Halmahera Remote Indonesia Liveaboard Trip September 2027

Join us on a 9-night unique itinerary in the heart of the Coral Triangle onboard the MV Ambai.

Trip Dates:

September 1 - 10, 2027

Trip Leader: Tim Yeo

Guided Group Trip

Ambai Lower Deck Cabin (Double Occupancy) WAS $5,699 NOW $4,905 per person ($794 OFF)

Ambai Upper Deck Cabin (Double Occupancy) From $5,085 per person

Prices are per person, based on double-occupancy unless otherwise stated.

Why Join This Trip?

Rich biodiversity and exceptional flora and fauna
Operator with 16 years of experience diving and cruising Indonesia
Free nitrox for nitrox-certified divers
Spacious cabins with individually controlled air-conditioning and en-suite bathrooms with hot water
Diver to Guide ratio is 4:1
25% discount on rental photo gear from Bluewater Photo
Fully refundable deposit until 12 months from departure

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Trip Overview

Nestled between the renowned diving havens of Lembeh and Raja Ampat, Halmahera stands as a hidden gem in the well-traveled waters of Indonesia. This remote and pristine destination boasts the best of both worlds: the vibrant, healthy reefs reminiscent of Raja Ampat and the unique critters that make Lembeh famous, all without the overwhelming number of boats and divers.

Diving in Halmahera offers an unparalleled experience of exploration and discovery. Here, you can immerse yourself in lush coral gardens teeming with life, encounter majestic pelagic species, and marvel at the intricate beauty of macro marine creatures. With fewer crowds, Halmahera provides a more intimate and peaceful underwater adventure, making it a must-visit destination for avid divers seeking the untouched beauty of Indonesia's marine biodiversity.

Click the Manta Trust logo to learn more!

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Marine Life

On this trip, you can expect to see an abundance of small and medium reef life including barracudas, surgeonfishes, bumphead parrotfish, trevallies, and giant trevallies, spadefish, Napoleon wrasse, tunas, bonitos, manta rays, and mobula rays.

There is also some excellent muck diving with highlights including pygmy seahorse, frogfish, leaf fish, and scorpionfish.

All this to a backdrop of black coral forests, gorgonian fields, soft corals, and so much more...

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Trip Itinerary

Day 1 - Ternate (Check In)
Day 2 - Goraichi / 3-4 Dives
Day 3 - Lilai / 3-4 Dives
Day 4 - Saleh / 3-4 Dives
Day 5 - Kusu / 3-4 Dives
Day 6 - Proco / 3-4 Dives
Day 7 - North Bacan & Tolimago / 3-4 Dives
Day 8 - Goraichi / 3-4 Dives
Day 9 - Tidore / 1 Dive
Day 10 - Ternate (Check Out)

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Diving Conditions

Diving conditions in Halmahera in August are excellent, with calm seas, reliable visibility and some of the richest coral reefs in Indonesia. The mix of gentle currents and vibrant marine life makes this a great month for wide-angle photography, reef exploration and relaxed diving. August weather is typically dry, warm and settled, offering ideal surface conditions throughout the trip.

Water temperature: 80 - 84F (27 - 29C)
Visibility: 50 - 100 feet (15 - 30m)
Depth range: 20 - 100 feet (6 - 30m)

To learn more about diving in the area, check out our Halmahera Trip Report 2025.

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Recommended Scuba Gear

Download our full scuba gear guide to Halmahera, Bluewater Travel guests receive 10% OFF! Click the image below to download (PDF).

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Trip Type

This is a GUIDED GROUP TRIP. Led by an experienced Bluewater trip leader or accredited local guide who will manage the trip logistics and ensure your needs are met throughout. While this trip is designed to optimize your photography opportunities, it is not led by one of our photo instructors and so meaningful photography advice from your trip leader should not be expected.

What to Expect from Our Guided Group Trips

Meet like-minded travelers - Our Group Trips are perfect for solo travelers who enjoy meeting other divers or photographers and enjoy the support of a pre-arranged itinerary. Your trip leader will arrange group activities such as meals or game nights to ensure everyone feels part of the Bluewater family.
Problems solved - Your trip leader will be on hand to assist with any issues you may have. From delayed or canceled flights, to lost room keys and dietary requirements. We have dealt with it all before and will ensure that your trip runs smoothly.

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Inclusions

Accommodation in a double-bed or twin-bed cabin
Full board including all soft drinks, coffee, tea
3 daily guided dives plus night dives, depending on the itinerary
80 cf tank (12 liters), and weights
Transfer from the airport to the boat and back to the nearest airport
Nitrox fills for certified nitrox divers

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Exclusions

International and domestic flights and transit hotel
Harbor and Park Fees (€150/$175, cash onboard - subject to change)
Diving and snorkeling gear
Scuba diving courses
100 cf tank (15 liters) (€75/$87 per cruise - subject to change)
Laundry (€1/$1.20 per 2 items), massage service on board, use of a satellite phone
Crew gratuities (5-10% of the cruise rate suggested)
Cancellation and (mandatory) Dive Insurances - ask us about our preferred partner plan
Beer, wine, and alcoholic beverages (you can BYOB)
Fuel surcharge (€100/$116, cash onboard - subject to change)

* Onboard fees and charges are subject to change

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About The MV Ambai

The MV Ambai is a liveaboard of choice for underwater photographers with its large dive deck, dedicated camera room and a large screen TV in the lounge. A part of the esteemed Wallacea Cruises, guests aboard the Ambai know they're in for a trip of comfort and style.

The MV Ambai has 8 cabins accommodating 16 passengers. All cabins have individually controlled A/C units and private ensuite bathrooms. Room options include bunk and double-bed cabins.

Lower Deck Cabin (L) & Sea View Cabin (R)

Upper Deck (LEFT) & Front Sun Deck (RIGHT)

Restaurant (LEFT) & Main Deck Lounge (RIGHT)

Deck Plan

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Halmahera Trip Extensions

Want to extend your trip? We can help with that! See more of Indonesia before or after your liveaboard on Halmahera with Bluewater. Contact us for some examples of packages we can add to your reservation:

Read More.

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Trip Leader

Tim Yeo

Tim grew up in tiny Singapore, where driving for more than an hour meant you would need a passport. Traveling was always his passion, but Tim became addicted to dive travel soon after he got scuba certified in Malaysia. As his diving addiction grew, Tim eventually became a Staff Instructor with PADI and an Instructor Trainer with SDI. After getting his instructor certification, Tim spent time teaching scuba in Malaysia and Vietnam.

Tim serves as General Manager and COO at Bluewater Travel and is the company's most seasoned trip leader. With a portfolio of leading over 30 group trips, his extensive expertise encompasses a variety of popular dive destinations such as the Galapagos, Raja Ampat, French Polynesia, Fiji, the Red Sea, Palau, Maldives, among others. His travels have taken him across all seven continents and allowed him to dive in all five oceans—the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Arctic, and Antarctic.

Read more about Tim Yeo.

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How To Get There

Flight Information

The trip will begin and end in Ternate (airport code TTE). The recommended route is to fly internationally to Jakarta and then take a domestic transfer to Ternate. We recommend arriving into Ternate at least 1 day before embarkation to allow time to rest and for delayed flights/baggage. We are happy to assist you with flight suggestions and hotel bookings if required.

Flight Package

Our group trips attract guests from all over the globe and many of our customers prefer to book their own flights to take advantage of mileage points or credit card discounts. For these reasons, flights are not included in our group trip packages.

However, we are more than happy to work with you to find the best travel itinerary for your trip and will gladly give suggestions and advice, even if you make the final booking. We will check through your travel reservations at any time to ensure they fit with the trip schedule and can give recommendations on transit hotels and day tours where needed.

If you would like us to book flights and transit hotels for domestic and/or international travel on your behalf, we are also happy to arrange this. Contact Us for more information.

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