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Sadalmelik CC BY-SA 4.0 Wikimedia Commons

Obi Islands

Islands

Off North Maluku, the Obi Islands present rainforested slopes, coral reefs and fishing villages. Travelers visit for diving, birdwatching and encounters with traditional village life rather than mass tourism.

Obi Islands TernateTidoreHalmaheraAmbonSeramBanda IslandsKei IslandsObi Islands
In this guide

Obi Islands essentials

Address: Obi Islands, North Maluku, Indonesia
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About Obi Islands

The Obi Islands are an island group in North Maluku province of eastern Indonesia, centred on the larger island commonly referred to as Obi. The group forms part of the Maluku Islands archipelago in eastern Indonesia.

The islands are largely rural with coastal settlements and local fishing communities. Terrain includes low hills and coastal areas typical of Maluku island groups.

Historically and administratively the islands are part of North Maluku province and are positioned east of Halmahera and north of the Banda Sea. Access is by regional boat services or local air links to nearby larger islands.

Geographically the islands sit within the tropical zone of eastern Indonesia and are surrounded by the waters of the Halmahera and Banda Sea region.

Tips for Visiting Obi Islands

  • Plan your trip for the dry season (roughly May-October) when sea conditions are calmer and inter-island transfer options are more reliable.
  • Use Ternate (the main regional hub) as your travel gateway and arrange inter-island boats or charters in advance-sailings can be irregular and schedules change locally.
  • Expect limited services on the islands: organize transport, accommodation and cash beforehand, and download offline maps or contact details; many visitors miss the chance to pre-book village homestays or boat trips.
When to Go

Best Time to Visit Obi Islands

The Obi Islands are best visited in the dry season (roughly May-October) for calmer seas and better conditions for diving and island travel.

Dry season - best for travel and diving
May-October · ~26-31°C
The dry months bring calmer seas and more reliable weather for island hopping, snorkeling and diving-July-September often offer the clearest conditions.
Wet season - more rain and rougher seas
November-April · ~25-30°C
The northern Moluccas experience heavier rain and wind in these months; boat services may be less predictable and some days unsuitable for water activities.

Weather & Climate near Obi Islands

Climate

Obi Islands's climate is classified as Tropical Rainforest - Tropical Rainforest climate with consistently warm temperatures year-round. Temperatures range from 20°C to 29°C. Abundant rainfall (1935 mm/year), wettest in July.

Air Quality: AQI 43 Good
Best Time to Visit
OctoberSeptemberNovember
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
33°
Warmest Month
23°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions
Month Comfort Temp Feels Rain Sky Humidity Wind UV Daylight
January Good 21° - 29° 25° 183 mm overcast 82% 2.3 m/s 2.3 extreme 12.1h
February Good 21° - 29° 25° 153 mm overcast 82% 2.4 m/s 2.5 extreme 12.1h
March Good 21° - 29° 25° 187 mm overcast 81% 2.3 m/s 2.5 extreme 12.0h
April Good 21° - 28° 24° 190 mm overcast 81% 2.2 m/s 2.4 extreme 12.0h
May Very Good 21° - 28° 24° 194 mm partly cloudy 81% 2.2 m/s 2.2 extreme 11.9h
June Good 20° - 27° 24° 205 mm overcast 82% 2.2 m/s 1.9 very high 11.9h
July Good 20° - 27° 23° 207 mm overcast 83% 2.3 m/s 2.0 very high 11.9h
August Very Good 20° - 27° 23° 150 mm partly cloudy 81% 2.5 m/s 2.2 extreme 12.0h
September Very Good 20° - 28° 24° 116 mm partly cloudy 80% 2.2 m/s 2.4 extreme 12.0h
October Very Good 20° - 28° 24° 80 mm partly cloudy 76% 2.4 m/s 2.5 extreme 12.0h
November Very Good 21° - 29° 25° 114 mm partly cloudy 76% 2.0 m/s 2.4 extreme 12.1h
December Good 21° - 29° 25° 156 mm overcast 80% 2.2 m/s 2.3 extreme 12.1h