The Banda Sea aboard the MSY Seahorse
Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2019 1:31 pm
Back in late September VJW, myself and a couple other PNW divers headed to Indonesia for a 12 night liveaboard trip through the Banda Sea. The 9 total flights went off without a hitch and only some minor pain with baggage overages on the domestic Indonesian flights. It is, however, always a great relief to finally get onboard the boat with 12 days of diving ahead!
This was the first time on the MSY Seahorse. Our stateroom was awesome and spacious right next to the camera room. They had warnings not to charge things in our rooms due to the Conception tragedy. Dive days varied from 3 to 4 a day and a night dive. One night dive was cancelled due to rough waves which made it a dangerous challenge to board the speed boats in the dark.
The main attraction of the Banda Sea is schooling hammerheads and we were lucky enough to encounter them on several dives. Just one time did they get reasonably close. However, the best experience for me was encountering schooling humphead parrotfish for the first time. It's really cool to see them approach as slender, vertical while lines at a distance before they turn an reveal their large, broad sides.
I found the boat, crew and food to be really great and would definitely go back. After 13 days onboard, and before returning home, we spent 3 days in Ambon. The home of the psychedelic frogfish. I'll report on that portion separately.
Anyway, here is the video I produced from the adventure. Comments and critiques are welcomed.
youtu.be/sXiOZ72Rwm4
This was the first time on the MSY Seahorse. Our stateroom was awesome and spacious right next to the camera room. They had warnings not to charge things in our rooms due to the Conception tragedy. Dive days varied from 3 to 4 a day and a night dive. One night dive was cancelled due to rough waves which made it a dangerous challenge to board the speed boats in the dark.
The main attraction of the Banda Sea is schooling hammerheads and we were lucky enough to encounter them on several dives. Just one time did they get reasonably close. However, the best experience for me was encountering schooling humphead parrotfish for the first time. It's really cool to see them approach as slender, vertical while lines at a distance before they turn an reveal their large, broad sides.
I found the boat, crew and food to be really great and would definitely go back. After 13 days onboard, and before returning home, we spent 3 days in Ambon. The home of the psychedelic frogfish. I'll report on that portion separately.
Anyway, here is the video I produced from the adventure. Comments and critiques are welcomed.
youtu.be/sXiOZ72Rwm4
