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Nusa Laut Scuba Diving – Banda Islands, Indonesia

Lying to the east of Ambon, the island of Nusa Laut possesses some stunning hard coral seascapes – the sheer size and variety of corals here is absolutely stunning

Day 2 of our Banda Sea trip saw us heading from Ambon to Nusa Laut, a small island that’s just to the east of Ambon and en route to the Banda Islands. The reef around Nusa Laut is protected by the locals and the effect of such protection is immediately apparent. It’s hard to imagine a bigger contrast to Day 1’s muck diving in Ambon – where we’d spent our first day grubbing around in murky water over trash-strewn black sand, Nusa Laut was blessed with 30 metre plus visibility creating an incredible deep blue canopy over a jawdropping array of hard corals. (See photos below for a small glimpse of what it really looks like).

Giant Plate Coral, Nusa Laut © Chris MitchellGiant Plate Coral, Nusa Laut © Chris Mitchell

Nusa Laut Coral © Chris Mitchell
Nusa Laut Coral © Chris Mitchell

Nusa Laut Coral © Chris Mitchell
Nusa Laut Coral © Chris Mitchell

Nusa Laut Coral © Chris Mitchell
Nusa Laut Coral © Chris Mitchell

Nusa Laut Seascape © Chris Mitchell
Nusa Laut Seascape © Chris Mitchell

Nusa Laut Seascape © Chris Mitchell
Nusa Laut Seascape © Chris Mitchell

Topographically there was a gentle slope down to around 15 metres before a steep dropoff, and the slope was utterly encrusted with every kind of coral hard and soft. It was the huge plate corals – wider than the full length of a diver – and fan corals that really stole the show, but the size of some of the sponge corals – up to a metre across – was also impressive. Apparently the viz is not always so good here, so I feel very lucky we got to see it in these conditions. It’s the sort of dive site that involuntarily makes you say “wow!” when you first jump in – it really is that good. For those who have been to Raja Ampat, Nusa Laut reminded me a little of the lush corals around Misool.

The night dive here was also awesome, as while we had lost the grandeur of the daytime seascape we encountered that rarest – and most dangerous – of creatures, the tiny Blue Ring Octopus.

Blue Ring Octopus on Nusa Laut nightdive © Chris Mitchell
Blue Ring Octopus on Nusa Laut nightdive © Chris Mitchell

Giant Clam on Nusa Laut nightdive © Chris Mitchell
Giant Clam on Nusa Laut nightdive © Chris Mitchell

Nusa Laut Seascape © Chris Mitchell
Nusa Laut Seascape © Chris Mitchell

Nusa Laut Seascape © Chris Mitchell
Nusa Laut Seascape © Chris Mitchell

Nusa Laut Seascape © Chris Mitchell
Nusa Laut Seascape © Chris Mitchell

Nusa Laut Coral © Chris Mitchell
Nusa Laut Coral © Chris Mitchell

Nusa Laut Seascape © Chris Mitchell
Nusa Laut Seascape © Chris Mitchell

Nusa Laut Seascape © Chris Mitchell
Nusa Laut Seascape © Chris Mitchell

Banda Sea Dive Sites

Banda Sea Scuba Diving

  • Ambon Scuba Diving – The Twilight Zone
  • Nusa Laut Scuba Diving
  • Banda Islands Scuba Diving
  • Diving Gunung Api: Volcano Of The Sea Snakes
  • Manuk: The Other Island Of The Sea Snakes
  • Banda Islands Land Tour
  • Breakfast In the Banda Islands


Diving And Travel Insurance

Considering travel insurance for your trip? World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities including scuba diving, as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.

Start Planning Your Indonesia Dive Trip Now!

:: Check the availability and pricing of liveaboards in Indonesia and book online.


:: Find the cheapest flights to Indonesia - one search will show you the prices and times from scores of airlines for your trip. A real timesaver. You'll typically need to fly into Jakarta and then get a connecting flight to Sorong (SOQ) for Raja Ampat, Labuan Bajo (LBJ) for Komodo, Biak for Cenderawasih Bay (BIK) - but check with your liveaboard operator on optimum flights


:: Make sure you don't forget to bring any of the essentials for your scuba diving trip with our comprehensive Liveaboard Packing List


:: World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world.


:: Find available places to stay in Indonesia on Booking.com - usually you can reserve a room with no upfront payment. Pay when you check out. Free cancellations too. The Jakarta Airport Hotel, located in Terminal 2, is convenient for a transit stayover.


:: Need inspiration? See our Best Places To Dive In Indonesia for ideas of where to go and what to do.


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Last Minute Liveaboard Deals

  • Last Minute Liveaboard Deals March 2023
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More Indonesia Diving Stories

  • Diving The USAT Liberty Shipwreck, Bali June 2022
  • Bali Muck Diving June 2022
  • Komodo Liveaboard Trip Report August 2022
  • Diving Raja Ampat – A Quick Guide
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  • Raja Ampat to Triton Bay Liveaboard Trip Report 2017
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  • Raja Ampat to Triton Bay 2008
  • Diving Triton Bay 2017
  • Triton Bay Whale Sharks
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  • Komodo
  • Bali Scuba Diving
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  • Lembeh
  • Bangka
  • Kalimantan
  • Palau Weh
  • Banda Sea
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    • Ambon
    • Nusa Laut
    • Banda Islands
    • Banda Islands Land Tour
    • Manuk
  • Diving Raja Ampat Podcast
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  • The Manta Rays Of Myanmar’s Black Rock Podcast
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My Recent Dive Trips

  • February 2023: Similan Islands liveaboard, Thailand
  • December 2022: Raja Ampat liveaboard, Indonesia
  • December 2022: Similan Islands liveaboard, Thailand
  • August 2022: Komodo liveaboard, Indonesia
  • June 2022: USAT Liberty shipwreck, Bali, Indonesia
  • April 2022: Stonehenge, Koh Lipe, Thailand
  • March 2022: Manta Rays at Koh Bon, Thailand
  • January 2022: Richelieu Rock liveaboard, Thailand
  • March 2021: HTMS Chang and Alahambra Rock liveaboard, Thailand
  • February 2020: Similan Islands liveaboard, Thailand
  • December 2019: Raja Ampat liveaboard, Indonesia
  • October 2019: Malapascua, Philippines
  • June 2019: Sogod Bay, Philippines
  • April 2019: Tulamben, Bali
  • December 2018: Sogod Bay, Philippines
  • December 2018: Anilao, Philippines
  • October 2018: Moalboal, Philippines
  • October 2018: Malapascua, Philippines
  • July 2018: Tulamben, Bali
  • May 2018: Raja Ampat, Indonesia
  • April 2018: Sogod Bay, Philippines
  • May 2017: Apo Island and Dumaguete, Philippines
  • April 2017: Tubbataha Reef, Philippines
  • April 2017: Sogod Bay, Philippines
  • March 2017: Triton Bay, Indonesia
  • March 2017: Raja Ampat, Indonesia
  • September 2016: Tulamben, Bali at Alba Dive Resort
  • August 2016: Cenderawasih Bay on Damai 1
  • April 2016: Sogod Bay at Sogod Bay Scuba Resort
  • February 2016: Raja Ampat and Banda Islands on Damai 1
  • April 2015: Anilao at Crystal Dive Resort

My Less Recent Dive Trips

  • March 2015: Myanmar and Similan Islands on Thailand Aggressor
  • May 2013: Similan Islands on Thailand Aggressor
  • April 2013: Tubbataha Reef on Discovery Palawan
  • January 2013: Komodo, Indonesia on MSY Damai
  • August 2012: Cenderawasih Bay, Indonesia
  • April 2012: Similan Islands and Southern Thailand liveaboard
  • January 2012: Similan Islands liveaboard, Thailand
  • August 2011: Hanifaru, Maldives
  • June 2011: Tubbataha Liveaboard Hans Christian Andersen
  • April 2011: Similan Islands and Southern Thailand liveaboard
  • April 2011: Carpe Vita Liveaboard, Maldives
  • March 2011: Lembeh Strait, Indonesia
  • December 2010: Menjangan, Bali
  • July 2010: Tofo, Mozambique
  • July 2010: Sardine Run, South Africa
  • May 2010: Sangalaki / Derawan, Tambora
  • March 2010: MV Flying Seahorse, Similan Islands
  • March 2010: MV Orion, Southern Maldives
  • January 2010: Big Blue Explorer, Palau
  • November 2009: MSY Damai, Banda Sea Liveaboard, Indonesia
  • October 2009: MSY Damai, Komodo Liveaboard, Indonesia
  • October 2009: MV Orion, Maldives Liveaboard
  • September 2009: MV Scubanet, Koh Losin, Thailand
  • May 2009: MSY Seahorse, Banda Sea liveaboard, Indonesia
  • March 2009: Sachika Liveaboard, Maldives
  • February 2009: Daytrips, Koh Lanta, Thailand
  • January 2009: MV Jazz, Burma (Myanmar) Liveaboard

Back In The Day Bragging Rights Dive Trips

  • November 2008: Borneo Explorer, Visayas Liveaboard
  • September 2008: S/Y Siren, Komodo Liveaboard
  • August 2008: Ocean Rover, Sulawesi Liveaboard
  • August 2008: NAD Lembeh Resort, Indonesia
  • June 2008: Koh Tao
  • March 2008: Maldives, Bandos Island
  • February 2008: MSY Seahorse, Raja Ampat Liveaboard
  • January 2008: MV Jazz, Burma Liveaboard
  • October 2007: Bali Dive Safari
  • September 2007: Davao, Philippines
  • July 2007: Great White Sharks, Rodney Fox Liveaboard
  • June 2007: Big Blue, Palau Liveaboard
  • May 2007: Whale Sharks at Exmouth, Australia
  • April 2007: Borneo Explorer, Tubbataha Reef Liveaboard
  • December 2006: Komodo Dancer, Komodo Liveaboard

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