A modern yacht wrapped in the heritage of a traditional phinisi, the 28-metre Lady Denok liveaboard was hand-built in 2016 by the renowned Konjo boat builders of Sulawesi. The vessel is designed to explore the pinnacle of Indonesian scuba diving, with cruise spanning the majestic reefs of Raja Ampat, the iconic biodiversity of Komodo National Park, and the remote, thrilling sites of the Forgotten Islands. This breadth of expertise ensures that a diving cruise aboard the Lady Denok provides access to the most celebrated underwater environments in the Coral Triangle.
The operational focus is firmly on comfort and personal service, evidenced by a dedication to a maximum of just 12 guests per cruise. This intimate group size is served by an experienced crew of 12, including a cruise director, certified dive guides, and an in-house chef, guaranteeing a nearly 1:1 staff-to-guest ratio. This level of attention is a critical factor for safety and enjoyment, ensuring your priorities are always paramount on the Lady Denok.
Diving activities are executed using 2 purpose-built dive tenders, measuring 7.5 and 6.5 metres long, which transport guests directly to the entry points. Dive groups are intentionally kept small - a maximum of 4 divers, sorted by ability - allowing the guides to tailor the diving experience to individual needs. For certified divers, nitrox is readily available, allowing for prolonged bottom time in areas where extended exploration is highly rewarding. Practical amenities like a kit-up area complete with a shower and bathroom add to the convenience of the dive deck.
Aboard the Lady Denok, underwater photographers will find themselves well catered for. A dedicated room is available for charging cameras and associated equipment, ensuring sensitive gear remains protected and fully powered. Above the water line, guests enjoy a relaxing environment centred around a large indoor dining area where delicious buffet-style Western and Asian meals are served.
The onboard social amenities enhance the liveaboard experience. Guests can unwind in the lounge, which features a TV and video library. For those wishing to share their incredible sightings, the Lady Denok liveaboard offers complimentary Starlink satellite internet access. Outdoors, a spacious sundeck, furnished with daybeds, provides an ideal spot for relaxation and watching the magnificent island scenery unfold.
Accommodation includes 7 spacious ensuite cabins, each equipped with hot running water, air-conditioning, and sea-view portholes. This selection includes 2 specific cabins designed for solo travellers, as well as an upper deck Master cabin for those seeking a premium experience. Beyond diving, the Lady Denok also provides sea kayaks and paddleboards for guests to explore turquoise lagoons and secluded beaches, offering adventure both above and below the surface. Cruising with the Lady Denok liveaboard represents a secure, high-quality choice for experiencing the Indonesian archipelago's unparalleled marine life.
Komodo & Sumbawa (Whale Shark Special) (10 Days / 9 Nights - 25 Dives)
Trip highlights: whale sharks, 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: Bali: Nusa Penida, Sumbawa: Teluk Saleh, Satonda, Moyo, Sangeang; Komodo National Park: Batu Monco Bay, Gili Lawah Bay, Crystal Rock, Castle Rock, The Cauldron, Tatawa Besar, Manta Point, Batu Bolong, Wainilu, Padar - 3 Sisters, Secret Garden, Pillarsteen, Pantai Merah, Siaba Kecil, Manta Alley, Loh Sera. Land visit to see Komodo dragons, visit Mata Jitu Waterfall, snorkel with whale sharks.
Day 1
Right where southern Bali's Serangan port meets the sea, you will access the Lady Denok. The vessel’s staff will provide a reception, followed by an essential, comprehensive safety talk and time for you to find your accommodations. The ship then pushes off immediately, setting a course for Nusa Penida. Before the initial supper is served, a mandatory dive to verify equipment function is executed. Afterwards, the Lady Denok liveaboard commences its overnight voyage.
Core Days
This unique expedition focuses on 2 of Indonesia's most exciting dive regions: the special whale shark site of Sumbawa and the dynamic, megafauna-rich currents of Komodo. Your first major highlight is the Sumbawa area. In Teluk Saleh, you will have the extraordinary opportunity to snorkel with whale sharks as they congregate to feed near the local fishing platforms. Further along Sumbawa's coast, dives around the volcanic island of Sangeang offer stunning, colourful walls and the rare spectacle of steaming underwater vents. Sites at Moyo and Satonda boast crystal-clear waters and vibrant reefs, providing excellent sightings of large schools of triggerfish and macro life, including the celebrated blue-ringed octopus. Land excursions here include visiting the beautiful Mata Jitu Waterfall on Moyo.
The Lady Denok then enters the famous Komodo National Park, a realm of powerful currents and immense marine biodiversity. The northern sites like Crystal Rock and Castle Rock are exposed seamounts that attract significant pelagic action, with grey reef sharks, tuna, and jacks patrolling the nutrient-rich waters. Thrilling drift dives await at sites like Gili Lawah Bay and The Cauldron, while the high-current pinnacle of Batu Bolong is known for its staggering concentration of thousands of reef fish.
In the south, the diving shifts to high-density cleaning stations and macro habitats. Manta Point and Manta Alley are dedicated areas for encountering majestic oceanic manta rays. Meanwhile, sites like Loh Sera, Batu Monco Bay, and Secret Garden provide superb macro diving opportunities where pygmy seahorses, ghost pipefish, and rare nudibranchs can be found along sandy bottoms and sheltered reefs. Topside activities are essential, including a sunset trek on Padar to the Pillarsteen viewpoint and a must-do land visit to see the legendary Komodo dragons. The Lady Denok liveaboard ensures you experience the best of both these incredible destinations.
Day 10
Following your final breakfast on board, your adventure concludes with disembarkation at Labuan Bajo Harbour.
Note: this itinerary sometimes runs in reverse so check the exact port details for your particular trip.
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 Komodo: Sebayur, Tatawa Besar, Manta Point, Batu Bolong, Gili Lawa Bay, Crystal Rock, Castle Rock, The Couldron, Padar - 3 Sisters, Secret Garden, Pillarsteen, Canibal Rock, Yellow Wall, Torpedo Point, Manta Alley, Tanjung Sera, Loh Sera, Pantai Merah, Wainilu. View bats at Kalong Island, land visit to see Komodo dragons.
Day 1
This voyage begins with a commitment to adventure. Upon joining the majestic Lady Denok liveaboard at Labuan Bajo, guests are swiftly introduced to the entire marine team. Following a thorough orientation session, divers will immediately assemble their personal scuba units. A necessary trial dive is slated for the early afternoon. After the evening meal is completed, the vessel moves out, travelling through the dark toward the legendary waters of Komodo.
Core Days
Komodo National Park is an exhilarating environment for scuba divers, famous for its strong currents that fuel exceptional biodiversity and large pelagic encounters. Your expedition with the Lady Denok will thoroughly explore the region, from the high-energy currents of the north to the rich muck sites of the south. Northern pinnacles such as Crystal Rock, Castle Rock, and Batu Bolong are critical feeding grounds, where nutrient-rich upwellings attract immense schools of fish, including jacks, sweetlips, and patrolling reef sharks. The excitement continues at The Cauldron, a famous drift site where the currents propel divers through a channel teeming with life, before reaching Gili Lawa Bay.
The cruise is rich in megafauna encounters. Manta Point and Manta Alley are dedicated areas where the Lady Denok liveaboard positions divers for unforgettable sightings of oceanic manta rays at their cleaning and feeding stations. Meanwhile, sites like Tatawa Besar and Sebayur offer more relaxed diving on stunning coral gardens, providing excellent opportunities to observe turtles and the beautiful reef structures.
As the Lady Denok moves south, the diving profile changes to focus on macro life and sheltered walls. Locations such as Wainilu, Loh Sera, Tanjung Sera, Secret Garden, and the vibrant Yellow Wall and Canibal Rock reveal a host of hidden treasures. Look out for sea apples, and rare critters like frogfish, ribbon eels, and pygmy seahorses, expertly located by your guides on the sandy slopes and submerged walls. Torpedo Point and Pantai Merah round out the underwater exploration.
Topside activities are essential to the Komodo experience: you will have the chance to see thousands of fruit bats take flight from Kalong Island at sunset, and undertake a vital land visit to see the legendary Komodo dragons.
Final Day
After your final breakfast on board, your memorable diving adventure aboard the Lady Denok concludes with disembarkation at Labuan Bajo Harbour.
Raja Ampat National Park (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, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, wall diving
Dive sites and activities: Raja Ampat: Matan, Misool - Daram, Warakaraket, Wayilbatan, Balbulol; Penemo, Kawe, Yanggefo, Arborek, Dampier Strait - Mansuar, Sawendarek, Mioskon, Cape Kri, Saonek. Hike to Penemo viewpoint.
Day 1
Day one is a springboard into the world's most vibrant marine ecosystem. The spectacular harbour in Sorong marks your entry point where staff warmly greet all passengers. After a safety drill, sufficient time is allowed for passengers to familiarise themselves with their personal quarters. An essential qualifying dive is prepared for the mid-day. The first night's supper follows this exercise, prior to the Lady Denok initiating its long-distance transit across the ocean beneath the stars.
Core Days
This comprehensive cruise on the Lady Denok will immerse divers in the unparalleled biodiversity of Raja Ampat, combining the macro and reef health of Misool with the high-energy pelagic action of the Dampier Strait. The expedition begins in the southern Misool region, widely celebrated as the epicentre of the Coral Triangle. Diving sites here, including Candy Store, Magic Mountain, and Wedding Cake, are famous for their magnificent, densely-packed soft coral reefs covering dramatic submerged pinnacles. These sites are thriving habitats for vast schools of reef fish and provide opportunities to encounter the endemic wobbegong shark.
The voyage continues north to the central region, which includes the breathtaking karst scenery of Penemo. Here, you will take a hike to the viewpoint, offering the archipelago's most iconic panoramic vistas of the mushroom-shaped islands. Underwater, the central region offers outstanding variety. The Dampier Strait is a world-class, current-driven area, featuring sites like Cape Kri, Mayhem, Melissa's Garden, and Sawendarek. These locations reliably attract large schools of pelagic fish, including jacks and tuna, often patrolled by blacktip reef sharks, ensuring exhilarating drift dives.
Further north, the Lady Denok liveaboard explores the remote areas around Kawe and the reefs of Eagle Rock and Black Rock. These northern sites balance the tour by providing chances for specialised sightings of oceanic manta rays at cleaning stations, while offering sheltered environments rich in macro life, including pygmy seahorses and nudibranchs. This expansive route ensures the Lady Denok provides a complete and unforgettable dive safari across Raja Ampat.
Day 13
Following your final breakfast on board, your memorable diving adventure concludes with disembarkation in Sorong.
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: Matan, Misool - Daram, Warakaraket, Wayilbatan, Balbulol; Penemo, Yanggefo, Arborek, Dampier Strait - Mansuar, Mioskon, Cape Kri, Friwen, Sapokren. Hike to Penemo viewpoint.
Day 1
Built on a distinguished phinisi design, the Lady Denok liveaboard awaits your presence at Sorong harbour. Following embarkation, you will be formally presented to the professional staff and receive a complete safety presentation on the boat’s protocols. Guests are then given a period to stow their personal items within their assigned lodgings. In the latter half of the day, a preliminary verification dive will take place. Once the first dining experience concludes, the Lady Denok will then set a definite course, navigating toward the greater Raja Ampat area.
Core Days
This comprehensive safari with the Lady Denok is designed for scuba divers to experience the full spectrum of marine life across southern and central Raja Ampat. The journey begins in the remote Misool region, a biodiversity hotspot celebrated for its pristine, coral-rich marine environment. Diving sites such as Daram, Warakaraket, Wayilbatan, and Balbulol feature spectacular limestone karsts that extend underwater into vibrant pinnacles and slopes. These reefs are densely covered in soft corals and sponges, providing habitat for vast schools of reef fish, endemic wobbegongs, and a kaleidoscope of macro life. Matan is also explored in this stunning southern area.
Moving into the central region, the Lady Denok liveaboard focuses on the high-energy environments of the Dampier Strait, where strong currents aggregate incredible concentrations of marine life. World-renowned sites like Cape Kri offer exhilarating drift dives among immense schools of barracuda, jacks, and trevallies, often patrolled by blacktip reef sharks. Sites such as Friwen, and Sapokren provide excellent opportunities for closer observation of smaller species, including the unique endemic epaulette shark, and the diverse macro life for which Raja Ampat is globally famous.
Between dives, you will experience the breathtaking topside scenery of the archipelago. A key highlight is the land excursion to Penemo, where you will undertake a rewarding hike to the viewpoint, offering the iconic panoramic vista of the mushroom-shaped karst islands and turquoise lagoons. The balance of pristine southern reefs and dynamic central currents ensures this Lady Denok expedition is a rewarding and unforgettable immersion into the world's most diverse marine ecosystem.
Final Day
Following your final breakfast on board, your diving adventure with the Lady Denok concludes with disembarkation in Sorong.
Raja Ampat, Lembeh & Halmahera (13 Days / 12 Nights - 37 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: Lembeh Strait, Tifore, Halmahera: Goraici, Lilai, Patintie Strait, Proco; Pisang, Raja Ampat: Misool - Daram, Warakaraket, Wayilbatan, Boo
Day 1
Can you handle the rigours of a 3 region diving epic? To confirm, your adventure begins in Sorong by stepping aboard the majestic Lady Denok liveaboard. The first order of business involves comprehensive instructions regarding the boat's operations and emergency procedures. Guests will then arrange all essential dive kits for use. A necessary performance-check dive is then scheduled. Subsequent to the initial evening meal, the vessel begins its long-haul, penetrating the sea lanes en route to the Misool islands of Raja Ampat.
Core Days
This extended expedition on the Lady Denok offers divers an exceptional combination of Indonesia's most diverse marine environments, spanning Raja Ampat, Halmahera, and the legendary muck diving of the Lembeh Strait. The initial phase focuses on the pristine reefs of southern Raja Ampat: Misool, the epicentre of marine biodiversity. Sites such as Four Kings, Barracuda Rock, Warna Berwarna, and Boo Windows are defined by their picturesque, soft coral-covered limestone karsts, which swarm with schooling fish and provide shelter for rare species like the endemic wobbegong.
The Lady Denok then navigates the remote, rarely-dived regions of Halmahera. This area is known for exhilarating drift dives and remarkable reef health. At Goraici and Lilai, you will experience vibrant reefs and, potentially, witness manta rays at cleaning stations. Strong currents in the Patintie Strait and the Proco Channel attract impressive schools of fish and barracuda, making for dynamic, high-adrenaline diving for experienced guests. The nearby Pisang islands provide further exploration of these remote, nutrient-rich waters.
The final scuba highlight of this voyage is the world-renowned Lembeh Strait. This volcanic area is famous among critter enthusiasts for its unique black sand slopes, which host an astonishing concentration of rare and unusual macro life. Here, you will hunt for 'underwater celebrities' such as the flamboyant cuttlefish, mimic octopus, hairy frogfish, and blue-ringed octopus. Tifore Island also forms part of this sector. This seamless transition from Raja Ampat's pristine reefs to Lembeh's macro heaven ensures that the Lady Denok liveaboard provides a comprehensive Indonesian dive experience.
Day 13
Following your final breakfast on board, your comprehensive diving adventure concludes with disembarkation near Manado.
Please note that port details may vary as this itinerary occasionally operates in reverse.
[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].
Each full diving day features 4 scheduled dives, beginning with an early continental breakfast buffet served at 6:30 am before the first dive. A hearty warm breakfast follows at 8:30 am, with the second dive commencing around 11 am before lunch service. The afternoon's third dive starts at 3 pm, after which guests can enjoy traditional Indonesian snacks and assorted cakes during the break before dinner. Night dives, when scheduled, typically run between 6-7 pm with dinner served afterward.
All meals are presented buffet-style in the air-conditioned main deck lounge of the Lady Denok liveaboard, offering a fusion of Indonesian, Asian, and European cuisines. Some example dishes: tuna sambal matah, beef sate skewers, chicken cordon bleu with black pepper sauce, prawn salad with balsamic reduction, beef rendang with rice, spaghetti aglio olio and tomato salsa topped with pan-seared white snapper. Desserts include mango pudding with crumble of cashew nuts, coconut pudding topped with a variety of fresh fruit, chocolate cake with avocado sauce.
Special dining experiences include a farewell dinner on the open deck and potential beach barbecues (weather permitting). Throughout the journey, Lady Denok guests can enjoy an assortment of snacks, fresh fruits, hot and cold beverages, mocktails, and alcoholic drinks to stay refreshed between dives.
