Banda Sea / Ring of Fire in October

[manwood]

Any advice from anyone who has been? Water temperatures to expect? Currents? How is water entry and exit like in general?

Thanks

 

[Joneill]

Any advice from anyone who has been? Water temperatures to expect? Currents? How is water entry and exit like in general?

Thanks

Paging @Dan

 

[JohnN]

Any advice from anyone who has been? Water temperatures to expect? Currents? How is water entry and exit like in general?

Thanks

Thaty a pretty big area, somewhere in specific?

 

[Dan]

Any advice from anyone who has been? Water temperatures to expect? Currents? How is water entry and exit like in general?

Thanks

I was there in September 2019, as posted here:

Real Time Blue Manta Review: Banda Sea 9 – 19 Sept 2019

There are a few SB’ers on this trip. Those on the trip list some things you like, don’t like, etc., and those not on the trip ask questions. I’ll start (SUBJECTIVE). LOVE: Size of the boat, size of the rooms, a proper bathroom, size of the dive deck, wi-fi in a few rooms. Here, I am standing...

scubaboard.com

I'm going back there again with Pindito in November.

As far as water temperatures, back in September 2019, varied from 75 to 79F (24-26C). Not much current to worry about. (mostly none), but I ticked a slow current in Coconut Corner (Manuk), Long Ridge (Manuk) & Pohon Miring (Bandaneira). No need for negative entry. Nothing like in Kandu diving in Maldives or Channel diving in Maratua or Blue Corner in Palau, where you need reef hook.

 

[Cali_diver]

Water temp really varies depending on where you start and where you end! We had lots of current and lots of hammers and loved every bit of it. Viz was sketchy some times but overall amazing. Going back in couple weeks, and they are already seeing them in Banda!! Hopefully we will all have calm seas!!

 

[manwood]

Water temp really varies depending on where you start and where you end! We had lots of current and lots of hammers and loved every bit of it. Viz was sketchy some times but overall amazing. Going back in couple weeks, and they are already seeing them in Banda!! Hopefully we will all have calm seas!!

Interesting, people's experiences seem to be quite variable. Seas look calm and warmish on Sea temperature, sea weather and tides worldwide - SeaTemperatu.re at the moment though obviously that can change quite quickly!

Which boat did you go with previously and which one are you going on in a few weeks?

 

[manwood]

I was there in September 2019, as posted here:

Real Time Blue Manta Review: Banda Sea 9 – 19 Sept 2019

There are a few SB’ers on this trip. Those on the trip list some things you like, don’t like, etc., and those not on the trip ask questions. I’ll start (SUBJECTIVE). LOVE: Size of the boat, size of the rooms, a proper bathroom, size of the dive deck, wi-fi in a few rooms. Here, I am standing...

scubaboard.com

I'm going back there again with Pindito in November.

As far as water temperatures, back in September 2019, varied from 75 to 79F (24-26C). Not much current to worry about. (mostly none), but I ticked a slow current in Coconut Corner (Manuk), Long Ridge (Manuk) & Pohon Miring (Bandaneira). No need for negative entry. Nothing like in Kandu diving in Maldives or Channel diving in Maratua or Blue Corner in Palau, where you need reef hook.

Thanks Dan, reading your 2019 review it seems the seas were a bit rough. How was entry and exit? I want to dive side mount but sometimes that can be awkward in really choppy seas, particularly on exit where you have to pass tanks around.

Edit: when I say awkward I am referring to mostly my experience in the Maldives where the ocean swell can be a little bit hairy.

 

[Cali_diver]

I don't think you need to worry about entry and exit for side mount. Most boats will do their very best to put you in the water in the best conditions. I have done the trip a few times and I think they have always been on one of the Damai boats. Luckily I have always had great conditions (crossing fingers and praying to the Goddess of the sea for good conditions) but I know it can get a little hairy. It is basically a relocation trip that can only be done during certain times of the year. I have heard stories about boats getting stuck in Banda etc. Are you doing an Alor - Ambon trip, Saumlaki - Saumlaki, or Kupang -? etc.? Which boat?

Everything depends on the divers on your boat and the CD (cruise director)etc. We have had great experiences but have encountered some current (totally manageable and worth it) in the hopes of finding the hammerheads. I was on another boat and the CD said she would never take divers on the hammerhead dives in Forgotten or Banda because she didn't want to worry about them. I made a mental note to never ever book a Banda trip with them. So If you have a bunch of people who don't like any current etc... Either way it is still a great trip, its just a so much better with hammers and snakes! oh and thankfully for us the hammers were never deep. Banda is amazing fishy and really fun! Enjoy!

 

[Dan]

Thanks Dan, reading your 2019 review it seems the seas were a bit rough. How was entry and exit? I want to dive side mount but sometimes that can be awkward in really choppy seas, particularly on exit where you have to pass tanks around.

Edit: when I say awkward I am referring to mostly my experience in the Maldives where the ocean swell can be a little bit hairy.

@billt4sf was diving side mount. He seemed to have no problem then.

I had mid-size camera, so most of the time the skiff pilot would hand it to me after back roll entry. After the dive we removed our BCD and passed it to the skiff pilot, then removed our fins, passed them to the skiff pilot, before climbing up the ladder. If the weather was too rough (choppy water, fast current, etc.) we would find a calmer site to enter.

Question:
Why do we need to do a back roll entry?

 

[Dan]

Question:
Why do we need to do a back roll entry?

Answer:
If we do front roll entry, we will still be on the boat with headache