Banda, Ambon, Alor & Forgotten Islands (12 Days / 11 Nights - 32 Dives)
Trip highlights: hammerhead sharks, shark action, 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 Island, Pulau Buya, Takpala Village; Forgotten Islands: Nil Desparandum, Serua, Damar Island, Nyata, Reon, Wetar, Manuk, Pulau Pisang, Banda Sea: Pulau Suanggi, Banda Neira, Ambon: Nusa Laut, Laha, Duke of Sparta wreck, Pintu Kota. Visit the old historic town of Banda Neira, Fort Belgica, and nutmeg plantation.
Day 1
Launch into Indonesia’s deepest, most secluded dive frontier. The exceptional Ilike liveaboard awaits your arrival at Alor harbour (or Ambon, depending on direction). After a warm greeting and essential orientation, the Ilike departs, setting its initial course into the Pantar Strait. Lunch and dinner are provided onboard, ensuring you settle seamlessly into your comprehensive dive adventure.
Core Days
This extensive cruise is designed for experienced divers seeking the thrill of Indonesia's most remote frontier diving, offering a spectacular array of marine life from schooling pelagics to rare macro subjects. The diving in the Alor archipelago, including the Pantar Strait, Kalabahi Bay, Pura Island, and Pulau Buya, is defined by healthy reefs and varied conditions. Here, you will encounter schools of fish, oversized bumphead parrotfish, giant trevally, and a wealth of macro life such as rhinopias, hairy frogfish, and pygmy seahorses. A cultural stop at Takpala Village provides a unique topside experience.
Sailing through the Banda Sea, the Ilike connects Alor with the historically significant Banda Islands and the Forgotten Islands. Dive sites like Nil Desparandum, Serua, Damar Island, Nyata, Reon, Wetar, and Manuk, offer spectacular wall dives and pristine seamounts. The strong, nutrient-rich currents often attract large pelagics, including dogtooth tuna, mobula rays, and potential sightings of schooling hammerhead sharks. The remote nature of this region ensures an intensity of marine life seldom seen elsewhere. Pulau Suanggi is another key stop in the Banda area.
The expedition culminates around the Banda Islands and Ambon. Around Banda Neira, you will step ashore to explore the historic town, visit Fort Belgica, and tour a traditional nutmeg plantation, linking your dive trip with the region's rich spice trade heritage. In the water, Ambon Bay and sites like Laha and Pintu Kota are world-renowned for muck diving, yielding incredible macro subjects like the endemic Ambon scorpionfish, Halimeda ghostpipefish, and flamboyant cuttlefish. You will also experience vibrant reef diving around Nusa Laut and explore submerged history at the Duke of Sparta wreck, capping off a definitive experience with the Ilike liveaboard.
Day 12
Wake up to your final breakfast on board before preparing for disembarkation at Ambon (or Alor, if travelling in reverse).
Halmahera & Lembeh (9 Days / 8 Nights - 24 Dives)
Trip highlights: hammerhead sharks, shark action, manta rays, 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: Halmahera: Saleh, Patintie Strait, Goriachi, Tifore, Bangka Island, Lembeh Strait
Day 1
Two distinct underwater realms, megafauna and macro, are combined. The Ilike liveaboard deep-water expedition begins at Labuha harbour. Once you are settled in your cabin and have completed the essential boat briefing, the Ilike immediately sets off for the Patintie Strait. You will enjoy both lunch and dinner onboard as the ship cruises toward the location of your first spectacular dive.
Core Days
This safari combines the remote, high-energy diving of Halmahera with the world-renowned muck sites of the Lembeh Strait. Halmahera is a geological marvel, featuring dive sites that range from ancient volcanoes to ridges and pinnacles, creating exceptional conditions for encounters with schooling pelagics. Exploring locations such as Saleh, Goriachi, and Tifore, you can expect pristine, uncrowded coral gardens that host batfish, surgeonfish, tuna, and mackerel. Larger sightings may include hammerheads, oceanic whitetip sharks, and bumphead parrotfish. Halmahera is a secret gem, promising some of Indonesia's finest coral reefs and the chance for wreck diving.
As the Ilike liveaboard moves towards the northern region, the focus shifts to the exceptional macro life of the Lembeh Strait. This protected passage, famous for sites like Hairball and Nudi Falls, is the world capital of muck diving. Here, on the black sand slopes, expert dive guides will help you locate the most sought-after critters on the planet: the mimic octopus, flamboyant cuttlefish, various frogfish, harlequin shrimps, and countless nudibranch species.
The transition between the large-scale reefs and pelagic action of Halmahera, including the unique dive sites around Bangka Island and the Patintie Strait, and the intimate, rare micro-subjects of the Lembeh Strait, ensures a perfectly balanced, world-class diving holiday. The sheer variety of marine encounters available on the Ilike is sure to delight any diver.
Day 9
Enjoy your final breakfast on board the Ilike before preparing for disembarkation at Manado Airport, concluding your incredible Indonesian adventure.
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 Sabolan, Komodo: Nusa Kode, Padar, Manta Alley, Pink Beach, Komodo Central, Gili Lawa Darat, Castle Rock, Crystal Rock, Sangeang. Walk with Komodo dragons.
Day 1
A pristine Komodo scuba adventure awaits. Your journey into the heart of this protected marine sanctuary begins the moment you step aboard the magnificent Ilike liveaboard at Labuan Bajo. Following a thorough welcome and vessel orientation, lunch is served while the anchor is weighed. The afternoon's cruise sets the stage for a delightful onboard dinner, bringing you closer to the region's first spectacular dive sites.
Core Days
This voyage focuses on the powerful currents and vibrant ecology of the Komodo archipelago, offering scuba divers unparalleled access to legendary dive sites. The diving is split between the northern, central, and southern zones, ensuring a broad experience of the park's diverse habitats. Sites such as Crystal Rock, Castle Rock, and those around Gili Lawa Darat epitomise the exhilarating northern diving, characterised by strong currents and massed schools of pelagic fish, including giant trevally, tuna, and reef sharks.
As the Ilike navigates further into the park, the dramatic geography around Komodo Central and Padar provides dynamic dive profiles. Manta Alley in the south and certain regions near Nusa Kode are world-famous for their resident manta ray populations, giving you the chance to observe these majestic creatures gliding effortlessly at cleaning stations. At sites like Pink Beach, the shallow reefs offer colourful coral gardens contrasting beautifully with the rich blue water.
The trip also incorporates exploration of the more sheltered diving areas. Around the shores of Sabolan and the volcanic sands of Sangeang, the focus shifts to macro subjects, guided by the experienced crew of the Ilike liveaboard. Look closely for unusual critters hiding among the pristine coral walls. Furthermore, no trip to this iconic location is complete without a memorable land excursion: you will disembark to undertake a supervised walk to observe the formidable Komodo dragons in their natural, prehistoric environment. The commitment of the Ilike to showcasing the park’s full range ensures a deeply satisfying experience.
Final Day
Enjoy your final breakfast onboard the Ilike before preparing to disembark back at Labuan Bajo harbour, concluding your extraordinary Indonesian diving experience.
Komodo National Park & Sumbawa
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: Sabolan, Komodo: from Gili Lawa Laut/Darat, Komodo Central, Padar, Nusa Kode, Manta Alley, Pink Beach, Crystal Rock, Castle Rock, Sumbawa: Sangeang, Bima Bay. Walk with Komodo dragons.
Trips that use the port of Bali may also visit Sumbawa: Moyo, Satonda.
Day 1
The grand Indonesian dual-destination charter starts now. Board the Ilike liveaboard in Labuan Bajo (or Bali, depending on the route). After securing your luggage and receiving a comprehensive safety overview from the crew, enjoy lunch. The vessel weighs anchor in the early afternoon and begins its cruise toward the first dive sites, as you settle in for your initial night onboard.
Core Days
This cruise offers a rewarding blend of 2 distinct Indonesian dive territories: the world-famous Komodo National Park and the remote, relatively untouched waters of Sumbawa. The Ilike navigates the nutrient-rich currents of Komodo, visiting famous northern sites like Castle Rock and Crystal Rock near Gili Lawa Laut/Darat, where you can expect schooling fish, grey reef sharks, and large trevally. In the central areas, dive the reefs around Padar and Komodo Central, before moving south to the celebrated Manta Alley where you will observe the majestic reef mantas frequenting their cleaning stations. The shallow waters off Pink Beach provide a stunning contrast with their colourful corals.
After Komodo, the Ilike liveaboard provides access to the diverse environments of Sumbawa. Near the active volcanic island of Sangeang, divers can explore unique black sand sites, including the 'Bubble Reef' created by geothermal vents. This area, along with Bima Bay, is a macro photographer's haven, rich with rhinopias, various frogfish, and rare nudibranchs.
For trips embarking or disembarking at Bali, the Ilike may also visit the islands of Moyo and Satonda in Sumbawa. Moyo features pristine coral gardens and dramatic walls where turtles and schooling fusiliers are commonly seen. Further north, Satonda is famed for its unique saltwater crater lake. Whether you are exploring the volcanic slopes of Sangeang or the dynamic drift dives of Komodo, the Ilike offers a truly diverse diving experience.
No trip to this region is complete without meeting its famous residents. A land excursion is included to walk with the legendary Komodo dragons, offering a spectacular experience away from the water. Cruising onboard the Ilike ensures you visit the best sites of both these exceptional diving destinations.
Final Day
Wake up to your final breakfast on board the Ilike before preparing for disembarkation at either Labuan Bajo or Bima harbour.
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
Dive sites and activities: Komodo Central, Nusa Kode, Manta Alley, Pink Beach, Gili Lawa/Darat, Castle Rock, Crystal Rock, Flores: Sabolan, Palue, Maumere, Lembata, Alor: Pura Island, Pantar, Kalabahi Bay, walk with Komodo dragons
Day 1
Prepare for the ultimate cross-archipelago dive safari. Upon arriving at Labuan Bajo harbour in Flores, you will be warmly received by the Ilike crew. Once settled and fully briefed on the yacht's operations, the Ilike immediately departs for Komodo. Lunch and dinner are prepared and served as you glide toward the initial diving hotspots, initiating a truly diverse safari.
Core Days
This exceptional tour combines the classic, high-octane pelagic action of Komodo National Park with the intense macro and reef diving found further east in Flores and Alor. The Ilike navigates Komodo's powerful currents, visiting sites like Castle Rock and Crystal Rock near Gili Lawa/Darat, which are famous for attracting schools of large fish, including trevally and reef sharks. Further south, the renowned Manta Alley provides frequent opportunities to observe feeding and cleaning manta rays, while Komodo Central offers dynamic wall and pinnacle dives. A key highlight away from the water is a guided walk to see the imposing Komodo dragons in their native habitat.
Continuing east, the Ilike liveaboard moves towards the Lesser Sunda Islands, where the marine environment changes dramatically, offering unique cold-water thermoclines and exceptional benthic diversity. Diving around Flores, including sites near Sabolan, Palue, and Maumere, introduces you to spectacular hard and soft coral formations. These locations are celebrated for outstanding macro life, with dive guides helping you spot rhinopias, ghost pipefish, frogfish, and numerous species of nudibranchs that thrive in the nutrient-rich waters.
The final stages of the Ilike's diving tour focus on the remote Alor archipelago, including Pantar, Kalabahi Bay, and Pura Island. This region is a paradise for critter enthusiasts, known for species like the hairy frogfish, wonderpus octopus, bobbit worms, and pygmy seahorses. Alor's dive sites, such as the Pantar Strait, offer a variety of underwater conditions, supporting a dense population of fish including whitetip reef sharks, giant trevally, and oversized bumphead parrotfish, ensuring an exhilarating and varied dive profile for certified divers.
Final Day
Enjoy your final breakfast onboard the Ilike before disembarkation at Alor harbour, marking the end of your comprehensive Indonesian diving cruise.
Komodo, Banda Sea & Ambon (15 Days / 14 Nights - 40 Dives)
Trip highlights: hammerhead sharks, shark action, dolphins, manta rays, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics, non diving activities
Diving environment: advanced divers, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving
Dive sites and activities: Komodo National Marine Park: north and south, Padar; Manuk, Banda Sea: Banda Neira, Ambon: Nusa Laut, Laha, Duke of Sparta wreck, Pintu Kota. Visit the old historic town of Banda Neira, Fort Belgica, and nutmeg plantation. Visit the Komodo dragons.
Day 1
The crew will collect you at Labuan Bajo Airport in Flores or a local hotel and transfer you to the harbour where the Ilike liveaboard awaits you. Cabins will be assigned to each guest and there will be a boat briefing to familiarise you with the boat's facilities and crew. Once all guests are onboard and port clearance has been granted, the yacht will depart for Babi Island. Lunch and dinner will be served during the first day of your cruise.
Core Days
Komodo National Park, of myth and legend where dragons roam, is surrounded by rich nutrient-rich waters where a kaleidoscope of colour and life awaits intermediate and advanced scuba divers. Expect to see schools of reef fish gathered around amazing hard and soft coral formations that attract big hunters like barracuda, trevallies, tunas and reef sharks. The strong currents attract mantas, dolphins, sunfish and eagle rays. Look out for critters too as they will be everywhere, from submerged walls to sandy flat bottoms, expert dive guide will help locate them - pygmy seahorses, ghost pipefish, frogfish, rhinopia, nudibranchs, ribbon eels, sea apples and blue-ringed octopus, to name just a few.
The Banda Sea deserves its reputation as one of the world's best dive regions and the Banda Islands never fail to deliver great diving on colourful and thriving coral reefs that attract hundreds of different species of fish. Dogtooth tuna and mobula rays, whales and dolphins, banded sea kraits, massive schools of fusiliers, there is an extraordinary variety of marine life and the sheer volume of fish life is astonishing. It is not uncommon to see hammerheads at the more remote sites here. Ambon Bay is a centre for incredible muck diving and tiny critters. It is famed for its endemic Ambon scorpionfish, plus Halimeda ghostpipefish, spiny devilfish, rhinopia, waspfish, fingered dragonets, flamboyant cuttlefish, and a huge range of morays.
The chef does the groceries between each trip. He goes to local markets and picks the fresh fruit, vegetables, meat and fish that he prefers and creates an amazing menu. If we meet local fisherman during the trip, and they have fresh fish or seafood, the chef will not hesitate to surprise you! The mix of international and local dishes will meet everyone’s expectations: from delicious Nasi to a juicy burger. Tasty meals make happy divers, we know.
Meals are served at the outdoor table towards the stern of the boat. In case of rain, covers are provided so you can still enjoy the outdoor life. Before the early morning dive, we provide coffee, tea, cookies and fruit. We want to be in the water ASAP. There will be a cooked to order breakfast between the 1st and 2nd dive, including fresh fruit, pancakes, eggs to your choice, hot entrees, cereals and fruit juices. Ilike is also famous for its fresh homemade bread each day, unique in Indonesia! Lunch is buffet style and usually features Indonesian cuisine and pasta. After lunch, you will look forward to the 3rd, and sometimes 4th dive (night dive). Dinner is served table-side after the last dive, and includes salad, vegetables, seafood, beef or chicken, with a fresh homemade dessert. Snacks and soft drinks are available throughout the day.
After 1 or 2 dives, the boat will arrive back in port during the evening of the penultimate day.
Day 15
Wake up to your final breakfast on board before heading to a hotel or Ambon Airport in time for your flight.
Note: this itinerary sometimes operates in reverse so please check exact port details above.
Raja Ampat & Halmahera (11 Days / 10 Nights - 30 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: Daram, Fiabacet, Boo, Pelee, Wayilbatan; Penemu, Dampier Strait; Pisang, Halmahera: Saleh, Patintie Strait, Goriachi, Tifore
Day 1
Uncover a contrast of worlds: Raja Ampat’s spectacle and Halmahera’s solitude. Your trip aboard the Ilike liveaboard starts in Sorong harbour, where you will be greeted and welcomed. Once briefed and settled in your cabin, the vessel sets course for the Dampier Strait, serving lunch en route. Dinner is enjoyed onboard, setting the tone for the thrilling dives to come.
Core Days
This safaris offers divers a rich contrast, starting with the unparalleled biodiversity of Raja Ampat. The diving here covers the iconic sites of Misool, including Daram, Fiabacet, Boo, and Pelee, where the limestone karsts plunge into the ocean, providing spectacular walls thickly coated in soft coral and fan gorgonians. Expect abundant schools of sweetlips, soldierfish, and triggerfish, alongside sightings of endemic wobbegong sharks.
The Ilike then transitions to the central Raja Ampat area, focusing on the nutrient-rich currents of the Dampier Strait. Sites in this region, such as those near Penemu, offer exhilarating drift dives and are known for attracting larger species like manta rays, trevallies, and barracudas. Macro life is excellent across the region, with pygmy seahorses, pipefish, and numerous nudibranchs rewarding the keen eye.
As the Ilike liveaboard moves westward, the diving shifts to the pristine, less-visited reefs of Halmahera. This area, encompassing sites like Sali, Patintie Strait, Goriachi, and Tifore, is considered a hidden gem, offering exceptional coral gardens and a diversity of dive profiles from pinnacles to ancient volcanoes. Schools of batfish and surgeonfish are common, and the rich waters can attract oceanic pelagics, including hammerheads, tuna, and Napoleon wrasse. Exploring the reefs around the Patintie Strait specifically, provides an opportunity to experience both macro life and big fish action. Halmahera also holds secrets in its muck sites; searching under the docks in sheltered bays often reveals unique critters. This combined tour offers a comprehensive Indonesian diving experience, from the fish-packed sites of Raja Ampat to the remote, healthy reefs of Halmahera, all from the comfort of the Ilike.
Day 11
Enjoy your final breakfast onboard the Ilike before disembarkation at Labuha.
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 - Misool Island, Penemu, Yangeffo, Dampier Strait; Pisang Island, Triton Bay: South Aiduma, North Aiduma, Bitsjara Bay. Mormon Waterfall.
Day 1
The exceptional Ilike liveaboard welcomes you aboard at Sorong harbour (or Kaimana, if reversing the route). Following your seamless embarkation and a key briefing, you will settle into your cabin before the ship lifts anchor for Misool. Lunch and dinner will accompany your start into this pristine water exploration.
Core Days
This spectacular diving tour spans the world’s most biodiverse waters, starting in Raja Ampat. The southern Misool Island region provides some of the most colourful and untouched coral reefs on Earth. Dive sites such as Daram, Boo, Pelee, and Wayilbatan are densely blanketed in soft coral and fan gorgonians, offering visibility and marine life density that must be seen to be believed. Look for endemic wobbegongs and epaulette sharks here, alongside cruising turtles and schools of sweetlips.
The Ilike then navigates north, allowing you to experience the famed central Raja Ampat region. Diving the Dampier Strait and sites around Penemu and Yangeffo exposes you to stronger currents that attract large schools of barracudas and trevallies, plus reef sharks. This area is renowned for manta ray encounters and unparalleled macro life, including numerous nudibranchs, jawfish, and ghost pipefish.
The voyage continues east to the relatively unexplored frontier of Triton Bay. This area is celebrated for its unique soft coral gardens and huge formations of black coral, surrounded by rugged topside scenery. Sites like South Aiduma, North Aiduma, and Bitsjara Bay offer a distinct diving experience. Triton Bay is known for potential sightings of whale sharks near local fishing platforms and resident pilot whales. Critters abound here, with frogfish and ornate ghost pipefish commonly found. Land excursions may include a visit to the picturesque Mormon Waterfall.
Cruising between these remote locations ensures a truly comprehensive dive safari, offering the full range of Indonesian marine environments from the comfort of the Ilike liveaboard.
Final Day
Wake up to your final breakfast on board the Ilike before disembarkation at Kaimana (or Sorong, if travelling in reverse).
Raja Ampat National Park (11 Days / 10 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, wall diving
Dive sites and activities: Raja Ampat - Misool: Daram, Fiabacet, Boo, Wayilbatan, Wagmab, Farondi, Penemu, Kawe, Yangelo, Dampier Strait
Day 1
The Coral Triangle's undisputed crown jewel is your destination. Your deep-water scuba expedition begins at Sorong harbour. Following a smooth reception and an essential boat briefing, you will quickly settle into your quarters as the Ilike departs, heading directly toward the famed Misool islands. The evening provides a chance to relax over dinner as your unparalleled dive charter commences.
Core Days
This dive cruise is engineered to showcase the astonishing range of environments within Raja Ampat, combining the deep south's vibrant soft corals with the pelagic-rich currents of the central Dampier Strait. The southern Misool islands form the cornerstone of the cruise, focusing on spectacular sites such as Daram, Fiabacet, Wagmab, and Farondi. Here, underwater pinnacles are densely carpeted in soft corals and enormous sea fans, attracting huge schools of reef fish, barracuda, and trevallies.
As the Ilike liveaboard moves north, you will encounter the famous sites of the Dampier Strait, known for powerful currents that bring plankton and, subsequently, big marine life. Sites in this central region offer exceptional action, where you may spot manta rays at cleaning stations, grey reef sharks, and schools of fusiliers. Land excursions may include a stop at Penemu for the iconic topside view of the karst islands, offering a photographic perspective of the region's dramatic geography.
The diving around Kawe and Yanggelo presents a phenomenal mix of macro and wide-angle subjects. The sheer concentration of life is outstanding; look for endemic species like the walking epaulette sharks on shallow reefs and the colourful wobbegongs resting on the seabed. From the tiny pygmy seahorses clinging to gorgonians to the schooling bumphead parrotfish cruising the reefs, the Ilike ensures you experience the absolute best of Raja Ampat’s legendary underwater wealth.
Day 11
Enjoy your final breakfast onboard the Ilike before disembarkation at Sorong harbour, concluding your definitive liveaboard experience in Raja Ampat.
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 - Misool: Daram, Fiabacet, Boo, Wagmab, Farondi, Penemu, Yangeffo, Dampier Strait
Day 1
Experience the epicentre of marine life: Raja Ampat. This ultimate scuba exploration of the south and central regions begins with your welcome aboard the Ilike liveaboard at Sorong harbour. After a quick orientation, the yacht casts off, immediately setting a course for Misool. Savour dinner as you begin the first leg of your cruise, anticipating the unparalleled diving ahead.
Core Days
This trip focuses on the world's epicentre of marine biodiversity, combining the kaleidoscopic reefs of Misool with the exhilarating current dives of the Dampier Strait. The south, particularly around Misool, provides spectacular underwater scenery defined by pristine, species-dense limestone karst formations. Diving sites such as Fiabacet, Boo, Wagmab, and Farondi immerse you in an explosion of soft corals and massive sea fans, hosting countless reef fish, including sweetlips, snappers, and the endemic wobbegong sharks.
The Ilike's expert dive guides navigate the diverse environments, allowing you to discover the park's unparalleled macro life, from pygmy seahorses and ghost pipefish to a vast array of colourful nudibranchs. In the Misool area, sites like Daram and Boo are renowned for their abundant hard and soft coral gardens, making it difficult to decide whether to focus on wide-angle scenery or the intricate macro subjects nestled within the reef structure.
Transitioning north, the Ilike takes you towards the central Raja Ampat region. A visit to Penemu offers spectacular topside views of the jagged karst islands, followed by exhilarating drift dives in the Dampier Strait. This area is celebrated for pelagic encounters; the powerful currents here attract blacktip reef sharks, large schools of trevallies and barracudas, and feeding rays. The combination of Misool's quiet, vibrant reefs and the dynamic, fish-rich waters of the Dampier Strait provides a comprehensive and truly world-class diving experience on the Ilike liveaboard. The sheer volume of life encountered ensures every dive is a unique highlight, from bumphead parrotfish and turtles grazing the shallow areas to the smaller but equally impressive jawfish and mushroom coral pipefish.
Final Day
Wake up to your final breakfast on board the Ilike liveaboard before disembarkation at Sorong harbour.
Raja Ampat, Banda Sea & Ambon
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: Daram, Fiabacet, Boo, Wayilbatan; Penemu, Yangeffo, Dampier Strait; Koon Island, Banda Islands, Nusa Laut, Ambon
Day 1
The confluence of biodiversity and history starts here. Prepare to discover Raja Ampat and the Banda Sea on an ultimate expedition. Your dive charter launches from Sorong harbour (or Ambon, if starting from the opposite end). After the requisite welcome and briefing, you’ll settle in as the Ilike immediately sets sail for Misool. Enjoy a relaxing meal as you cruise into the eastern Indonesian expanse.
Core Days
The initial phase of the voyage is dedicated to the hyper-biodiverse reefs of Raja Ampat. The diving focuses heavily on Misool Island and its legendary sites, including Daram, Fiabacet, and Boo. These southern pinnacles boast immaculate coral gardens, teeming with schooling reef fish, cruising turtles, and the photogenic, endemic wobbegong sharks. The Ilike then moves north, providing access to the dynamic central region, including the viewpoint at Penemu and the fish-aggregation sites of the Dampier Strait and Yangeffo. Here, current-swept reefs provide exhilarating drift dives alongside blacktip reef sharks, trevallies, and cruising manta rays.
Crossing the deep Banda Sea, the expedition moves towards the historically significant Spice Islands. The Banda Islands and nearby Koon Island offer spectacular wall diving and pristine reefs, charactersed by phenomenal water clarity. The isolation of this region attracts large pelagics; divers may encounter schools of dogtooth tuna, mobula rays, and even dolphins or whales visible from the deck of the Ilike. This leg of the trip often includes a fascinating land tour of the Banda Islands, allowing you to explore the old colonial town and its historic sites.
The final days are spent exploring the rich marine life around Nusa Laut and Ambon. Ambon Bay is internationally renowned for its exceptional muck diving, where you can search for rare macro life, including the endemic Ambon scorpionfish. Meanwhile, Nusa Laut provides beautiful reef diving. This comprehensive Ilike liveaboard diving cruise showcases the massive difference in marine ecology between Raja Ampat's coral jungles and the deep, rich waters of the Banda Sea.
Final Day
Enjoy your final breakfast on board before disembarkation at Ambon Airport (or Sorong, if travelling in reverse).
Raja Ampat, Lembeh & Halmahera (13 Days / 12 Nights - 40 Dives)
Trip highlights: 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: Daram, Fiabacet, Boo, Wayilbatan; Penemu, Dampier Strait; Pisang, Halmahera: Saleh, Pokeh, Goriachi, Tifore, Lembeh Strait: Hairball, Nudi Falls, Coral Garden
Day 1
A diving trifecta awaits: reef, pelagic, and muck. Your deep-water exploration of Indonesia's most celebrated dive sites commences at Sorong harbour. After being welcomed aboard the Ilike and briefed by the crew, find comfort in your cabin. Lunch is served as the yacht sails, charting a course toward the iconic Misool area, providing a restful start before the full diving itinerary unfolds.
Core Days
This extraordinary transit trip provides a comprehensive cross-section of Indonesian marine ecology, beginning in Raja Ampat. The diving starts in the south around Misool, renowned for its pristine coral gardens and high species density at sites such as Daram, Fiabacet, Boo, and Wayilbatan. Here, the focus is on wide-angle scenery: soft coral-covered walls, vast schools of reef fish, and sightings of endemic wobbegong sharks. Moving into the central Dampier Strait, sites like Penemu offer dynamic current dives where you can observe blacktip reef sharks, trevallies, and cruising barracudas.
The Ilike liveaboard then crosses to Halmahera, a hidden gem offering diverse habitats. Explore volcanic landscapes and healthy coral reefs around Sali, Pokeh, Goriachi, and Tifore. Halmahera is known for its excellent wide-angle diving, attracting large pelagics like tuna and mackerel, and offering the chance of encountering hammerheads and bumphead parrotfish. The sheer variety of dive sites, from ridges to muck patches, showcases the area's rich, yet relatively unexplored, biodiversity.
The final highlight is the famous Lembeh Strait, the world capital of muck diving. Dive sites such as Hairball, Nudi Falls, Police Pier, and TK3 promise unparalleled macro encounters. Scuba divers should prepare their cameras for the weird and wonderful: mimic octopus, flamboyant cuttlefish, harlequin shrimps, skeleton shrimps, seahorses, and a phenomenal range of nudibranchs, all found on the black sand substrate. This combination of 3 distinct regions ensures that the Ilike provides a complete exploration of Indonesia's biggest pelagics, most vibrant reefs, and rarest critters.
Day 13
Wake up to your final breakfast on board the Ilike before disembarkation at Manado Airport, concluding your spectacular dive safari.
[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 day spent on the Ilike liveaboard is a comfortable cycle of exceptional diving and hearty, satisfying meals. For certified divers exploring Indonesia, this routine ensures you maximise your time sub-surface while being expertly catered for on deck.
The day begins early, prioritising getting divers into the water quickly to catch the best conditions. Before the first dive, you can enjoy coffee, tea, cookies, and fruit. Following your initial dive, a proper, cooked-to-order breakfast is served between the first and second dives. This expansive spread is vital for recovery and includes fresh fruit, cereals, fruit juices, and hot entrees such as pancakes and eggs prepared exactly to your specification. The Ilike is particularly noted for its fresh homemade bread, which is baked daily and is a unique feature in this region.
Lunch is presented buffet-style, typically featuring delicious local Indonesian cuisine alongside pasta options. Afternoons are dedicated to more diving, focusing on the 3rd dive, and for those keen for further exploration, sometimes a 4th or night dive is scheduled. Complimentary soft drinks and snacks are available throughout the day to keep energy levels consistently high.
Dining takes place at the outdoor table towards the stern of Ilike, offering an authentic setting that can be sheltered with covers should the weather require it. The menu is varied and generous, designed to satisfy appetites whetted by long dives, featuring a mix of international favourites and Western feasts. You might find a satisfying juicy burger offered alongside a local specialty like nasi.
The chef takes pride in acquiring fresh produce; between cruises, he personally visits local markets to select the highest quality fish, meat, vegetables, and fruit. Should the Ilike liveaboard encounter local fishermen during the trip, the chef will occasionally surprise guests with an impromptu serving of freshly caught seafood. Dinner is served table-side after the final dive of the day, comprising salad and vegetables, an entrée of seafood, beef, or chicken, and always concluding with a fresh homemade dessert.
Should you be celebrating an important milestone, such as an anniversary, a birthday, or your 100th dive, please advise the crew when completing your booking form so they can help mark the occasion.
While the crew aims to accommodate all dietary requirements, please note that the remote nature of the Ilike’s Indonesian cruise locations may occasionally restrict the availability of certain specialty requests.
