On a liverboard in the middle of the Banda Sea,
we are on our way in one of the least explored regions of the world.
Ahead of us are 700 nautical miles of open sea depths of more than 6,000 meters and tiny
islands which are nothing else but the summits of gigantic underwater mountains.
After another ride through the night, we arrive the next morning close to the coast
of Weta, a big island which belongs to the southern Malukan Islands.
We enjoy the easy life on board while our ship sails further south.
In front of us is only the Thailand of Timor and behind Timor, there is already Australia.
Well, that's too far and our dive guide Bruno is already briefing us for our next dive.
Immediately close to Sand listen and then especially at our end of the day we go
further and even further, to have the chance to audience our local recipes!
During one dive we even watch the reproduction of sea cucumbers.
They rise up and deliver sperms and eggs to the sea.
During one dive we even watch the reproduction of sea cucumbers.
During one dive we even watch the reproduction of sea cucumbers.
During one dive we even watch the reproduction of sea cucumbers.
We are on our way in total darkness to search with our underwater torches for creatures which come out under cover of darkness.
Today we discover a lot of members of the octopus family, squads and a lot of octopuses are revealed by the light of our torches.
We also discover a school of catfish rummaging the ground for food. Their ghost-piped fish and extremely bizarre crabs we only recognize when they start to move.
Even to frogfish, when red, the other yellow, lying weight in the dark were the odd little fish coming to close to the mouth.
We are on our way in total darkness to search with our underwater torches for creatures which come out under cover of darkness.
We are on our way in total darkness to search for creatures which come out under cover of darkness.
We are on our way in total darkness to search with our underwater torches.
We are on our way in total darkness to search for creatures which come out under cover of darkness.
Our next important destination on our trip across the Banda Sea is Aalor.
The relatively small strait between the islands Panta and Aalor connects the Banda Sea with the Indian Ocean in the south.
Every day incredible masses of water are pumped through this opening in the chain of the Nusantara Islands from north to south and back.
We are on our way in total darkness to search for creatures which come out under cover of darkness.
Here in Aalor there is also the chance to find very rare species of fish, for example frogfish or anglerfish, which attract their prey with a kind of lure which is nothing else but the first dose of fin which has evolved into a thin, lengthy kind of rod.
Here a small frogfish leaves his hunting ground and we have the rare opportunity for a motion study.
No one understands why frogfish are so loyal to their location. Their swimming abilities are rather poor.
In fact they prefer moving on the ground with the help of their ventral fins which they use to walk.
They move similar like the extremely rare Inopias, another member of the Skogkin fish family.
Like the frogfish they wait well camouflaged for little fish which come too close to this predator's mouth.
Then they snap their prey with one of the fastest movements in the Yenim Aalor.
Especially in the south of Aalor the water is getting too cold for corals because deep sea upwellings come here to the surface.
Sea anemones have filled this ecological niche. They extend here over a distance of several kilometers.
Everywhere in Aalor we find the traditional fish traps of Aalor fishermen.
And during another dive we watch a fisherman with his self-made speargun and his wooden diving goggles hunting reef fish.
The end of our voyage is approaching. Passing by smoking volcanoes we sail in the direction of Maumere on the island of Lore.
As a farewell present our 20 people strong crew are hising for us guests the sail of the Amira.
They have safely guided us over a distance of more than 700 nautical miles across the Banda Sea.
In front of a cloudy and grey sky we bid farewell and admire our ship for a last time.
Our crew has guided us on this adventurous trip across the Indonesian Banda Sea along picturesque islands with exciting dive sports.
They have shown us friendly and hospitable people and led us safely to our final destination on Flores.
Thank you very much and we will certainly meet again.
