
Blue Manta Explorer
Resuming operations 5MAY 2022 Blue Manta Explorer is possibly the largest, purpose built steel hulled liveaboard diving in Indonesia to date. Measuring 45 meters in length (148 feet) the 22 spacious cabins are situated ... MORE
Raja Ampat may be difficult to find on a map but it is a scuba diving experience quite unlike any other and one of the all time great Indonesian dive destinations. This is a vast expanse of sea, peppered with literally hundreds of tiny islands and coves, which means the only way to truly explore Raja Ampat is on a liveaboard diving holiday. The bio diversity is off the charts with walls, reefs, pinnacles, caves, mangroves and black sands, each creating a unique eco system - and this Indonesian liveaboard itinerary visits them all in one magical diving holiday.
As the name implies, the Raja Ampat Discovery explores this vast corner of the globe. There is much still to discover but Raja Ampat lies at the heart of the coral triangle and the reefs are in pristine condition. Areas such as Fam and Kawe boast an enormous quantity of schooling fish. Regular shark sightings at Fiabacet and Uraine are an undeniable highlight. Mansuar is the place to head for mantas and turtles. Epaulette and wobegong sharks can also been seen, rushing across the seabed at Waigeo. Snorkel with the resident dolphin pod in between dives! Macro lovers will be in paradise at Bantana or Kri where muck diving is the order of the day with a myriad of bright, colourful critters - some of which have only been recently identified by science! Pygmy sea horses, mimic octopus, cockatoo wasps, coleman shrimps... there is no end to what miniature marvels await.
The Raja Ampat Discovery is the dream itinerary if you want to try something new. With so much still to be explored, you can witness new dive sites and undiscovered marine species. Photographers should make this a must see destination. Diving conditions can vary enormously from site to site so it is advisable to be advanced and comfortable with drift dive procedures. Nitrox is available on board but this is not a technical itinerary. Raja Ampat truly delivers a trip of discovery - this is an adventure into a world that few other divers will ever visit. Drop out of the rat race and let the dedicated guides and crew spoil you. Splash from the back dive deck into a marine wonderland that will leave you speechless each and every day.
You can dive Raja Ampat from several liveaboards, each offering different trip durations. This means that the exact itinerary will depend on which boat and duration you chose. Please ask your travel consultant at the time of booking to outline in more detail your proposed itinerary and dive sites.
Resuming operations 5MAY 2022 Blue Manta Explorer is possibly the largest, purpose built steel hulled liveaboard diving in Indonesia to date. Measuring 45 meters in length (148 feet) the 22 spacious cabins are situated ... MORE
New images and information coming soon Brand NEW and launching in 2022, Emperor Harmoni is a contemporary Indonesian liveaboard diving the world class sites of Raja Ampat, the Banda Sea and Komodo. With year round depart... MORE
Resuming operations SEPT 2022 Emperor Raja Laut is a distinctive, hardwood schooner, sailing the stunning seas of Indonesia. Built by one of the area's premier boat builders in 2005. she is perfectly adapted to the isla... MORE
Resuming operations 7MAY 2022 Mermaid fleet operate seasonal itineraries in both Komodo and Raja Ampat. The focus on board is dive friendly - this is affordable luxury as you cruise the big fish hot spots of Indonesia.... MORE
Step on board Raja Ampat Aggressor for a trip through Indonesia's big fish destinations. We are proud to welcome this modern, purpose built liveaboard, diving in Raja Ampat and Komodo, Indonesia. A stable, steel hulled vessel me... MORE
Resuming operations 30APR 2022 The brand new White Manta Explorer is a 152 ft (46m) by 33 ft (10m) purpose-built steel hull dive vessel. Stable, sophisticated, and reliable, the yacht is perfect for extended itineraries... MORE
Scuba Travel works with the most exclusive liveaboards in Indonesia, all diving in and around the Raja Ampat area. However, there are several options regarding your trip duration so you can find the ideal liveaboard for your once in a lifetime trip to Raja Ampat.
Liveaboards diving Raja Ampat
Blue Manta Explorer, White Manta Explorer, Emperor Harmoni, Raja Ampat Aggressor and Mermaid 2 all run itineraries to dive Raja Ampat seasonally.
Embarkation Points
Most trips depart from Sorong.
Emperor Harmoni requires a short ferry journey from Sorong to Wasai at the beginning of your trip
Trip Durations
You can dive Raja Ampat from several liveaboards, each offering different trip durations. This means that the exact itinerary will depend on which boat and duration you chose. Please ask your travel consultant at the time of booking to outline in more detail your proposed itinerary and dive sites.
Please note the exact number of dives on a trip will depend on local weather conditions and diver experience levels etc. The above number of dives are intended as a rough guide only.
Arrival and Departure
Depending on which liveaboard you will be joining you may need to overnight in Indonesia at either end of your holiday. Most trips will also require you to catch a domestic flight to reach the boat. Common stop over points are Bali, Sorong and Jakarta.
Raja Ampat North
Some of Raja Ampat's most famous dive areas are found in the northern part where the pelagics are concentrated. Here you find Cape Kri and the Dampier Straits. If you are a photographer it is all about wide angle here, with vast sea fans. Kri is the for many divers one of the undeniable highlights of this itinerary with just everything. Around Airborei you can find huge manta rays which are feeding or being cleaned. Aluji Bay switches from big fish to macro with ghost pipefish, toad fish and bob tail squid. The area is also great for wobegongs and ribbon eels. In Waya you have it all. The corals are out of this world, when the current runs you get pelagics and if not there are all manner of critters and scenic arches. Kawe is an area with such dense marine life you will be blown away.
Raja Ampat South
The best known areas of Raja Ampat in the South are Misool and nearby Fam. Misool is a tiny island surrounded by dense hard coral reefs. Surrounded by mushroom like islets, there are some good speedy drift dives which in turn bring in larger fish including sharks, mobula, barracuda and tuna. In Fiabacet you find the photogenic Boo Windows, a series of arches in the reef which make for the most photogenic image. The reef is swarmed by smaller reef fish. Daram is a soft coral reef with outstanding sea fans and vast barrel sponges. And home to the rare halimeda ghost pipefish, frogfish and flamboyant cuttlefish. Batanta is the ideal spot for some nudibranch hunting.
Between dives
Between dives there are several opportunities on all over the boats to go ashore. Explore a volcanic island, visit a pearl farm, grab the canoes and go exploring... The excursions will vary from trip to trip but all are designed to help you get to see even more of this remote region.
Dismbarkation Points
Most trips return to Sorong.