Maluku is one of the least known provinces of Indonesia but offers excellent diving around Ambon and Banda Neira.

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Maluku, Moluccas or the Moluccan Islands is a large province in between the islands Sulawesi and West Papua. Some of the larger islands that belong to it are the northern islands Ternate, Halmahera, Sula, Buru, Ambon and Seram; the island groups Kai and Aru in the east, up till Tanimbar, Babar, Leti and Wetar in the south. Most of the small and steep islands are of volcanic origin covered in dense rainforests and cultivated for rice and spices such as cloves, mace and nutmeg. Most are part of Wallacea, a group of Islands that has separated from the Australian and Asian continents millions of years ago, providing for a very different environment. The more famous islands Banda Neira and Ambon are sitting right in the middle of the Banda Sea and are also part of Maluku. Most diving is done off liveaboard trips visiting Ambon and the Banda Islands on their way to or coming from Maumere Bay (Flores), Sorong (Irian Jaya) and Manado (Sulawesi). Often surrounded by spectacular coral reefs and loads of fish these islands are still widely undiscovered and provide havens for the more adventurous diver. Its white sand and many shallow reefs provide excellent opportunities for making award winning photographs of all that is tiny and colorful.

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