Stepping aboard the 36-metre long Teman liveaboard is to choose an authentic and personable dive experience built on 2 decades of operational expertise in Indonesia. This 2017 Sulawesi-built wooden sailing boat provides divers with a unique platform to access the Coral Triangle’s finest submerged sites. The vessel’s proven history navigating these waters, seasonally between Raja Ampat and Komodo, offers reliable guidance, with flexibility for bespoke diving expeditions to areas such as the Banda Sea, Triton Bay, or Halmahera available upon request.
Service levels onboard the KLM Teman are exceptional due to its intimate size. Capacity is limited to just 12 guests across 5 comfortable ensuite cabins, supported by a 10-person crew. This high staff-to-guest ratio fosters an atmosphere of personal attention and friendliness, which is especially beneficial for small groups who can request tailored cruising and diving itineraries focused on their specific underwater interests.
While the Teman cabins offer private comfort, the communal areas are designed for relaxation and social engagement. The dining room seamlessly transitions into a large lounge area, furnished with comfortable cushions and day beds for guests’ downtime. Importantly, this central space is surrounded by 180-degree open windows, ensuring continuous fresh air and uninterrupted views of the spectacular Indonesian archipelago.
Dive operations on the Teman liveaboard are run from an inflatable watercraft and 2 sturdy wooden dinghies, ensuring effective access to remote reefs. The spacious dive deck supports full preparation, featuring a large briefing table with bench seating. Practical amenities for scuba divers include a dedicated camera storage and charging zone, along with an outside shower and toilet. Maintained rental equipment is available for all guests.
The Teman Cruise Director and dive guides offer expertise across the operator’s 6 primary destinations. This specialist team prepares divers thoroughly for the distinct underwater experiences and challenges found at each dive site, instilling confidence with detailed information shared before and after every dive.
For those seeking an unhurried, friendly, small-group experience, the KLM Teman provides a genuinely memorable Indonesian diving vacation. This liveaboard leverages its 2 decades of experience to share the archipelago’s hidden gems. Additional activities like paddle boarding and kayaking are provided for surface exploration, completing the comprehensive service provided by the KLM Teman liveaboard team.
Banda, Ambon & Forgotten Islands
Trip highlights: hammerhead 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: Suanggi, Manuk, Forgotten Islands: Dusborgh and Nil Desperandum; Koon, Banda Islands: Banda Neira, Ambon
Day 1
Board in Ambon, settle into your cabin, and join the crew for a boat briefing over a fruit mocktail. A check dive in the harbour warms up your gear before dinner as the Teman heads east towards Suanggi.
Core Days
The Banda Sea rewards patience with encounters that stay with you. On the Teman liveaboard, you will wake each morning to a different horizon. At Suanggi, hard coral reefs drop to ridges where hammerheads sometimes ghost past, a quiet patrol along the edge of visibility. Then Manuk, an active volcano, draws sea snakes in astonishing numbers; they coil over black sand slopes while fusiliers stream above volcanic ridges draped in gorgonians. The Teman positions you here for the best light and current, letting you drift alongside mobula rays and eagle rays that frequent the nutrient-rich upwellings.
Moving deeper into the Forgotten Islands, you will spend days exploring 2 large atolls: Dusborgh and Nil Desperandum. Both deliver the open-water feeling that experienced divers seek: walls falling into deep blue, steady drift, and the real possibility of hammerhead sharks cruising the drop-offs. The Teman liveaboard schedules multiple dives at each atoll, giving you time to work the currents and find the corners where pelagics turn. Koon offers a lighter moment at a site simply called 'Too Many Fish', and the name does not lie. Expect barracuda, trevally, and dense clouds of fusiliers that part around you like silver rain.
Later, the spice islands appear. Banda Neira sits in deep water, so large pelagics come close. Lava Flow shows off volcanic rock shapes carved by ancient eruptions, while the harbour hides mandarinfish at dusk - a slow, gentle dive with torches and patience. Other sites around Banda Neira include Cathedral, Batu Kapal and Karang Hatta, each with its own character of coral block and open chimney.
Finally, Ambon closes the trip with 2 very different dives: a WWII wreck settled on its side, and the muck sites of Laha Strait. There, rhinopias, frogfish, ghostpipefish and flamboyant cuttlefish hide in plain sight among rubble and sponge. The Teman liveaboard dive guides know the exact spots and can point out a fingered dragonet before you have even registered it.
Final Day
One last coffee on deck, then transfer from the Teman to Ambon airport or your hotel. You leave with a hard drive full of reef and the quiet sense that you have been somewhere remote.
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 Sebayur Besar, Komodo: Tatawa, Siaba, Batu Bolong, Makassar Reef, Gili Lawa, Pantai Merah, Manta Alley, Yellow Wall, Cannibal Rock, Wainilu, Three Sisters. Trek and visit Komodo dragons.
Day 1
That first glimpse of the KLM Teman anchored in Labuan Bajo is the moment the anticipation finally breaks into excitement. Upon acceptance of guests on board, the delightful crew extends a hearty welcome before delivering the comprehensive operational induction to all adventurers. You'll have time to focus on allocating time for essential diving gear assembly and executing a necessary check dive before gathering with your new companions for the opening night banquet. Afterwards, you will watch the shore recede as the vessel's night-time traversal toward the stunning Komodo National Park gets underway.
Core Days
Komodo offers scuba divers access to an astonishing arena of marine life, driven by nutrient-rich waters that fuel one of the world's most dynamic coral triangle locations. Your time with the Teman liveaboard focuses on the region's famous high-energy sites. At the submerged pinnacle of Batu Bolong, you will descend to observe the dense congregation of thousands of reef fish, including surgeonfish and snappers, which in turn draw in apex predators such as grey reef sharks and giant trevallies. Nearby, sites like Sebayur Besar, Tatawa, and Gili Lawa provide opportunities to explore spectacular coral gardens and calm reefs, ideal for enjoying extended bottom time and taking in the sheer biomass.
A major draw of diving in Komodo is the chance for encounters with megafauna. The strong currents around Makassar Reef and Manta Alley create vast filtration areas, attracting oceanic manta rays to feed or visit known cleaning stations. Both locations offer the possibility of unforgettable in-water experiences with these majestic animals. Heading to the southern sites, the topography shifts to dramatic vertical walls. Sites like Yellow Wall and the Three Sisters are draped in magnificent soft corals, providing a vivid backdrop for diverse invertebrate life.
This dive safari provides a comprehensive exploration, balancing pelagic encounters with superb macro diving. Sheltered areas such as Wainilu, Pantai Merah, and Siaba are renowned for critter sightings. With the assistance of the expert dive guides on the KLM Teman, you may locate elusive species like pygmy seahorses, ribbon eels, ghost pipefish, and the colourful nudibranchs of Cannibal Rock. To complete your adventure, a dedicated land excursion allows you to trek and visit the famed Komodo dragons in their native environment.
Final Day
Following a final morning breakfast, your memorable expedition aboard the Teman liveaboard concludes with disembarkation back at Labuan Bajo.
Komodo National Park North
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 Sebayur Besar, Komodo: Tatawa, Siaba, Batu Bolong, Makassar Reef, Gili Lawa, Wainilu, Three Sisters. Trek and visit Komodo dragons.
Day 1
The commencement of your northern Komodo diving tour is a strictly regulated process. At Labuan Bajo Harbour, securing access to the vessel is followed by a greeting from the staff and a mandatory maritime safety discourse ensuring compliance and comfort. Before the sun dips, every diver will be required to spend time assembling the requisite underwater apparatus and complete the check dive. Following this procedure, you will be invited to partake in consuming the inaugural evening dinner as the Teman liveaboard sets forth under darkness into the Komodo National Park waters.
Core Days
The northern region of Komodo is where nutrient-rich tidal flows create a stunning, current-driven spectacle for divers. Your time on the KLM Teman focuses on the exhilarating high-energy dive sites. The renowned pinnacle of Batu Bolong is a prime example; here, powerful flows concentrate immense schools of fusiliers, snappers, and bannerfish, with grey reef sharks and giant trevallies policing the perimeter. Similarly, the shallow, vast expanse of Makassar Reef is celebrated for reliably attracting oceanic manta rays to feed or visit cleaning stations. The expert crew ensures a safe entry and exit for scuba divers navigating these productive waters.
Exploration extends to the extensive, high-quality reefs nearby. Sites such as Gili Lawa, Tatawa, and Sebayur Besar present dynamic slopes and lush coral gardens. The Three Sisters, a series of submerged pinnacles, offers a complex reef structure draped in sponges and soft corals, perfect for spotting turtles and large schooling fish. These locations allow for extended bottom time when conditions permit, letting you immerse yourself in the healthy biomass that defines Komodo diving.
Beyond the pelagic action, this tour balances the high-octane diving with opportunities for exceptional critter hunting. Dive sites such as Siaba and Wainilu offer rewarding conditions for macro photography, where your knowledgeable Teman dive guides can help locate elusive species such as frogfish, ghost pipefish, and ribbon eels. Finally, every guest enjoys a quintessential Komodo experience: a land excursion and guided trek to observe the formidable, native Komodo dragons.
Final Day
Your liveaboard diving adventure with the KLM Teman concludes this morning. Following a final breakfast on board, you will disembark back at Labuan Bajo.
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, Sewandarek, Penemu, Wayag, Wofoh, Yengefo, Gam, Arborek, Mioskon. Visit Blue River, viewpoints, village, pearl farm and lagoons.
Day 1
The warm, damp salt air greets you the instant you arrive at Sorong Harbour. A tranquil stepping onto the boat is quickly followed by the friendly crew's greeting and a quick orientation discussion covering life aboard the KLM Teman. There is ample opportunity for arranging your scuba gear in the late afternoon, which includes a check dive, before settling in for enjoying a marvellous evening meal. Once finished, the house lights dim as the Teman liveaboard pulls away for an overnight trip to the magnificent dive areas of Raja Ampat.
Core Days
This cruise is designed to give scuba divers the most rewarding experience of the northern and central Raja Ampat National Park, concentrating on the high-energy reefs of the Dampier Strait and the pristine karst scenery further north. The strait is known as the epicentre of marine action, hosting renowned dive sites such as Cape Kri and Mioskon. Here, strong currents aggregate immense schools of fish- life, including fusiliers, snapper, and endemic wobbegong sharks, which in turn draw in hunting blacktip reef sharks and giant trevallies. Similarly, Sewandarek, Gam, and Arborek offer vibrant, current-swept reefs where you can observe everything from massive bumphead parrotfish to patrolling oceanic manta rays.
Moving towards the remote northern regions, the diving environment transforms, blending dramatic topside geography with exceptional underwater biodiversity. The region encompassing Wayag and Wofoh showcases spectacular limestone islands, which are complemented by dives on submerged pinnacles and lush, isolated reefs. These sites often yield large sea fans concealing pygmy seahorses, and the calmer bays offer chances to encounter the unique walking epaulette shark in the shallows. The area around Yengefo provides an outstanding combination of pelagic action and excellent macro photography opportunities.
Beyond the water, this exploration on the KLM Teman offers memorable land excursions. You will be taken on boat trips to admire the iconic topside viewpoints, particularly around Penemu and the lagoons of Wayag. Other experiences include visits to local villages, providing a cultural insight, and a stop at the Blue River. Your time aboard the Teman liveaboard is structured to maximise exposure to Raja Ampat's unique combination of high-intensity diving and spectacular natural beauty, confirming its status as a premier liveaboard destination.
Final Day
Enjoy a final breakfast on board the Teman before disembarkation at Sorong, concluding your exceptional diving expedition.
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: Boo, Fiabacet, Yilliet, Wayilbatan, Lenkafal, Balbulol, Daram; Dampier Strait: Cape Kri, Sewandarek, Penemu, Yengefo, Arborek, Mioskon. Visit Jellyfish Lake, Love Lagoon, Blue River, viewpoints, villages, and lagoons.
Day 1
Upon completion of the transfer from land at Sorong harbour, you gain admission to the KLM Teman and receive a kind reception. The schedule moves through essential vessel instructions and then provides time for preparing all essential dive gear via the compulsory check dive. Following that exercise, the first communal evening meal is served to guests, just as navigation under cover of night commences toward the southern and central dive zones.
Core Days
This exceptional liveaboard exploration begins in the spectacular Misool region, the geographical heart of the Coral Triangle's biodiversity. Misool's dramatic limestone formations extend beneath the surface, creating sheltered bays and exposed pinnacles that explode with life. Diving sites such as Yilliet, Daram, Balbulol, and Lenkafal are dense with massive sea fans and vibrant soft corals, providing shelter for huge schools of baitfish and supporting endemic creatures like the wobbegong shark. Misool is an absolute underwater photographer’s paradise, rewarding those who take the time to appreciate the pristine reef health and intricate macro life.
Mid trip, the Teman liveaboard steers towards the central region's high-octane sites in the Dampier Strait. Here, nutrient-laden currents fuel some of the most exhilarating dives on the planet. Dive world legends like Cape Kri, Mioskon, and Sewandarek routinely deliver superb wide-angle action, attracting blacktip reef sharks, schooling trevallies, and colossal bumphead parrotfish. Sites around Arborek and Yengefo provide dependable pelagic sightings, including oceanic manta rays that frequent the area for cleaning.
Between dives, guests experience the unique topside beauty of Raja Ampat. Excursions include a hike up to the viewpoint at Penemu to capture the classic image of the karst islands and lagoons. Other non-diving highlights include swimming in the unique, stingless Jellyfish Lake, kayaking through the scenic Love Lagoon, or visiting the tranquil Blue River and local villages. The expertise of the crew ensures every aspect of your time on the Teman liveaboard is focused on quality and unforgettable discovery.
Final Day
Following a final breakfast on board, your memorable diving expedition concludes with disembarkation at Sorong harbour.
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: Boo, Fiabacet, Koon Island, Banda Islands: Banda Neira, Nusa Laut, Ambon
Day 1
Adventure awaits, join your expedition crew at Sorong Harbour! After you ascend the gangway of the magnificent KLM Teman, receive a warm welcome and assimilate the vital informational session regarding shipboard operations. You must then heed the call to action, taking time to organise all your scuba equipment during the mandatory check dive. We will then refuel with the initial hot fare before the grand expedition gets underway after sundown across the Banda Sea.
Core Days
This extensive dive expedition begins in the spectacular Raja Ampat archipelago, concentrating on the southern Misool area, widely recognised as the heart of marine biodiversity. Sites like Fiabacet, Boo, and Wayilbatan feature some of the planet's most vibrant, densely-packed soft coral topography. These iconic submerged formations and pinnacles are magnets for marine life, supporting immense schools of sweetlips and batfish, and sheltering the distinctive endemic wobbegong shark.
Continuing north, your time on the Teman liveaboard includes the powerful currents of the Dampier Strait, known for its sheer volume of pelagic action. Dives here around Yangeffo offer exhilarating opportunities to encounter blacktip reef sharks, tuna, and large schooling fish at their cleaning stations. The trip also incorporates a surface visit to the stunning karst scenery of Penemu, allowing divers to appreciate the iconic island viewpoints.
The voyage transitions across the deep waters of the Banda Sea, taking you to remote locations that boast incredible reef health. At Koon Island, the isolated reef acts as a magnet for oceanic travellers, providing a high probability of viewing large pelagic species such as dogtooth tuna and various ray species. It is common to spot migratory cetaceans, including whales and dolphins, from the deck of the Teman during the longer crossings.
Your exploration encompasses the historic Banda Islands, where steep, volcanic walls meet crystal-clear water, supporting vast congregations of reef fish, including anthias and soldierfish. Diving Nusa Laut offers an experience in unspoiled habitat. The final dives take place around Ambon, a destination famous among macro enthusiasts for its exceptional muck diving. Here, the unique environment offers the possibility of locating rare critters such as the Ambon scorpionfish, ensuring a comprehensive view of Indonesia's diverse marine environments before the Teman liveaboard repositions for disembarkation.
Final Day
Following a final breakfast on board, your memorable expedition concludes with disembarkation at Ambon.
[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 voyage on the KLM Teman liveaboard in the Indonesian archipelago structures the day perfectly, ensuring optimal diving and consistent, high-quality nourishment. This full-board cruise covers all main meals, snacks, soft drinks, tea, coffee, and unlimited mineral water provided via an eco-friendly refillable system.
The routine begins with a full breakfast, freshly prepared by the onboard chef, offering a substantial start with options like rice or noodles, or a Western selection of sausage, bacon, and eggs, complemented by homemade pastries and fresh fruit. This fuel-up precedes the first dive of the day.
The structure of diving and eating continues throughout the day with a flexible schedule tailored around the best dive times. Lunch is a leisurely break that often highlights traditional Indonesian cuisine, with dishes inspired by Javanese, Sulawesi, and Maluku cultures. Guests of the Teman can anticipate a delightful mix of flavours, with examples such as Ribs with Honey sauce, Steamed Fish, Cap Cay, and Sate. In between dives, various snacks, including local fried specialities and cakes, are provided for continuous energy.
Dining takes place either in the dedicated dining area or outside on the main deck, enjoying the open air. The rich menu features a blend of Asian, European, and Indonesian cuisine. Dinner is the rewarding evening meal served after the final dive, providing a substantial selection. Guests can indulge in plates like Beef with Black Pepper Sauce, Grilled Prawns and Calamari, Teriyaki Chicken, or Crab with Padang sauce. On certain nights, the crew may arrange a memorable sunset beach BBQ.
The Teman chef is highly experienced in accommodating a wide range of dietary preferences and restrictions, including vegetarian, vegan, pescatarian, and halal diets, provided notice is given upon booking. A selection of beers, wines, and spirits is available for purchase after the day's final dive.
