Visiting Banda is interesting for two reasons: excellent diving and its amazing history. Banda islands, part of a volcanic group of islands covered with lush vegetation, have been a destination for traders for more than two thousand years.
Some of the most spectacular drop-off walls we have ever encountered are found amongst these tiny atolls in the heart of the Banda Sea. Plunging straight down for thousands of meters these walls are covered with countless species of soft corals and enormous barrel sponges.
Located 400 miles from Ambon, these islands offer exotic panoramas. Natural and artificial pearl cultivation are found around these island, giving the nickname of the of the Pearl Island. The Aru Island cover very large area, and are important for traditional pearl giving the deer hunting.
Sail Banda 2010 Committee To Survey Event's Possible Locations
Submitted by admin on Sun, 09/13/2009 - 12:22
Members of Sail Banda 2010 international committee from various maritime countries are expected to survey three locations in Maluku for consideration as the event's venue in the near future.
Members of Sail Banda 2010 international committee from various maritime countries are expected to survey three locations in Maluku for consideration as the event's venue in the near future.
Maluku provincial administration's communication and information spokesman, Bakrie Lumbessy said here on Friday that the committee members would survey three locations, namely Lucipara islands in the Banda Sea, Banda Islands, and a diving site in Southwest Maluku district, soon after Lebaran or the Idul Fitri festivity.
"Soon after Lebaran , the international committee of Sail Banda 2010 will visit Maluku to survey the three locations in the province," Lumbessy said.
He said the same committee had successfully organized the Sail Bunaken event in North Sulawesi which was participated in by hundreds of sail boats and yachts from various countries last August.
According to Lumbessy, all the three locations for the Sail Banda 2010 offer undersea panoramas featuring many coral reefs and ornamental fish.
"Especially for an undersea flag raising ceremony, it will be conducted in one of the outlying islands in Southwest Maluku district," Lumbessy said referring to Wetar, Kisar, Romang, or Maupora islands.
He said Sail Banda 2010 was scheduled to run from July 27 to August 28, 2010 and to be participated in by hundreds of sail boats and yachts from various countries around the world.
The Banda Sea which is known to have the deepest basin in the world also had areas abounding in colorful coral reefs and ornamental fish on which visitors could feast their eyes.
Banda islands also had various cultural tourist spots and famous historic sites that had been named by UNESCO as one of the world's cultural heritages.
The Maluku provincial administration's information and communication office had also asked for the active role of the press in the province and all elements of the public to jointly make Sail Banda 2010 a success.
