Halmahera Island
Halmahera formerly known as Jilolo, Gilolo, or Jailolo is the largest island in Maluku island. It is part of the North Maluku province of Indonesia.
Within close proximity to Raja Ampat and Sulawesi, the entire region is a marine biodiversity hotspot, with an extraordinarily healthy underwater ecosystem that’s teeming with marine life and thriving coral reefs.
Beyond diving and snorkeling, Halmahera is a hub of stunning landscapes and rich mineral resources, several active and dormant volcanoes, dense rainforests, and pristine beaches.
It’s also home to diverse ethnic groups, unique wildlife, and endemic birds like Wallace's Standardwing Bird-of-Paradise and more.
Islands near Halmahera, North Maluku
Halmahera has some incredible dive sites that you can explore when you’re sailing with Uncharted Cruises. Let’s take a look at some of the smaller islands near Halmahera.
Dodola Island
A small uninhabited island off the coast of Halmahera, Dodola Island promises soft, white sand, crystal-clear turquoise waters, and a peaceful atmosphere. Made up of two tiny islands covered by beach pine, Dodola is so isolated that there are no electricity or tourist facilities available.
Still, it’s a beautiful and charming destination, with stunning azure waters abundant with healthy coral reefs, making it perfect for snorkeling and diving.
There are 13 dive sites around Dodola Island. Amidst colorful corals, fans, and sponges, you can come face-to-face with dazzling tropical fishes like the clownfish, butterflyfish, angelfish, and parrotfish, and invertebrates like sea turtles, sea snakes, octopus, squid, and various crustaceans. In some areas, you might even encounter larger creatures like sharks, rays, or barracuda.
A popular natural feature of Dodola Island is a sandbar that connects Dodola Besar with Dodola Kecil which appears only at low tide. The sandbar is approximately 500 meters long and is a fantastic spot for photos and videos!
Tidore
Situated midway between Sulawesi and Halmahera in the vast Molucca Sea just off the western coast of Halmahera, Tifore - also known as Tidore - is a small island with sparkling black sand beaches and rich soil, thanks to the volcano Mt Kiematubu.
Once the world’s source of cloves with a powerful sultanate, Tidore is now a sleepy village, with traditional architecture, historic forts, a museum, a palace, and a mausoleum.
The island is charming and serene, with shallow turquoise waters dotted with colorful boats. When diving around Tifore, you’ll find strikingly colorful soft and hard corals, sea fans, sponges, and reef fish species such as butterflyfish, angelfish, damselfish, triggerfish, parrotfish, lionfish, and surgeonfish. Keep your eyes peeled for a chance to see the mandarin fish perform their mating ritual here at sundown.
Tifore is also the place to be if you want to spot whitetip, blacktip, and grey sharks as well as enormous schools of fusiliers and barracuda swimming amidst gigantic rock formations.
Ternate
Located right opposite Tidore, Ternate is the capital and main commercial center of North Maluku and the gateway of Halmahera. Just like Tidore, it was also once the world’s major producer of cloves, with a fascinating past ruled by a powerful Sultanate.
The island is serene and enchanting, with ancient forts and a palace, dramatic volcanic landscapes, placid lakes, and soft powdery beaches. If you want some excitement, head to crocodile-infested Tolire Lake in the northwest or Batu Angus to see cooled black lava against the blue of the sea.
Diving in Ternate means opportunities to spot the elusive Halmahera walking shark, bearded goby, and loads of other amazing critters. Dive the shipwreck at Taman Nukila or explore the sunken motorbike and school bus. Swim amongst bright and branching corals and reef fish, and spot swirling schools of barracuda and big-eye trevally.
The tiny Moti Island, measuring only 5km wide is also part of Ternate and is a hotspot for amazing diving.
Morotai
One of the largest islands in North Maluku is Morotai. It has a historically rich location playing an incredible role to the Allied Forces throughout World War II with military planes taking off and landing along Daruba Bay and navy ships anchoring daily in its port.
Today Morotai is a laid-back tropical paradise and is regarded by many as Indonesia’s Maldives. The island has also been designated as one of Indonesia’s Top Priority Tourist Destinations for resort development.
Diving in Morotai will bring you colorful tropical fishes, macros, and a wide variety of shark species from whitetip and blacktip reef sharks to gray reef sharks, whale sharks, Halmahera walking sharks, hammerhead sharks, and even bull sharks.
Bacan Islands
A group of approximately 80 forested and mountainous islands just southwest of Halmahera, Bacan is home to Mount Sibela, a designated wildlife sanctuary, Maluku’s only monkey - the Black Macaque and the world’s largest bee - the Giant Mason Bee.
When diving in Bacan, expect stunning macros in the black sands all around the bay, a must-do for macro lovers and underwater photographers!
