Notes: All Emperor Raja Laut sailings are guaranteed no matter how many guests.
Dive experience: All divers are required to have a minimum of 30 logged dives and have an Advanced Open Water qualification or equivalent to join the Raja Ampat liveaboard cruises. 50 logged dives are recommended for all other destinations including Komodo, Banda Sea, Alor and Flores.
Cruise price per person includes: Cabin accommodation with air-conditioning, breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, drinking water, hot drinks, port and park fees. return transfers to the boat from airport, dives (as detailed in the trips above), nitrox fills for enriched air certified divers, tanks, weights and weightbelts, 2 experienced English-speaking divemasters, island excursions (e.g. to see the Komodo dragons) and one island cocktail party (weather permitting), sales tax.
Cruise price per person excludes (mandatory, unless customer provides own): Scuba equipment (incl. dive computer USD 33 per day), reef hook, dive insurance (available onboard). Unless otherwise stated, all listed items need to be paid on arrival (cash - USD, EUR, GBP, IDR, or credit card).
Optional extras: Alcoholic drinks, soft drinks, 15 litre tank (USD 8 per day), torch (USD 8 per day). Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival. Note: prices of items purchased onboard are subject to change.
How to get there: Komodo: Fly direct to the port of Labuan Bajo which has direct flights from Jakarta and Bali.
Flores: Fly direct to the port of Maumere (direct from Bali, or via Makassar from Jakarta or Kuala Lumpur).
Raja Ampat: Fly direct to Sorong from Jakarta or Ambon.
Raja Ampat and Banda trips From Sorong or Ambon (these trips sometimes run in reverse), and some more infrequent itineraries use other ports. If departing Ambon, fly direct to Ambon from Jakarta (or from Sorong or Surabaya). For liveaboard departures from Sorong, a representative of Raja Laut will meet you at Sorong airport and accompany you to the boat.
For more details, including airlines, see our: travel information section. Domestic flights can be arranged. There is a transfer service from the relevant airports to and from the boat. Note that the departure time, and number of dives on Day 1 depend on guest arrival times - although departure is targeted by 1 pm, the Emperor Raja Laut will only depart once all guests are onboard.
The last dive of the trip will be at around 1 pm, and the boat will return to port during the evening of the second last day of the trip. Disembarkation will take place after breakfast and in time for your flight. Please wait at least 18 hours before flying after diving.
Non-diver rate: None.
Single supplement (if you do not want to share accommodation): This is optional - single travellers may choose to share a cabin or pay a supplement of 50% for sole use of a cabin.
Dive clubs and group discounts: See whole boat charter rate below.
Whole boat charter rate (per night): Pay for 11 guests and 1 extra person can join the cruise free of charge (total 12 guests).
Known in Indonesian as the ‘King of the Sea’, the gaff-rigged schooner Emperor Raja Laut liveaboard lives up to its stately name. Built following the heritage of Borneo tallships, this classic vessel offers a highly intimate liveaboard experience, limiting its capacity to a maximum of 12 guests. This low number ensures spacious accommodation and a high level of personal service, providing divers with a superb platform from which to explore Indonesia’s vast diving regions.
The seasonal movements of the Emperor Raja Laut are strategically timed to coincide with the best diving conditions in key areas. Guests can experience the currents and marine density of Komodo National Park between June and September. From November, the Raja Laut is based in the world-class dive haven of Raja Ampat. For those seeking even more remote exploration, there are occasional longer trips scheduled to include the fabled Banda Islands.
Accommodation centres around comfort and privacy. Guests are housed in double or twin en-suite cabins. For indoor unwinding, a small, cosy air-conditioned lounge is located on the lower deck, equipped with a minibar and an entertainment system featuring TV, DVD, and music.
Surface time is best spent on the spacious upper deck, where the true character of the Emperor Raja Laut comes to life. Multiple seating areas offer a pleasant mix of sun and shade, perfect for relaxing and watching the dramatic Indonesian coastline glide by. Meals are flexible, served either in the comfortable indoor dining area on the main deck or al-fresco on the shaded upper deck.
Dive safety and convenience are priorities on the Raja Laut liveaboard, with 2 dedicated dive guides overseeing the small guest numbers. Operations are conducted from 2 large RIBs with powerful outboards, facilitating quick and precise access to dive sites, a necessity in the archipelago's dynamic waters. Scuba divers will benefit from complimentary nitrox to safely maximise bottom time, and the provision of surface marker buoys (SMBs) is included at no extra charge on the Emperor Raja Laut.
Emperor liveaboards enhance booking confidence with a clear, all-inclusive pricing structure - there are no hidden extras such as taxes, fuel surcharges, or route supplements, and all marine park fees are absorbed into the cruise price. A further benefit for solo travellers is the special guarantee offered by the Emperor Raja Laut liveaboard: a same-sex cabin share is promised, or, if an un-booked cabin is available, it is offered for private use without an additional single supplement.
Cabins onboard the Raja Laut consist of 3 doubles and 3 twins all with air conditioning and en-suite facilities. The cabins are located on the lower deck and are situated around a central lounge, with windows and portholes that allows natural light to enter along with beautiful sea views.
All the cabins have:
- Individual control air-conditioning and fan
- Windows and portholes
- En-suite bathroom with hot-water shower, hand basin, towel & toiletries
- Bedding
- Safety box
- Cabinet, shelves & mirror
- Reading lamp
- 24-hour, 220v electricity supply
- Fire extinguishers
- European-style 2-pin plugs
No. of bathrooms / showers - 6 / 6 - hot water
Komodo National Park (8 Days / 7 Nights - 18 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, drift diving, healthy reefs, very popular, wall diving
Dive sites and activities: Gili Lawa Lawa, Tatawa, Sebayor, Makasar Reef, Wainilu, Batu Bolong, Padar, Nusa Kode, Manta Alley. Komodo dragon tour.
Day 1
Upon boarding the Emperor Raja Laut liveaboard in Labuan Bajo, you'll be shown to your cabin, meet your fellow divers and the crew, and attend a full safety briefing. Meals on your check-in day depend on your arrival time. After a good night's sleep on board, you'll wake up ready for your first full day of diving!
Core Days
Although Komodo is famous for its strong currents, it is home to breathtaking dive sites. Normally, the cruises explore the central and southern areas, including Cannibal Rock and Manta Alley. However, the captain may reroute to the northern sites of Sangeang Volcano and Gili Banta, if conditions are more favourable. In either region, you can look forward to diving among pristine coral reefs, packed with schools of fish. You'll also encounter impressive rock formations and spot barracudas, trevallies, tuna, and reef sharks. The sheer abundance of colour of the reefs is an unforgettable experience!
As the name suggests, Manta Alley is famous for its high concentration of manta rays. It's a key cleaning and feeding station for these majestic creatures. It's not uncommon to see multiple mantas at once, sometimes even dozens on a single dive. They gracefully glide through the water, seemingly unbothered by divers, providing an awe-inspiring show.
Sangeang is an active volcano, and its geothermal activity creates a spectacular underwater environment. The most famous dive site - Bubble Reef - is a must-see. Here, you'll witness streams of volcanic gases, like champagne bubbles, rising from the black, sandy seafloor. You can even feel the warmth of the sand and rocks in some areas, a surreal reminder of the power of the earth below.
The southern dive sites can have cooler water, with temperatures sometimes dropping to 20°C. For this reason, we recommend a 5mm wetsuit and a hood for diving in this area.
Beyond the spectacular scuba diving, you'll also enjoy an unforgettable shore trip to see the famed Komodo dragons. On the second-to-last day of the cruise, the boat will return to port during the afternoon to spend the final night there.
Day 8
After breakfast, you will pack your gear, say your goodbyes, and disembark the Raja Laut for your transfer to Labuan Bajo Airport in time for your onward flight.
Raja Ampat National Park (10 Days / 9 Nights - 22 Dives)
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 - Gam, Penemu, Airborek, Cape Kri area, Wayag, Kawe, Aljui Bay, Misool: Daram, Wayilbatan, Fiabacet and Sel Pele. Land visits from: Aljui Bay pearl farm, Mt Pindito hike, birds of paradise tour, speedboat lagoon tours, caves visit Misool.
Day 1
After you board the Emperor Raja Laut in Sorong, you'll be escorted to your cabin. You'll then have time to meet your fellow divers and the crew, before attending a full safety briefing for the cruise. Your check-in day meals will be served based on your arrival time. Diving will start with a check dive, either on the same day or the following day, depending on your time of boarding.
Core Days
Welcome to Raja Ampat, the ultimate scuba diving destination nestled within the Coral Triangle. On your Emperor Raja Laut liveaboard safari, you'll get to experience the best of this underwater world with 3 daily dives and a night dive on most full diving days. Prepare for an incredible diversity of dive sites. You'll explore deep pinnacles swarming with schools of fish, and walls draped in soft corals and gorgonian fans that shelter tiny nudibranchs and pygmy seahorses. Witness majestic manta rays at their cleaning stations, and encounter a cast of characters including bigeye trevally, wobbegongs, and crocodilefish. When the sun sets, the night dives reveal a world of nocturnal critters, from scuttling lobsters and crabs to a variety of unique shrimp.
Cape Kri is renowned as one of Raja Ampat's most famous and biodiverse dive sites. It's often described as a "fish-soup" for the sheer number of species you'll encounter and holds a world record for the most fish species (374) counted on a single dive.
Aljui Bay, located on the island of Waigeo in northern Raja Ampat, is a beautiful and serene destination known for its stunning landscapes and pristine waters with amazing macro life. It is a large, fjord-like bay with towering limestone cliffs and lush rainforests that create a peaceful and secluded atmosphere.
The Fiabacet region of Misool is famous for its concentration of dramatic, limestone karst formations that rise from the water, creating a stunning backdrop both above and below the surface. These unique landforms are home to a series of world-class dive sites, characterized by vibrant reefs, dramatic underwater topography, and a spectacular diversity of marine life.
Your Emperor Raja Laut adventure isn't limited to the water. In addition to the spectacular dives, you'll also get to enjoy fascinating land excursions. In the north, you can visit the Aljui Bay pearl farm, hike to the scenic overlook on Mt. Pindito, spot incredible wildlife on a birds of paradise tour, or explore hidden lagoons by speedboat. Further south, you'll explore the stunning limestone caves of Misool.
Day 10
Following breakfast, the Raja Laut crew will help you pack your gear and say farewell. You'll then be transferred to Sorong Airport for your flight home.
[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].
All meals on the Emperor Raja Laut liveaboard can either be enjoyed in the indoor main deck dining area, or on the upper deck in the open air, where there is adequate shade to allow you to dine in comfort, starting with dinner on Day 1. Meal times shift depending on whether the day includes 3 or 4 dives, and also on how far the boat travels between dive sites. Emperor Raja Laut follows the schedule of light breakfast, dive, full breakfast, dive, snack, lunch, dive, snack and on occasion night dive and then dinner, sleep and repeat.
On offer is a varied menu of International and Italian cuisine, as well as local Indonesian dishes. With advance notice, various dietary needs, including vegetarian, vegan, and halal, can be accommodated.
Sample menu items:
- Breakfast: A spread of cold cuts, fresh fruits, and muesli. You can also enjoy a variety of breads with butter, along with yoghurt. In addition to these options, the kitchen will prepare your eggs just the way you like them - poached, boiled, or fried.
- Lunch: Enjoy a meal with options like vermicelli soup, mashed potatoes, and rice. These are served with your choice of savoury proteins, including shish tawook, zinger chicken, meatballs, and koshary.
- Dinner: Typically, you'll find roast beef, pasta, sweetcorn soup, and grilled chicken on the menu. These are served with rice, vegetables, and a choice of 4 fresh salads. Desserts are available to finish your meal.
- For vegan guests, a variety of delicious dishes are on offer, which may include options like vegan lasagne, tofu curry, and vegetables. These are served with sides such as rice, pasta, and french fries.
Enjoy the complimentary bar snacks, which include biscuits and fresh fruit. For beverages, you'll have access to a variety of options throughout the day, including tea, coffee, soft drinks, and drinking water.
Alcoholic beverages, including beer, bottled wine, and a selection of spirits, are available for purchase . You can also buy chocolate bars and other sweet treats on board.
"
The Raja Laut is a traditional wooden Phinisi with only 6 cabins, creating a very intimate and quiet atmosphere. The woodwork and interiors are full of character, giving the boat a warm feel. Our cabin was clean and tidy, with a private bathroom and air conditioning. Although not spacious, it was comfortable enough. The crew were very friendly and helpful, especially the dive guides, who were extremely familiar with the currents and dive sites, allowing us to dive safely even in strong currents. Regarding dining, the food on board was generally good, blending Indonesian and Western flavours, with fresh fruit and hot drinks available daily. However, we felt the variety became a little repetitive towards the end of the trip, and more variation would have been welcome." -
Wei Ling, China, 24 February 2024 ...
