Epica has 6 standard twin bed cabins on the main deck. All cabins share 2 bathrooms.
Raja Ampat National Park North & Central (7 Days / 6 Nights - 19 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: Dampier Strait, excursion to Arborek Island, Manta Sandy, Penemu Islands, Kawe, Aljui Bay, Yefmo, Gam, Mioskon Island visit
Day 1
You will either meet the Epica’s crew at the Waisai ferry terminal or, you can take the VIP transfer from the Meridian Hotel lobby at 07:30 hrs for the transfer to the Waisai ferry, which departs at 09:00 hrs. If you are renting gear, you should check into the Scuba Republic shop the day before to size your gear). The 2 hour crossing will provide lots of time to swap diving stories and expectations for your Raja Ampat liveaboard cruise. If you are going to be in Waisai already, then meet the other guests/staff at the harbour at 11:00 hrs as they get off the ferry. Once onboard you’ll be shown to your allocated cabin and then join your fellow divers and crew for the welcome briefing, prep your gear and join the check dive. The rest of the day is at your leisure. Lunch and dinner is served on the main deck. Toast your Raja Ampat diving vacation with sunset drinks before turning in for the night.
Days 2 - 6
Your diving safari routine will be a rotation of diving, eating and relaxing. The dive site selection will be determined by the cruise director who will consider the natural elements (current, weather and tide) as well as the interests and experience of the group. Raja Ampat provides plenty of sites to suit even the most experienced or particular diver.
After breakfast all divers and guides meet on the dive deck where you will listen to the dive briefing of the 1st morning dive. Expect to witness the beauty of Raja Ampat, the most biodiverse region in the world, from the very first dives till the end of your trip. You will be astounded to discover pristine coral reefs, sponges, sea fans and an explosion of marine life in different sizes and shapes. Lunch and dinner are freshly prepared and offer a mix of local and international cuisine, and are served 'family-style' on the upper deck. Meals and snacks will give you plenty of energy for all the wonderful dives (3 or 4 per day) on this cruise. Countless nudibranchs and invertebrates will be hard to find without the help of the expert guides, while there will be no need for help to enjoy the view of manta rays being cleaned by wrasses. You can also check out reef sharks swimming near the sandy bottom, schools of mackerel, tuna and barracuda hunting anthias, glassfish and other small dwellers of the reef.
Day 7
As time has a habit of doing, it will slip away all too soon and your last dive will be upon you at 07:00 hrs. There is time to wash your gear so it will dry while the sails are hoisted and you cruise back to Waisai. This is a wonderful opportunity to capture your last memories and share contact info with your new diving friends. A light lunch is served before you depart the Epica for your ferry transfer to Sorong at 14:00 hrs (arriving at 16:30 hrs at the latest).
Raja Ampat National Park South & Central (9 Days / 8 Nights - 25 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: Dampier Strait: Sardine, Mioskon, Batanta: US airforce P37, Black Beauty, Happy Ending, Misool: Magic Mountain, Boo Windows, Farondi, Fiabacet; Four Kings, Cape Kri, Melissa's Garden, Citrus Ridge, Manta Ridge
Day 1
You will either meet the Epica’s crew at the Waisai ferry terminal or, you can take the VIP transfer from the Meridian Hotel lobby at 07:30 hrs for the transfer to the Waisai ferry, which departs at 09:00 hrs. If you are renting gear, you should check into the Scuba Republic shop the day before to size your gear). The 2 hour crossing will provide lots of time to swap diving stories and expectations for your Raja Ampat liveaboard cruise. If you are going to be in Waisai already, then meet the other guests/staff at the harbour at 11:00 hrs as they get off the ferry. Once onboard you’ll be shown to your allocated cabin and then join your fellow divers and crew for the welcome briefing, prep your gear and join the check dive. The rest of the day is at your leisure. Lunch and dinner is served on the main deck. Toast your Raja Ampat diving vacation with sunset drinks before turning in for the night.
Days 2-8
Your diving safari routine will be a rotation of diving, eating and relaxing. The dive site selection will be determined by the cruise director who will consider the natural elements (current, weather and tide) as well as the interests and experience of the group. Raja Ampat provides plenty of sites to suit even the most experienced or particular diver.
After breakfast all divers and guides meet on the dive deck where you will listen to the dive briefing of the 1st morning dive. Expect to witness the beauty of Raja Ampat, the most biodiverse region in the world, from the very first dives till the end of your trip. You will be astounded to discover pristine coral reefs, sponges, sea fans and an explosion of marine life in different sizes and shapes. Lunch and dinner are freshly prepared and offer a mix of local and international cuisine, and are served 'family-style' on the upper deck. Meals and snacks will give you plenty of energy for all the wonderful dives (3 or 4 per day) on this cruise. Countless nudibranchs and invertebrates will be hard to find without the help of the expert guides, while there will be no need for help to enjoy the view of manta rays being cleaned by wrasses. You can also check out reef sharks swimming near the sandy bottom, schools of mackerel, tuna and barracuda hunting anthias, glassfish and other small dwellers of the reef.
Day 9
As time has a habit of doing, it will slip away all too soon and your last dive will be upon you at 07:00 hrs. There is time to wash your gear so it will dry while the sails are hoisted and you cruise back to Waisai. This is a wonderful opportunity to capture your last memories and share contact info with your new diving friends. A light lunch is served before you depart the Epica for your ferry transfer to Sorong at 14:00 hrs (arriving at 16:30 hrs at the latest).
[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].