Alor
Trip highlights: great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics
Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track
Dive sites and activities: from Alor: Pantar Strait, Kalabahi Bay, Ternate, Pura, Rusa, Kambing; Soangi, Waiwawong, Solor, Kawula, Komba, Flores: Maumere
Day 1
This dive exploration of the Alor Archipelago and surrounding islands starts in Maumere. After a detailed welcome and vessel orientation from the cruise director, the afternoon allows for gear preparation. Dinner is served as the magnificent Damai 2 liveaboard departs, beginning its overnight passage to the initial dive zones.
Core Days
This dedicated safari focuses on the world-class diving of Alor, renowned for its challenging currents and spectacular biodiversity, all navigated confidently aboard the Damai 2. Diving primarily focuses on the Alor-Pantar Strait and the productive muck habitats of Kalabahi Bay. Sites around Ternate, Rusa, and Kambing offer thrilling drift dives along walls and pinnacles, often featuring schools of fusiliers and large bumphead parrotfish, alongside whitetip reef sharks and bamboo sharks.
The unique conditions in Alor support an abundance of rare macro life. Dive guides are skilled in locating elusive species in the black sand and shallow reefs, including the highly sought-after rhinopias, hairy frogfish, Halimeda ghostpipefish, and various tiger shrimps. Night dives are particularly rewarding, showcasing nocturnal life such as the wonderpus octopus and Spanish Dancers.
The exploration extends to the islands of Soangi, Waiwawong, Solor, Kawula, and Komba, offering a mix of vibrant coral gardens and unique topography. The transition from the Flores area (Maumere) provides a full spectrum of conditions and marine life, ensuring this Damai 2 liveaboard trip offers both adrenaline-fuelled wide-angle viewing and intimate critter hunting.
Final Day
Enjoy a final continental breakfast on board before disembarking the Damai 2 in Kupang.
Alor & Forgotten Islands
Trip highlights: shark action, manta rays, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics
Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, wall diving
Dive sites and activities: Alor: Pantar Strait, Kalabahi Bay, Pura; Reong, Nyata, Damar, Nils Desperandum, Sika, Pulau Dawera, Moora, Dai
Day 1
After embarkation at Saumlaki harbour the crew will help you settling in to your new home for the next few days: the majestic Damai II liveaboard. A boat briefing done by the cruise director will give you a better knowledge of the boat amenities, the staff that works onboard, and there will also an introduction of the other guests on board with you. The afternoon is spent unpacking your diving gear and simply relaxing. An amazing dive vacation is about to begin. Take a seat in the air-conditioned saloon and enjoy dinner while the boat leaves port.
Core Days
The Forgotten Islands in the eastern Banda Sea’ are a remote chain of islands that offer some of the best diving in Indonesian waters. Attractions include gin-clear waters, patch reefs and coral bommies, and spectacular wall dives on impossible drop-offs. The nutrient rich currents can bring sunfish, dogtooth tuna, reef sharks, as well as maybe sailfish. Prepare your camera gear for pelagics, muck diving, schooling hammerheads, schooling surgeonfish, and large schools of barracuda at the site ‘To Dai For’. GoPro enthusiasts will revel at the sites off the islands of Nus Leur, Terbang Utara and Terbang Selatan with their wide angle scenery filled with large fans, barrel sponges and schools of small fish.
The sites around the Alor archipelago have some amazing critters like hairy frogfish and Halimeda ghostpipefish, rhinophias, hairy and tiger shrimps, wonderpus octopus, pygmy seahorses. The diving in this area is more than just macro though. Whitetip reef sharks, bamboo sharks, schools of fusiliers, oversized bumphead parrotfish. Spanish Dancers and other nocturnal critters can be seen on several dives. It will be a blast of colours and emotions.
Croissants, fresh fruit and strong coffee to kick start yourself for the 1st dive of the morning. Back to the boat, time to do it all again: a hearty breakfast and enough surface interval before joining your dive buddies on the dive deck for the 2nd morning dive. Lunch is delicious, featuring top-quality Indonesian and international cuisine: chicken wraps, spicy sambal, grilled fish, noodle soup, fresh salads and salad dressings made with fresh products from scratch. After a 3rd and afternoon dive, afternoon snacks are provided to keep you full of energy for the night dive that will be followed by dinner, with a selection of fish or seafood, vegetarian and meat based dishes prepared by the highly trained chef.
Please note that only 2 dives will take place on the last full day of the trip. In the afternoon the yacht starts cruising back to port.
Final Day
Enjoy a continental breakfast before saying goodbye to this fantastic liveaboard and crew. Transfer to Kupang airport, where the cruise director will assist you with check in procedures.
Note: this cruise sometimes runs in reverse so please check exact details above.
Bali, Sumbawa & Komodo (Whale Shark Special)
Trip highlights: whale sharks, shark action, dolphins, manta rays, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics, non diving activities
Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving
Dive sites and activities: from Nusa Lembiongan, Nusa Penida, Bali: Amed, Tulamben, Liberty wreck; Sumbawa: Saleh Bay; Sangeang, Komodo: Sebolan Kecil, Gili Banta - Stairway To Heaven, GPS Point, Gili Lawa Laut - Crystal Rock, Castle Rock, Batu Bolong, Wainilu, Manta Alley, Padar - Pillarsteen, Three Sisters, Horseshoe Bay - Cannibal Rock, Torpedo Alley, Yellow Wall, Tatawa, Karang Makassar. Dragon walk on Rinca island.
Day 1
This premier diving expedition across the Nusa Tenggara region begins at Benoa harbour, Bali, where guests board the impressive Damai 2 liveaboard. Following a thorough vessel orientation and safety briefing by the cruise director, the afternoon is dedicated to checking and preparing your diving equipment. Dinner is served as the yacht sets sail for the initial dive areas.
Core Days
The first section of the trip focuses on the varied dive sites near Bali, Nusa Penida, and Nusa Lembongan. Nusa Penida is renowned for its clear waters and deep-water currents that make it a prime location for encountering the majestic mola mola (oceanic sunfish). Along the coast, Amed and Tulamben offer unique dives, including the famous USAT Liberty wreck and black volcanic sand habitats, perfect for macro life like frogfish and stargazer.
The expedition then sails east, crossing Sumbawa, where the schedule is structured for a whale shark special. This involves dedicated time in Saleh Bay, where conditions are optimal for an unforgettable dive or snorkel alongside these gentle giants. Further east, diving around the volcanic island of Sangeang and Gili Banta (Stairway to Heaven, GPS Point) provides diverse habitats, from bubbling black sands to pristine reef slopes.
The final and most extensive area is Komodo National Park. The Damai 2 liveaboard focuses on delivering high-impact dives across the entire park: the northern pinnacles (Crystal Rock, Castle Rock), the central sites (Batu Bolong, Tatawa), and the dedicated manta ray areas (Karang Makassar, Manta Alley). The cooler southern sites of Horseshoe Bay (Cannibal Rock, Torpedo Alley, Yellow Wall) are explored for their spectacular soft corals and unique invertebrates. Surface activity includes a guided trek on Rinca island to view the Komodo dragons. The extensive range and high standards of the Damai 2 ensure total confidence in this ambitious route.
Final Day
Enjoy a final continental breakfast before saying goodbye to the crew and disembarking in Labuan Bajo.
Note these cruises also operate in the reverse direction.
Forgotten Islands
Trip highlights: hammerhead sharks, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics
Diving environment: advanced divers, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, wall diving
Dive sites and activities: Tanimbar, Manuk, Nils Desperandum, Serua, Sika, Pulau Dawera, Dai
Day 1
After embarkation at Saumlaki harbour the crew will help you settling in to your new home for the next few days: the majestic Damai II liveaboard. A boat briefing done by the cruise director will give you a better knowledge of the boat amenities, the staff that works onboard, and there will also an introduction of the other guests on board with you. The afternoon is spent unpacking your diving gear and simply relaxing. An amazing dive vacation is about to begin. Take a seat in the air-conditioned saloon and enjoy dinner while the boat leaves port.
Core Days
The Forgotten Islands in the eastern Banda Sea’ are a remote chain of islands that offer some of the best diving in Indonesian waters. Attractions include gin-clear waters, patch reefs and coral bommies, and spectacular wall dives on impossible drop-offs. The nutrient rich currents can bring sunfish, dogtooth tuna, reef sharks, as well as maybe sailfish. Prepare your camera gear for pelagics, muck diving, schooling hammerheads, schooling surgeonfish, and large schools of barracuda at the site ‘To Dai For’. GoPro enthusiasts will revel at the sites off the islands of Nus Leur, Terbang Utara and Terbang Selatan with their wide angle scenery filled with large fans, barrel sponges and schools of small fish.
Croissants, fresh fruit and strong coffee to kick start yourself for the 1st dive of the morning. Back to the boat, time to do it all again: a hearty breakfast and enough surface interval before joining your dive buddies on the dive deck for the 2nd morning dive. Lunch is delicious, featuring top-quality Indonesian and international cuisine: chicken wraps, spicy sambal, grilled fish, noodle soup, fresh salads and salad dressings made with fresh products from scratch. After a 3rd and afternoon dive, afternoon snacks are provided to keep you full of energy for the night dive that will be followed by dinner, with a selection of fish or seafood, vegetarian and meat based dishes prepared by the highly trained chef.
Please note that only 2 dives will take place on the last full day of the trip. In the afternoon the yacht starts cruising back to port.
Final Day
Enjoy a continental breakfast before saying goodbye to this fantastic liveaboard and crew. Transfer to Saumlaki airport, where the cruise director will assist you with check in procedures.
Halmahera & Central Sulawesi
Trip highlights: whale sharks, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics
Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, wall diving
Dive sites and activities: From - Sulawesi: Lembeh Strait, Tanjung Flesko, Tanjung Talabu, Togean Islands, Taupan, Pasir Laut, Una Una, Gorontalo; Tifore, Magoli, Halmahera: Goraichi, Pasir Karo
Day 1
This premier 2-part expedition linking the Spice Islands with Central Sulawesi on the magnificent Damai 2 liveaboard begins in Ternate. Following a detailed welcome and safety briefing from the cruise director, the remainder of the afternoon is set aside for arranging your scuba equipment. Dinner is served as the vessel departs on its overnight transit to the initial dive zones.
Core Days
The first section of the diving trip delves into the largely unexplored waters of Halmahera, a region celebrated for its pristine conditions and exceptional coral gardens. We focus on dramatic, current-exposed sites around Goraichi and the exposed pinnacle of Tifore, which attract schools of pelagic fish, including spadefish, surgeonfish, and mackerel, along with larger predators such as trevallies and barracuda. Diving in this region covers varied topography, including ancient volcanoes and volcanic ridges, promising sightings of oceanic whitetip sharks and potentially hammerheads. For macro fans, the black sand slopes and sheltered muck sites around Magoli and Pasir Karo offer unique critters.
The voyage proceeds to the contrasting ecosystems of Central Sulawesi. The Togean Islands, including Taupan, Una Una, and Pasir Laut, offer incredibly vibrant, colourful reefscapes and pinnacles thick with schooling reef fish. Exploration continues at sites like Tanjung Flesko and Tanjung Talabu, where coral diversity thrives on walls and slopes.
A major highlight of this leg is the unique geological feature of the massive Dali sponges near Gorontalo, providing world-class photographic subjects, as well as an opportunity to dive with whale sharks near the local bagans. The consistent stability and professional operation of the Damai 2 ensures expert access to these rich, current-prone areas and remote locations.
Final Day
Enjoy a final continental breakfast before saying goodbye to the crew and disembarking in Bitung.
Note these cruises also operate in the reverse direction and sometimes use differing ports. Please check the port details for your trip.
Halmahera Island (12 Days / 11 Nights - 39 Dives)
Trip highlights: turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics
Diving environment: advanced divers, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track
Dive sites and activities: From Halmahera: Halmahera Seamount, Bacan, Salea, Kusu, Makian, Pilonga, Pokal, Pasir Karo, Pulau Lata Lata, Goraichi, Tifore
Day 1
This dedicated dive expedition to the volcanic and magnificent Halmahera Island commences upon boarding the superb Damai 2 liveaboard in Ternate. Following a detailed welcome and safety briefing from the cruise director, the afternoon is reserved for unpacking and checking your scuba equipment. Dinner is enjoyed as the vessel sails away, commencing the exploration.
Core Days
Halmahera is a truly exceptional, lesser-dived destination celebrated for its pristine coral reefs and unparalleled biodiversity. The dive tour focuses on the unique volcanic topography and current-exposed regions that draw in large marine life. High-energy dive sites like the Halmahera Seamount and the pinnacle of Tifore are prime spots for pelagic encounters, offering the chance to observe schooling barracuda, bonito, and powerful hunters such as oceanic whitetip sharks and hammerheads. The diving around Bacan and Goraichi features deep pinnacles and thriving coral gardens.
The Damai 2 then navigates the varied island terrain, including volcanic slopes and ridges. Dives at Salea and Pulau Lata Lata showcase thriving hard and soft corals, where schooling batfish and surgeonfish gather. Keep watch for giant trevallies, Napoleon wrasse, and graceful mobula rays cruising the deeper blue. The extensive coverage offered by the Damai 2 liveaboard ensures that all major ecosystems of southern Halmahera are sampled.
Divers keen on the intricate underwater world will find ample reward in the shallow, dark volcanic sand sites. Locations such as Makian, Kusu, Pilonga, Pokal, and Pasir Karo are explored for their unique muck life. The expert guides on the Damai 2 are adept at locating rare finds, including various frogfish, ornate ghost pipefish, and a huge variety of nudibranchs, often found beneath local fishing docks or on the sand flats. This authoritative voyage promises complete immersion in Halmahera’s rich waters.
Day 12
Enjoy a final continental breakfast before saying farewell to the crew and disembarking in Ternate.
Komodo National Park
Trip highlights: shark action, dolphins, manta rays, dugongs/manatees, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics, non diving activities
Diving environment: advanced divers, drift diving, healthy reefs, very popular, wall diving
Dive sites and activities: From Sebolan Kecil, Komodo: Batu Balong, Karang Makassar, Wainilu, Tatawa, Horseshoe Bay: Cannibal Rock, Torpedo Alley, Manta Alley, Padar: Pillarsteen, Three Sisters, Gili Lawa Laut: Crystal Rock, Castle Rock. Dragon walk on Rinca island.
Day 1
This Komodo National Park dive expedition begins with your arrival at the luxurious Damai 2 liveaboard. Following a warm welcome from the cruise director and a detailed vessel orientation, the afternoon is dedicated to setting up your equipment. Dinner is served as the yacht departs the harbour in Labuan Bajo for the first overnight passage.
Core Days
Komodo National Park offers extraordinary variety, from current-swept pinnacles to sheltered macro havens, all expertly navigated by the Damai 2 crew. We dedicate time to the high-energy north, exploring sites around Gili Lawa Laut, including Crystal Rock and Castle Rock. These sea mounts are magnets for huge schools of pelagic fish, barracuda, and jacks, with whitetip reef sharks and grey reef sharks frequently patrolling the action. Further south, dive spots like Batu Balong and Tatawa feature spectacular submerged walls, rich in thriving hard coral formations.
The route balances this wide-angle action with world-class macro diving. In the central areas, Wainilu and Sebolan Kecil are celebrated muck dive sites where experienced dive guides aboard the Damai 2 can locate specialised species, including the diminutive pygmy seahorses, zebra crabs, and the highly photogenic ornate ghost pipefish. We also target the celebrated cleaning stations at Karang Makassar and Manta Alley, offering reliable opportunities to observe magnificent oceanic manta rays feeding or hovering close to the reef.
Moving into the unique south, the cooler waters around Horseshoe Bay promote dense growth of colourful soft corals and tunicates. Here, dramatic sites like Cannibal Rock and Torpedo Alley are explored, supporting a variety of unique benthic life. Above the water, surface intervals include a memorable trek on Rinca island, allowing guests to view the ancient Komodo dragons in their wild habitat, alongside a challenging hike up the iconic Padar viewpoint. The professionalism of the Damai 2 liveaboard ensures comprehensive access to the entire Komodo ecosystem.
Final Day
Enjoy a final continental breakfast on board before disembarking the Damai 2 in Labuan Bajo.
Komodo National Park & Flores (10 Days / 9 Nights - 31 Dives)
Trip highlights: shark action, dolphins, manta rays, dugongs/manatees, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics, non diving activities
Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving
Dive sites and activities: Sebolan Kecil, Sangeang, Komodo - Rinca: Wainilu, Batu Bolong, Tatawa, Karang Makassar, Gili Lawa Laut: Crystal Rock, Castle Rock; Horseshoe Bay: Cannibal Rock, Torpedo Alley, Langkoi: Manta Alley, Padar: Pillarsteen, 3 Sisters. Komodo dragon walk.
Cruises that use the port of Maumere: also Batu Boga.
Day 1
Commence your world-class diving adventure across Komodo and Flores with the prestigious Damai 2 liveaboard in Labuan Bajo. A comprehensive vessel and safety orientation is provided by the cruise director and crew, after which the remainder of the afternoon is dedicated to preparing your scuba equipment. Dinner is served as the Damai 2 begins its overnight sail to the first dive sites.
Core Days
Komodo National Park's reputation for high-voltage diving is earned through its unique confluence of ocean currents, creating immense biomass. The Damai 2 tour meticulously covers the entire park and surrounding Flores dive sites. In the high-current north, sites like Crystal Rock and Castle Rock near Gili Lawa Laut offer spectacular wide-angle diving, attracting large schools of trevallies, dogtooth tuna, and patrolling whitetip reef sharks. Central Komodo exploration includes the dramatic submerged pinnacle Batu Bolong and the vibrant coral plateaus of Tatawa.
The Damai 2 liveaboard prioritises the park's iconic megafauna. Scuba divers will spend time at Karang Makassar and the famous Langkoi area, which encompasses Manta Alley, providing reliable encounters with oceanic manta rays at their primary feeding and cleaning stations. Moving to the southern region, Horseshoe Bay is distinguished by its cooler waters and incredibly dense filter-feeding life. Sites such as Cannibal Rock and Torpedo Alley are cloaked in vivid soft corals, sea apples, and tunicates, offering thrilling wall dives.
For macro enthusiasts, the volcanic black sands around Sangeang and the protected muck areas like Wainilu and Sebolan Kecil near Rinca yield elusive finds, including rhinopias, flamboyant cuttlefish, and numerous nudibranch species. If the disembarkation port is Maumere, expect to dive the deep-water fauna found at Batu Boga.
Surface excursions enhance the trip, featuring a vital guided walk on Rinca island to see the endemic Komodo dragons, as well as an ascent of Padar island for panoramic views over the Pillarsteen and Three Sisters rock formations.
Day 10
Enjoy a final continental breakfast before disembarking the Damai 2 in Maumere.
Komodo National Park, Flores & Alor
Trip highlights: shark action, dolphins, manta rays, dugongs/manatees, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics, non diving activities
Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving
Dive sites and activities: Komodo - Sebolan Kecil, Wainilu, Manta Alley, Batu Bolong, Makassar Reef, Horseshoe Bay, Cannibal Rock, Torpedo Alley, Langkoi, Padar, Manta Alley, Pillarsteen, Gili Lawa Laut: Crystal Rock, Castle Rock; Batu Boga, Kawula Island: Tanjung Bacatan, Komba, Alor: Pantar Strait, Rusa, Beangabang Bay. Komodo dragon walk.
Day 1
This multi-destination dive expedition across the Nusa Tenggara region on the magnificent Damai 2 liveaboard begins in Labuan Bajo. Following a thorough vessel orientation and safety briefing, the afternoon is dedicated to checking and setting up your scuba equipment. Dinner is served as the yacht departs, commencing its sail toward the first dive zones.
Core Days
The Komodo National Park offers an initial burst of high-energy, high-biomass diving. We focus on key dive sites across the park, from the current-swept Gili Lawa Laut, where Crystal Rock and Castle Rock draw in schools of fusiliers, jacks, and whitetip reef sharks, to the dramatic pinnacles of Batu Bolong. Central sites like Makassar Reef and Langkoi offer reliable encounters with oceanic manta rays at their feeding and cleaning stations. Further south, Horseshoe Bay provides spectacular diving with dense soft corals at Cannibal Rock and Torpedo Alley, supporting unique benthic life. Beyond the water, a vital surface interval includes the famous guided walk on Rinca Island to observe the Komodo dragons.
The expedition transitions to the lesser-explored waters of Flores and Alor, famous for their contrasting dive environments and immense critter populations. Around Kawula Island, sites like Tanjung Bacatan and Komba are explored before arriving at Alor. Here, the Pantar Strait, Rusa, and Beangabang Bay deliver world-class macro diving, complemented by pristine hard coral and benthic diversity.
Alor's waters, known for their variety of conditions, support a wealth of specialized macro-fauna. Divers aboard the Damai 2 liveaboard are consistently rewarded with sightings of unique critters, including the bizarre bobbit worm, hairy frogfish, rhinopias, and various tiger shrimps. The presence of resident dugongs is also a possibility. The expertise of the Damai 2 crew in navigating the diverse currents and locating elusive subjects instills maximum confidence for this demanding dive safari.
Final Day
Enjoy a final continental breakfast before saying farewell to the crew and disembarking in Kupang, concluding this comprehensive adventure.
Please note that the trip sometimes has differing ports - check trip for details.
Raja Ampat & Forgotten Islands
Trip highlights: hammerhead sharks, shark action, manta rays, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics
Diving environment: advanced divers, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, wall diving
Dive sites and activities: from Raja Ampat: Misool: Wayilbatan, Fiabacet, Boo, Farondi, Balbulol; Koon, Manuk, Serua, Forgotten Islands: Bui, Nils Desperandum, Sika, Pulau Dawera, Dai, Tanimbar
Day 1
Your flight lands at Saumlaki. A Damai 2 crew member meets you at arrivals. Local clearance takes a little time. Once granted, the boat slips its mooring and heads for the open sea. Settle into your cabin. Unpack your camera housing. Dinner comes with a view of the sunset behind the Tanimbar islands.
Core Days
The first discoveries happen around Pulau Dawera. Few places show off healthier coral. Bigeye trevally move as one wall of silver. Napoleon wrasse seem almost too large to fit on the reef. Dogtooth tuna patrol the drop-off. Sharks stay visible but not close enough to touch. At Dai you drop onto Tertuti Wall. Orange and yellow soft corals cover every ledge. Sea fans stretch wider than your arm span. Butterflyfish pick at the reef. The current carries you past an arch. You come up smiling.
Nil Desperandum and Sika demand your best dive etiquette. The atoll walls drop into deep water. Pelagics cruise past like commuters on a busy street. The corners hold the real action: barrel sponges you could hide inside, schooling fish that block the light, and fans that have grown for decades. Hammerheads sometimes gather here. Not every day. Not for every diver. But when they appear, they stay in your memory for years.
Then Manuk. The island smokes. You smell sulphur before you splash. Below the surface, sea snakes curl through the water column. Banded kraits ignore you completely. Olive snakes do the same. Mobula rays work cleaning stations in the black sand shallows. Sharks pass by without urgency. It feels less like a dive and more like visiting another world.
Koon breaks the pattern. Just one dive site. They named it Too Many Fish. The name fits. Giant trevally hunt in pairs. Schools of snapper blot out the reef behind them. Barracuda hang in loose formations. You spend your surface interval on the Damai 2 liveaboard watching tunas break the surface nearby.
Raja Ampat arrives with a change in water colour. Misool's signature sites stack up like a greatest hits album. Boo Windows frames the blue like a picture. Nudi Rock hides tiny treasures. Whale Rock delivers big silhouettes in the distance. On calm days Magic Mountain enters the rotation. Mantas appear out of the haze. Sharks circle the seamount. You lose track of time.
Wayilbatan offers the Four Kings pinnacles. Current pushes you from one to the next. Neptune Fan Sea asks you to drift and watch. Wedding Cake demands you check your computer. Barracuda Ridge tests your air consumption because you cannot stop staring.
Farondi and Balbulol close the diving. Love Potion No.9 carries a silly name but serious marine life. Soft corals glow in the torchlight. Mobula rays pass overhead if you time the tide right. At Farondi you swim into Goa Farondi caves. Pygmy seahorses cling to sea fans inside. The Three Sisters pinnacles nearby channel current and fish in equal measure. Expect to lose count of species.
The last full day allows only 2 dives. Damai 2 spends the afternoon cruising back toward Sorong. Use the time to back up your photos.
Final Day
Coffee and fruit on the back deck. One last look at the Banda Sea. Then a crew transfer to Sorong airport. They stay until your bags are checked.
These trips occasionally run in reverse. Confirm port details before you book. But the diving stays the same. And the memories stick.
Raja Ampat & Halmahera
Trip highlights: shark action, manta rays, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics
Diving environment: advanced divers, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, wall diving
Dive sites and activities: Raja Ampat: Misool - Fiabacet, Boo, Farondi, Daram, Wayilbatan; Pulau Pisang, Halmahera: Bacan, Salea, Lata Lata, Pasir Karo, Goraichi, Kusu, Tifore
Day 1
This extraordinary dual-destination exploration with the Damai 2 liveaboard links the Spice Islands with the world-renowned Raja Ampat. After a detailed welcome and safety briefing from the cruise director, the afternoon is dedicated to setting up your scuba gear. Dinner is served as the vessel departs from Ternate, beginning its overnight passage.
Core Days
The expedition begins with a deep dive into Halmahera, a hidden gem celebrated for its pristine reefs and diverse volcanic topography. The itinerary explores multiple dive sites, including the exposed Halmahera Seamount and the areas around Tifore, which are known to attract pelagic species such as hammerhead sharks and oceanic whitetip sharks. Dives near Bacan, Salea, and Goraichi feature magnificent coral gardens, ridges, and pinnacles, often patrolled by schools of trevallies and Napoleon wrasse. For macro life, sites like Pasir Karo and Kusu offer rewarding muck diving, where specialised critters thrive near black volcanic sands.
The Damai 2 liveaboard then crosses into the Raja Ampat region, focusing on the southern sector of Misool, globally celebrated for its immense soft coral coverage and high biodiversity. Sites such as Fabiacet, Boo, and Daram are cloaked in vibrant soft corals, creating dramatic underwater scenery. These reefs are home to a massive concentration of fish and numerous cryptic species, including pygmy seahorses and the endemic wobbegong shark.
Exploration continues with unique transitional dives around Pulau Pisang, where nutrient-rich currents often congregate large schools of sweetlips, barracudas, and bumphead parrotfish. This demanding route provides scuba divers with an authoritative, comparative view of 2 of Indonesia’s most biologically important and remote marine environments. The experienced Damai 2 crew ensures high-quality diving and builds confidence in tackling these unique conditions.
Final Day
Enjoy a final continental breakfast before saying goodbye to the crew and disembarking in Sorong.
Note these cruises may also operate in the reverse direction.
Raja Ampat & Triton Bay
Trip highlights: whale sharks, shark action, manta rays, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics
Diving environment: advanced divers, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, wall diving
Dive sites and activities: Raja Ampat: Dampier Strait and Cape Kri, Arborek, Manta Sandy, Kawe, Pemenu, Misool: Fiabacet, Boo, Farondi, Wayilbatan, Pulau Pisang, Momon, Triton Bay: Aiduma, Namatote. Village visit, cave visit, viewpoint hiking trail, waterfall visit.
Day 1
This Damai 2 liveaboard dive safari through the pristine, contrasting regions of Raja Ampat and Triton Bay starts in Kaimana. Following a thorough vessel orientation and safety briefing from the cruise director, the afternoon is dedicated to setting up your scuba gear. Dinner is served as the yacht departs on its overnight transit to the first remote dive locations.
Core Days
The first section of the trip focuses on the breathtaking Misool region of Raja Ampat. Dive sites like Fiabacet, Boo, Farondi, and Wayilbatan are internationally famed for their dramatic karst scenery and phenomenal concentration of soft corals. Here, the reefs are rich with bumphead parrotfish, sea turtles, and intricate macro life, including various pygmy seahorses and the vibrant peacock mantis shrimp. Further exploration includes the transitional waters around Pulau Pisang and Momon.
The cruise then shifts north to the high-biomass Dampier Strait, where strong currents propel spectacular marine activity. Sites such as Cape Kri Kri and the Manta Sandy/Arborek cleaning stations offer exhilarating opportunities for large fish encounters, including giant trevally, barracuda, and oceanic manta rays. Diving around Pemenu and Kawe is also included, with an emphasis on observing Raja Ampat’s diversity.
The final leg of the journey explores the secluded Triton Bay, considered a world-class destination due to its relatively unexplored status and unique soft coral gardens. Dive sites like Aiduma and Namatote feature huge black coral formations and rugged underwater rocks. The biodiversity here is high, with potential sightings of whale sharks, resident pilot whales, and endemic epaulette sharks. Critter hunters will find frogfish, ornate ghost pipefish, and numerous species of nudibranchs.
Surface activities include a village visit, a cave exploration, an optional viewpoint hiking trail, and a refreshing waterfall visit. The experience and dedication of the Damai 2 liveaboard team ensures divers access the best diving across this challenging route.
Final Day
Enjoy a final continental breakfast before saying goodbye to the crew and disembarking in Sorong.
Note these cruises also operate in the reverse direction.
Raja Ampat National Park
Trip highlights: shark action, manta rays, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics
Diving environment: advanced divers, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, wall diving
Dive sites and activities: from Raja Ampat: Dampier Strait and Cape Kri, Mioskon, Arborek, Manta Sandy, Gam, Kawe, Aljui Bay, Pemenu, Misool: Wayilbatan, Fabiacet, Boo, Daram, Farondi, Balbulol, village visit, viewpoint hiking trail
Day 1
Your premier dive exploration of the world-renowned Raja Ampat marine park begins in Sorong. Following a thorough welcome and safety orientation from the Damai 2 liveaboard crew, the afternoon is dedicated to setting up your diving apparatus. Dinner is served as the yacht departs, commencing its passage to the remote dive zones.
Core Days
Raja Ampat is the undisputed global epicentre of marine biodiversity, and this expedition is designed to fully showcase its northern and southern spectacles. We begin in the high-energy Dampier Strait, where tidal movement creates nutrient-rich waters. Dive sites such as Cape Kri and Mioskon feature immense schools of fusiliers, snappers, and great trevallies, with frequent sightings of blacktip reef sharks and endemic tasselled wobbegongs resting on the substrate. Further west, the currents draw majestic oceanic manta rays to the cleaning stations at Manta Sandy and Arborek, providing spectacular viewing opportunities.
The exploration covers the northern islands of Gam and Kawe. A highlight in this region is a dedicated night dive in the sheltered Aljui Bay, which offers exceptional macro diving, revealing delicate creatures like jawfish, mushroom coral pipefish, and vibrant soft coral crabs under the guidance of the experienced Damai 2 dive team. Sites around Pemenu are also included before making the southward transition.
The main focus then moves to the stunning Misool area, known for its sculpted limestone scenery and unparalleled soft coral cover. Dives at Daram, Farondi, and Balbulol showcase immense sea fans and a kaleidoscopic array of invertebrate life. Look closely within the gorgonians for tiny pygmy seahorses.
This tour, expertly managed by the Damai 2 liveaboard, also incorporates rewarding surface activities, including a local Village visit and an optional viewpoint hiking trail, building confidence that you will experience all the highlights of this extraordinary national park.
Final Day
Enjoy a final continental breakfast before disembarking the Damai 2 in Sorong, concluding this unparalleled dive safari.
Raja Ampat National Park South & Central
Trip highlights: shark action, manta rays, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics
Diving environment: advanced divers, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, wall diving
Dive sites and activities: Raja Ampat: Dampier Strait and Cape Kri, Mioskon, Arborek, Manta Sandy, Gam, Pemenu, Misool: Wayilbatan, Fabiacet, Boo, Farondi, Balbulol. Village visit, viewpoint hiking trail
Day 1
The exhilarating dive exploration of Raja Ampat’s central and southern sectors commences in Sorong. Following a thorough welcome and safety orientation from the crew, the remainder of the afternoon is spent preparing your scuba equipment. Dinner is served as the Damai 2 liveaboard departs, beginning its overnight transit to the initial dive zones.
Core Days
This dive cruise is expertly focused on the highest-biomass areas of the national park, ensuring divers experience the full scope of Raja Ampat’s unparalleled marine life. We begin in the Dampier Strait, known for its powerful currents and dense fish schools. Sites like Cape Kri and Mioskon feature massive congregations of trevallies, dogtooth tuna, and surgeonfish, often policed by blacktip reef sharks. The endemic wobbegong shark is a frequent sighting here. Further exploration includes the cleaning stations around Arborek and Manta Sandy, offering high-probability encounters with oceanic manta rays.
The Damai 2 then transitions south to the breathtaking Misool region. This area is visually stunning, characterised by towering limestone karsts that descend into exceptionally rich, soft coral gardens. Dive sites such as Wayilbatan, Boo, Farondi, and Balbulol are celebrated for their vivid colours and invertebrate life. Look closely for the miniature wonders, including tiny pygmy seahorses and the kaleidoscopic peacock mantis shrimp.
The voyage also includes rewarding surface activities between dives. Guests will have the opportunity to visit a traditional local Village and undertake an optional viewpoint hiking trail, providing spectacular panoramic vistas of this remote archipelago. Diving around Pemenu and Gam further enhances the dive schedule. The operational excellence of the Damai 2 liveaboard ensures a confident, experience-led adventure, consistently positioning divers on the best sites across central and south Raja Ampat.
Final Day
Enjoy a final continental breakfast aboard the Damai 2 before disembarking in Sorong.
Raja Ampat, Halmahera & Central Sulawesi (12 Days / 11 Nights - 42 Dives)
Trip highlights: whale sharks, shark action, manta rays, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics
Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, wall diving
Dive sites and activities: Raja Ampat: Misool - Fiabacet, Boo, Farondi, Balbulol, Wayilbatan; Pulau Pisang, Halmahera: Bacan, Goraici, Seamount, Tifore, Central Sulawesi: Tanjung Flesko, Molibagu, Gorontalo
Day 1
Board the Damai 2 liveaboard at Gorontalo harbour. The crew shows you to your cabin. A full briefing from the cruise director covers boat amenities, staff and fellow guests. Afternoon is for unpacking gear and getting comfortable. Dinner in the air-conditioned saloon as Damai 2 slips its mooring.
Core Days
Gorontalo starts the trip with something you will not see elsewhere. The Salvador Dali sponge grows only here. Its twisted shape stands out against very healthy hard coral gardens. Shallows give way to dramatic drop-offs. Whale sharks visit regularly. Fishermen keep them around by offering small bait fish under the platforms. You watch from a respectful distance. Then you drop in for the dive.
Molibagu brings steep slopes mixed with drop-offs. Hard corals and soft corals compete for space. Barracuda school in the current. Blacktip sharks pass through. Pygmy seahorses hide in the fans. Nudibranchs reward slow eyes. Tanjung Flesko follows. Then Tifore appears as a small island between Halmahera and Sulawesi. Its seamount carries exuberant hard coral gardens. Jacks and barracuda school in large numbers. Reef sharks patrol the edges.
Halmahera reveals itself at Goraici and the seamount. A series of small islands. Current-rich water holds huge numbers of schooling fish. Surgeonfish, ocean triggerfish, snappers, fusiliers, rainbow runners. Sharks too. On several occasions mantas have come into the shallow lagoon to feed. You hover at the edge and watch them work.
Bacan offers 2 faces. Morning brings a dramatic wall dive off Tanjung Marengarango. Barracuda, snapper and fusiliers school in the blue. Pelagics pass by. Afternoon switches to muck diving along the boat-building beach at Penambuan. Black sand, pebbles, algae patches and small coral heads. Octopus, colourful nudibranchs, frogfish, seahorses, cuttlefish, unusual shrimp. You slow right down. You start finding things you missed on the first pass.
Pulau Pisang sits alone in the Seram Sea. Small island. Big fish action. Snapper, barracuda, fusiliers, rainbow runners. The current does the work. You hold position and let the reef come to you.
Raja Ampat closes the dive trip in style. Wayilbatan brings the Four Kings pinnacles. A series of colourful underwater towers. Drift Neptune Fan Sea. Explore Wedding Cake wall. Hang on the ridge at Barracuda Rock. Each site has its own personality. Boo and Fiabacet deliver signature sites. Boo Windows frames the current. Nudi Rock hides tiny treasures. Tank Rock and Whale Rock offer bigger silhouettes. On calm days Magic Mountain enters the rotation. Cruising sharks. Schooling fish. Mantas at the cleaning station. You come up from that dive quiet. There is not much to say after something like that.
Farondi and Balbulol finish the scuba diving. No Contest and Love Potion No.9 sit near Balbulol. Underwater ridges rich with current. Colourful soft corals and sea fans cover everything. Watch the blue for schooling pelagics and mobula rays. At Farondi, Goa Farondi hides underwater caves. Pygmy seahorses cling to sea fans inside. The Three Sisters pinnacles nearby channel current and fish. Expect a lot of action.
Only 2 dives happen on the last full day. Damai 2 spends the afternoon cruising back toward Sorong.
Final Day
Continental breakfast on board. Then a transfer to Sorong airport.
These trips sometimes run in reverse. Check port details before booking. The diving on Damai 2 stays the same. The memories do too.
Sangalaki, Maratua & Kakaban
Trip highlights: whale sharks, manta rays, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity
Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, drift diving, off the beaten track
Dive sites and activities: Maratua, Kakaban: Jellyfish Lake, Sangalaki, Derawan, Talisayan, Muaras, Birah Birahan
Day 1
This exotic dive expedition into Eastern Borneo’s Kalimantan islands begins in Tarakan where your board the Damai 2 liveaboard. Following a detailed welcome and safety orientation from the crew, the remainder of the afternoon is spent preparing your diving equipment. Dinner is served as the vessel departs, beginning its overnight passage to the initial dive zones.
Core Days
This safari focuses on the world-class diving jewels of Eastern Borneo, Maratua, Sangalaki, and Kakaban, offering unforgettable underwater encounters. The Maratua Atoll is a core destination, where strong, nutrient-rich currents attract large pelagic species. Divers frequently observe large schools of barracuda, trevallies, and tuna, alongside schools of eagle rays, thresher sharks, and leopard sharks in the current-exposed areas. Sites like Muaras and Birah Birahan offer high-energy, schooling fish action.
Sangalaki is internationally famed for its abundant population of majestic manta rays and sharks, providing thrilling wide-angle photography opportunities. Further enhancing the megafauna aspect of this trip is the chance for encounters with whale sharks in the area, a special experience facilitated by the experienced Damai 2 liveaboard crew.
The Kakaban visit includes a truly unique surface interval: a visit to the famous Jellyfish Lake. Here, you can snorkel with millions of stingless jellyfish in a freshwater environment, a rare geological phenomenon. For macro enthusiasts, the shallow waters around Derawan and Talisayan offer superb muck diving. Divers consistently find an array of prized critters, including flamboyant cuttlefish, the blue ring octopus, frogfish, ghost pipefish, shrimp fish, and various species of pygmy seahorses and mandarinfish. The operational excellence of the Damai 2 ensures divers access this incredible diversity with ease and confidence.
Final Day
Enjoy a final continental breakfast before saying goodbye to the Damai 2 crew and disembarking in Tarakan.
Togian Islands (12 Days / 11 Nights - 39 Dives)
Trip highlights: hammerhead sharks, manta rays, turtles, schooling fish & big pelagics
Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, wall diving
Dive sites and activities: Tifore, Sulawesi: Lembeh Strait, Tanjung Flesko, Tanjung Talabu, Togean Islands, Pulau Dua, Pasir Laut, Una Una, Gorontalo
Day 1
This magnificent Central Sulawesi dive odyssey commences with your boarding the superb Damai 2 liveaboard in Bitung. Following a comprehensive safety and vessel orientation, the day includes a check dive in the famous muck diving locale of Lembeh Strait, before settling in and enjoying dinner as the vessel departs, setting course for Tomini Bay.
Core Days
This cruise is dedicated to showcasing the pristine, unique marine environments of the Togian Islands. The diving focuses on a diverse range of sites, including the vibrant reefs and pinnacles around Una Una, Pasir Laut, and Pulau Dua. Scuba divers will find these sites teeming with dense schools of reef fish, barracuda, and jacks, confirming the health of this isolated corner of the coral triangle.
A key feature of this trip is the geological wonder of the massive Dali sponges found near Gorontalo, providing world-class photographic subjects. The Damai 2 liveaboard expertly navigates the dynamic topography of the region, including the current-prone walls around Tanjung Flesko and Tanjung Talabu, which are rich feeding grounds often attracting green sea turtles and larger pelagic species, such as whale sharks.
The voyage also includes an opportunity to dive the exposed pinnacle of Tifore, known for its aggregation of tuna and trevallies. Throughout the adventure, the expert guides aboard the Damai 2 will locate a wealth of macro life concealed among the hard and soft corals, from colourful nudibranchs to secretive pygmy seahorses, ensuring a confident and satisfying experience with the Damai 2 crew.
Day 12
Enjoy a final continental breakfast before saying goodbye to the crew and disembarking in Gorontalo.
[Information is best estimate in ideal circumstances and subject to changes beyond our control. The itinerary is a guide only and may be adapted to best suit the weather, tides, currents, availability and other prevailing events. Price is for the cruise, not for an exact number of dives].
A cruise on the Damai 2 liveaboard offers divers an exceptional and luxurious base from which to explore Indonesia's marine life. 3 main meals - breakfast, lunch, and dinner - ensure guests are always properly fuelled.
The daily routine is precisely engineered to support the extensive diving schedule. The day begins with a light pre-breakfast of fresh fruit, biscuits, and toast before the first morning immersion. After completing the initial dive, a full breakfast is served. Lunch follows the second dive, and dinner is the evening highlight, served after the final afternoon or night dive.
Fine dining is a central component of the Damai 2 experience, showcasing top-quality Indonesian and international cuisine. All meals are enjoyed in the air-conditioned dining area on the main deck. Instead of a buffet, the chef prepares dishes chosen by guests from a varied menu for each sitting, allowing for individual preferences. You can expect a diverse selection covering salads, soups, pasta, and rice dishes, alongside various meat and fish-based choices. For example, main courses may feature a nourishing minestrone soup, followed by a flavourful prawn and vegetable rice dish, a hearty meat option like beef rendang, or freshly prepared pan-seared snapper.
Complimentary refreshments, including soft drinks, beer, coffee, tea, water, biscuits, toast, and fresh fruit, are available throughout the day. Wine is also available for purchase. The Damai crew is proficient in catering to all dietary requirements, provided guests supply advanced notice.
