MV EMPRESS II

24m / 79ft MAX 10 NITROX PADI WIFI

PRICE PER DAY FROM USD 0

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At a glance:

Cruises in Raja Ampat and Komodo
Maximum of 10 guests only (13 for full charter)
Cabin for single traveller
Rebreather and tech diving compatibility
Steel hulled exploration boat with electric dive lift

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MV Empress II is a unique budget liveaboard option in Indonesia. This is a rough and ready option, built for exploration, wreck and technical diving, offering great dives in Raja Ampat and the Komodo National Park.

These trips are not aimed at tech divers but at general recreational divers on a budget. Tech trips are operated by Empress II in the Java Sea. This is a steel-hulled 24m long motor yacht which can take 10 divers (13 for full charter) in a range of 5 lower deck cabins, mostly with shared bathrooms. Socialising and dining activities can take place in the liveaboard's open-air shaded area, shish lounge, wheel room and sundeck. Saloon entertainment facilities include TV, DVD, music system and computer. Guests can also relax on sun mats or bean bags to work on their tan.

There are many unusual features on MV Empress II including an electric dive lift, rebreather compatibility, long hoses and a defibrillator. However such features do not suggest that this is a deluxe liveaboard option. It is a simple, no-frills cruise option for those on a tight budget who want to dive some of the awesome Indonesian dive sites in Raja Ampat and Komodo National Park.

M/V Empress II normally accommodates 10 guests (13 for full charter) in a variety of 5 lower deck cabins. 1 ensuite cabin with 1 double and 1 single bed (Cabin D). 2 cabins with 1 double and 1 single bunk bed (Cabins B & C), 1 cabin with 3 single beds (Cabin A), and 1 single bed cabin (Cabin E). There is 1 shared bathroom and guests can use the shower on the dive deck. All cabins have air-conditioning and portholes.

All the cabins have:

Air-conditioning (individually controlled, except Cabin E and D share an air conditioner)
Cooling fan
Portholes in all cabins
Shared bathroom with hot-water shower, hand basin, towels & toiletries (except Cabin D)
Hairdryer

Reading light
Bedding
Cabinet, shelves & mirror
24-hour, 220v electricity supply. 2 pin European-style plugs. Adaptors available
Fire extinguishers
Life jackets

No. of bathrooms / showers - 1 / 2

Komodo National Park North (5 Days / 4 Nights - 13 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: Sebayor, Siaba Kecil. Castle Rock, Crystal Rock, Golden Passage, Manta Point, Batul Bolong, Tatawa Besar, Pink Beach, Manta Alley, Three Sisters, Padar, Rinca, visit to see Komodo dragons.

Day 1
An early transfer from either Labuan Bajo airport or a local hotel has been arranged for you so that you can be on board the Empress II and get ready for diving as it will be a busy and fun day right from the start of your Komodo diving cruise, with the liveaboard leaving port at around 10 am. 3 guided dives, with the 1st dive just before lunch and conducted at Sebayor, then 2 afternoon dives at Siaba Kecil and Siaba Besar, plus a night dive before dinner.

Days 2-4
The chef will spoil you with delicious food, thanks to a cuisine of Asian and European influences, using only fresh ingredients found in local markets. A breakfast will follow the 1st dive, while the afternoon dives will take place after lunch, and the night dive will make you hungry in time for dinner.
The Komodo dive sites will be one of the highlights of your diving career! The national park hosts manta cleaning stations, varied nudibranchs, harlequin shrimps, incredible hard and soft coral reefs, and tons of fish everywhere you look. Temperature and currents affect the sites in different ways, generating a high diversity of marine life and scuba possibilities. Look out for barracuda, bumpheads, big groupers and giant trevallies, as well as smaller delights like leaffish, candy crabs and frogfish.
Please not that on the last full day of the safari that are only 3 dives, followed by a barbecue evening and farewell party on a deserted beach.

Day 5
An early tour of Rinca Island just after breakfast to see the famous Komodo dragons. Back to Labuan Bajo harbour at around midday. From there you can be transferred to either the airport or your hotel.

[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].

The crew of 5 comprises:

Cruise Leader/ Instructor
Divemaster
Captain/Engineer

Cook
Deck Hand/Steward

2 Motorised dinghies - 15m² Dive deck with toilet and 2 dive platforms - Rinse tanks - Separate rinse tank and table for cameras - 24m² Wheel room (saloon with TV, DVD and sound system and fan) - Open-air dining area - Computer with CD burner - Movie and book library, games and magazines - Fish ID and diving books - Well stocked bar - Water dispenser - 2 Open-air shaded areas one on the sun deck with bean bags - 20m² Sun deck with sun chairs and mattresses

On each Komodo cruise you can expect at least 2 BBQs, one of which will be served on the beach with a combination of fish, chicken, salads and different salsas.

International and local specialities and BBQs are the themes varied on diving safaris.
Main meals comprise breakfast, lunch and dinner with snacks in between.
Drinking water, soft drinks, tea and coffee, toast and fruit are free of charge.
Beer, wine and spirits are available as additional extras.
The menus are not fixed and meals are served buffet style al fresco in the open-air dining area.
Vegetarian, halal and other special diets are catered for with prior notice.
Catering starts with lunch on cruise check-in day.

Built in 2010, upgraded in 2016, refurbished annually
Size - 28m x 6m
Top speed - 12 knots
Cruising speed -10 knots
2 x 232 HP Yamaha engine
2 x 25 KW generators
2 x Coltri-Sub dive tank compressors
Enriched air nitrox, trimix and long hoses

12 litre aluminium tanks with Int. valves & DIN adaptors
10 x twin sets and rebreather support
Electricity 220v - 24 hours per day
Water capacity - 5,000 litres
Freshwater maker - 2,400 per day
Fuel capacity - 22,000 litres
Environmental storage tank

2 Motorised dinghies
2 x 12 person capacity life rafts
Marine radio
Furuno GPS
Telstra satellite & mobile phones
Underwater radar and side sonar 3D
EPIRB
Bilge pump alarm

Searchlight and horn
Emergency lights / signal devices
Life jackets in cabins / utility room
Fire extinguishers in engine room, kitchen, dive deck, bridge
MFA box and trained staff
2,400 litres of oxygen on board

DEPARTURE SCHEDULE & PRICES

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Dive experience: The standard minimum is 12 logged dives and AOWD licence. In case of more challenging trips like Sorong-Triton Bay and Ambon-Maumere, a minimum of 30 dives and AOWD licence is the standard.

Cruise price per person includes: Cabin accommodation, breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, drinking water, hot drinks, transfers to/from the boat from airport and nearest hotels, dives (as detailed in the trips above), experienced English-speaking divemaster(s), tanks, weights and weightbelts, all taxes.

Cruise price per person excludes (mandatory, unless customer provides own): Nitrox for EANx-certified divers (USD 5 per fill), scuba equipment (USD 30 basic set per day), dive insurance, harbor & park fees (Komodo: USD 170 , Raja Ampat: USD 200). 15 Lt tank (USD 5 per tank). Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival (cash only).

Optional extras: Alcoholic drinks, soft drinks, torch, dive computer, SMB recommended. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival.

How to get there: Komodo: MV Empress II operates from Labuan Bajo. You can fly direct to Labuan Bajo from Bali.
Raja Ampat: The liveaboard departs in the afternoon from Sorong in West Papua. You can fly directly to Sorong from Jakarta, Ujung Pandang (Makassar) and Manado. From Bali there are convenient connections via Ujung Pandang (Makassar) and Manado.
Triton Bay: Cruises beginning or ending here use the port of Kaimana in the south of West Papua, which you can fly to from Ujung Pandang (via Ambon), or from Sorong.
Flores: Fly direct to the port of Maumere from Bali (or via Makassar from Jakarta or Kuala Lumpur).
Ambon/Banda: Fly direct to Ambon from Jakarta (or from Sorong or Surabaya). For more information see our travel information section. We can assist with domestic flights if necessary. There is a transfer service from the local airport to and from the boat.
Check-in is at 11am - 12 noon, before the boat departs in the afternoon towards the its first destination. The last dive of the tour will be at around 12 noon on the second last day of the cruise. Check-out is at 9 am (except Komodo cruises - 12 noon). Please wait at least 18 hours before flying after diving.

Non-diver rate: 10% off the published price.

Single supplement (if you do not want to share accommodation): There is a single bed cabin on this boat. Otherwise, this is optional - single travellers may choose to share another cabin, or pay a supplement of 90% of the published price for their own cabin.

Dive clubs and group discounts: See whole boat charter prices below.

Whole boat charter rate (per night): Pay for 8 divers and an additional 2 divers can go free of charge (total 10 divers).

Click to view product. Special discounted trips highlighted in yellow

Amira

From USD 368 per day

Customer rating: Excellent!

LIVEABOARD SEARCH

MV EMPRESS II

Komodo National Park North (5 Days / 4 Nights - 13 Dives)

DEPARTURE SCHEDULE & PRICES

MORE TRIP DETAILS