PRISTINE UNDERWATER LANDSCAPES

With swim-throughs, caverns, overhangs, cracks and canyons Halmahera is an uncrowded yet beautiful underwater playground for divers. And you have it all to yourself on your liveaboard trip.

Halmahera is the largest island of the Maluku Islands and with 17,780 km2 it is the biggest island if Indonesia outside of the five main islands. It is a volcanic island and that is why its underwater formations are so interesting and different. There are caverns and cracks, swim-throughs and overhangs to explore.

Due to its remote location, not many divers can be found out there. So there are still many dive sites untouched. And marine life is lush and vibrant. Coral reefs are healthy. All in all, this is a perfect spot to enjoy a relaxed liveaboard trip with a real adventurer feeling.

By the way, Halmahera lays on the same island arc like Raja Ampat. This means it is also part of the coral triangle and the abundance of marine life is as rich as in Raja Ampat. Recent surveys found about 680 species of fish and 450 species of coral out there.

Macro lovers, as well as fans of the big pelagics, will be happy here. Hammerhead sharks, oceanic whitetip and blacktip reef sharks, and even manta rays swim around Halmahera. Colorful nudibranchs, pygmy seahorses and harlequin shrimp live in the reefs.

As the currents and the wind can be stronger here, this place is more for advanced divers.

WHEN TO VISIT HALMAHERA

The best time to go on a liveaboard trip in Halmahera is between March and November. This is the dry season. However, expect some stronger winds in June, July and August. In this time diving is a bit more uncomfortable for new divers. The water temperature is about 29°C year-round.

BEST DIVE SITES IN HALMAHERA

There is a wide variety of dive sites for different preferences. 

For the big stuff, the best place is Halmahera Strait. Hammerheads and manta rays like the strong currents in this dive site. There are some cleaning stations, where divers have good chances to see them.

The Tidore reef is a very nice off shore reef where you will see much diversity and big schools of fish. 

Patient Strait: The channel between Halmahera and Bacan Island offers beautiful reefs with blooming oranges soft corals. Due to its location in the canal, strong currents can occur that attract different species of shark. White and blacktip sharks, gray sharks and other pelagic fish can be found here. The rare walking shark is rare but can be spotted at night.

LIVEABOARDS IN HALMAHERA

Liveaboards going to Halmahera usually combining trips to Raja Ampat or even the north of Sulawesi with the famous Lembeh Strait. The boats are often traditional Indonesian sailing schooner, made for long trips on the Sea.