Dive Indonesia’s most celebrated destination, West Papua, from a liveaboard built on a foundation of local knowledge and outstanding value. The Raja Ampat Explorer is a substantial 33.5m vessel dedicated to covering the full breadth of this enormous marine park, offering dedicated 10-night Raja Ampat diving cruises throughout the year. For scuba divers whose priority is maximising time in the water without high-end costs, this vessel provides a proven and accessible gateway to the world-class reefs of Raja Ampat.
The unique selling point of the Raja Ampat Explorer liveaboard is its focus on delivering value-driven diving. This locally-owned operation ensures the archipelago’s extraordinary diving is accessible to a wider audience. Guests share their cruise with a maximum of just 14 divers, accommodated across 7 air-conditioned, en-suite cabins. This low passenger count is key, as it supports personalised service from the nine-person crew and helps minimise the risk of 'diver traffic' at popular underwater sites.
Diving operations are structured for ease and practicality, typically featuring 3 to 4 dives per day, including the optional night dive. Guests are transported to dive sites, whether a high-current pinnacle or a sheltered macro area, using 2 x 8-man motorised tenders. The dive deck is practical, featuring clear dive stations and an outdoor shower for immediate post-dive use. Additionally, the saloon provides a dedicated camera bench and charging station, a necessary feature for those wishing to document the sightings of their Raja Ampat Explorer dive cruise.
Comfort during surface intervals is maintained with a simple but practical layout. All 7 cabins feature private, en-suite facilities. The air-conditioned saloon and dining area serves as the central social hub, offering entertainment options like a TV, CD/DVD player, and a small library. For those who prefer the open air, the sun deck is fitted with an awning, chairs, and mats, providing a peaceful spot for relaxing and watching the dramatic West Papua landscape pass by.
The adventure aboard the Raja Ampat Explorer liveaboard is not strictly confined to the ocean. While the core daily routine is built around diving, the 10-night trips also incorporate valuable topside activities. Excursions include opportunities for hiking to stunning viewpoints overlooking the limestone karst formations and visits to picturesque lagoons. Furthermore, the operator offers the flexibility to combine the liveaboard cruise with a land-based dive package at their local resort.
For divers seeking an authentic and highly affordable expedition into Indonesia’s marine heart, the Raja Ampat Explorer liveaboard presents a trustworthy choice. It delivers the essential 10-night itinerary required to explore the full region, backed by local expertise and a commitment to providing an intimate, focused diving experience in Raja Ampat.
The Raja Ampat Explorer has 7 cabins with en-suite private bathrooms on the lower deck - 5 with twin beds, and 2 with a double bed.
All the cabins have:
- Individual control air-conditioning
- Portholes (lower deck) or windows (upper deck)
- Toilet, hot water shower and hand basin
- Soap, bath and beach towel
- Bedside reading lights
- Daily housekeeping
- Bedside table, cabinet, shelves and mirror
- Bedding
- Round 2-pin (European) mains outlet 110/220 Volts - 24 hours per day
- Fire warning system, extinguishers and life jackets
No. of bathrooms / showers - 7 / 7 - hot water
Raja Ampat National Park Central (11 Days / 10 Nights - 33 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 - Dampier Strait: Mioskon, Blue Magic, Friwen, Sardines, Chicken Reef, ; Fam and Penemu: Melissa's Garden, My Reef, Yanggefo: Mayhem, Citrus Ridge, Gam, Mansuar island, Arborek, Manta Sandy, Sawandarek Jetty, Lao-Lao, Cape Kri, Yenbuba. Includes hiking, village visit, and viewpoint.
Day 1
Your liveaboard cruise begins as you board the Raja Ampat Explorer in Sorong Harbour. After settling into your cabin and a full ship orientation, you'll have time to set up your dive gear and familiarise yourself with the liveaboard's amenities. The boat will set sail for Waisai for official clearance, with lunch and dinner served onboard as you begin your adventure.
Core Days
Immerse yourself in the breathtaking underwater universe of Raja Ampat with the Raja Ampat Explorer liveaboard, the planet's epicentre of marine biodiversity. Your expedition is a tour through the most celebrated seascapes of the Dampier Strait, Fam, and the surrounding islands, where every dive reveals a new dimension of aquatic life.
The action begins in the legendary Dampier Strait, home to some of the most exhilarating dive sites on Earth. Test your skills in the currents at Cape Kri, a world-record-holding site where the convergence of nutrients attracts sharks, massive schools of trevallies, and countless fish species. Nearby, Blue Magic and Sardines Reef live up to their names, frequently hosting oceanic mantas, patrolling reef sharks, and dense schools of tuna and barracuda. For a unique spectacle, the jetty at Arborek offers a sheltered environment where giant clams and soft corals thrive beneath the pylons, while the water column erupts with a swirling tornado of fish during the daily feeding frenzy. Don't miss the dedicated cleaning station at Manta Sandy, a sandy plateau where these graceful giants circle overhead.
The Raja Ampat Explorer will venture to the iconic region of Fam, where the world-famous Melissa's Garden awaits. This site is a true masterpiece of nature, a sprawling coral garden where every inch of reef is covered in a vibrant tapestry of hard and soft corals. The dramatic pinnacle of My Reef stands guard in often-strong currents, attracting large schools of big-eye trevallies and snappers. Further exploration leads you to the sites of Tanjung Putus, including Mayhem Reef, a bustling pinnacle surrounded by schools of batfish and fusiliers, and Citrus Ridge, a vibrant slope dotted with bommies that serve as home to thousands of glassfish and pygmy seahorses.
Beyond the diving, the liveaboard adventure continues on land. A hike to the iconic Penemu viewpoint rewards you with a breathtaking, panoramic vista of the labyrinthine, turquoise lagoons and jagged limestone islands that define the Raja Ampat archipelago, offering the perfect photo opportunity.
Day 11
Enjoy a final breakfast onboard the Raja Ampat Explorer as you reflect on an unforgettable trip. Afterwards, you will be transferred to Sorong airport for your onward flight.
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 - Misool: Yeliet, Boo Window, Nudi Rock, Tank Rock, Four Kings and Magic Mountain; Fam and Penemu: Melissa's Garden, My Reef, Yanggefo: Mayhem, Citrus Ridge, Gam, Mansuar island, Arborek, Manta Sandy, Cape Kri, Yenbuba. Includes hiking, lagoon visit, village visit, and viewpoint.
Day 1
Begin your trip by boarding the Raja Ampat Explorer liveaboard in Sorong Harbour. Get your cabin assignment, learn your way around the ship, and set up your dive gear for the week. As the boat makes the 12-hour trip to Misool, you'll be served lunch and dinner and can start getting to know the crew and other divers.
Core Days
Located in the epicentre of the Coral Triangle, Raja Ampat is a realm of unparalleled marine biodiversity, often hailed as the ultimate diving destination on the planet. Your journey through these remote islands will be a breathtaking parade of vibrant coral gardens, dramatic seascapes, and staggering marine encounters.
The liveaboard adventure begins in the southern wonderland of Misool, renowned for its intricate karst landscapes and pristine reefs. Here, you'll explore sites like Boo Window, where a series of large swim-throughs cut through the rock just below the surface. At Magic Mountain, an underwater sea mount attracts manta rays and sharks to its current-swept cleaning stations. For macro enthusiasts, Nudi Rock offers a fascinating landscape both above and below the water, teeming with nudibranchs and other small critters. The pinnacles of Four Kings and Tank Rock are adorned with pristine corals and are frequented by schools of barracuda, jacks, and the occasional giant grouper. Your exploration of Misool is complemented by a hike to the iconic Love Lagoon, offering a stunning view of its heart-shaped waters.
From Misool, the Raja Ampat Explorer cruises north to the iconic regions of Fam, Penemu, and Gam. In Fam, you'll experience the world-famous Melissa's Garden, a spectacular coral garden where hard and soft corals compete for space in a dazzling display of color and life. Nearby, My Reef presents a large pinnacle where strong currents often attract massive schools of barracuda and snapper. A hike to the top of a hill in Penemu rewards you with a breathtaking panoramic view of the intricate Penemu lagoon.
Further north, the action continues around Mansuar island and the Dampier Strait. Manta Sandy is a dedicated cleaning station where both black and oceanic manta rays gracefully circle over a sandy patch. The jetty at Arborek is a phenomenon in itself, where the pilings are draped in soft corals and shelter giant clams, while the water column erupts with a spinning tornado of fish, especially during the afternoon feeding frenzy.
The liveaboard tour culminates at legendary sites like Cape Kri, a world-record holder for fish species counted on a single dive, where sharks, trevallies, and schools of fusiliers are common. At Yanggefo, explore sites like Mayhem, a pinnacle bustling with schools of batfish and jacks, and Citrus Ridge, a vibrant 'aquarium' where soft corals host thousands of glassfish and sea fans hide pygmy seahorses. Throughout your trip, encounters with endemic species like the walking epaulette shark, wobbegongs, turtles, and breathtaking macro life are part of the daily routine.
Final Day
Check-out from the Raja Ampat Explorer begins after a continental breakfast. Once you've said your goodbyes and taken your final photos, a transfer will take you to Sorong airport. The cruise director will be on hand to help you check in for your 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].
The essence of the Raja Ampat Explorer liveaboard is an adventure for divers and snorkellers, one that perfectly marries 3 to 4 daily dives in Indonesia's world-class sites with satisfying meals. The schedule is designed to be flexible, allowing the crew to adapt to currents and maximise opportunities in remote locations like Misool and the Dampier Strait.
Your day begins early to catch the best conditions. A light pre-dive breakfast of coffee, tea, fruit, and toast is available at 6:30 am before the 7 am morning dive. Upon returning, a hearty full breakfast awaits at 8:30 am, preparing you for the 10:30 am second dive.
Lunch is a welcome break, served buffet-style at 12:30 pm in the air-conditioned lounge. The cuisine served on the Raja Ampat Explorer is a blend of international favourites and local Indonesian dishes, featuring fresh fish, rice-based options, vegetables, and soups. The third dive follows in the afternoon at 2:30 pm, then a light snack or afternoon tea is offered around 4 pm.
As evening approaches, guests may opt for the 6 pm night dive. Dinner is a relaxed affair at 7:30 pm, served as a 3-course meal, often while the boat cruises to the next scenic anchorage. Meals, including lunch and dinner, are typically served self-service buffet style, offering multiple courses and a variety of dishes such as satay or grilled fish.
The chef accommodates special dietary requirements, and non-diving activities sometimes include a hike to the iconic Penemu viewpoint.
