ACTIVITIES

Just in case you have a spare minute or two when you’re not diving or eating our culinary delights or having a quiet reflective glass of wine or cocktail watching the sun set below the tropical horizon we offer a number of other activities whether you’re after more exhilaration or just deep medative relaxation.

So whether you’re up for a wild ride or craving a tranquil escape, we’ve got you covered. Take a break from the underwater wonders and savor the moments of pure bliss. After all, life is all about finding the perfect balance between adventure and serenity.

If you’re feeling inclined to spend time on top of the water we can offer you a choice of paddle boarding, kayaking & snorkelling free of charge. Keep fit, burn off some calories & immerse yourself in the splendour & beauty of the islands, lagoons & reefs of eastern Indonesian when you take a paddle board or kayak or snorkel trip.

The tranquility & stillness is broken only by the occasional bird call (it could be a Brahminy Kite, a Palm Cockatoo or other exotic species) or the splash from a jumping fish.

Sometimes, if guests want a break from 4 dives a day, we offer land excursions to remote, pristine jungle walks. Usually we start at the jetty of a small village (called ‘kampong’ in Indonesian) welcomed by a crowd of eager youngster who want to see the visiting ‘bules’ (foreigners) & show off their village & perhaps school. Then we may guide you on a jungle walk to try to glimpse some of the rare, endemic forest dwellers such as the different species of Birds of Paradise, Cuscus, Tree Kangaroo or perhaps a beautiful python. Sometimes our walks are to the summit of a small hill where it’s a photo opportunity for breath taking views of the limestone islands clad with jungle tops.

If you chose one of our Banda Island tours we will take you to the historic old fort on Banda Neira. Built by the Portuguese in the 16^th Century it passed through the hands of the Dutch & finally the British. It was an important colonial outpost because it protected the valuable spice trade of nutmeg & mace, which, at the time was more valuable than gold. We tour the fort & then head towards one of the local nutmeg plantations to sample local delicacies & learn about how this valuable spice is grown & harvested.

If you’re a shopaholic & fretting about missing bargains please don’t worry because from time to time villagers will bring their shops to you on a local canoe. You can bargain for beautiful fabrics or local trinkets to your hearts content.

However, if you prefer to pamper yourself why not book one of our massages. You will be able to watch the world go by on one of our decks whilst having a deep & relaxing massage which will rejuvenate you before your next dive or, if you prefer, sit on the bow with a cocktail & unwind further.

We have two hammocks on the bow deck & a dozen sun loungers on which to catch some sunshine or read a book.

We have a small ship’s library with lots of reference books for all marine life & history & culture of eastern Indonesia.

We also have a small selection of games but the biggest game in town is chess played with the crew in the bridge.