primary diving season runs from October to November, when the shifting monsoon winds create ideal surface conditions and excellent underwater visibility. A secondary season occurs between March and April, when the weather transitions again to provide another period of calm seas suitable for diving expeditions. During these seasonal windows, divers may encounter different marine life migrations, with October-November often bringing manta rays to cleaning stations along the reef edges. The March-April period sometimes offers better chances to spot hammerhead sharks patrolling the deeper drop-offs.
Water temperatures remain consistently warm throughout both seasons, ranging from 26-30°C, while visibility typically reaches 20-40m when conditions are optimal. These narrow seasonal opportunities represent the only practical times to safely explore the Forgotten Islands' remote reefs, as the intervening months bring either dangerous sea conditions or poor visibility from plankton blooms. Mean air temperatures are pretty constant at 26-28°C (max. 33°C, min. 23°C). Rainy season is December to May, with the exception of April, which is dryer. September is the driest month of the year. Visit the Climates to Travel website for more details on the climate on Yamdena.
Our map below shows the location of the Southeast Moluccas (Maluku Tenggara) within the Indonesian archipelago. Find details on how to get to the Indonesian ports of departure, from where you will embark to the Forgotten Islands.
5 - >40m
20 - 40m
Moderate - strong
Can be choppy
26 - 29°C
Intermediate - advanced
>100
~60 km east of Timor-Leste (3 hours), 550 southeast of Sorong (West Papua, 28 hours)
10 - 14 days
Dive The World staff before and after the dive trip were very responsive, helpful and great at helping us plan a trip that was within our dive experience. Very friendly, helpful, bilingual in English - excellent staff!
