For experienced scuba divers intent on achieving genuine adventures and sensible expenditure throughout the Indonesian archipelago, the KLM Jaya liveaboard is an established choice. This traditional 6-sail Phinisi schooner has a highly credible operational history, benefiting from a captain who has logged many years steering the vessel through the waters of Komodo and Raja Ampat. This long-standing experience allows the Jaya team to execute precise navigation to key sites, ensuring favourable conditions and maximising experiences across the famed Coral Triangle regions.
The intimate guest number of 14 guarantees a level of crew attention and fosters a uniquely close-knit atmosphere. The Jaya offers diverse accommodation: standard twin-bed cabins with shared bathrooms for budget-conscious solo travellers, alongside more premium double-bed cabins featuring private en-suites. All lower deck cabins feature both natural ventilation from portholes and ceiling windows, as well as individually controlled air conditioning and fans for personal comfort. The inclusion of fresh, organic linen provides a comforting touch.
Daily life centres on the large, shaded main deck dining area. This space transitions throughout the day, serving as the spot for informative dive briefings and becoming the social focal point for sharing stories and logging dives during surface intervals. It is designed to promote interaction and is central to the overall experience aboard the Jaya liveaboard.
The dive deck is configured for maximum practicality. All primary dive equipment is stored on Jaya's main deck, where there is dedicated shelving for smaller items. Underwater photographers will particularly appreciate the fresh water rinse tanks, positioned conveniently for post-dive care of expensive camera housings.
Above the main deck, relaxation is straightforward and focused on the stunning environment. The open sun deck is equipped with large sun mats and bean bags, offering guests the ideal space to relax after multiple daily immersions. This simple set-up reinforces the Jaya’s commitment to providing great diving without unnecessary distractions.
Ultimately, the appeal of the Jaya liveaboard lies in its unpretentious competence. For divers prioritising submerged time in Raja Ampat and Komodo, backed by a veteran crew and operating at an accessible price point, this traditional vessel is a trustworthy foundation for any Indonesian diving holiday.
The KLM Jaya has 7 cabins, all located on the lower deck: 2 double bed cabins and 1 double/twin bed cabin, each with a private bathroom, and 4 twin bed cabins (each with 2 single beds) that share 2 bathrooms.
All the liveaboard cabins have:
- Individually controlled air conditioning and fans
- Portholes
- Bathrooms have toilet, hand basin and cold water shower
- Reading lights and space for luggage
- 100% Organic cotton bedding and towels
- Life jackets and fire extinguishers
- 220V electricity supply with round 2-pin sockets - available 24-hrs per day
No. of bathrooms / showers - 5 / 5 - cold water
Banda Sea & Ambon
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: from Ambon Bay, Suanggi, Nusa Laut, Mammala, Banda Islands: Run, Ai, Karang Hatta, Batu Kapal, Banda Neira Harbour, Gunung Api, Gili Manuk. Optional Fort and Nutmeg Plantation tour.
Day 1
The sharp, invigorating smell of nutmeg and cloves from the ancient Spice Islands greets you as you step onto the dock. This feeling marks the start of your deep-sea adventure into the legendary Spice Islands. You will board the bespoke Jaya liveaboard in Ambon. The afternoon provides ample time to secure your equipment and receive the necessary safety orientation before an initial check dive in the world-famous Ambon Bay, a recognised haven for rare macro subjects. Dinner follows as the Jaya makes its evening departure for the remote Banda Sea.
Core Days
This cruise provides an intensive cross-section of the Banda Sea, shifting between high-energy blue water dives and intricate muck sites, offering a full range of Indonesian diving experiences. The opening dives exploit the sheltered black sands of Ambon Bay, a recognised hub for critter hunting, focusing on species like the endemic Ambon scorpionfish, ornate ghost pipefish, and various frogfish. The fringing reefs of Nusa Laut offer a brilliant contrast with colourful coral walls and clear visibility.
Heading out into the open Banda Sea, the volcanic seamounts dominate the diving. Gili Manuk and the active volcano Gunung Api are key attractions, their exposed positions making them magnets for schooling fish, sea snakes, and larger pelagic species. Scuba divers should anticipate currents and the potential for hammerhead sightings, large tuna, and mobula rays. The remote nature of Suanggi and Mammala ensures pristine, uncrowded exploration. The Jaya is your ideal base for navigating these challenging, rewarding waters.
Arriving at the historic Banda Islands, the underwater topography shifts to spectacular coral gardens. Sites including Pulau Run, Pulau Ai, and Karang Hatta offer vibrant, healthy reef ecosystems and steep drop-offs blanketed in massive sea fans, all easily accessible from the Jaya liveaboard. The dive at Batu Kapal provides deep bommies where schools of reef fish gather.
While anchored near Banda Neira Harbour, take the optional land tour to immerse yourself in the area’s colonial past, visiting the historic Fort and a working nutmeg plantation, a fascinating glimpse into the origins of the spice trade.
Final Day
A last breakfast is served on board before disembarking in Ambon.
Raja Ampat National Park North & 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: from Raja Ampat - Dampier Strait: Cape Kri, Mansuar, Yenbuba, Sawandarek, Arborek, Penemu, Fam Islands, Kawe, Aljui Bay, Gam, Manta Sandy. Arborek Village island visit, Penemu viewpoint, beach visit with flying foxes.
Day 1
This diving charter is the definitive way to experience the sheer, unmatched fish biomass of Raja Ampat. The central and northern Raja Ampat diving expedition commences the moment you board the Jaya liveaboard in Waisai. After securing your comfortable cabin, a comprehensive boat orientation is mandatory, followed by an opportunity to meet your fellow explorers. The afternoon is efficiently scheduled for equipment preparation and a local check dive in the sheltered waters. As evening approaches, dinner is served on the main deck, setting the stage for the Jaya's overnight transit towards the region's premier, current-fed dive sites.
Core Days
The tour focuses on the Dampier Strait, known globally for its extreme marine biodiversity. Dive sites here are subject to strong currents, which funnel nutrient-rich water past the reefs, feeding spectacular concentrations of life. At Cape Kri, divers witness phenomenal fish biomass, including schooling barracuda, giant trevally, and patrolling reef sharks. Nearby, Manta Sandy is a world-renowned cleaning station where you can reliably observe oceanic and reef manta rays gracefully circling. Further exploration of the strait takes us to sites like Mansuar, Yenbuba, and Sawandarek, offering diverse encounters from colourful macro subjects to cruising bumphead parrotfish.
Moving north, the Jaya sails towards the islands of Kawe and the sheltered waters of Aljui Bay. The deep bays and fjords of Aljui Bay provide exceptional night diving and critter hunting opportunities, focusing on tiny treasures like pygmy seahorses and various nudibranch species along the walls, contrasting sharply with the exposed pinnacles of Kawe that attract pelagics. The extensive range of this Jaya liveaboard trip ensures that both wide-angle enthusiasts and macro specialists find plenty to photograph.
Interspersed with the diving, several land excursions offer a unique perspective on the archipelago. We visit the iconic, submerged karsts of Penemu, where a short climb rewards you with the quintessential Raja Ampat viewpoint over the lagoon. A community visit to Arborek Village provides fascinating insight into local Papuan life. Additionally, the Jaya crew schedules a specific evening beach visit, known for the stunning spectacle of thousands of flying foxes departing for their nightly feeding grounds across the islands.
Final Day
Awake to a final morning on the Jaya. After a last magical dive and then packing your gear, enjoy a leisurely breakfast before disembarkation in Waisai, concluding your unforgettable experience in the heart of 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: from Raja Ampat - Batanta, US Air Force P47, Dampier Strait: Mioskon, Cape Kri, Mensuar, Arborek, Gam; Misool: Magic Mountain, Boo Windows, Farondi, Fiabacet; Four Kings, Yilliet, Wayilbatan. Trek to a spectacular waterfall in Batanta, Jellyfish lake in Misool, visit breath-taking viewpoint of Bintang Lagoon at Penemu.
Day 1
With the warm breeze on deck, the captain smiled and welcomed you aboard, confirming that the long-awaited crossing to Misool was finally about to begin. Your comprehensive diving safari of Raja Ampat's south and central zones commences as you board the economy Jaya liveaboard in Waisai. Following a thorough crew introduction and orientation, the afternoon is dedicated to the meticulous task of assembling your gear. Your first dinner on board is a celebratory event as the Jaya begins its crossing toward the dramatic limestone scenery of the Misool archipelago, ready for the adventure ahead.
Core Days
The initial focus is the stunning southern region of Misool, celebrated for its limestone karst topography both above and below the surface. This section of the cruise includes exploration of sites such as Daram, Fiabacet, Boo Windows, and the intricate reefs around Wayilbatan and Yilliet. Divers here will encounter an explosion of soft coral growth and sponges, massive schools of reef fish, and excellent visibility. Notably, Magic Mountain stands as a premier dive site for encounters with oceanic manta rays and schooling pelagics, providing a true highlight of the Jaya liveaboard experience.
As the Jaya moves north, the tour shifts to include the renowned dive sites of the Dampier Strait, known for their high-voltage, current-fed diving. Highlights include the high-action pinnacles of Cape Kri and the nutrient-rich walls of Mioskon, Mensuar, and Arborek, where the fish biomass is phenomenal, featuring schools of barracuda, snapper, and various reef sharks. The famous Dampier Strait currents make these locations a testing yet supremely rewarding dive.
In between exhilarating dives, Jaya incorporates several iconic terrestrial excursions. Guests will trek into Batanta to discover a spectacular waterfall, and journey to Misool to snorkel in one of the unique, non-stinging jellyfish lakes. A visit to Penemu is scheduled for the breath-taking view of Bintang Lagoon, offering a panoramic postcard moment of the Raja Ampat landscape.
Final Day
Enjoy a final dive and morning meal, then return to Waisai. Disembarkation is scheduled to conclude your unforgettable south and central Raja Ampat Jaya liveaboard trip.
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: Fabiacet, Farondi; Pulau Mandorang, Koon Island, Banda Islands: Karang Hatta, Pulau Run, Batu Kapal, Pulau Ai; Nusa Laut, Pulau Suanggi, Ambon. Snorkel Jellyfish Lake, visit to Love Lagoon, visit to Colonial Fort and Nutmeg Farm.
Day 1
Can one single liveaboard expedition truly bridge the high-voltage pelagic action of the Banda Sea with the unparalleled biodiversity of Raja Ampat's reefs? This Jaya liveaboard transit trip, a monumental journey, answers that challenge. The essential formalities include settling into your cabin and completing the mandatory safety briefing. Following this, you will prepare your equipment for the first day's exploration. A substantial dinner is enjoyed as the Jaya sails from Waisai overnight, meticulously charting a course for the distant Raja Ampat archipelago, the starting point of this grand itinerary.
Core Days
The expedition begins in the renowned southern Misool sector of Raja Ampat. Misool is internationally celebrated for its sheer density of soft coral and gorgonian fans. Scuba divers will explore key sites like Fabiacet and Farondi, where cleaning stations attract manta rays, and nutrient-rich currents wash over submerged pinnacles, sustaining vast schools of reef fish and cruising blacktip sharks. The Jaya allows privileged access to this visually arresting area. During surface intervals, take a tender boat into the dramatic limestone karsts to snorkel in the unique, non-stinging Jellyfish Lake, and visit the sheltered inlet known as Love Lagoon for stunning photography.
Navigating west across the Banda Sea, we transition to the pelagic-rich waters surrounding Koon Island and Pulau Mandorang, famed for their incredible fish biomass and strong currents. The Jaya pivots to the historic Banda Islands, the ancient centre of the Moluccan spice trade. Dive sites including Pulau Run, Pulau Ai, and Karang Hatta showcase immense, healthy hard coral reefs and spectacular wall structures. A dive at Batu Kapal offers an isolated seamount experience. Topside, we step ashore at Banda Neira for a fascinating walk through history, including a visit to the colonial fort and a traditional nutmeg farm, linking the past with the present marine environment.
The final days on the Jaya liveaboard are dedicated to the Ambon region. Exposed islands such as Pulau Suanggi and Nusa Laut provide deep wall dives with the potential for hammerhead sharks, mobula rays, and huge schools of fusiliers in the clear outer reefs. The cruise culminates with world-class macro exploration in Ambon Bay. Here, the volcanic black sand yields treasures for the macro enthusiast, from the elusive rhinopias and flamboyant cuttlefish to the endemic Ambon scorpionfish, providing a rewarding final contrast to the large-scale reefs of Raja Ampat.
Final Day
Enjoy a final breakfast on board before disembarkation in Ambon, completing your unforgettable, cross-regional diving experience.
[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 Indonesia diving adventure on the Jaya liveaboard follows a satisfying and predictable rhythm of diving, eating, and relaxing, ensuring divers are well-rested and fuelled for the amazing reefs. The upper deck dining area is the social hub for meals and camaraderie throughout the voyage.
The day starts at 6:30 am with a light breakfast of fresh fruit, juice, and cereal before the first dive commences at 7 am. After exploring the vibrant reefs, a substantial second breakfast awaits at 9 am, featuring hot options like sausages, eggs cooked to order, fluffy pancakes, and an array of tropical fruits.
Jaya's schedule continues with a second dive at 10:30 am, followed by a midday buffet lunch at 12:30 pm. This lunch offers a mix of Indonesian and Western dishes, such as grilled seafood, crispy chicken, tofu or tempeh, and colourful salads.
The final afternoon dive is scheduled for 2:30 pm, leading into an afternoon snack time at 4:30 pm. These sweet and savoury bites might include popular treats like muffins or banana fritters. As the sun begins to set, guests have the option of undertaking a night dive or a land excursion at 6 pm.
Dinner is served at 8 pm, providing a welcome opportunity to unwind after a busy day. This meal often features comforting dishes such as seafood, pasta, or warming soups, which are especially appreciated following a night dive. Soft beverages and beer are available for purchase from the dining area throughout the day.
Beyond the diving and dining routine, the Jaya also offers unique shore-based activities. Guests can get involved with impromptu football matches with local communities, hike to scenic viewpoints, or take part in crew-organised beach cleanups.
