As a premier contemporary Phinisi, the 47m long Indo Master liveaboard, launched in 2022, was explicitly built by experienced divers to operate across the full scope of the Indonesian archipelago. Constructed in Sulawesi from durable, locally-sourced ironwood and teak, the Indo Master marries traditional Indonesian shipwright excellence with high modern standards. Its seasonal diving cruises grants divers access to the Coral Triangle’s most celebrated locations, including the biodiversity hotspots of Raja Ampat, Komodo, Halmahera, the Banda Sea, and Triton Bay.
The Indo Master maintains a generous space-to-guest ratio, accommodating a maximum of 18 passengers across its spacious cabins, supported by a 16-person crew. All cabin types, which include double, twin, and a family suite, are air-conditioned and feature private ensuites with hot water. A notable feature of the Indo Master accommodation are the upper deck cabins, which benefit from sea views and private balconies. Guests will also appreciate the convenience of an onboard guest laundry service.
The main deck is the hub of onboard life, hosting a large bar, restaurant, and lounge area. This interior space features comfortable seating and expansive windows, creating a bright atmosphere ideal for enjoying meals or relaxing. Additional amenities here include a large flat-screen TV and a charging station. Further outside, towards the bow, there is a shaded outdoor lounge that provides a quieter retreat during surface intervals. Up top, the huge sun deck is furnished with comfortable seating for socialising and enjoying the views aboard the Indo Master.
Dive operations on the Indo Master liveaboard are conducted using 2 high-powered Zodiac tenders, ensuring safe and efficient transportation to all reef entries. The dedicated dive deck is celebrated for its sheer size and functionality, featuring 2 heads and freshwater showers immediately adjacent to the kitting-up area. Practical storage lockers are also provided for smaller personal dive items like masks and slates.
Acknowledging the needs of modern image-makers, the vessel provides specialist areas that enhance the diving holiday. Dedicated benches for preparing and charging camera and video equipment are available, along with separate rinse tanks for delicate gear. Beyond diving, the Indo Master offers complimentary kayaks for guests wishing to explore lagoons and provides a welcome massage service, adding a layer of extra comfort and relaxation.
With its combination of wide-ranging destination access, high-quality modern amenities, and a crew-to-guest ratio that ensures attentive service, a cruise on the Indo Master liveaboard provides a superior way for scuba divers to explore the finest waters of Indonesia.
Banda Sea & Ambon (11 Days / 10 Nights - 32 Dives)
Trip highlights: hammerhead sharks, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics
Diving environment: advanced divers, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, wall diving
Dive sites and activities: Pulau Suanggi, Gili Manuk, Serua, Banda Islands: Pulau Run, Ai, Karang Hatta, Banda Neira, Batu Kapal, Lava Flow, Pohon Miring; Nusa Laut, Ambon. Land visit in the Banda Islands - colonial influences and nutmeg plantation.
Day 1
How often do you get the chance to sail across the legendary Banda Sea, tracing the routes of ancient spice traders while seeking schooling pelagic life? Your incredible deep-sea diving voyage starts with embarkation in Ambon, where the purpose-built Indo Master awaits. Following a full orientation to inspire confidence and an essential safety rundown, the remaining daylight hours allow you to get your dive kit prepped. As dusk settles, you'll share your first meal on the deck as the Indo Master liveaboard begins its long, exhilarating navigation toward the remote, fabled Spice Islands.
Core Days
The Banda Sea stands as one of Indonesia's most exciting and least-visited diving destinations, and this cruise is structured to provide access to its greatest features. The initial days focus on exposed, oceanic pinnacles where nutrient-rich currents fuel spectacular pelagic encounters. At sites like Serua, divers can anticipate the potential for large schooling hammerhead sharks. Isolated islands such as Pulau Suanggi and Gili Manuk offer dramatic wall dives, attracting enormous aggregations of dogtooth tuna, mobula rays, and schools of trevally and mackerel, guaranteeing high-octane action.
Diving around the historic Banda Islands reveals legendary coral health and vitality. Sites including Pulau Ai, Pulau Run, and Karang Hatta are characterised by vast, thriving hard coral gardens and a magnificent density of reef fish life, including immense schools of fusiliers and snappers. Near Banda Neira, the Lava Flow site presents a unique geological spectacle where fast-growing hard corals cling to the dark volcanic substrate. Quieter dive spots like Batu Kapal and Pohon Miring offer rewarding macro dives.
A fantastic break from the aquatic world is the dedicated land excursion on Banda Neira. You will step ashore to explore the island's captivating past, viewing colonial-era fortifications like Fort Belgica, and gaining insight into the historical nutmeg trade by visiting a plantation.
The concluding days focus on the macro diving capital of Ambon. While the reef at Nusa Laut offers excellent visibility and pristine hard corals, the true focus for critter hunters is Ambon Bay. The silty, dark volcanic sand provides a globally celebrated location for muck diving. Here, you will hunt for endemic species such as the Ambon scorpionfish, along with rhinopias, spiny devilfish, and the strikingly patterned flamboyant cuttlefish. The diversity of experiences, from powerful offshore currents to sheltered macro havens, ensures the Indo Master liveaboard is the vessel of choice for this demanding region.
Day 11
Enjoy a final breakfast aboard the Indo Master before disembarking at the port in Ambon, completing your remarkable diving exploration of the Spice Islands.
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 Sangeang, Gili Lawa Laut, Komodo Island, Pantai Merah, Gili Banta, Tatawa, Karang Makassar, Batu Bolong, Manta Alley, Rinca: Wainilu, Padar: Three Sisters. Komodo dragon walk.
Day 1
The sheer concentration of life in Komodo National Park, harbouring approximately 1,000 species of fish, makes it one of the world's most biodiverse, current-swept dive destinations. This fact sets the stage for your exclusive liveaboard expedition, commencing upon your arrival at Labuan Bajo. Stepping aboard the formidable Indo Master, designed for seasoned divers, the afternoon is dedicated to securing your private accommodation and setting up equipment. After a comprehensive briefing detailing the vessel and safety protocols, the first dinner is served as the yacht commences its passage to the northern dive zone.
Core Days
This trip provides a complete exploration of the Komodo archipelago, balancing exhilarating drift diving with highly rewarding critter spotting. The northern dive sites offer high-energy, nutrient-rich action; near Sangeang, explore volcanic slopes known for unique macro species and geothermal activity. Off Gili Lawa Laut, brace yourself for the thrilling currents sweeping across the famous pinnacles of Castle Rock and Crystal Rock, where the sheer volume of reef fish and patrolling grey reef sharks can be spectacular.
Moving south, the central region holds some of Komodo's most celebrated dives. The sheer-sided pinnacle of Batu Bolong acts as a fish aggregation point, where massive schools of fusiliers, snappers, and giant trevally seek refuge from the strong currents. A drift over the wide, flat reef of Karang Makassar is famed for encounters with oceanic manta rays, often observed gliding over the sandy bottom. For a picturesque moment, the fringing reefs near Pantai Merah offer gentle diving in clear, shallow water, complemented by its unique coastline.
As the Indo Master heads into the cooler southern waters, the marine life thrives on planktonic richness. The Indo Master liveaboard ensures you experience Manta Alley, a high-density aggregation area where multiple manta rays gather to feed. Further highlights include the exposed sites near Gili Banta and Tatawa, which present challenging, rewarding dives over expansive, healthy coral coverage. The quieter, sheltered areas are not forgotten; Wainilu, off Rinca Island, provides outstanding conditions for muck diving, revealing a treasure trove of cryptic species and rare invertebrates.
The aquatic adventure concludes with the dramatic, multi-level rock structure of Padar's Three Sisters. Additionially, your time here includes a signature land experience: a guided Komodo dragon walk on Rinca, offering a privileged perspective on the park's formidable, terrestrial apex predator before the return cruise of the Indo Master liveaboard.
Final Day
Enjoy a relaxed final breakfast while docked in port. Disembarkation is scheduled in Labuan Bajo, concluding your exceptional Komodo diving adventure.
Raja Ampat National Park Central (8 Days / 7 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: Batanta, Fam, Penemu, Waigeo: Gam, Yangeffo, Mayhem, Citrus Ridge; Airborek, Mansuar, Dampier Strait, Cape Kri and Sardine Reef
Day 1
The tour leader, having just finished his briefing, motioned toward the bow, signalling that the Indo Master was ready to depart Sorong, the entry point to the Coral Triangle's central hotspot. The initial hours on board are crucial: receive your detailed vessel orientation, then prepare your dive gear in the dedicated area. Enjoy your evening meal shortly thereafter, as the yacht leaves port under the cover of night, aiming for the famous central Raja Ampat sites where you can start diving early the next morning.
Core Days
This trip aboard the Indo Master liveaboard immerses you in the region of the Dampier Strait, celebrated for having the highest recorded fish count globally. Dive sites like Cape Kri and Sardine Reef offer the quintessential Raja Ampat experience: staggering biomass including vast schools of yellow snappers and fusiliers that blanket the reef, pursued by blacktip reef sharks and giant trevally. We explore vibrant slopes and current-swept corners around Mansuar and Arborek, which are constantly refreshed by tidal surges, maximising the large pelagic action.
Moving beyond the immediate strait, the Indo Master explores the islands of Waigeo, including Gam and Yangeffo. Sites such as Citrus Ridge and Mayhem present complex topography with spectacularly adorned pinnacles, showcasing colossal soft corals and sea fans. These are excellent grounds for spotting the endemic species like the epaulette ‘walking’ shark and the formidable wobbegong shark resting on the substrate. For divers dedicated to macro subjects, the volcanic sands near Batanta provide rich hunting for rare invertebrates.
The cruise ensures visits to the iconic karst scenery of Fam and Penemu. The dives here offer breathtaking hard coral gardens and walls that drop into the blue, often visited by turtles. From wide-angle photo opportunities over densely covered reefs to close-up shots of cryptic marine life, this central Raja Ampat Indo Master liveaboard trip offers definitive variety for scuba divers.
Day 8
Enjoy your final morning meal on board before disembarking in Sorong, concluding your snap-shot Raja Ampat liveaboard safari.
Raja Ampat National Park South & Central (11 Days / 10 Nights - 32 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, Farondi, Boo, Wayilbatan, Kalig and Warakaraket; Batanta, Fam, Penemu, Waigeo: Gam, Yangeffo, Mayhem, Citrus Ridge; Airborek, Mansuar, Dampier Strait, Cape Kri and Sardine Reef
Day 1
This 2-zone itinerary aboard the Indo Master liveaboard is the definitive way to explore the full ecological spectrum of Raja Ampat. Your paramount diving expedition, spanning the wealth of Raja Ampat's south and central regions, commences with your boarding in Sorong. Utilise the afternoon period for essential tasks: settling into your assigned private cabin and ensuring your dive gear is configured correctly. A thorough safety briefing follows. Dinner marks the beginning of the Indo Master's necessary overnight transit, positioning the vessel well south toward the pristine Misool archipelago.
Core Days
The southern segment of this trip focuses on Misool, a sector internationally recognised for its dramatic, pristine underwater scenery. Sites like Farondi, Boo Windows, Kalig, and Warakaraket present an underwater carnival of giant soft corals and massive sea fans clinging to submerged limestone karsts. Diving here is defined by exceptional clarity over healthy reefs teeming with schooling snapper and fusilier, providing a vivid contrast against the deep blue. The sheer variety of life, from cruising reef sharks to intricate macro subjects like pygmy seahorses hidden within the gorgonian fans, exemplifies Misool’s premier ecological status.
As the Indo Master navigates north, the diving profile shifts to the central region, specifically the high-energy environments of the Dampier Strait. Famous dive sites such as Cape Kri and Sardines provide certified divers with intense drift action amidst phenomenal fish biomass. Expect to be surrounded by immense schools of barracuda, giant trevally, and blacktip reef sharks. Exploring the volcanic sands and sheltered reefs around Batanta offers a shift in focus, providing excellent opportunities for specific muck diving encounters and critter hunting.
The final days are spent weaving through the central islands of Waigeo, Gam, Yangeffo, and the Dampier Strait proper. Sites like Citrus Ridge are renowned for their rich tapestry of soft corals, while Mayhem offers exhilarating dives over exposed pinnacles. The area near Mansuar and Airborek often yields close encounters with oceanic manta rays at established cleaning stations, a true highlight of the Indo Master liveaboard trip.
Before concluding the diving portion, a stop at Fam or Penemu allows for a rewarding ascent to a lookout point, offering spectacular panoramic views over the iconic mushroom-shaped islands that define Raja Ampat's topography. The expertise of the Indo Master crew ensures you maximise the potential of every site.
Day 11
Following a quiet breakfast, you will disembark from the Indo Master in Sorong, concluding your extensive exploration of Raja Ampat.
Raja Ampat, Lembeh & Halmahera (13 Days / 12 Nights - 36 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: Dampier Strait, Manta Sandy, Cape Kri, Sardine Reef, Yangeffo, Penemu; Pisang, Batjan, Halmahera, Patantie Strait, Guraici, Tamo-Tamo Islands, Makian, Tifure, Lembeh Strait. Land visit to the iconic Penemu viewpoint in Raja Ampat and to Tangkoko Batuangus Nature Reserve in North Sulawesi to see tarsiers, macaques and cuscus
Day 1
It’s a common misconception that Indonesian diving is uniformly warm and relaxing; this crossover expedition to Raja Ampat, Halmahera, and Lembeh challenges that notion by demanding versatility. This extensive dive safari, uniting 3 distinct environments, begins with your boarding of the Indo Master liveaboard in Sorong. Upon stepping aboard, all scuba divers are taken through a comprehensive safety and vessel orientation. The entire balance of the afternoon is set aside for the task of kit preparation before enjoying the first evening meal, as the yacht immediately begins its nocturnal run into the famed Dampier Strait.
Core Days
The initial phase focuses on the unparalleled coral reefs of Raja Ampat's central region. You will spend time on classic sites like Cape Kri and Sardine Reef, renowned for their incredible fish volume, where schools of jackfish, snapper, and barracuda congregate in strong currents, attracting patrolling grey reef sharks. A highlight is Manta Sandy, providing reliable opportunities to observe oceanic manta rays at their cleaning station. Further exploration includes the thriving reefs around Yangeffo. Before sailing further west, the Indo Master offers a short but rewarding ascent to the Penemu viewpoint, granting panoramic views over the mushroom-shaped islands.
This epic transit trip then leads to the remote waters surrounding Halmahera, visiting seldom-dived locations such as Pisang, Batjan, and the Tamo-Tamo Islands. The diving around Guraici and the Patantie Strait is characterised by pristine, colourful reefscapes and volcanic pinnacles. Sites like Tifure offer exciting conditions, including the chance for sightings of large pelagics like dogtooth tuna and barracuda. The geographical diversity of this section includes both lush coral gardens and intriguing black sand sites near Makian, offering the chance for distinctive macro photography.
The final destination is the world-famous muck haven, the Lembeh Strait. This body of water is a must for divers seeking the unusual, and the Indo Master facilitates access to the best sites. The dark silt bottom conceals astonishing cryptic life; look out for flamboyant cuttlefish, several species of frogfish, and rare octopus. The expertise of the Indo Master crew ensures you gain the most from this demanding environment.
To conclude the land-based portion of this trip, you will visit the Tangkoko Batuangus Nature Reserve in North Sulawesi, providing a privileged opportunity to view spectral tarsiers, black macaques, and cuscus in their natural habitat.
Day 13
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast aboard the Indo Master after arriving at the port of Bitung before disembarking.
[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 expedition with the Indo Master liveaboard through Indonesia establishes a familiar and comforting routine, placing essential nourishment directly between world-class dives. A pre-breakfast is provided before the first dive briefing, ensuring guests are awake and prepared for the early start. Strategically timed, full main meals follow the 1st, 2nd, and 4th dives, facilitating proper recovery. Later in the afternoon, after the 3rd dive, light refreshments such as homemade cakes or fried bananas are served. Throughout the day and night, complimentary purified water, coffee, herbal teas, and soft drinks are freely available.
All main dining is hosted buffet-style in the main deck dining area. The menu is varied, blending Western options with local cuisine from Indonesian, Thai, and Filipino traditions, guaranteeing dishes are made with the freshest possible seafood, meats, and vegetables. Dinner is served buffet-style after the final dive of the day. This provides a substantial and diverse selection, ranging from mild local specialities to international favourites. Alcoholic drinks, including beer, wine, and cocktails, can be purchased and consumed only after all diving is complete, in line with strict safety protocol.
