In the heart of the Indonesian ‘Spice Islands’, Pulau Hatta is a popular diving and snorkeling destination in the Banda Archipelago. Tourists arrive in small numbers, usually as part of a scuba diving package.
Pulau Hatta is east of the largest island in the archipelago, Banda Besar, and offers little in the way of accommodation or facilities. Nutmeg is the cash crop of choice and tourists are a rare sight. Visitors that spend any time on the island will quickly find that they are a novelty and locals are usually happy to welcome them.
There are several secluded beaches lining the island and in some cases the seafloor quickly drops out to reveal sheer coral reefs. Lama Beach is the best example of this, with a sheer vertical drop less a mere few feet from the shore at low tide. This is an ideal place for snorkeling.
The easiest way to enjoy the dive sites on Pulau Hatta is on a liveaboard boat from Banda Besar or Ambon. This maximizes the diver’s underwater time, leaving travel and equipment details to the tour operators. These cruises typically visit all of the major sites in the Banda Islands, stopping by Pulau Hatta along the way.
Getting There & Away
Access is via Bandaneira on the adjacent island, Banda Besar. From here, charter a boat to Ambon (in rare cases, flights are available). From Ambon, flights to Jakarta depart regularly and arrive in less than 5 hours. Numerous international flight connections are available in Jakarta.