Nabucco Spice Island Resort - Extra Divers Spice Island

Spice Island Dive Resort is a community-driven operation located in Ambon, Indonesia, established in 1999. The resort is situated just minutes from Ambon Airport (AMQ) in Laha, making it easily accessible via major Indonesian air hubs like Jakarta, Makassar, or Bali.

The centre is specifically designed to cater to underwater photographers and divers with a keen interest in marine biodiversity. By focusing on the quiet, uncrowded sites within Ambon Bay, the resort provides an intimate environment for observing delicate marine life without the pressure of large crowds.

The resort operates with a strong emphasis on sustainability and community reinvestment. Since its inception, revenue has been directed back into the business and the local community, supporting reef restoration, organic farming, and sustainable waste management. They also partner with local schools and universities for marine biology internships.

Guides at Spice Island are trained to be exceptionally patient, a vital trait when searching for the elusive macro species the area is known for. This approach ensures that photographers and keen observers have the time required to locate and frame their subjects safely.

For those bringing their own photographic kit, the resort provides a dedicated camera room equipped with compressed air and rinse tanks. This allows for efficient cleaning and maintenance of expensive housings and lenses between dives.

Nitrox is available for all guests staying for three or more nights, and is included in the standard stay-and-dive packages.

The diving in Ambon Bay is world-renowned for its incredible macro diversity. You can expect to find a vast array of elusive cephalopods and crustaceans, including harlequin shrimps, tiger shrimps, bumblebee shrimp, and various drifting crustaceans. The area is also a prime location for spotting flamboyant cuttlefish and a variety of elusive frogfish, such as the psychedelic frogfish and the hairy frogfish.

Blackwater diving offers a unique opportunity to encounter species rarely seen elsewhere, such as gelatinous ctenophores, salps, and transparent larval fish. These drifting encounters often reveal the smaller, more delicate components of the marine ecosystem.

Beyond the macro life, the reef habitats support a healthy community of marine organisms. Divers will encounter various species of shrimp, such as Pom-pom crabs, and a wide range of other small, specialised creatures that make the seabed come alive.

The resort operates exclusively from September through May, which offers the most favourable sea conditions for diving in the region.