Indonesia is big enough that somewhere is always in season. Here is where the liveaboards go each month, and why.
Indonesia has no single diving season. The boats move with the weather, so the best month depends on where they are. This guide walks through the year month by month to help you plan a 2027 trip, and sits alongside our Indonesia liveaboard guide. For the destination-by-destination view, see our Indonesia weather patterns guide.
The rainy season runs roughly October to March across much of the country¹, but Indonesia spans several climate zones. When one region is wet, another is at its best. Most liveaboards follow that pattern, so a trip booked in almost any month can be a good one if you pick the right region.
Quick Facts
- East (Raja Ampat, Triton Bay, Halmahera): October–April
- West (Komodo, Alor, Wakatobi): April–November
- Wettest months: usually December–February
- Komodo: many boats pause January–March, season opens around April
- Banda Sea: two main windows, March–April and September–November
- Hammerheads: Banda Sea and Alor, October–November
- Cenderawasih Bay: trips run primarily in July–August
- Triton Bay: October–April; no departures May–September
- Booking lead time: 6–12 months for peak months
Giant manta ray close-up underwater photograph Raja Ampat diving Indonesia liveaboard destination - Picture by Dewi Nusantara
Quick Answers
What is the best time to dive in Indonesia?
Raja Ampat and Triton Bay are best for diving from about October to April, and Komodo and Alor from about April to October or November. The best time depends on the region, and liveaboards move between regions during the year, so there is always a diving season somewhere. Our Indonesia liveaboard category guide helps you match a boat to your dates.
Where should I dive in Indonesia in October and November?
October and November are hammerhead season in the Banda Sea and Alor. Raja Ampat, Triton Bay and Halmahera open up as the boats move east, and Komodo is good too. See our guide to hammerhead sharks in Indonesia for the sites.
Is December a good month to dive in Indonesia?
Yes, December is a good month to dive Raja Ampat, Triton Bay and Halmahera, which are in their main season. Komodo carries weather risk, but Komodo-only boats mostly still run. Our guide to diving Raja Ampat covers what to expect.
Can you dive Komodo in January and February?
In January and February, most Komodo-only liveaboards stay in port, although a few keep a schedule. These are usually the wettest months, and boats that run face a real risk of heavy rain. Boats may be limited in where they can go, and visibility may be poor. Our guide to diving Komodo has the full picture.
Panoramic sunrise view over famous Pianemo lagoon with mushroom-shaped limestone islands and traditional boats in Raja Ampat - Picture by Calico Jack Cruises
Where to Dive Each Month at a Glance
- January: Raja Ampat, Triton Bay and Halmahera. Komodo carries rain risk.
- February: Raja Ampat, Triton Bay and Halmahera. Komodo is mostly paused.
- March: Raja Ampat at its best, plus Triton Bay and Halmahera. Some boats move west via the Banda Islands.
- April: Raja Ampat is still very good. Komodo and the west open, and some boats run the Banda Sea.
- May: Komodo, Alor, Derawan and Wakatobi. Saleh Bay whale sharks start.
- June: Komodo, Alor and Saleh Bay. A few boats stay in Central Raja Ampat.
- July: Komodo, Alor, Cenderawasih Bay, Saleh Bay and mola mola at Nusa Penida.
- August: Komodo, Alor, Cenderawasih Bay and Saleh Bay. Mola mola peak at Nusa Penida.
- September: boats turn east via Alor and Ambon. Komodo is still good.
- October: hammerheads in the Banda Sea and Alor. The east opens.
- November: hammerheads and the east. Komodo is good too.
- December: Raja Ampat, Triton Bay and Halmahera. Komodo-only boats mostly run.
How the Boats Follow the Weather
More than 100 liveaboards sail Indonesia², and no two follow exactly the same year. Most operators move their boats with the seasons. Others stay in one region all year.
Eastern boats move west from late March and head back east from late September, timed for hammerhead season in the Banda Sea.
There are two main routes west. The southern route runs from Raja Ampat (central and south) to Ambon, then on to Alor and Komodo. From Ambon to Alor there are two options: via Lucipara Atoll, or via the Ring of Fire and the Banda Islands. Some boats take the Forgotten Islands instead and finish in Saumlaki.
The northern route runs through Halmahera and North Sulawesi, down to Central Sulawesi, Wakatobi and Takabonerate, and ends in Komodo over several trips. Sulawesi and Wakatobi follow the Komodo season.
Each operator makes its own choices. Some boats follow charter groups with a set route. Others tailor the year to the guests they expect.
Some stay in Komodo or Raja Ampat all year. The type of trip you choose also shapes the options, and our guide to diving, leisure or both explains the boat types. This is operational knowledge, not a fixed timetable, so treat the months below as the general pattern.
Panoramic view of multiple uninhabited islands and coral atolls in Halmahera archipelago, demonstrating the vast diving territories explored on multi-day liveaboard adventures - Picture by Jakare Liveaboard
January and February
These are usually the wettest months in much of Indonesia, in the heart of the northwest monsoon¹ ³. Boats are in West Papua and Halmahera. Raja Ampat and Triton Bay are in their main season, and the large area gives boats room to find sheltered sites. It is the tropics, so you never know, but this is where the good weather is.
Komodo is the exception. Many Komodo-only boats do not run, and the few that keep a schedule carry a real risk of heavy rain. Alor and the Banda Sea are mostly off.
Halmahera runs its main season now, and some Sulawesi routes run too, though Sulawesi can be rainy. For diving in Raja Ampat, see our Raja Ampat guide. For manta rays in this season, see our manta ray guide.
March
March is the best month for Raja Ampat. Triton Bay and Halmahera are still diveable too, and many boats stay in the east into April.
It is also a transition month. Komodo is not yet open for most boats. Others begin to reposition from West Papua towards Komodo and run Banda Islands trips on the way, the first of the Banda Sea's two main windows. Our guide to Banda Sea liveaboards covers the routes.
April
The western season opens, slowly. Komodo boats that run all year start in late March or early April. Boats that moved west arrive later, mostly from late April, and more of them in May than in April.
April is also a very good month for Raja Ampat, and many boats are still in the east. Some still run the Banda Sea in April and into May. Alor, Derawan and Wakatobi open up around now too. It is all very fluid.
April is also a shoulder month. Conditions can change from day to day, but you often get excellent diving with fewer boats. Many boats are still in Raja Ampat, Triton Bay and Halmahera, where April is the end of the season. See our Triton Bay guide for the details.
Fort Belgica colonial fortress in Banda Neira, historic landmark visited during Banda Sea liveaboard excursions Indonesia
May and June
Komodo is the main focus. Alor runs too, and some boats go to Derawan, Wakatobi, Sulawesi or Halmahera, depending on what the operator is doing. Most boats that move around Indonesia stay away from Raja Ampat now.
A few boats stay in Raja Ampat all year. They tend to stay in Central Raja Ampat, because the southern crossing is too long in these winds and waves. Whale sharks gather around the bagan fishing platforms in Saleh Bay on Sumbawa⁴. The season starts in May, so boats crossing between Bali and Komodo often stop there. See our Komodo guide and our guide to diving Alor.
July and August
Most boats are in the west now. Komodo, Alor and the Sumbawa crossings are busy. Some boats still run the Derawan Islands, depending on the operator.
Raja Ampat-based boats often head to Cenderawasih Bay, where around 160 whale sharks live⁵. Trips there run primarily in July and August. See our Cenderawasih Bay guide for the full picture.
From June to October, southeast monsoon upwelling cools the water around Bali and Nusa Tenggara⁶. In Bali, mola mola season at Nusa Penida runs from July to October and peaks in August and September⁷. For this season, see our guide to diving in Bali. The Banda Sea is closed to most boats.
Purple rhinopias frondosa rare scorpionfish Alor Indonesia macro diving liveaboard underwater photography holy grail species - Picture by Tina Bogdanova
September
September is when the boats turn around. They travel from Komodo to Alor, then on to Ambon and the Banda Sea, which opens its second window. Hammerhead season in the Banda Sea and Alor follows in October and November.
Published records of the aggregations at Nila and Serua list October and November, with groups of 10 to 200 sharks⁸. The scalloped hammerhead is listed as Critically Endangered⁸. The sites are in our hammerhead guide.
Operators link hammerheads to cold water. The southeast monsoon drives upwelling in the Banda Sea, which brings cooler, nutrient-rich water to the surface⁹. Hammerheads are wild animals. Some months are better than others, but you need to be there at the right time, and you need some luck.
October and November
Where to dive in Indonesia in October and November is a question many divers ask. Banda Sea hammerhead season is at its peak⁸.
Many boats stay on in the Banda Islands. Others move on to Raja Ampat, which opens now. Some boats do Triton Bay, the Forgotten Islands or Halmahera. Komodo is also good in these months, for the boats that stay.
A trip booked in these areas in these months is usually a good one. Our Banda Sea guide and Alor guide cover the hammerhead sites.
December
December is a West Papua month. Raja Ampat, Triton Bay and Halmahera are in their main season. Banda Sea and Alor are mostly off.
Komodo carries weather risk, but Komodo-only boats mostly still run and conditions are often quite good. If you want the most settled weather, go east. See our Halmahera guide for an option away from the crowds.
Whale shark feeding under traditional fishing platform bagan, unique encounter on Triton Bay liveaboard trips West Papua Indonesia
Managing Expectations
The months in this guide describe the general pattern, not a promise. Indonesia has local microclimates and rain can fall in any month. Where a boat is depends on its guests, its route and whether it has a charter. Komodo carries the most weather risk from January to March, when boats may not go out and visibility may be poor. Hammerheads and other wild animals are never guaranteed.
Book early for the months you want, as peak months fill six to twelve months ahead. If you are travelling with a non-diver, the boat type matters as much as the month. See our guide to liveaboards for non-divers, or our guide for mixed groups of divers and non-divers.
Woman on paddleboard surrounded by towering limestone karst islands in calm turquoise waters of Raja Ampat archipelago - Picture by Calico Jack Cruises
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I dive Raja Ampat in the middle of the year?
Yes, you can dive Raja Ampat from May to September on some boats. A few stay all year and keep to Central Raja Ampat. The southern crossing is too long in the winds and waves of May to September. Most boats that move around Indonesia are elsewhere then.
When is the best month to dive Raja Ampat?
March is the best month for Raja Ampat, and April is also very good. The main season runs from about October to April. See our Raja Ampat guide for sites and routes.
When can you dive the Banda Sea?
The Banda Sea has two main windows, March to April and September to November. Most boats do not go from June to August or from December to February. Our Banda Sea planning guide has the routes.
Is it rainy across all of Indonesia from October to March?
No. The rainy season runs roughly from October to March across much of the country¹, but Indonesia spans several climate zones. When one region is wet, another is at its best.
Do all boats follow the same schedule?
No, liveaboards in Indonesia do not all follow the same schedule. Conditions change by season, so most boats move between the east (October to March) and the west (April to October). Each operator has its own plan, route and focus, though. Some boats stay in one region all year, some follow charter groups, and some tailor the year to expected guests. If you want a particular region in a particular month, tell us and we will check what is running.
How far ahead should I book a trip for a specific month?
For peak months in Indonesia, book six to twelve months ahead. Remote destinations such as Cenderawasih Bay and Halmahera have fewer departures and fill faster than you might expect. You can also search trips by month on our platform to see what is available.
Diving trips cost the same whether you book with Coralbound or direct with the operator. Booking gifts are available, including the option of a complimentary hotel night. Tell us your dates and we will match you to where the boats are, via live chat on the platform, WhatsApp or our contact form. Curious how we work? See why divers book with Coralbound.
A shallow reef in Wakatobi with a dense mix of hard coral colonies, including table and boulder formations, with small reef fish scattered throughout.
Diving trips cost the same whether you book with Coralbound or direct with the operator. Booking gifts are available, including the option of a complimentary hotel night. Tell us your dates and we will match you to where the boats are, via live chat on the platform, WhatsApp or our contact form. Curious how we work? See why divers book with Coralbound.
