The Maluku Province of eastern Indonesia is a dream destination for adventurous travellers who want to experience one of the most beautiful places in the world — and one that is has yet to be commercially discovered.

Many are unaware of the historical significance of the region. In 1667, the Dutch traded what is now Manhattan for the island of Run, sitting in the middle of the Banda Sea, for a very simple reason — nutmeg. The clove and nutmeg trees that were the primary catalysts for the start of Europe's "Age of Exploration" in the 15th Century are native to the Maluku Province, and Columbus, Magellan, and Vasco da Gama were all hunting for these obscure little "Spice Islands". The exact geographical location of the Maluku Spice Islands was hidden from Europeans for centuries and was very rarely seen on maps. This all changed in 1512 when the first Portuguese ships entered the Spice Islands.

The stunning topography of the region remains as it has for centuries, and many fortifications built on Ambon, Saparua, and Banda during the age-old conflicts offer fascinating and interesting land excursions. Countless intriguing examples of the architectural legacy of European colonial history sit on the Nutmeg isles of Banda, Central Maluku, less than half a kilometre from the active volcano Gunung Api.

The clear waters of the Banda Sea are widely regarded as the most stunning and pristine in the world. The sheer diversity of dive sites creates varied and fascinating itineraries in the region, with excellent underwater architecture, interesting critters and colourful hard and soft corals. The schooling fish and the prolific marine life make diving in the Maluku Province an exceptional experience. Banda harbour is also home to the most amazing community of mandarinfish, just one of the many highlights of the area.

Currently the most practical method of exploring these remote islands is by joining a liveaboard excursion, but there are a couple of land-based dive centres as well, which will add to the flexibility of the experience. There is also a land-based dive operator on the south coast of Ambon.