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).
The Manta X liveaboard joins the White Manta Diving fleet in November 2026, bringing a newly built 41-metre steel-hulled vessel to some of Indonesia's most celebrated dive regions. The vessel represents the latest generation of purpose-built dive liveaboards designed for the Coral Triangle's demanding itineraries, from the remote reaches of Triton Bay to the current-swept reefs of Raja Ampat and Komodo.
What sets the Manta X apart is its accommodation philosophy. For the 2026-2027 season, it will host up to 20 guests across 12 en-suite cabins, including 2 Upper Deck Master Suites. From 2028 onward, the vessel will transition to an exclusive 12-guest configuration, with trip prices including marine park fees, fuel surcharge, equipment, nitrox, WiFi, and laundry. This shift toward greater exclusivity reflects a growing demand among scuba divers for more personal, uncrowded experiences at sea.
The vessel has been designed with underwater photographers in mind. A dedicated camera room with 12 workstations and charging stations provides ample space for equipment preparation and storage. The dive deck is spacious, and the vessel carries 4 tenders for accessing sites, with Nnitrox capabilities and 3 compressors ensuring efficient tank turnover. Chef-prepared Western and Asian cuisine is served throughout the day, with expansive indoor and outdoor lounge areas providing space to relax between dives.
The Manta X will operate seasonal dive cruises covering Raja Ampat, Misool, Komodo, Alor, the Banda Sea, Ambon, and Triton Bay. These routes allow divers to experience the full breadth of Indonesia's underwater diversity, from the soft coral gardens and manta cleaning stations of Raja Ampat to the macro-rich muck sites of Ambon and the pelagic action of the Banda Sea. The vessel's steel hull and 3,000-nautical-mile range make it well-suited to the long crossings these cruises require .
The operator behind the Manta X brings decades of experience to the table. White Manta Diving was established in 1989 and has been running liveaboard trips across Southeast Asia for over 35 years. The fleet's reputation for attentive service, knowledgeable dive guides, and well-maintained vessels is well-documented in guest trip reports, with praise for everything from the dive briefings and eagle-eyed dive masters to the hot towels and hot chocolate waiting after night dives.
For divers considering a trip to Indonesia, the Manta X liveaboard offers a combination of new-build comfort, a high crew-to-guest ratio, and access to the region's most iconic dive destinations. With reservations now open, early booking is advisable for those wanting to secure a place on this new vessel during its inaugural season.
The Manta X offers 12 en-suite cabins arranged across 3 decks, designed for comfort, space and relaxation between dives. On the upper deck are 2 Master Suites (C1-C2) at 32 sqm with private balconies, plus 4 cabins (C3-C6) at 16.7 sqm that can be configured as twin or double. The main deck holds 2 fixed-twin cabins (C7-C8) at 18.5 sqm, and 2 cabins (C9-C10) at 18.5 sqm that have a queen double bed and a single bed. On the lower deck, 2 further twin-share cabins also measure 18.5 sqm.
All the cabins have:
- Individual controlled air-conditioning
- Portholes on lower deck, windows on main / upper decks
- Bathroom with shower, hand basin, toilet
- Hairdryer, bathrobe, towels and toiletries
- Private balcony (cabins C1 & C2 only)
- TV, video player and music (cabins C1 & C2 only)
- Personal safety box
- Reading lights
- Daily housekeeping
- Shelves, mirror and wardrobe
- Mains outlet 220 Volts, 24 hours per day
- European/US-style 2-pin plugs, adaptors available
- Fire alarm, life jackets and fire extinguishers
- Bedside cabinet
- Bedding
- Space for luggage
No. of bathrooms / showers - 12 / 12 - hot water
Raja Ampat National Park South & 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: 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.
[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.
