Seeking the ultimate small-group dive adventure at an affordable price point? The 23-metre Gaya Baru Indah liveaboard offers scuba divers a chance to discover a 'new beautiful style' of cruising Indonesia. This traditional Phinisi schooner specialises in short, value-focused excursions to the highly sought-after regions of Raja Ampat and the Banda Sea, making it an excellent fit for independent travellers and budget-conscious enthusiasts.
The operational focus of the Gaya Baru Indah is on intimacy, restricting passenger capacity to just 8 guests. This ensures a highly relaxed setting and an exceptionally strong service ethic, supported by the crew. Critically for serious divers, underwater excursions benefit from a low diver-to-guide ratio, typically capped at 4 guests per guide, providing focused and expert supervision on every drop-off.
Diving procedures are designed for simplicity and comfort. Access to the dive sites is via 2 tenders, ensuring quick transfers for the small groups. Gaya Baru Indah's practical dive deck features bench seating with under-seat storage and dedicated rinse tanks for both dive equipment and sensitive camera gear. Scuba divers will find their bottom time maximised, as enriched air nitrox is free of charge for all EANx qualified guests.
For those bringing underwater photography systems, the vessel provides a dedicated charging station near the cabins, equipped with 30 European standard 220V sockets. This power supply is available daily from 6 am to 10 pm. This focus on practical amenities supports the intensive diving schedule aboard the Gaya Baru Indah liveaboard.
Aboard the Gaya Baru Indah, relaxation spaces are entirely open-air and communal. The main deck provides sunbeds and sun mats for unwinding, while the upper deck offers tables and chairs. Awnings are deployed for essential shade during the day, yet are retracted in the evening, inviting appreciation of Indonesia’s remote night skies.
The culinary experience supports the casual environment. Meals are presented buffet-style in the indoor dining area, which benefits from fan cooling and natural cross breezes. The chef prepares a variety of Western favourites and authentic Indonesian specialities. Simple snacks, water, tea, and coffee are always available, confirming the Gaya Baru Indah liveaboard's commitment to delivering a straightforward, quality, small-group liveaboard experience.
There are 4 air-conditioned cabins on the Gaya Baru Indah liveaboard. On the lower deck there are 2 double bed beds (140x200 cm) cabins and 1 twin bunk bed cabin. On the main deck there is another twin bunk bed cabin. There are no ensuite bathrooms, rather 3 shared freshwater shower rooms with soap and shampoo provided.
All the cabins have:
- Air conditioning and cooling fans
- Openable portholes or hatches
- 3 shared bathrooms with hand basin and cold water shower
- 2 shared toilets
- Towels and toiletries
- 220V electricity (6 am - 10 pm)
- Reading lights
- Life jackets
- Luggage space
No. of bathrooms / showers - 3 / 3 - cold water
Raja Ampat National Park Central (7 Days / 6 Nights - 18 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: Saonek Kecil, Batu Lima, Dampier Strait, Cape Kri, Blue Magic, Sardine Reef, Lalosi, Manta Sandy, Manta Ridge, Arborek, Citrus Ridge, Mayhem, Black Forest, Yeben Shallows, Mangrove Ridge, Penemu, Aljui Bay Pearl Farm
Day 1
This dive adventure commences in Waisai. Upon stepping aboard the Gaya Baru Indah, you'll be greeted and settled before an onboard lunch marks your departure. The afternoon features a crucial check-out dive a chance to perfect your trim and test your gear leading into a relaxed dinner and the start of your multi-day dive rhythm.
Core Days
Spanning the central and northern reaches of Raja Ampat, this route plunges you into the global epicentre of marine life. Prepare for descents onto reefs so rich they are obscured by massive, swirling clouds of damselfish, soldierfish, anthias, and angelfish. The ample deck space of the Gaya Baru Indah liveaboard is your launchpad to this extraordinary ecosystem.
The Dampier Strait delivers the region's most powerful currents and, consequently, its most electrifying dives. Thrilling sites like Sardines and Cape Kri are renowned for attracting large pelagics; here, you'll encounter schools of bumphead parrotfish, streamlined barracuda, and dogtooth tuna. The experience culminates at Blue Magic, a reliable cleaning station where divers frequently pause to witness the silent, awe-inspiring ballet of majestic manta rays overhead.
Beyond the adrenaline of the currents, the Gaya Baru Indah explores quieter zones. Search the jetties and slopes of Batu Lima and Saonek Kecil for the area's prized macro subjects: rare rhynophias, cryptic frogfish, ghost pipefish, and tiny pygmy seahorses. Don't miss the endemic wildlife: spot the unique walking epaulette sharks patrolling the shallows of Mangrove Ridge and Yeben Shallows, and find the distinctive wobbegong sharks resting on the sand at Lalosi.
The journey includes dives on the spectacularly preserved hard and soft coral structures of sites like Black Forest, Mayhem, and Citrus Ridge. Take a break from the water for a spectacular climb to the iconic Penemu viewpoint, offering panoramic views of the dramatic karst islands. A unique twilight dive at the Aljui Bay Pearl Farm adds muck diving to your logbook. This tour aboard the Gaya Baru Indah is a declaration that you are diving the planet's most biologically abundant marine frontier.
Day 7
Your successful diving expedition concludes after your final breakfast on the Gaya Baru Indah, followed by disembarkation at Waisai harbour.
Raja Ampat National Park South & Central (10 Days / 9 Nights - 27 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 - Batanta, Pulau Dayang, Diversity, Misool: Balbulol, Farondi, Daram, Yellit and Boo; Dampier Strait: Blue Magic, Sardine and Cape Kri
Day 1
This exploration launches from Waisai harbour. Guests board the Gaya Baru Indah and are welcomed by the crew before finding their comfort in their cabins. As the afternoon unfolds, the ship weighs anchor and departs. To ensure smooth diving throughout the journey, the initial check-out dive takes place shortly thereafter, providing an opportunity to verify equipment and fine-tune buoyancy ahead of the celebratory welcome dinner.
Core Days
The primary focus of this expedition is the dramatic juxtaposition between the north and south, starting with the legendary Misool region. Here, towering karst formations provide a dramatic topside vista, while underwater, sites like Boo, Yellit, and Farondi, reveal a realm of soft coral cathedrals. Expert divers will spend days exploring these vibrant pinnacles, passing through an underwater maze where oversized sea fans host endemic species and dense schools of snappers and sweetlips swarm the current lines.
Transitioning to the central sector, the Gaya Baru Indah targets the high-flow channels of the Dampier Strait. This area offers a complete contrast, specialising in massive pelagic encounters. Famed sites such as Blue Magic, Sardine Reef, and Cape Kri become the theatre for observing grey reef sharks, huge schools of trevally, and the spectacular sight of majestic manta rays queuing at designated cleaning stations. The guaranteed high-octane action here validates Raja Ampat’s status among discerning divers.
Day 10
After a final, hearty breakfast served aboard the Gaya Baru Indah, guests will proceed with a smooth disembarkation at Waisai harbour, marking the close of the safari.
Raja Ampat, Banda Sea & Ambon (12 Days / 11 Nights - 34 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, off the beaten track, wall diving
Dive sites and activities: Raja Ampat - Misool: Farondi, Daram, Yellit, Boo; Pisang, Koon, Banda Islands: Hatta, Banda Neira, Suanggi, Ambon. Visit Portuguese and Dutch fortresses, nutmeg plantation.
Day 1
Guests may board the boat between 10:00 and 12:00 hrs with most arriving to Waisai on the 9am ferry from Sorong. A welcome drink will greet you as you step on board before you are shown to your cabin and can begin to put your dive gear together. Lunch is the time to say hello to your fellow guests as the boat leaves the harbour around 13:00 hrs. A check-out dive normally takes place on the afternoon of day 1 to ensure everything is in place for the full diving days ahead. Dinner will be served before you settle down for a good night's sleep.
Core Days
You can expect an easy to follow daily schedule and days full of fun - pre-breakfast, 1st dive, breakfast, 2nd dive, lunch, 3rd dive, snacks and dinner. On 3 evenings of this cruise there will be a night dive at 19:00 hrs and a later dinner. On every full day of the cruise you will awaken to a light casual pre-breakfast of tea coffee, toast and fruit before dive 1. The large communal wooden dining table is the setting for the 3 main meals you will enjoy each day. The dining area is cooled by fans and cross-breezes through open windows on both the port and starboard side. Drinks and snacks are always on hand during the day to keep you refreshed.
Your playground is an area known for having the greatest underwater biodiversity in the world! Even the muck diving is unique when you dive in Raja Ampat: wonderpus, ghost pipefish, various types of nudibranchs are some of the long list of critters here. Don't forget to bring a wide angle lens as the safari will also allow you to witness majestic mantas, reef sharks, wobbegongs and endless schools of pelagic fish.
In October and November large schools of hammerhead sharks gather around the Ring of Fire in the Banda Sea. Whales and large pelagic fish such as mola mola, dogtooth tuna and sailfish are frequently spotted, too. Most of these dive sites can only be visited by liveaboard due to their very remote location. Along the way you will visit the original spice islands of Banda with their rich and at times tragic history as well as many other beautiful small islands and dive along their walls and coral gardens. The visibility is generally very good and the water is warm. The season is short as the area can only be dived during the change of the monsoon winds in October/November or in April/May.
There are 3 dives (last dive 15:00 hrs) on day 11, the last full day of the safari.
Day 12
You have reached the end of this amazing cruise. Disembark at Ambon.
Note these trips sometimes run in reverse so please study the departure information.
[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].
An unforgettable experience aboard the Gaya Baru Indah liveaboard is built upon a simple, satisfying cycle of diving and dining, ensuring divers exploring Indonesia remain rested and refuelled. The daily schedule is straightforward: pre-breakfast, 1st dive, breakfast, 2nd dive, lunch, 3rd dive, snacks, and then dinner.1
The day starts early with a light snack or pre-breakfast served before the first dive briefing and the subsequent descent, typically around 7:30 am. Upon returning to the surface from this first dive, a full breakfast is served to properly fuel you for the rest of the morning's activity. The schedule continues with the second dive, followed by lunch and a substantial mid-day surface interval, perfect for relaxing on deck, sunbathing, or a bit of snorkelling.
The onboard chef is dedicated to providing high-quality, international, and Indonesian (local) cuisine. Meals are included in the trip price and are served for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with snacks in between.
In the afternoon, the third dive is completed, often followed by a snack or an excursion ashore to a viewpoint or beach. As evening approaches, sunset drinks are served, leading into the option of a night dive before dinner.
Dinner with Gaya Baru Indah marks the final main meal of the day, offering a generous and varied selection as a rewarding conclusion to your diving activities. This substantial evening meal features a rotation of local and international dishes; you can expect to find comforting options such as various meat and fish-based choices, pasta dishes, soups, and rice. The chef strives to cater to all dietary requirements if they are communicated in advance.
Water, tea, coffee, soft drinks, and electrolytes are complimentary throughout the trip. Once diving is complete for the day, beer and wine are available for purchase.
"
Great liveaboard experience in Raja Ampat. The food was good, and the crew was amazing. They catered to my gluten-free dietary needs. I enjoyed the dives and what they pointed out to me. I also appreciated how accommodating they were to me.
Air circulation in the cabins could be improved. It got very hot at night, even with the fans. Also they advertised nitrox on the dives but it wasn't available." -
Joan Kato, United States, 4 March 2023 ...
