Extra Divers dive centre Nabucco’s Cape Paperu Resort offers a great variety of excellent diving, and this is a great little dive resort with great food, clean rooms and very friendly staff.
Cape Paperu Resort is located in the wild landscapes of the Bay of Saparua in the Central Maluku, also known previously as the Spice Islands. The dive resort was built in 2007 by a Swiss couple, Eliane and Kurt Gross. This remote location is one not to be missed by any intrepid traveller, diver and nature lover. It is a paradise for photographers whether working in close-up or wide angle.
Guests will enjoy the interesting and versatile dive sites around the islands of Saparua, Molana, Nusa Laut, Haruku and Ambon which offer stunning coral gardens, steep reef walls and a huge variety of colourful tropical marine life.
The resort’s own house reef is over 2 km (1½ mile) long and has a depth range from 4 to 12 m (12 – 40 feet), offering plenty of table coral densely populated with a variety of marine life, and great night diving.
Resort Facilities
The resort covers about 10 hectares (25 acres) and is situated in a pristine setting with mature shade trees, (many of over a hundred years old), countless coconut palms, shrubs, bushes and wild orchids.
From the restaurant ‘Mata Hari’ you have a beautiful view over the sea while enjoying a wide variety of dishes from Indonesia and Europe as well as your choice of wine. An integral part of the restaurant is the bar and a separate area with a small book library and media corner.
Guests can relax on a small white sandy beach, where sun beds are provided, and enjoy a coffee from the Bistro near the swimming pool located in the palm garden. After a day’s diving or sight-seeing, guests can indulge in a massage in the resort’s own spa which features traditional body treatments, massages, body scrubs and wraps.
Activities
Trips to Saparua and the neighbouring islands of Ambon, Haruku, Nusa Laut, Molana and Seram are available and can be arranged at the resort.
Different kinds of birds, as well as many types and sizes of beautifully coloured butterflies, live in the wild cliff landscape and all nature lovers will find something to delight them.
Staying Connected
The resort has limited mobile phone reception. Wireless internet connection is available in the lobby at an extra fee of EUR 5.00 (per stay).
The resort, built upon the cliffs at the entrance to Saparua Bay, can be reached by a 45-minute car ride from Ambon airport followed by a 60-minute speedboat ride along the coast of Harku to the resort’s private beach. Guests must arrive in Ambon before 2.30pm to make a same-day transfer to the resort. Guests can depart from Ambon any time after 11.00am on departure day. The resort is closed in July and August each year during the wet season.
Accommodation
There are a total of 14 bungalows at Cape Paperu Resort:
- 7 Spacious Sea view bungalows with a generous living space including an additional covered veranda. From here you can enjoy a fantastic view across the Banda Sea to the island of ‘Nusa Laut’. These bungalows feature a small dressing room and comfortable sofa with table, which sets them apart from the other bungalow types.
- 4 Garden view bungalows are located amongst the beautiful tropical gardens, again each with its own veranda.
- 3 Palm garden view bungalows are located close to the dive shop and the office, amongst tropical gardens.
All bungalows have air-conditioning, ceiling fan, double bed with mosquito net, sun chairs, a mini bar and safe. Each bungalow also features a half open-air bathroom with hot and cold water shower, toilet, hairdryer, 220V sockets and complimentary tea/coffee making facilities.
The Extra Divers dive centre at Nabucco’s Cape Paperu Resort on Saparua Island Ambon is a full-service PADI diving facility, run by the owners of the resort. The dive shop is located directly on the beach, offering everything from house reef diving to daily boat diving and PADI, CMAS and IANTD dive courses.
Diving at the house reef is available day and night and is offered with or without a dive guide. Three dive boats are available from the resort. One dive boat accommodates up to 8 divers, the second dive boat carries up to 10 divers and the newest dive boat carries 12 divers. There is also a small tender for up to 4 passengers. All dive boats carry beach towels, drinking water, hot tea, cake and fruit.
Day boat trips are offered with 2-3 dives per day. Full day boat trips include 3 dives and lunch. 12L aluminium tanks with INT/DIN valves are used. Dive equipment rental is available (though please advise requirements in advance). Nitrox is available at extra cost.
Each boat and the dive shop carry safety equipment including life jackets, DAN Oxygen and a First Aid box. The nearest decompression chamber is in Ambon.
Dive area
The interesting and versatile dive sites around the islands of Saparua, Molana, Nusa Laut, Haruku and Ambon belong to some of the world’s best. They offer stunning coral gardens, steep reef walls and a huge variety of colourful tropical marine life.
At some dive sites of the islands of Molana and Nusa Laut you can find steep reef walls covered in soft corals, sea fans, forests of table coral, fire corals and huge sponges. There are plenty of caves and overhanging walls to be dived. Sea snakes, as well as sea turtles, stingrays, amberjacks, batfish, barracudas, moray eels and reef sharks, are quite common here. Some of these reefs in this area also encounter the occasional mantas, dolphins, humpback and minke whales.
The resort’s own house reef is over 2 km (1½ mile) long and has a depth range from 4 to 12 m (12 – 40 feet). It offers plenty of table coral densely populated with a variety of marine life, such as red mullets, grunts, fusiliers and reef groupers in large shoals. It also makes a great night time, when crabs, shrimp and sleeping parrotfish can be seen in their nests and stingrays, sea stars and octopus hunt their prey.
Seasons
The best time to go is from October until the end of May, middle of June, during the dry season. Visibility is then outstanding from 20-50m (65-165ft). Air temperature 24-31°C (75-88°F); Water temperature 28-30°C (82-86°F). The wet season is in July and August, which is when the resort is also closed.
You should know…
No credit cards are accepted at the resort and payment can only be made in EUR or USD currencies.
We think…
The location offers a great variety of excellent diving, and this is a great little dive resort with great food, clean rooms and very friendly staff. The dive operation is well organised and the boats and equipment are well-maintained.
Pricing for Cape Paperu Resort 2018
| AUD | EUR | ||||
| 7 night Seaview Bungalow (twin) with 10 dives | 1523 | EUR | | | 1523 | |
| 7 night Seaview Bungalow (single) with 10 dives | 1688 | EUR | | | 1688 | |
| 7 night Gardenview Bungalow (twin) with 10 dives | 1362 | EUR | | | 1362 | |
| 7 night Gardenview Bungalow (single) with 10 dives | 1492 | EUR | | | 1492 | |
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| This resort's prices are in Euro. The AUD prices shown are based on the current exchange rate. The price paid in AUD will be based on the actual exchange rate at the time any payments are made. |
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| Included: Accommodation as specified, all meals, return car/boat transfers from/to Ambon airport, 10 dives, tanks, weights, boat, dive guide, air fills. Note: the resort is closed each year July and August | |||||
| The per person pricing above is indicative only: we show 7 night with 10/12 dive packages at high-end and lower-end rooms (singles & doubles) for the purposes of comparison. We can give you a price (and availability) for any combination of nights/dives you wish to undertake, which will include any discounts due to you as part of that package, and any exclusions, or items payable at the resort. Please use the [Enquire Now] tab to give us your exact requirements and we'll give you the best deal we can. | |||||