Notes: Child policy: Children, infants and babies are all most welcome on board. There is no child minder on board and while the Manta X liveaboard crew may help at some times, we ask parents to take turns in diving to ensure they are supervised at all times. If extra supervision/babysitting services are required, prices are provided on request. You are welcome to bring a child minder with you but this will be considered a paid non diving guest.
Infant below 3 yrs: USD 50 per night. From 3-9 yrs: USD 200 per night. From 10-12 years of age: 50% of trip price. From 13 years of age: Non-diver rate applies. Diving child: Normal trip price applies.
Dive experience: ALL destinations - advanced open water certification (or equivalent), 30-50 logged dives. Manta X welcomes all onboard, however for those with less experience the operator may insist on the services of a private guide (charges apply - contact us for trip specific details).
Cruise price per person includes: Cabin accommodation, breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, drinking water, hot drinks, soft drinks, round-trip transfers to the boat from local airport and hotels, dives (as detailed in the trips above), 5 experienced English-speaking dive guides, 12 litre tanks, weights and weightbelts, sales tax.
Cruise price per person excludes (mandatory, unless customer provides own): Scuba equipment (incl. dive computer: USD 50 per day), port and park fees (from USD 200 per trip, to be paid in advance), travel and dive insurance (available onboard). All cruises will be liable to a fuel surcharge (to be paid in advance) from USD 150. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival (cash - IDR, USD, EUR or SGD, or bank card (+4.5%)).
Optional extras: Alcoholic drinks, Nespresso coffee, 15 litre tank rental (USD 15 per day), nitrox fills for enriched air certified divers (USD 20 per day), torch, massage services and laundry service. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival. Note: prices of items purchased onboard are subject to change.
How to get there: The Manta X operates across several Indonesian regions, and departure ports vary by cruise route.
For Raja Ampat: the vessel typically sets sail in the afternoon from Sorong, West Papua. Sorong is reachable via direct flights from Jakarta, Ambon, Makassar, and Manado, with convenient connections from Bali through Makassar or Manado. For Komodo: cruises depart from Labuan Bajo, and occasionally from Maumere in Flores. A minibus transfer is provided from the airport to the boat and back.
Domestic flight arrangements can be made on your behalf, and a transfer service is provided between the local airport and the vessel. For charters departing from alternative ports, guidance on travel logistics is available on request.
Boarding times differ by departure location. The vessel depart at 1 pm for Sorong, Manado, Ternate, Alor, Kaimana; 2 pm for Ambon; 3 pm for Labuan Bajo and Berau. If all guests have arrived and preparations are complete, the boat may leave earlier. For more details, including airlines, see our travel information section.
The final dive of each trip concludes at approximately 12 noon on the penultimate day. The Manta X then returns to port during the late afternoon, usually by 5 pm. Disembarkation takes place by 10 am on the last morning. A minimum surface interval of 18 hours is required before any flight.
Non-diver rate: 10% off the published price.
Single supplement (if you do not want to share accommodation): This is optional - solo travellers may choose to share a cabin (no guarantee of same gender sharing) and pay the regular price, or pay a supplement of 20% for their own cabin (subject to availability). Single spaces are offered on a first come, first served basis. From 2028, the single supplement is waived.
Dive clubs and group discounts: From 2028, pay for 5 guests and 1 additional person can join the cruise free of charge (total 6 or more guests).
Whole boat charter rate (per night): From 2028, pay for 10 guests and 2 additional persons can join free of charge (total 12 guests).
Banda Islands & Ambon
Trip highlights: 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, Saparua, Nusa Laut, Banda Islands: Pulau Ai, Run, Gunung Api, Banda Neira, Serua, Manuk, Damar, Hukurila Cave, Molana. Visit one of the Spice islands.
Day 1
The Manta X liveaboard sets out from Laha Bay in Ambon. Aim to land before noon if you can, so there is time for a check dive in Ambon Bay before the boat heads off on its overnight crossing.
Core Days
This route runs from Ambon across the Banda Sea and back again, tracing the perimeter of the volcanic islands along the way. Ambon Bay opens the trip with muck diving at its most productive. The black sand slopes here are known for frogfish, ghost pipefish, rhinopias, wonderpus and a wide range of nudibranchs, and the check dive gives a taste of what the region does well. Saparua and Nusa Laut follow, with reef and wall diving that offers a change of pace from the muck sites. Nusa Laut's drop-offs and coral gardens hold reef sharks, turtles and schooling fish, and the shallow reef tops are worth a look between the deeper profiles.
The Banda Islands form the next section, with 2 days of diving in excellent visibility and strong coral coverage. Fish numbers here are high, and hammerheads are a possibility. Pulau Ai features sloping reefs covered in sea fans and barrel sponges, while Run and Gunung Api add further variety around the volcanic island. Banda Neira provides the anchorage, and a visit to one of the Spice Islands is built into the Manta X schedule, with the nutmeg plantations and colonial architecture that made the archipelago valuable.
The Ring of Fire fills 4 days, with diving around volcanic islands and seamounts. This is the section for big animals: scalloped hammerheads are the target, and sea snakes appear in numbers at several sites. Huge schools of fish, reef sharks, tuna and other pelagic species work the current lines, with the volcanic topography providing the structure that holds them. Serua, Manuk and Damar all feature across these days, with Manuk in particular known for its sea snakes and seabird colonies.
The final diving day includes 2 dives at Hukurila Cave and Molana, giving one last look at Ambon's underwater terrain before the sail back to Laha Bay for the last night on board. That leaves time to wash and dry equipment, rest, and prepare for an early flight.
Final Day
Check-out after a light breakfast and farewells, for transfers to a local hotel or Pattimura Airport in Ambon.
Banda Sea & Alor (11 Days / 10 Nights - 28 Dives)
Trip highlights: hammerhead sharks, 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, Banda Sea: Wetar, Ring of Fire (Serua, Manuk, Damar), Banda Islands, Nusa Laut, Ambon Bay. Visit one of the Spice Islands.
Day 1
The Manta X liveaboard departs Kalabahi Port in Alor. Depending on arrival times, there is a local check dive in Kalabahi Bay and a night dive to open the trip.
Core Days
This transit trip runs south to north, starting in Alor and the Pantar Strait before heading through the volcanic islands of the Banda Sea and finishing with the muck sites around Ambon and Nusa Laut. The Manta X schedules 3 dives per diving day, reflecting the deeper profiles and long crossings between islands, with a bonus night dive added where the cruise leader sees fit.
Alor opens the trip with a full day around its best sites, including Karl's Dream and the critter grounds. The reefs here are beautiful, the water sometimes cold, and the macro life strong. Fish life is abundant, and the diving is far from the crowds. Pilot whales and dolphins are sometimes spotted during surface intervals. From Alor Manta X sails to Pulau Wetar, where excellent walls, pelagic life and dramatic drop-offs set the tone for what follows.
The Ring of Fire fills 4 days, with diving around volcanic islands and seamounts. This is where the trip's big animals concentrate: hammerheads are the target, and scalloped hammerheads are a realistic prospect. Sea snakes appear in numbers at several sites, along with huge schools of fish, reef sharks, tuna and other pelagic species. Serua, Manuk and Damar all feature across these days, with Manuk in particular known for its sea snakes and seabird colonies. The volcanic topography provides the structure that holds the fish, and the current does the rest.
The Banda Islands follow, with 2 days of diving in excellent visibility and strong coral coverage. Fish numbers here are tremendous, and hammerheads are again a possibility. Hatta and Banda Neira cover the main sites, with walls and coral gardens in fine condition. A visit to one of the Spice Islands is built into the Manta X schedule, giving a look at the nutmeg plantations and colonial history that made the archipelago valuable.
The final diving day covers the muck sites of Ambon Bay or Nusa Laut, with 2 dives before the sail back to Ambon for the last night on board. That leaves time to wash and dry equipment, rest, and prepare for an early flight.
Day 11
Check-out runs after a light breakfast and farewells. You will be transferred to a local hotel or Pattimura Airport in Ambon.
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: Bidadari. Pulau Sebayor, Manta Alley, Cannibal Rock, Torpedo Alley, Padar Island: 3 Sisters, Pillarsteen, Pink Beach; Golden Passage, Big Nose, Coral Garden, Sangeang, Castle Rock, Crystal Rock, Gili Lawa Laut, Tatawa Besar & Kecil, Siaba Kecil, Wainilu, Batu Balong, Makassar Reef, Siaba Bay, Mawan or Pengah. Komodo dragon trekking.
Day 1
The crew will meet you at the Manta X liveaboard for boarding. Depending on your arrival time, the first day includes 1 or 2 check dives at Bidadari and a night dive at Pulau Sebayor. Dinner is served as the boat prepares for an early start the next morning.
Core Days
Komodo National Park is a World Heritage site and one of Indonesia's most celebrated diving destinations. The park delivers 2 distinct characters: the warmer, clearer water of the north, where mantas, sharks, turtles, eagle rays and dolphins are all possible, and the cooler, nutrient-rich south, where the macro life takes over. The Manta X works through both, with the order adjusted for conditions.
The southern section opens with Manta Alley, a known aggregation site where reef mantas come in to feed and clean along the rocky coastline. Cannibal Rock and Torpedo Alley at Nusa Kode offer the south's dense macro life: nudibranchs, frogfish, octopus and crustaceans on black sand and coral rubble. Padar Island follows, with sites like 3 Sisters and Pillarsteen offering dramatic topography and coral cover, plus a stop at Pink Beach for the colour of the sand itself.
The northern section shifts the pace. Golden Passage, Big Nose and Coral Garden are current-swept sites where jacks, trevallies and reef sharks hunt along the reef edges. Sangeang, an active volcanic island, adds a different substrate entirely: Hot Rocks, Deep Purple and Critter Creek combine volcanic sand, bubbling vents and macro subjects, with a night dive to finish. Castle Rock, Crystal Rock and Shot Gun at Gili Lawa Laut are pinnacle and drift sites where the current brings in grey reef sharks, giant trevally and schooling fish, and the reef tops carry dense coral and anthias.
The final stretch of the park with Manta X includes Tatawa Besar and Kecil, Siaba Kecil and Wainilu, with strong fish life and an excellent night dive. Batu Balong and Makassar Reef, also known as Mantas on the Moon, are the pick of the northern sites for manta encounters, with the reef structure concentrating plankton and the rays that feed on it. Over the last few days, highlight dives can be repeated or new sites explored, depending on the group's interests and the conditions.
The final diving day includes 2 dives at Siaba Bay and either Mawan or Pengah, followed by a walk ashore in search of Komodo dragons on one of the local islands. The Manta X then sails to Labuan Bajo, where the last night is spent moored in the harbour, leaving time to wash and dry equipment and rest before an early flight the next day.
Final Day
Check-out is after a light breakfast and farewells. You will be transferred to a local hotel or Labuan Bajo Airport in time for check-in on your pre-booked flight to Bali or Jakarta.
Komodo National Park, Flores & Alor (11 Days / 10 Nights - 28 Dives)
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: Komodo: Bidadari, Pulau Sebayor, Manta Alley, Cannibal Rock, Torpedo Alley, 3 Sisters, Pillarsteen, Castle Rock, Crystal Rock, Shot Gun, Batu Balong, Makassar Reef, Tatawa, Siaba, Wainilu; Flores: Pulau Babi, Pulau Besar; Alor-Pantar Strait: Kepa, Pura, Ternate, Buaya. Visit Pink Beach, Komodo dragon trek, local village visit.
Day 1
The Manta X liveaboard departs Bajo Port in Labuan Bajo. Depending on arrival times, there is a check dive at Bidadari followed by a night dive at Pulau Sebayor before the boat settles in for the night.
Core Days
This crossing covers the full spread of Komodo National Park before heading east through Flores and finishing in Alor. The Manta X runs 3 to 4 dives on most days, with the schedule adjusted for currents and local conditions. The park's northern waters are warmer and clearer, with mantas, sharks, turtles, eagle rays and dolphins all possible, while the cooler, nutrient-rich south holds the macro life.
South Komodo opens the diving. Manta Alley is the site for flying with reef mantas as they feed and clean along the rocky coastline. Cannibal Rock and Torpedo Alley at Nusa Kode deliver the south's dense macro life, with frogfish, nudibranchs, zebra crabs and Coleman shrimp among the crinoids and sea squirts. Padar Island follows, with 3 Sisters and Pillarsteen offering dramatic topography and coral cover, plus a stop at Pink Beach.
North Komodo shifts the pace for Manta X. Castle Rock, Crystal Rock and Shot Gun at Gili Lawa Laut are pinnacle and drift sites where current brings in grey reef sharks, giant trevally and schooling fish, and the reef tops carry dense coral and anthias. Batu Balong and Makassar Reef, known as Mantas on the Moon, are the pick of the northern sites for manta encounters. A walk ashore in search of Komodo dragons and a trek on one of the local islands are built into this section. Tatawa Besar and Kecil, Siaba Kecil and Wainilu finish the park with strong fish life and an excellent night dive.
Manta X then crosses to Flores, with dives at Pulau Babi and Pulau Besar near Maumere before the sail to Alor. The Alor and Pantar Strait section covers the islands of Kepa, Pura, Ternate and Buaya, where nutrient-rich currents and a diversity of dive site formations produce an abundance of coral and fish, both large and small. Mola mola, thresher sharks and hammerheads are all possible in the cooler southern water, and dolphins or pilot whales may be spotted during surface intervals. A local village visit may replace one dive, giving a look at daily life in the region.
The final diving day includes 2 dives at Alor, with the chance to repeat the best sites before the sail back to Kalabahi Port for the last night on board. That leaves time to wash and dry equipment, rest, and prepare for an early flight.
Day 11
Check-out after a light breakfast and farewells. You will be transferred to a local hotel or Mali Airport in Alor.
Raja Ampat & Triton Bay (11 Days / 10 Nights - 28 Dives)
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 - Lampu Merah, Misool: Boo, Fiabacet, Daram; Pulau Pisang, Fakfak, Triton Bay: Little Komodo, Macro Wall, 3 Rocks, Larry’s Heaven, Faukate Manta, Walker’s Reef, Namatota Island bagans. Visit Kiti-Kiti waterfall.
Day 1
The expedition begins as you arrive at Sorong Airport or a local hotel, where the crew will meet you and transfer you to the awaiting Manta X liveaboard. Arrivals before midday are best, allowing time for a check dive at the Red Light District (Lampu Merah) just outside Sorong before the vessel gets underway for an overnight sail.
Core Days
This route links southern Raja Ampat with Triton Bay, moving through some of the most biodiverse water on the planet. Raja Ampat alone holds 580 coral species and 1,397 fish species, including 23 endemics, and the numbers stay high as the Manta X works east into the Kaimana region. Between the 2 areas, the diving passes through remote, unspoiled terrain that few liveaboards visit.
The trip opens in Misool, spending 2 full days around the Fiabacet and Boo area. Boo Windows is the signature dive here, a limestone arch that frames the reef beyond, with fish stacked around the opening. Magic Mountain, also known as Shadow Reef, is a submerged seamount that draws reef mantas to its cleaning stations, and the surrounding coral gardens carry dense soft coral cover. The following day moves to the Daram Island area, where Candy Store and Andy's Ultimate offer reef structures and sea fan forests, before the boat sails for Pisang Island.
Pulau Pisang provides 3 dives plus a night dive. The Dome and T-Bone Reef are the standout sites, with Black Cave adding a different profile. The night dive here rewards a slow pass over the reef, with octopus, cuttlefish and crustaceans active after dark. From Pisang, the Manta X sails to Fakfak, where the diving moves to atoll structures and Middle Reef. This is also where the trip includes a swim beneath the Kiti-Kiti waterfall, a freshwater cascade that drops directly into the sea, offering a break from the salt water and a genuinely unusual experience between dives.
Triton Bay fills the final 3 days, with 4 dives scheduled each day. The underwater landscape here matches Misool for soft coral coverage, and the marine life is equally strong: large schools of trevallies and jacks, squadrons of bumphead parrotfish, and turtles throughout. The black coral forests are exceptional in scale. Little Komodo offers reef topography that suits both wide-angle and macro work, while Macro Wall does exactly what its name suggests. 3 Rocks and Larry's Heaven add further variety, and Faukate Manta is a known aggregation site. Walker's Reef is dived during the day and again at night, when the walking shark, also known as the epaulette shark, moves across the reef on its pectoral fins.
The final diving day takes place at the bagans off Namatota Island, where whale sharks gather beneath the fishing platforms and dolphins are often present in the same area. After the diving, the Manta X sails to Kaimana, with time set aside to wash and dry equipment, eat lunch and rest.
Day 11
Check-out runs after a light breakfast and farewells. You will be transferred to Kaimana Airport or to a local hotel depending on your onward plans.
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: Lampu Merah, Misool: Wayil, Warakaraket, Fabiacet, Daram, Boo, Pele, Sagof, Balbulol; Penemu, Melissa’s Garden, Yanggefo, Arborek, Manta Ridge, Dampier Strait, Cape Kri, Sardine Run, Mioskon island, Sawandarek, Blue Magic, Yellow Fever. Viewpoint trek, lagoon speedboat tour.
Day 1
Your expedition begins as you arrive at Sorong Airport or a local hotel, where the crew will meet you and transfer you to the awaiting Manta X liveaboard. Arrivals before midday are best, allowing time for a check dive at the Red Light District (Lampu Merah) just outside Sorong before the vessel gets underway for an overnight sail.
Core Days
Raja Ampat covers 50,000 square kilometres of islands and reefs, with 580 coral species and 1,397 fish species including 23 endemics. This is the epicentre of marine biodiversity, and the Manta X spends the core of the trip working through its most celebrated sites.
The southern section focuses on Misool, where the diving centres on the limestone karst topography and soft coral gardens. The Wayil area delivers world-class sites, and a speedboat lagoon tour offers a break from the water to appreciate the surrounding scenery. Fiabacet and Boo bring the chance of manta encounters along coral-covered ridges, while Daram's reef systems offer gentler conditions for a slower pass. Warakaraket adds further manta possibilities, with the reef structure concentrating fish life along the current-swept edges.
Moving into central Raja Ampat, the Manta X visits the Penemu area, where Melissa's Garden presents a broad hard coral plateau covered in anthias and damselfish. Barracuda Rock and Keruo's channels add variety, and a short hike to the Penemu viewpoint gives the classic Raja Ampat panorama across the limestone islands. Yanggefo and Arborek offer village visits alongside their reef systems, with Arborek's jetty dive a reliable spot for giant clams, schooling batfish and crocodile fish.
The Dampier Strait forms the final diving section. Cape Kri, Sardine Run, Mioskon, Blue Magic and Yellow Fever are selected according to conditions, and all of them deliver fish in numbers. Current meets the reef head-on at several of these sites, bringing blacktip, whitetip and grey reef sharks, giant trevally and dogtooth tuna through schools of fusiliers and bigeye jacks. Manta Ridge and Manta Sandy are established aggregation sites for reef manta rays, while Sawandarek offers a sheltered reef and jetty dive with resident turtles. The strait also holds excellent macro life, with several pygmy seahorse species, common seahorses, cuttlefish and octopus all possible.
Final Day
Check-out runs after a light breakfast and farewells. The crew will transfer you to a local hotel or Sorong Airport for your departure flight.
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: Wayil, Boo, Fiabacet; Pulau Koon, Banda Sea: Banda Islands, Ring of Fire (Serua, Manuk, Damar), Nusa Laut, Ambon Bay. Visit to one of the Spice Islands.
Day 1
The Manta X liveaboard departs Laha Bay in Ambon. Arrivals before midday are best, allowing a check dive in Ambon Bay before the boat gets underway for the overnight sail.
Core Days
This transit trip runs from Ambon through the Banda Sea and finishes in Raja Ampat, tracing the perimeter of the volcanic islands along the way. The Manta X schedules 3 dives per diving day through the Banda Sea, reflecting the deeper profiles and long crossings between islands, with a bonus night dive added where the cruise leader sees fit. Misool days may run to 3 or 4 dives.
Ambon Bay opens the trip with muck diving at its most productive. The black sand slopes here are known for frogfish, ghost pipefish, rhinopias, wonderpus and a wide range of nudibranchs, and the check dive gives a taste of what the region does well. From Ambon Manta X heads into the Banda Islands, where visibility is excellent, coral coverage is strong and fish numbers are high. Hammerheads are a possibility here, and a visit to one of the Spice Islands is built into the schedule, with the nutmeg plantations and colonial architecture that made the archipelago valuable.
The Ring of Fire fills 3 days, with diving around volcanic islands and seamounts. This is the section for big animals: scalloped hammerheads are the target, and sea snakes appear in numbers at several sites. Huge schools of fish, reef sharks, tuna and other pelagic species work the current lines, with the volcanic topography providing the structure that holds them. Serua, Manuk and Damar all feature across these days.
West Seram and Pulau Koon follow, with a full day of wide-angle diving on vibrant coral and dense fish life before the sail to Misool. The final 3 days are spent in Raja Ampat, with Wayil, Fiabacet and Boo covering a range of terrain. Wayil offers hidden lagoons and reef structures covered in soft corals and sea fans. Fiabacet brings the ridge systems and coral gardens that connect the islands, with pygmy seahorses, nudibranchs and reef sharks in numbers. Boo is known for its windows, the rounded openings that pierce the reef from the surface down to 5 metres, with soft corals adorning the connecting rock and reef sharks, parrotfish, batfish, morays and green turtles all present. Manta rays are part of the picture throughout this section.
The final diving day includes 2 dives in Misool before the sail to Sorong, where the last night is spent on board. That leaves time to wash and dry equipment, eat lunch, rest and prepare for an early flight.
Final Day
Check-out after a light breakfast and farewells. You will be transferred to a local hotel or Domine Edward Osok Airport in Sorong.
Raja Ampat, Banda, Forgotten Islands & Alor (11 Days / 10 Nights - 28 Dives)
Trip highlights: hammerhead sharks, 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 - Lampu Merah, Misool: Wayil, Boo, Fiabacet; Pulau Koon, Banda Sea-Forgotten Islands: Ring of Fire (Serua, Manuk, Damar), Wetar; Alor-Pantar Strait: Kepa, Pura, Ternate, Buaya
Day 1
The Manta X liveaboard departs Sorong. Arrivals before midday are best, allowing time for a check dive at Lampu Merah, just outside Sorong, before the vessel gets underway for the overnight sail to Misool. Dinner is served as the boat heads south.
Core Days
This transit trip spans 3 distinct regions, moving from the reef systems of southern Raja Ampat through the volcanic islands of the Banda Sea and finishing in the Pantar Strait. The Manta X schedules 3 dives per diving day, reflecting the deeper profiles and long distances between islands, with a bonus night dive added where conditions and the cruise leader allow.
Misool fills the opening 2 days, with Wayil, Fiabacet and Boo covering a range of terrain. Wayil offers hidden lagoons and reef structures where soft corals and sea fans cover the slopes. Fiabacet brings the ridge systems and coral gardens that connect the islands, with pygmy seahorses, nudibranchs and reef sharks in numbers. Boo is known for its windows, the rounded openings that pierce the reef from the surface down to 5 metres, with soft corals draped across the connecting rock and reef sharks, parrotfish, batfish, morays and green turtles all present. From Misool the boat sails to Koon Island.
Pulau Koon and West Seram provide a full day of wide-angle diving, with vibrant coral and a profusion of fish life. These sites suit a slower pass with a camera, and the reef tops are worth checking between the deeper profiles. The route then enters the Ring of Fire, with 3 days spent around the volcanic islands and seamounts. This is hammerhead territory, and sea snakes are a regular feature at several sites. Huge schools of fish, reef sharks, tuna and other pelagic species work the current lines, with the volcanic topography providing the structure that concentrates them. Serua, Manuk and Damar all feature, with Manuk in particular known for sea snakes in numbers and seabirds overhead.
Wetar follows, with excellent walls, pelagic life and a dramatic drop-off before the boat sails towards Pulau Alor. The Alor and Pantar Strait section covers the islands of Kepa, Pura, Ternate and Buaya, where nutrient-rich currents and a diversity of dive site formations produce an abundance of coral and fish, both large and small. Mola mola and thresher sharks are possible in the cooler southern waters, and dolphins or pilot whales may be spotted during surface intervals.
The final diving day includes 2 dives at Alor's best sites, including Karl's Dream and the critter grounds, with beautiful reefs in clear blue water, strong macro life and good fish activity. A local village visit may be included before the Manta X sails back to Kalabahi Port for the last night on board, with time to wash and dry equipment and rest before an early flight.
Day 11
Check-out after a light breakfast and farewells. You will be transferred to a local hotel or Mali Airport in Alor, in time for check-in on your pre-booked flight to Bali or Jakarta via Kupang.
Triton Bay (8 Days / 7 Nights - 20 Dives)
Trip highlights: whale sharks, shark action, 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: Triton Bay: Little Komodo, Macro Wall, 3 Rocks, Larry’s Heaven, Faukate Manta, Walker’s Reef, Namatota Island bagans. Exploration down the South-East coastline.
Day 1
The Manta X liveaboard departs the port of Kaimana. If all guests arrive early, there is time for 2 dives with whale sharks and dolphins at the bagans off Namatota Island before the boat settles in for the night.
Core Days
Triton Bay feels like a place out of time. The underwater landscape carries soft coral coverage comparable to Misool, and the marine life matches it: huge schools of trevallies and jacks, squadrons of bumphead parrotfish, turtles on almost every dive, and a long list of macro subjects for those carrying a close-up lens. The black coral forests here are exceptional in scale. Above the water, the landscape is just as striking, with lush forest, dramatic sunrises and sunsets, and a genuine sense that this is still wilderness. Few liveaboards come this way.
The Manta X spends 3 days working through the Triton Bay sites. Little Komodo offers reef topography that suits both wide-angle and macro work, while Macro Wall does exactly what its name suggests. 3 Rocks and Larry's Heaven add further variety, and Faukate Manta is a known aggregation site for reef mantas. Walker's Reef is dived during the day and again after dark, when the walking shark, also known as the epaulette shark, moves across the reef on its pectoral fins. Night dives across this section are a highlight in their own right.
The route then heads down the South-East coastline for 2 days of exploration, with 3 to 4 dives a day in waters that see very little traffic. This is the part of the trip that carries the strongest sense of discovery, with reefs and pinnacles that are not on the standard charts. Land excursions may replace a dive or two along the way, depending on conditions and the group's interests.
The final day includes 2 more dives around Triton Bay, or the whale shark and dolphin encounter at the bagans if it was not possible at the start. The last dive ends by midday, leaving time to wash and dry equipment, eat lunch and rest as the Manta X sails back to Kaimana for the final night on board.
Day 8
Check-out after a light breakfast and farewells. You will be transferred to a local hotel or Utarom Airport in Kaimana.
[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 on the Manta X follows the steady rhythm of a well-run Indonesian dive safari, with meals timed around the diving rather than the clock. The galley starts early, and a light breakfast is laid out before the first dive, featuring freshly baked breads and hot drinks to set you up for the descent. Once you are back on deck, a fuller breakfast follows, offering a mix of Western and Asian options. Lunch and dinner continue that theme, with the chefs preparing generous spreads that draw on both culinary traditions. Expect to eat well, and often, across the day.
The onboard routine is built around 5 meals daily. A light breakfast and afternoon snack are part of that count, alongside 3 main meals. Between dives, the saloon and outdoor areas become gathering points for coffee, biscuits, and conversation. Fresh tropical fruit accompanies every meal, and the large refrigerator is kept stocked with chilled drinks. Tea, coffee, hot chocolate, and drinking water are available all day at no charge. For those who want something extra, Nespresso coffee, beer, and wine are available.
The diving schedule varies by route, with 3 dives per day typical on Banda Sea crossings, excluding departure and return days. A bonus night dive may be added at the cruise leader's discretion. Surface intervals are generous, giving you time to relax, review photos, or simply enjoy the scenery. The crew are attentive without being intrusive, and the Manta X carries 3 chefs, ensuring the food keeps coming even on long sailing days. Special dietary requirements can be arranged with advance notice, so it is worth flagging any preferences or restrictions before you travel.
For many guests, the rhythm of a Manta X liveaboard trip is what makes it memorable. You wake, dive, eat, rest, and repeat, with the vessel moving between sites while you sleep. Land-based excursions are woven into some cruises, offering a chance to visit local villages or stretch your legs on a beach. These outings often replace a dive, so there is a trade-off, but they add variety to a week at sea. The result is a trip that feels both productive and unhurried, with the diving as the anchor and everything else arranged around it.
