Banda Islands

Indonesia

A historic volcanic group of ten small islands in the Banda Sea, once the world's sole source of nutmeg, now known for deep, current-swept wall diving.

The Banda Islands are a volcanic group of ten small islands in the Banda Sea, about 140 km south of Seram, with a total land area of about 172 km2. Until the mid-19th century they were the world's only source of nutmeg. Dive operators describe steep walls draped in gorgonian fans off Hatta, Ai and Banda Besar, visibility often 30 m or more, with seasonal hammerhead sightings around October-November; near Banda Neira the 'Lava Flow' site holds cabbage coral that grew after the 1988 eruption of Gunung Api. Source: Wikipedia (Banda Islands), Emperor Divers.