Expedition Overview

Dates: October 15 - November 21, 2025
Route: Ternate (Halmahera) > Gorontalo (Tomini Gulf) > Ambon > Kaimana (West Papua)
Vessel: MY Damai I
Leaders: Dr. Richard Smith & Wendy Brown

Itinerary Highlights

Our three 11-night expeditions explored some of Indonesia's most biodiverse waters through the heart of the Coral Triangle, offering an incredible mix of muck diving, pristine reefs, and exploration - with more endemic and newly discovered species than almost anywhere else on Earth.

The journeys took us from Halmahera's pristine coastlines through the legendary Togian Islands, world-class Ambon muck sites, to the incredible biodiversity of Triton Bay. In total we explored over 2,500 nautical miles!

Trip 1: Ternate (Halmahera) to Gorontalo (Togean Islands)

15-26th October 2025

We began the expedition by brifly exploring Halmahera's coast before heading to the legendary Togean Islands in search of the many rare and infrequently seen Togean Island species.

Trip 2: Gorontalo to Ambon

28th October – 8th November 2025

Continuing from the Togean Islands to Ambon, we explored some of the world's most celebrated muck diving sites, perfect for macro photography and rare species discoveries. We spent time in the Banggai Islands and other rarely dived islands such as Taliabu and Buru.

Trip 3: Ambon to Kaimana (Triton Bay)

10-21st November 2025

Hopping from Ambon, and exploring the south of Seram, we then explored the pristine waters of Triton Bay, renowned for its incredible biodiversity, endemic species, and stunning underwater landscapes in the heart of the Coral Triangle.

Diving Experience

Marine life talks by Dr. Richard Smith
Small group intimacy it was a full-house with just 8-10 guests
Luxury accommodations aboard the 40-meter Damai I

The Damai I Experience

Our floating base camp provided uncompromising comfort with spacious outdoor decks, massage facilities, and a crew-to-guest ratio of 18:10 ensuring personalised service throughout the expedition.

Images from the expedition showcase the incredible biodiversity and pristine coral reefs that make Indonesia's exciting diving frontiers.

Exciting sightings

Two Undescribed Manonichthys dottybacks plus the incredible Jamal’s Dottyback (Manonichthys jamali)!
Two Undescribed Trimma gobies!
Togean Flasherwrasse (Paracheilinus togeanensis) - endemic to Togean Islands
Juvenile double banded soapfish (Diploprion bifasciatum), which mimics a poisonous fangblenny
Sulawesi Fangblenny (Meiacanthus vicinus) endemic to Sulawesi and not recorded for many years
Undescribed Thinstripe Fangblenny (Meiacanthus sp)
A surgeonfish with a pigment mutation.
A new site with Zippered Dottybacks (Pseudochromis jace), which were much shallower than I have previously seen them.
Blue Belly Blenny (Ecsenius caeruliventris) & Blue Belly Benny (a great sport of a crew member!)
Incredible local colour variation of the Three Stripe Whiptail (Pentapodus trivittatus)

Range Extensions

Randall’s Coralblenny (Ecsenius randalli) - previously considered endemic to Halmaera and now seen in Taliabu Island with a paler colour morph.
Red-Head Wrasse (Halichoeres rubricephalus) - only known for a couple of spots in Indonesia. We saw several on the second charter.
Giti’s, Goldtail & Azure Damselfishes - a range extension for the former.
Dinah’s goby (Lubricogobius dinah) in Banggai Islands.
Lunartail Snapper (Lutjanus lunulatus) a very rare fish that none of us had seen before. We saw it many times in areas it had never been recorded before.
Kaleidos Wrasse (Pseudojuloides kaleidos) outside it’s previously known range.
Chin-strap Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus aquamarinus) used to be known as an endemic to Sulawesi, but we have recorded it previously in Halmehera, and now in Taliabu and Banggai.