Prices are per person and in USD based on 2 persons sharing a cabin.
Exact pricing is available on the schedule here as prices vary dependant on the time year, destination and the length of the trip and sometimes special offers are available.

The trip price includes :

Full board accommodation
Diving (up to 4 dives per day). As a general rule there is one dive on arrival day (check dive) and no diving on departure day.
Dive Guide.
Dive on last day depending on flight.
Missed dives cannot be claimed for a reimbursement.
Land and/or shore excursions according to Manta Mae program/itinerary
Snacks, soft drinks, water, tea, coffee, espresso
Weights and weight belts
Pick up and drop off to embarkation/disembarkation Hotel or Airport
Government taxes
Administration/port clearance fee
Welcome drink
Laundry (2 pcs/day)
Fishing activity (based on possibility to do in certain areas)
Kayak activity

The trip price does not include :

National Parks Entrance Fees
Fuel Surcharge (up to 5 hours navigation per day no extra fuel surcharge)
Diving Courses ( see price list below)
Diving Gear ( see price list below)
Sea Scooter are subject to surcharge, U$ 25 /hr
International and domestic flight tickets
Hotels and meals before and after the cruise
Beers, Alcoholic drinks and Wine
Diving Insurance (mandatory ). DAN Insurance, Aquamed or similar.
Nitrox
Travel Insurance (recommended)
Souvenirs
Crew gratuities.

Children & Sharing Policy

Children will receive 70% discount below the age of twelve; in shared cabin with parents (only Deluxe and Master Cabin).
Third adult guest will receive 50% discount only in Deluxe and Master Cabin.

Terms and conditions:

Individual bookings:
Booking deposit:
30% of booking is required within 7 days of booking - non refundable
70 % is due to 90 days prior to departure - non refundable.
Balance due 90 days before your trip departure date - non-refundable.
Individual booking made less than 90 days before the departured ate are payable in full at the time of booking.
Cancellation at any stage involves forfeit of monies already payed.

Group charter:

Booking deposit:
10% - within 7 days of booking - non-refundable
Second deposit:
20% 180 days prior to departure - non-refundable
Balance due
90 days before departure - non-refundable

Mantamae accommodates up to 8-12 guests in a sumptuous master cabin, two staterooms – each with individually controlled air-conditioning, comfortable queen-size beds, ample storage space and stunning ensuite bathrooms and a bunk bed cabin with two beds.

The glamorous master suite, two staterooms and bunk cabin have been individually designed by Marco Giovanardi, Mantamae’s Italian owner. Flooded with natural light through windows as well as bathed in the romantic glow of ambient lighting, these private air conditioned retreats feature floors of fossilized wood, coral and shell mosaic panels, and statement Indonesian artefacts. The sublime ensuite bathrooms are lined with labradorite cabochon from Madagascar, and have vanity basin, WC and rainshower. Among the luxuries in each cabin are TV with individual entertainment system, ample storage space, safety box, and top-range beds dressed in finest Egyptian cotton.

DITA is the 23sqm master suite, with bedroom and bathroom. In addition to a supremely comfortable super-king bed, the suite also has its own lounge area with large corner sofa (that can also be set up as an extra bed for up to two additional guests).
SOPHIA and BRIGITTE, the two staterooms, feature queen-size beds with an additional single bed above, Each has a private bathroom.
MARYLIN, on the main deck has bunk beds and a private bathroom – perfect for older kids or friends sharing a cabin.

• 

  Master cabin

• 

  Master cabin

• 

  Brigitte Stateroom

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  Brigitte Stateroom

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  Sophia stateroom

• 

  Sophia Stateroom

• 

  Bunk cabin

• 

  Bathroom

Sample itinerary 8 Days / 7 Nights - North Raja Ampat

Day 1. Sorong – Black Rock
Pick up at the airport of Sorong, Dominik Osok, by our crew for a short transfer to the peer and embarking. As soon as all guests are on board and are holding their welcome drink You will be introduced to the rest of the crew and you will be shown around in order to start feeling at home on the Mantamae, while the boat will sail to Black Rock for the check dive.

Day 2. Penemu – Fam Island
At early morning we’ll arrive to the beautiful Fam Islands to explore by kayak the hidden bays and sheltered blue lagoons and to dive in one of the most beautiful coral gardens in the region. In late afternoon we will take a sunset hike where you can reach the highest point on one of the islands and admire the panoramic views of this iconic place.
Different dive sites can be chosen, Melisa’s garden, famous for its extensive hard coral reefs as well as Galaxy, a large reef with lot of marine life, or My Reef, very impressive with strong current. Early morning we’ll set up sails to Wayag Island.

Day 3 – 4 Kawe – Wayag
One of the closest island to the Equator in Raja Ampat, Kawe offers spectacular white sand beaches and beautiful scenery including a lovely waterfall on the western side of the island. Diving and snorkeling here too where you will find impressive coral formations teeming with schools of fish and sometimes with manta rays. Eagle Rock one and two, The Meze Equator, One tree Island and Razor Rock are the most beautiful dive site here.
Upon arrival to Wayag archipelago, the jewel of Raja Ampat, you’ll enjoy a day amongst the region’s most iconic scenery and it’s well worth making the effort to climb one of the many island peaks for breathtaking views of the stunning landscapes. Wayag is completely different to what you have seen so far. White beaches with black coral gardens, sweetlips, catfish and different kinds of rays are part of these dives. Rising abruptly from the sea, small groups of uninhabited islands form a spectacular panorama of jagged limestone cliffs that tower over tiny dome-shaped rocks topped with a wild profusion of trees and vines. Dive site profiles in the north are diverse, and range from leisurely swims through lovely hard coral gardens to adrenaline-charged drifts past sloping walls arrayed in Raja Ampat’s signature purple soft corals and glass fish. We’ll dive at Ikan Campur and Magic Rock.
Kayaking along the shoreline of the dramatic limestone islands on sunset will give you a kind of emotions you won’t forget for long time. In the evening we can enjoy cocktails and dinner barbecue on the beach.

Day 5. Pulau Wofoh – Gam Island – Arborek
Wofoh island is perfect place for all kind of water sports and bbq on the beach. Multiple dive sites, offer a mix of hard coral, barrel sponges and soft corals teeming with colorful fishes. You will have the opportunity to see the wobbegong and epaulet sharks, which are unique to this region while the reef here, dressed up in red, it’s is breathtaking scenery.
A birdwatching hike on Gam Island might take you through scenic forests, past fragile orchids growing from cracks in the stone, and finally to the unforgettable experience of witnessing male birds of paradise doing their elaborate courtship dances to attract females.
In the morning we’ll dive at Wofo Tembok, a wall dive, and in the afternoon at Citrus Ridge, and Mayhem or Baracuda in Pulau Yangefo. With good conditions you can expect some of the highest voltage diving in Raja Ampat, with currents bringing massive schools of barracudas, three species of fusiliers, trevallies, batfish, bump head parrotfish, wobbegongs, as well as black and white tip reef sharks. Late afternoon Mantamae will continue the journey to Arborek island where we’ll have a night dive.

Day 6. Arborek – Dampier Strait
We can choose some of the most famous dive site in R4 such as Mioskon where you can see Wobbegong Sharks as well as tiny Pontohi Pygmy Seahorses on the coral rocks, or Cape Kri where the steep slope has absolutely everything on display. The coral fields play host to an accent of color, provided by swarms of Fusiliers, Damsels, Surgeons and Anthias. Dogtooth Tuna, Barracuda, Mackerel, Trevallies, Bumphead Parrots, Napoleon Wrasse, some very big groupers as well as Grey Reef, Blacktip Reef and White Tip Reef Sharks are frequently seen patrolling the area. Blu Magic is a dive site where anything can happen….and it usually does! Be ready for an amazing dive here! More often than not, divers are surprised by Blacktip Reef and Grey Reef Sharks, Bumphead Parrots, Giant Trevally, Barracuda, Dogtooth Tuna, Rainbow Runners and even huge oceanic Mantas.

Day 7. Dampier Strait
As you’ll fly the next day we will be able to perform only one dive to be chosen between the Passage or Batu Lima or we can choose to sail to the jelly fish lake for snorkeling before we start to sail back to Sorong late afternoon.
The Passage The narrow gap between Waigeo and Gam Islands offer a true spectacle that has to be seen to be believed! Reaching the narrowest point of only 20m, this is where ocean meets jungle You can fly in the ever present current, looking for Bumphead Parrots, Barracuda, Turtles or you can seek shelter in the many bays, looking for dwarf cuttlefish, stonefish and the ever dancing juvenile Barramundi. Batu Lima While following the slope you will be amazed at the scores of Fusiliers, Triggerfish, Unicorn Fish and Black Tip Reef Sharks frequenting this astonishing site. As you ascend at the end of your dive, you may encounter countless hunting Trevallies in the shallows, as we take you through the canyons that separate these rocks. An ever-changing dive, where nothing can be predicted!

Day 8. Sorong – Departure day.

Sample itinerary 8 Days / 7 Nights – South Raja Ampat

Day 1. Arrival at Sorong
Pick up at the airport of Sorong, Dominik Osok, by our crew for a short transfer to the peer and embarking. As soon as all guests are on board and are holding their welcome drink You will be introduced to the rest of the crew and you will be shown around in order to start feeling at home on the Mantamae, while the boat will sail strait to Misool, one of the best dive site of the world. On the way to Misol we’ll stop at Pulau Matan for a check dive.

Day 2 – 7 Misool a diving Paradise
After sailing for about 10 hours we’ll arrive at Misool and we’ll decide where to dive day by day depending the weather and sea conditions and, of course, following your desires. The island of Misool has some of the best diving in Raja Ampat, with several reefs that can be considered the best in the world! A labyrinth of thousands of small mushroom shape islands form tiny dots of lagoons with sparking white sand surrounded by extensive formations that make the Misool one of the most wonderful places on Earth. The land scenery will take your breath away as well as the underwater scenery that holds some of the richest wildlife in the world.
There are three main areas of interest for diving in Misool – the Sagof – Daram, the Southern Archipelagos in the south-east corner of Misool and the Blue Water Mangroves near the western tip of the main island.
In Daram we’ll dive at Andiamo which is a large, stunning reef with a submerged pinnacle covered in sea fans surrounded by schools of fusiliers and bat fish, black tip reef sharks and napoleon wrasse. Candy Store dive site, is covered with huge sponges, beautiful soft corals and sea fans. In the valleys, schools of fusiliers, butterfly fish and barracuda, while at Andy’s Ultimate there is a valley which boils with fish when the current is running.
In Warakaratet area at Magic Mountain there are two cleaning manta stations on the same dive site, one at 25 meters and one right at the top at seven meters. It is one of the only places in the world where you can see oceanic mantas as well as reef mantas interacting. Magic Mountain is also a nursery for White Tip Reef Sharks and a love nest for Napoleon Wrasse. Boo Rock is known for the “windows” on the end of the largest rock that completely pierce the reef from the surface down to five meters deep. Here you can see an incredible variety of fishes, gorgonians, Barrel sponges, Commensal shrimps, a wide variety of Nudibranchs, Octopus and Green Turtles, patrolling sharks as well as Wobbegong Shark. Nudi Rock is a small island in the Fiabacet chain, crowded with larger pelagics like Barracuda, Big Eyed Travelly, and Grey Reef Shark, with a wide range of flamboyant nudibranchs lurking among the abundant soft corals and sea fans well populated by pygmy seahorses and cowries. In Wayilbatan area at Neptune dive site, schools of batfish, trevallies, barracuda and pygmy seahorses congregate amongst the most spectacular hidden lagoons in the region.
This site has sheer walls paved with very colorful sea fans, some of which host tiny seahorses, Hippocampus Barbiganti. Four Kings dive site is made up of four underwater pinnacles covered in soft coral and colorful tunicates, with many turtles. Close to 4 Kings we can dive at Orange Peel where we’ll see a fantastic orange wall with a coral garden. Dunia Kecil is a superb dive site to spot for pygmy seahorses and “lady bugs”. Hawksbill turtles, crocodile fish, barramundi cod and juvenile cuttlefish are amongst the other marine creatures that can all be found here. ‘Kaleidoscope’ is one of the best dive sites in the world, loping down from the limestone island of Jef Pele, on one side you will find an amazingly beautiful coral covered wall, with tons of fish, and on the other side is a picture perfect slope. Between the two there is a great dividing lip, where large pelagic species feast in front of you as you hang on to your reef hook through the prevailing currents. Another great dive site of this area is‘Turbine’.
Farondi area has an unique and distinctive landscape: tunnels, caverns, and colorful walls. It highlights three famous dive spots, Goa Besar, Razonback rock and Three sisters. Goa Besar consists of superficial shelved gardens of yellow-colored soft corals, wall tops blanketed with plate corals, leather corals, yellow and purple sea squirts, and rounded hollows filled with coral shrubberies, sponges and red ornamental ghost pipefish. Three Sisters are three great dive sites paved with life, as the channels between them. Wolbolol offers multiple dive sites: Portion nine, No contest and The platau where you’ll see schools of barracuda and jacks, snappers and bump head parrotfishes all over around the pinnacles.

Day 8. Sorong departure day.

Sample itinerary 12 Days / 11 Nights – North & South Raja Ampat

Day 1. Arrival at Sorong
Pick up at the airport of Sorong, Dominik Osok, by our crew for a short transfer to the peer and embarking. As soon as all guests are on board and are holding their welcome drink You will be introduced to the rest of the crew and you will be shown around in order to start feeling at home on the Mantamae, while the boat will sail strait to one of the best dive site of the world At South East of Misol Island. On the way to Misol we’ll stop at Pulau Matan for a check dive.

Day 2 – 6 Misool a diving Paradise
After sailing for about 10 hours we’ll arrive at Misool and we’ll decide where to dive day by day depending the weather and sea conditions and, of course, following your desires. The island of Misool has some of the best diving in Raja Ampat, with several reefs that can be considered the best in the world! A labyrinth of thousands of small mushroom shape islands form tiny dots of lagoons with sparking white sand surrounded by extensive formations that make the Misool one of the most wonderful places on Earth. The land scenery will take your breath away as well as the underwater scenery that holds some of the richest wildlife in the world.
There are three main areas of interest for diving in Misool – the Sagof-Daram, the Southern Archipelagos in the south-east corner of Misool and the Blue Water Mangroves near the western tip of the main island.
In Daram we’ll dive at Andiamo which is a large, stunning reef with a submerged pinnacle covered in sea fans surrounded by schools of fusiliers and bat fish, black tip reef sharks and napoleon wrasse. Candy Store dive site, is covered with huge sponges, beautiful soft corals and sea fans. In the valleys, schools of fusiliers, butterfly fish and barracuda, while at Andy’s Ultimate there is a valley which boils with fish when the current is running.

In Warakaratet area at Magic Mountain there are two cleaning manta stations on the same dive site, one at 25 meters and one right at the top at seven meters. It is one of the only places in the world where you can see oceanic mantas as well as reef mantas interacting. Magic Mountain is also a nursery for White Tip Reef Sharks and a love nest for Napoleon Wrasse. Boo Rock is known for the “windows” on the end of the largest rock that completely pierce the reef from the surface down to five meters deep. Here you can see an incredible variety of fishes, gorgonians, Barrel sponges, Commensal shrimps,a wide variety of Nudibranchs, Octopus and Green Turtles, patrolling sharks as well as Wobbegong Shark. Nudi Rock is a small island in the Fiabacet chain, crowded with larger pelagics like Barracuda, Big Eyed Travelly, and Grey Reef Shark, with a wide range of flamboyant nudibranchs lurking among the abundant soft corals and sea fans well populated by pygmy seahorses and cowries. In Wayilbatan area at Neptune dive site, schools of batfish, trevallies, barracuda and pygmy seahorses congregate amongst the most spectacular hidden lagoons in the region. This site has sheer walls paved with very colorful sea fans, some of which host tiny seahorses, Hippocampus Barbiganti.
Four Kings dive site is made up of four underwater pinnacles covered in soft coral and colorful tunicates, with many turtles. Close to 4 Kings we can dive at Orange Peel where we’ll see a fantastic orange wall with a coral garden. Dunia Kecil is a superb dive site to spot for pygmy seahorses and “lady bugs”. Hawksbill turtles, crocodile fish, barramundi cod and juvenile cuttlefish are amongst the other marine creatures that can all be found here. ‘Kaleidoscope’ is one of the best dive sites in the world, loping down from the limestone island of Jef Pele, on one side you will find an amazingly beautiful coral covered wall, with tons of fish, and on the other side is a picture perfect slope. Between the two there is a great dividing lip, where large pelagic species feast in front of you as you hang on to your reef hook through the prevailing currents. Another great dive site of this area is‘Turbine’.
Farondi area has an unique and distinctive landscape: tunnels, caverns, and colorful walls. It highlights three famous dive spots, Goa Besar, Razonback rock and Three sisters. Goa Besar consists of superficial shelved gardens of yellow-colored soft corals, wall tops blanketed with plate corals, leather corals, yellow and purple sea squirts, and rounded hollows filled with coral shrubberies, sponges and red ornamental ghost pipefish. Three Sisters are three great dive sites paved with life, as the channels between them. Wolbolol offers multiple dive sites: Portion nine, No contest and The platau where you’ll see schools of barracuda and jacks, snappers and bump head parrotfishes all over around the pinnacles.

Day 7. Penemu – Fam Island
At early morning we’ll arrive to the beautiful Fam Islands to enjoy the hidden bays and sheltered blue lagoons. Explore by kayak or dive to see some of the most beautiful coral gardens in the region. In late afternoon we will take a sunset hike where you can reach the highest point on one of the islands and admire the panoramic views of this iconic place.
Different dive sites can be chosen, Melisa’s garden, famous for its extensive hard coral reefs as well as Galaxy, a large reef with lot of marine life, or My Reef, very impressive with strong current. During the night we’ll set up sails to Wayag Island.

Day 8. Wayag
Upon arrival at sunrise to Wayag archipelago, the jewel of Raja Ampat, you’ll enjoy a day amongst the region’s most iconic scenery and it’s well worth making the effort to climb one of the many island peaks for breathtaking views of the stunning landscapes. Wayag is completely different to what you have seen so far. White beaches with black coral gardens, sweetlips, catfish and different kinds of rays are part of these dives. Rising abruptly from the sea, small groups of uninhabited islands form a spectacular panorama of jagged limestone cliffs that tower over tiny dome- shaped rocks topped with a wild profusion of trees and vines. Dive site profiles in the north are diverse, and range from leisurely swims through lovely hard coral gardens to adrenaline-charged drifts past sloping walls arrayed in Raja Ampat’s signature purple soft corals and glass fish. We’ll dive at Ikan Campur and Magic Rock.
Kayaking along the shoreline of the dramatic limestone islands on sunset will give you a kind of emotions you won’t forget for long time. In the evening we can enjoy cocktails and dinner barbecue on the beach.

Day 9. Kawe
One of the closest islands to the Equator in Raja Ampat, Kawe Island offers spectacular white sand beaches and beautiful scenery including a lovely waterfall on the western side of the island. There are fantastic opportunities for diving and snorkeling here too where you will find impressive coral formations teeming with schools of fish. You may even be lucky enough to swim with manta rays. Eagle Rock one and two, The Meze Equator, One tree Island and Razor Rock are the most beautiful dive site here.

Day 10. Pulau Wofoh – Gam Island – Arborek
Wofoh island is perfect place for all kind of water sport and bbq on the beach. Multiple dive sites, offer a mix of hard coral, barrel sponges and soft corals teeming with colorful fish and You will have the opportunity to see the Wobbegong and Epaulet sharks, which are unique to this region. The reef, which seems as if it dressed up in red is breathtaking scenery.
A birdwatching hike on Gam Island might take you through scenic forests, past fragile orchids growing from cracks in the stone, and finally to the unforgettable experience of witnessing male birds of paradise doing their elaborate courtship dances to attract females.
In the morning you will dive at Wofoh Tembok (a wall dive) and in the afternoon at Citrus Ridge, and Mayhem or Barracuda in Pulau Yangefo. In the right conditions you can expect some of the highest voltage diving in Raja Ampat, with currents bringing massive schools of barracudas, three species of fusiliers, trevallies, batfish, bump head parrotfish, Wobbegongs, as well as black and white tip reef sharks.
Mantamae will continue the journey to Arborek island where we’ll have a night dive.

Day 11. Arborek – Dampier Strait
As you’ll have to fly the next day, we can choose only two dives, Mioskon where you can see Wobbegong Sharks as well as tiny Pontohi Pygmy Seahorses on the coral rocks, or Cape Kri where the steep slope has absolutely everything on display. The coral fields play host to an accent of color, provided by swarms of Fusiliers, Damsels, Surgeons and Anthias. Dogtooth Tuna, Barracuda, Mackerel, Trevallies, Bumphead Parrots, Napoleon Wrasse, some very big groupers as well as Grey Reef, Blacktip Reef and White Tip Reef Sharks are frequently seen patrolling the area. Blu Magic is a dive site where anything can happen….and it usually does! Be ready for an amazing dive here! More often than not, divers are surprised by Blacktip Reef and Grey Reef Sharks, Bumphead Parrots, Giant Trevally, Barracuda, Dogtooth Tuna, Rainbow Runners and even huge oceanic Mantas.

Day 12. Sorong – Departure day.

How to get to Raja Ampat

Sorong is the harbour town in West Papua and the normal departure point to dive Raja Ampat.
If you are unsure of how to get to Sorong to start your trip it will depend on where your international flight into Indonesia is landing.
We recommend flying to Jakarta or Bali to make your entry point into Indonesia and each has it’s pros and cons as explained below.

From Jakarta to Sorong with Garuda air is an over night flight arriving in the morning perfect for a pick up by your liveaboard crew at the airport.
The downside of this is that you may be awake most of the night before your board the liveaboard depending on if you sleep on flights but most boats cruise only on the first day so you can catch up on your sleep during the day.
Garuda currenlty also offers a 23K sports bag allowance which includes diving equipment on top of the usual 20 Kilos and bearing in mind it is Indonesia’s most reliable airline this is the one we recommend as you can also purchase the tickets yourself
(most other Indonesian airlines won’t let you purchase tickets without an Indonesia creit card).

Garuda JAKARTA - SORONG GA682 etd 00.30am eta 06.35am direct.

Flights from Bali to Sorong are not quite so simple and cannot be done in one day, you will need to fly from DPS (Bali) to UPG (Makassar) the day before your liveaboard and stay over night in Makassar in a hotel or guesthouse and then continue on with the UPG (Makassar) to SOQ (Sorong) flight the following morning, arriving the day of your liveaboard departure.
This ends up being perfect timing to be picked up on your arrival in Sorong at the airport to then be taken to the boat.
This takes longer but you might arrive more refreshed than the Jakarta rooute and of course you could always factor in a stay in Bali before or after your trip, this flight is also by Garuda airlines.
DENPASAR - MAKASSAR Garuda Indonesia GA620 etd 1720 eta 1855
MAKASSAR - SORONG Garuda Indonesia GA698 etd 0330 eta 0645

Recently Garuda, our recommended airline, has made it possible to purchase their tickets online and we recommend you take this approach as it is often cheaper than the set price we have to charge using other airlines and Indonesian flight agents.
Other airlines are cheaper but are not so trustworthy or have such good luggage allowances.
Again, we highly recommend TRIP and BAGGAGE insurance as well as diving insurance just in case something were to go wrong with your flights or luggage.

It is also possible to come throught Kuala Lumpur (KUL) in Malaysia to Denpasar (DPS) in Bali or Jakarta (JKT) with Malaysian Airlines and then join one of the above 2 options above to get to Sorong, here are the flights from KUL to Jakarta and Bali

by Malaysia Airlines
KUALA LUMPUR - DENPASAR MH715 etd 0900 eta 1205
KUALA LUMPUR - DENPASAR MH851 etd 1225 eta 1530
KUALA LUMPUR - DENPASAR MH853 etd 1500 eta 1830

KUALA LUMPUR - JAKARTA MH713 etd 0720 eta 0830
KUALA LUMPUR - JAKARTA MH711 etd 0855 eta 1015
KUALA LUMPUR - JAKARTA MH717 etd 1000 eta 1120
KUALA LUMPUR - JAKARTA MH721 etd 1345 eta 1505
KUALA LUMPUR - JAKARTA MH723 etd 1610 eta 1735
KUALA LUMPUR - JAKARTA MH725 etd 1750 eta 1905
KUALA LUMPUR - JAKARTA MH727 etd 2150 eta 2305

Premier liveaboard diving and its local flight agent can purchase the tickets on your behalf, however, in doing so, Premier liveaboard diving is only acting as an agent for the airline and is not responsible for, and can accept no responsibility for, cancellations, delays, schedule changes, or problems caused by the air carrier.
We highly recommend trip interruption and cancellation insurance.

TECHINICAL DATA

Registered :Indonesia
Style :Phinisi
Built :Bira, South SulawesiOct. 2011-Apr. 2014by Haji Baso
Type :Wooden hulled schooner
Flag :Indonesian
Length over all :100 feet (30,50metres)
Beam :21,9 feet (6,67metres)
Draft :8,83 feet (2,69 meters)
Total displacement :120tons
Main engine :Mitsubishi 8 DC9-Twin Turbo 350 HP
Fuel capacity :7,000 litres
Desalinator production :6,000 litres per day
Sails :2 masts, 7 sails -450 sqm sails area
Cruising speed :8 knots
Gensets :2 x Mitsubishi 62.5 KV , 1 Caterpillar x 12,5 KV
Tender :1 RIB length 5.2 m outboard engine 100 HP
1 RIB length 4,0 m outboard engine 25 HP
Communication :VHF –Icom M304 & Samyang
Satellite phone-Byru Marine, PC comp electric chart
Navigations :Radar Furuno 1715 –20 nm, GPS-Furuno GP32
Echo sounder Furuno FC620, Echo pilot 3D
Internet :Trackphone Satellite Broadband
Range :1.000nm
Fuel :7.000 litres Diesel –1.000 litres petrol
Water supply :Desalinate unite 6000 litres/day
Diving equip :Nitrox GX4FF-Atlas Copco, 12 tanks x 15 lt, 6 tanks x 20 litres
Compressors :2 x CAT 9 compressors
Water sports :Fishing equipment, 4 kayaks, water ski, body boards, Jet ski,4 underwater scooters
Passenger :Cruising 12
Special Events :40 guests
Crew :9
Dive Instructor :1
Dive Master :1

Raja Ampat diving

All our boats run fantastic Raja Ampat liveaboards of varying length visiting all the best places each with their own unique itinerary and features.
They are all different prices dependant on the length of the trip and standard of the liveaboard.
All our boats are liveaboards for people enthusiastic or serious about their diving but also welcome snorkellers and non-divers who will have their own separate itinerary." author: "Raja Ampat liveaboard

Raja Ampat (or the Four Kings) is an archipelago consisting of the islands of Misoool, Salawati, Batanta, and Wiageo which are surrounded by over 1,500 small islands and cays. Formerly known as Irian Jaya, this area is now part of the newly named West Papua province of Indonesia and is located on the northwest tip of Bird’s Head Peninsula, on the island of New Guinea.

Put simply, Raja Ampat could quite possibly be the best diving in the world. It certainly is the world’s most bio diverse marine region with more recorded fish, coral and mollusc species than anywhere else on Earth. The variety of marine life can be staggering. Some areas boast enormous schools of fish and regular sightings of sharks, such as wobbegongs. In Mansuar, you may encounter large groups of manta rays and turtles. From the boat and often close to shore you may get the chance to don your snorkelling gear for some unforgettable interaction with resident pods of dolphins or even some passing whales. Other highlights include the innumerable war wrecks, both ships and planes (with new wrecks being discovered constantly).

The reefs of Raja Ampat are just as varied as the marine life. There are vertical walls, reef flats, slopes, sea mounts, mucky mangroves, lagoons and pinnacles. The reefs are in pristine condition with miles of perfect hard corals and many varied colourful species of soft corals. The diving is predominantly drift dives due to the moderate prevalent currents in the area which provide nutrients for the myriad fish and coral. Currents are average to moderate and vary from none to very strong. Visibility is normally very good but can vary and is normally at its best earlier in the day so your pre-breakfast dives are not to be slept through!

This is truly “Frontier Diving”. Topside the beautiful islands stretch as far as you can see and are largely uninhabited. At night the lights of local fishing boats twinkle in the dark along the few inhabited shorelines while in more remote areas you may only see a distant spec of light over the entire horizon.

Not many liveaboards dive the Raja Ampat area, making this adventure even more unique and special.

Raja Ampat has a high season from October to May and weirdly enough it is during their rainy season due to the winds in the dry season making parts of the park inaccessable. The rainy season should not be mis-construed though. It is generally mostly a shower in the late afternoon and evening and most of the time the days are nice, wind is minimal and the skys are generally clear or slightly over cast. The seas are calmer at this time of the year as the oppposite season has winds that kick up waves and make it very difficult to dive the more exposed sites in the Southern part of Raja Ampat. The water temperature stays around the 27-30 degrees celcius mark all year round.

Recently due to the popularity of Raja Ampat a lot of boats have been running trips in the so called low season but this is also the dry season and so promotes nicer weather and better visibility but the trade of is that only the northern more sheltered part of the park is accessable but as the area is so vast and there are so many quality dive sites the reports from these northern trips have been glowing so far.

Komodo diving

Diving in Komodo is not a new idea but recently it’s being recognised as a premier destination due to the awesome variety of diving to be had. Crystal clear water and dive sites where you never see another diver provide a little something for everyone whether it’s macro or massive you love. One day you can be crawling along the bottom looking at pygmy seahorses, frogfish and unusual nudibranch and the next you are in the big blue on an open water pinnacle as the mantas fly by, the sharks circle and the dolphins hunt and the next day diving a live volcano!! For sheer variety there is no better place on earth.

Komodo is one of the few places left in the world where sharks are not rare and down south is one of the places where manta rays have their legendary aggregations, meaning they are here in the area in their hundreds!!!

One of the highlights of these trips is the rare opportunity to walk with the lengendary Komodo dragons. These truly awesome beasts can reach 3 metres plus and can reportedly run at 20km an hour chasing their prey. It’s the icing on the cake, Stunning diving and one of the world’s last surviving dinosaur descendants all one amazing package.

Covering the best of both worlds, from up close and personal with aggragating mantas to shy pygmy seahorses and rare nudibranches Komodo diving has it all. The beauty of Komodo liveaboard diving is in the balance between the large and small animals. One day you will be in the blue swimming with mantas and sharks and the next swimming along a bubbling volcanic reef covered with venting submerged fumeroles blowing bubbles into the water and hiding one of the worlds best kept secret macro dive sites.

In North Komodo the water temperature is normally 27-29°C. Around Southern Komodo and Rinca Islands the water temperature drops can drop a bit to 22-26°C. A 5mm long suit is advised and hood and booties are strongly recommended for the southern area.

These are some of the top sites that most liveaboards visit.

Angel reef, Moyo, Sumbawa diving

We start our Komodo liveaboard with the first dive of the trip and the check out dive. This dive site doesn’t disappoint. A beautiful wall stretching down to 50 metres covered in hard and soft corals very reminiscent of Bunaken in North Sulawesi. Schools of bannerfish and trevally patrol the walls with the occasional reef sharks making an appearance. Ribbon eels hide in crevices and many different nudibranchs crawl over the vast elephant ear sponges that hang from the beautiful soft coral infested wall.

Satonda island bay

A protected bay on Satonda island north of Sumbawa hosts a treasure trove of macro critters, the more we dive here the more we find. The rare Denise pygmy seahorse lives in fans here, frogfish hang out in big barrel sponges and ghost pipefish hide amongst the featherstars that cover the reef slope. In the sandy bottom you can find jawfish with their mouths full of eggs, myriads of anemonefish, mushroom coral pipefish and spearer mantis shrimps.

Sangeang island diving

Sangieng island is a perfectly round volcanic island jutting up from the sea bed. Still active and last blowing in 1996 this well kept secret is one of the world’s finest macro dive areas. With diving available all around the island there is not one specific spot but always new ones to be discovered. Bubbles of volcanic gas seep through the sand creating a surreal atmosphere and a warm black sand bottom hosting rare and unusual nudibranch. Pygmy seahorses, frogfish, Pegasus sea moths and carnivorous shells and all common here, this is my personal favourite dive site as every time we dive here there is a surprise in store of something new that is often not in the books - this site is why you go Komodo liveaboard diving.

Gps point - Gili Banta diving

Gps point is an open sea mount prone to strong currents at certain times of the day. This provides prolific hard and soft coral growth that is home to hundreds of different types of reef fish. Loved by sharks, white tip sharks cruise around the whole dive in amongst the hunting giant trevallies and schooling jacks and surgeon fish, an exciting dive.

Takat Toko, Gili Lawalaut diving

This is one of my favourite sites on the Komodo liveaboard itinerary and is very similar to Gps point this site takes it to the next level. Grey reef shark, white tip sharks, occassional dolphins and a literal fish soup created by jacks, surgeonfish, giant trevallies and bannerfish surround this large sea mount as you hang on to the reef edge and watch the action. Again this site is prone to strong currents but we time our dives to hit around slack tide and a little current brings in the big fish. Great pelagic action, my favourite blue water dive.

Lighthouse reef, Gili Lawalaut diving

An adrenalin pounding drift dive along the wall and around the corner under the lighthouse. Sharks, mantas, dolphins are all frequent visitors on the dive with some of the best coral reef top in the area around the corner out of the current at the end of the dive you can hunt for porcelain crabs, cuttlefish and unusual seahorses whilst waiting for the adrenalin to funnel out of your system and your heart rate to return to normal-this is what Komodo liveaboard diving is all about!.

Crystal rock, Gili Lawalaut diving

A stunning soft coral and sea fan covered pinnacle with crystal water clarity this is a great site for those magazine cover wide angle shots. With at least 5 different types of angelfish, 4 types of trigger and butterflyfish everywhere it is a excellent reef fish dive with frequent visits from eagle and manta rays and the resident sleepy hawksbill turtle.

Pink beach, Komodo diving

Colder water and lower vis here due to the huge amounts of organic matter in the water due to the southern currents but this is more than made up for by the astounding life available to see here due to this phenomenon. Normally done as a night dive it also makes a good day dive with everything from white tip sharks to pygmy seahorses; zebra crabs, Coleman shrimp, many coloured frogfish, xeno crabs, Spanish dancers, and unusual nudibranchs are hidden amongst the dense coral growth.

Cannibal rock, Rinca island diving

Colder water than the north but touted by many as one of the worlds best 10 sites, yes I know there seems to be way more than 10 “top 10 sites” but this one really is one if you like macro. Everything is here even the rarest of the rare, the Rhinopias scorpionfish. It’s nudi heaven with only the special and the rare getting to appear here, more species than I care to mention along with large and different frogfish mixed in with schools of fish and the resident dopy turtle we do 2 dives here and it’s still not enough!! You will love it, I personally adore this dive site.

Torpedo alley, Rinca island diving

Just next to cannibal rock and where the boat moors is a beach that has wild pigs, monkeys and Komodo dragons in the daytime and hosts a myriad of critters in the waters in front if it at night. Named for the large amount of torpedo rays found here, a member of the electric ray family- no touching! They cover the sandy bottom along with loads of nudis obvious on the black sand bottom along with bizarre crabs and octopus.

Manta alley, Komodo diving

In the cooler waters in the south of Komodo there is a bay in which there are a series of pinnacles that seem to be a magnet for aggregating mantas. They are here in their tens, often we come up having seen over 20 different individuals. Often a little shy, their evasive spins and pirouettes makes the watching of them that much more enjoyable.

Takat Makassar, Komodo diving

This is our other manta site. A little bit more of a risk to see them as it is a huge area and we drift along the bottom in about 10 metres but along the way we always run into loads of turtles, napoleon and humphead wrasse, white tip sharks and very very occasionally you will be incredibly lucky and run into the resident dugong that inhabits this area along with scores of mantas as they migrate north.

3 sisters, Padar island diving

A series of underwater pinnacles reaching nearly to the the surface off the coast of Padar island next to Komodo this site constantly springs surprises on you from silvertip sharks and mobular ray schools to marbled rays and rare nudibranchs.

How to get to Raja Ampat

Sorong is the harbour town in West Papua and the normal departure point to dive Raja Ampat.
If you are unsure of how to get to Sorong to start your trip it will depend on where your international flight into Indonesia is landing.
We recommend flying to Jakarta or Bali to make your entry point into Indonesia and each has it’s pros and cons as explained below.

From Jakarta to Sorong with Garuda air is an over night flight arriving in the morning perfect for a pick up by your liveaboard crew at the airport.
The downside of this is that you may be awake most of the night before your board the liveaboard depending on if you sleep on flights but most boats cruise only on the first day so you can catch up on your sleep during the day.
Garuda currenlty also offers a 23K sports bag allowance which includes diving equipment on top of the usual 20 Kilos and bearing in mind it is Indonesia’s most reliable airline this is the one we recommend as you can also purchase the tickets yourself
(most other Indonesian airlines won’t let you purchase tickets without an Indonesia creit card).

Garuda JAKARTA - SORONG GA682 etd 00.30am eta 06.35am direct.

Flights from Bali to Sorong are not quite so simple and cannot be done in one day, you will need to fly from DPS (Bali) to UPG (Makassar) the day before your liveaboard and stay over night in Makassar in a hotel or guesthouse and then continue on with the UPG (Makassar) to SOQ (Sorong) flight the following morning, arriving the day of your liveaboard departure.
This ends up being perfect timing to be picked up on your arrival in Sorong at the airport to then be taken to the boat.
This takes longer but you might arrive more refreshed than the Jakarta rooute and of course you could always factor in a stay in Bali before or after your trip, this flight is also by Garuda airlines.
DENPASAR - MAKASSAR Garuda Indonesia GA620 etd 1720 eta 1855
MAKASSAR - SORONG Garuda Indonesia GA698 etd 0330 eta 0645

Recently Garuda, our recommended airline, has made it possible to purchase their tickets online and we recommend you take this approach as it is often cheaper than the set price we have to charge using other airlines and Indonesian flight agents.
Other airlines are cheaper but are not so trustworthy or have such good luggage allowances.
Again, we highly recommend TRIP and BAGGAGE insurance as well as diving insurance just in case something were to go wrong with your flights or luggage.

It is also possible to come throught Kuala Lumpur (KUL) in Malaysia to Denpasar (DPS) in Bali or Jakarta (JKT) with Malaysian Airlines and then join one of the above 2 options above to get to Sorong, here are the flights from KUL to Jakarta and Bali

by Malaysia Airlines
KUALA LUMPUR - DENPASAR MH715 etd 0900 eta 1205
KUALA LUMPUR - DENPASAR MH851 etd 1225 eta 1530
KUALA LUMPUR - DENPASAR MH853 etd 1500 eta 1830

KUALA LUMPUR - JAKARTA MH713 etd 0720 eta 0830
KUALA LUMPUR - JAKARTA MH711 etd 0855 eta 1015
KUALA LUMPUR - JAKARTA MH717 etd 1000 eta 1120
KUALA LUMPUR - JAKARTA MH721 etd 1345 eta 1505
KUALA LUMPUR - JAKARTA MH723 etd 1610 eta 1735
KUALA LUMPUR - JAKARTA MH725 etd 1750 eta 1905
KUALA LUMPUR - JAKARTA MH727 etd 2150 eta 2305

Premier liveaboard diving and its local flight agent can purchase the tickets on your behalf, however, in doing so, Premier liveaboard diving is only acting as an agent for the airline and is not responsible for, and can accept no responsibility for, cancellations, delays, schedule changes, or problems caused by the air carrier.
We highly recommend trip interruption and cancellation insurance.

Please note these are generic FAQs about Indonesia in general and not always boat specific.
If you are unsure about something please ask us to get confirmation.

What documents will I need to show on the boat?

Dive certification cards and dive logbook.

What money will I need?

Most boats accepts payment by Visa or Mastercard, Indonesian Rupiah, Euro or US Dollar. Please be advised that foreign notes should be clean, new and crisp. Indonesian banks and money changers will not accept old notes or notes which are damaged in any way. You can also use your credit or debit card at ATM machines in towns prior to boarding the boat to withdraw Rupiah, which is better should you wish to purchase local souvenirs or for tips. It is advisable to inform your bank or credit card company that you will be visiting Indonesia prior to your departure, as it is not uncommon for the bank to put a block on the card if they suspect it has been misappropriated.

What type of food is available on board?

Meals are prepared by the onboard chef and consist of a delicious mix of international and local dishes. Please advise us as soon as possible if you have any special dietary requirements. Certain special dietary requests and beverage requests may not be available on a consistent basis due to the remote nature of the locations.

Will there be any opportunities to go ashore during the cruise?

There are many different land excursions which are dependent on the schedule and guest preferences. Some land excursions available are beach visits, village visit and other treks dependant on the area, weather and local conditions.

What if I am prone to sea sickness?

If you are prone to sea sickness we strongly urge you to bring some motion sickness medication.

Will I have to share a cabin if I am travelling as a single?

All rates are quoted on a share basis therefore, unless you require a guaranteed single room and pay an additional supplement you will share your cabin with one other guest.

What is the voltage on the boat?

Voltage in Indonesia is 220-240 V.
If you feel you will need an adaptor please bring one.

Does the boat provide any toiletries?

There is soap, shampoo, hand wash and towels.

What time zone is Indonesia located?

Komodo, Flores, Derawan and Sangalaki, Kaimantan and Sulawesi are 8 hours ahead of GMT. Raja Ampat is covered by Eastern Indonesia Standard Time which is 9 hours ahead of GMT.

Is smoking permitted?

A designated area on the boat is available for smoking.
Smoking is not permitted in any other area for any reason.

What about crew gratuities?

Gratuities for the crew are not included in your trip price. If the crew performs to your expectations, we suggest a gratuity of approximately 5-10% of the published package price per person be considered normal aboard a liveaboard dive boat.
All tips are generally split equally among the boat crew. Personal tipping is frowned upon. Payment of gratuities can be by cash or credit card.

Diving Information

Do I need evacuation/dive insurance?

It is mandatory that each guest purchase comprehensive evacuation and dive accident insurance.
The boat will be operating in extremely remote areas. Emergency evacuations from remote locations can cost in excess of USD $100,000.
We recommend Divers Alert Network (DAN): www.DiversAlertNetwork.org (in USA), www.daneurope.org (in Europe).

How many dives will we do each day?

There will be up to 4 dives per day with 3-4 dives being normal dependant on the distances travelled between sites and possibly at nightime but this is dpeendant on the boat and route being taken.

Are there any limitations or restrictions on the diving?

You should stay within the limits and standards of your qualifying agency.
All dives should be no- decompression dives. Solo diving is not permitted.

What dive equipment do I need?

Tanks, weights and weight belts are provided onboard. Divers will need to bring BCD, regulator, wetsuit,fins, mask, snorkel and dive light.
Rental equipment is available and will need to be ordered in advance.

What can I expect the water temperature to be and what wetsuit do you recommend?

This is always a difficult question to answer because people have different reactions to temperature.
Typically temperatures range from 25-30C or 80-86F so usually a 3mm suit or even a skin is fine. The southern waters of Komodo can be colder with 20-25C or 70-75F so a 5mm suit with a hood is recommended.

Do you have Int or DIN valves?

We have tanks with Int and DIN valve adaptors.

How do we dive from the boat?

All dives will be made from the tenders. Equipment will be transferred to the tenders and guests will board the tender with only their wetsuit on.

Can I drink alcohol and dive?

No. Drinking alcohol and diving can increase your risk of decompression problems.
You can drink alcohol once your have completed your last dive of the day.

Can I fish or spear fish?

Fishing and spear fishing are not available onboard. We will be diving in marine protected areas where any type of fishing is prohibited.

What facilities are available for photographers?

There are ample camera tables and cubby holes with charging stations with 110V and 220V above your dive gear.
There are ‘camera only’ rinse buckets for the exclusive use of photographers onboard.

Can I pay by Credit card on board?

For most things yes you can but there is a bank charge of 3%, normal in Indonesia. Please check with us beforehand about this.

Visibility:

Depending on the season the visibility range is between 10-40 metres or 30-120 feet.

Current:

All diving areas are subject to currents that range from slight to extremely strong.
Dive sites are selected according to currents with some great year round drift diving opportunities.

Night diving:

An opportunity to see some of the world’s most unique marine species that emerge only after the sun has set.

Marine life:

The areas where you will dive are unmatched for small and unusual marine wildlife. The species list is endless and new ones are still being discovered in these areas.

Climate:

The average air temperature in the regions you will visit ranges from 25 - 35 Celsius or 77-90 Fahrenheit.

Health and innoculations:

Vaccinations for typhoid, paratyphoid, tetanus, Cholera, Polio, and Hepatitis A are recommended but not mandatory.
Malaria is endemic in many parts of Indonesia, please check with your local Tropical Disease Centre for anti-malaria/diver friendly medication.

Money:

The Indonesian currency is Rupiah. Rates fluctuate enormously, please check with our cruise directors for your cruise exchange rates.

Population and people:

Regarded as the fifth most populous nation in the world, there are approximately 200,000,000 in Indonesia. The majority, around 60% reside on the island of Java.

Religion:

An amazing diversity of religions exists. Predominantly a Muslim nation, islands like Timor, North Sulawesi and Flores are Christian.
Hinduism is found mainly in Bali.
Scattered throughout the region are a variety of other beliefs.

Language:

Bahasa Indonesia, almost identical to Malay is the one national language.
Several local dialects exist in each region as well. English is widely spoken in the more popular tourist destinations such as Bali.

Diving Indonesia

Out of 14,000+ islands in the archipelago, there are a plethora of exclusive dive locations in Indonesia, boasting up to 80% of the worlds species of undersea life. With Indocruises we take you to pristine spots not that known in your average dive travel guide and which are still being explored.

Dive conditions in Indonesia

• Diving all year around is possible.
• Watertemperature 24°(75°F) to 30°C(86°F) (In the south of Komodo it drops down to 21-23°C (70-75°F)
• Visibility is mostly very good (up to 30m)

Safety Procedures and Emergency Evacuation Information:

There are 6 recompression chambers in Indonesia to treat decompression sickness

Bali: Sanglah General Hospital (in Indonesian language) USUP Sanglah Denpasar JI. Diponegoro, Denpasar 80114 Bali, Indonesia Phone 62-361-227911 through -15 ext. 232 (hyperbaric medical department) Fax 62-361-22426 Run by Dr. Antonius Natasamudra and Dr. Etty Herawati

Manado (Sulawesi): At the Malalayang Hospital (chamber for 3 to 4 persons) Phone: 0811430913 and ask for Dr Jimmy Waleleng (Phone home 860953). Makassar (Sulawesi): Rumah Sakit Umum Wahidin Sudirohusodo. Contact person: Pak Daniel Address: Jl. Perintis Kemerdekaan Km. 11, Tamalanrea Kampus UNHAS Indonesia TEL:++ 62 - 0411 (584677) , 584675. Said to be for 3 to 4 persons.

Jakarta (Java): Rumah Sakit Angkatan Laut (Navy Hospital) in Jl. Bendungan Hilir No.17, Central Jakarta (see text in italian with some addresses - list of help) Kalimantan: The Borneo Divers have the only professional recompression chamber located on Sipadan island (Borneo - Malaysia)

Surabaya (Java): Rumah Sakit Angkatan Laut (RSAL) (Military Marine hospital) Jl. Gadung no. 1, SurabayPhone 031-45750 and 41731 (another number given was 031-838153 and fax 031- 837511) Run by Dr Suharsono Available SAR (search and rescue) contact information:

• SAR Bali : ph 0361 - 751111 Radio : 13545.0
• SAR Lombok : Ph 0370 - 633253 Radio : 13545.0
• SAR Makassar : Ph 0411 - 554111 Radio : 13545.0
• SAR Manado : Ph 0431 - 825986
• SAR Kupang : Ph 0380 - 831111
• SAR Ambon : Ph 0911 - 351111
• SAR Sorong : Ph 0951 - 323816

**Available SAR (search and rescue) contact information: Medivac facilities from Travira Air www.travira-air.com