Why you should choose Blue Manta:
One of our most popular boats she is a stable, spacious & safe steel hulled vessel great for long haul or blue water crossings, Large dive deck with individual rinse tanks and separate dive platform, Beach & island visits (itinerary dependant), dedicated camera room, Low Single occupancy rates (just 20% in addition to trip price), Comfortable saloon with 52’ Plasma TV, 24hr Satellite internet available, Indoor & outdoor dining areas, Sundeck & shaded area, Experienced boat & dive crew and most cabins have a sea view.
Blue Manta is a luxurious liveaboard that offers a unique and unforgettable diving experience in some of the world's most pristine waters.
With spacious cabins, top-of-the-line facilities, and expert crew, Blue Manta provides the ultimate diving adventure in comfort and style, it's the perfect way to explore the incredible marine life and stunning scenery of Indonesia.
If you're looking for a once-in-a-lifetime diving experience, a trip aboard Blue Manta is an absolute must
Blue Manta takes 20 guests in her 14 en-suite cabins comprising of 4 Double cabins, 8 twin cabins and 2 combined double/twin cabins and each average 20sqm in size.
4 cabins are on the lower deck and the remaining 10 cabins are on the main and upper decks so most cabins have a sea view.
There is an open outdoor alfresco dining area or an indoor air conditioned room for dining which gives the perfect on board ambiance for a luxurious dive holiday.
With maximum comfort and safety in mind, the Blue Manta is well equipped with all safety facilities.
She cruises at 10 knots and the steel hull makes her an ideal vessel for long haul cruises and blue water crossing trips, Blue Manta is a world class cruising hotel at very affordable rates.
Read the guest reviews


Blue Manta - schedule
Blue Manta - prices and what's included
Prices are per person per trip and based on 2 persons sharing a cabin.
Exact pricing is available on the schedule here as prices vary dependant on the time of year, destination and the length of the trip and sometimes special offers are available.
The trip price includes
Land transfer from local hotel / airport from destination on trip start end days in the city of dis-embarkation and embarkation to the boat,
All nights’ accommodation on Blue Manta,
All meals (Western / Indonesian)
Snacks, hot beverages, coffee, tea, Milo, soft drinks,
Towel and toiletries,
Cabin services,
FOC replacement if equipment breakdown,
12 liter air tanks,
Weights belt,
Warm towel and drink after every dive,
6 dive guides (2x Instructor, 4x Dive Master).
The trip price does not include
Hotels,
Pickups outside trip start and end dates,
Marine harbour fee (unless included in the invoice), USD250 per person for ALL destinations except Komodo or Komodo-Maumere, then USD200 per person.
Fuel surcharge on trips from Sep 2022 onwards $200 for Banda sea / Crossong trips and $150 for Raja Ampat, Komodo and Sangalaki trips
Dive insurance is mandatory as is your own personal dive computer (You can rent one for the trip if you do not have your own).
As well as the Mandatory Dive Insurance now Trip and Travel Insurance is also mandatory on the off chance of missed or cancelled flights / lost baggage, documents, money or passport / Covid issues or any other unforeseen problems that could possibly occur you will be fully covered.
Dive Assure Insurance offers cover for all these eventualities as well as complete Dive Insurance all in one package.
Massage services (USD35/hour),
Satellite Wi-Fi internet $35-$50 per trip,
Alcohol,
Laundry services,
Enriched Air Nitrox - $7 per fill or $20 a day for up to 36% O2
Please note: Unfortunately until further notice, a fuel surcharge of 150-200 USD per person, per trip has been applied to all itineraries by the boat due to the massive increase of fuel prices around the world, we apologise for this but it is beyond our control.
Diving Gear;
Full set (Bcd, Reg, Wetsuit, fins, mask, snorkel not including computer) $50 per day
BCD $12 per day
Regulator $12 per day
Wetsuit $8 per day
Mask $5 per day
Fins $5 per day
Dive computer $12 per day
15L tank $12 per day
10% discount for non-divers
Single Occupancy offer:
No additional fee, available for NEW bookings on Blue Manta trips until the end of 2022.
Note: Normal rates apply for 2023+ schedules which is +20% in addition to the original trip price (120% of the trip price).
This offer is designed for single travelers & is not applicable to couples / spouses, & family members.
There is a maximum of 2 Single Occupancy twin cabins on each of the Upper & Main decks.
All other Single Occupancies will be provided in cabin on Lower deck.
Single spaces are subject to availability & offered on a first come, first served basis.
Booking and Cancellation Terms and Conditions.
Booking deposit: 30% of your invoice total is required within 7 days of booking to confirm your booking.
Final payment of 70% is due to 90 days prior to the departure date to complete your invoice payment.
Individual bookings made less than 90 days before the departure date will be payable in full upon booking to confirm your booking.
Cancellation at any stage involves forfeit of monies already payed.
Group or charter bookings:
6 full paying plus 1 FOC (minimum 7 pax)
12 full paying plus 2 FOC (minimum 14 pax)
New Full Charter: 16 paying full trip price, based on upper & main deck cabins plus 2 pax FOC (minimum 18 pax).
Regular Full Charter: 19 paying full trip price, based on upper & main deck cabins plus 3 pax FOC (minimum 22 pax).
Cabins: 12 Deluxe En-suite (double & twin share) cabins, will be made available to allocate to your charter.
FOC = Free of Charge (FOC clients will still need to pay the marine park fee, port clearance and any fuel surcharge)
Full charter:
Booking deposit:
10% - within 7 days of booking - non-refundable
Second deposit:
20% 180 days prior to departure - non-refundable
Balance due
90 days before departure - non-refundable
Blue Manta - gallery
Blue Manta - Video
Blue Manta - cabins
There are 14 beautifully furnished en-suite cabins, each average 20sqm (200sf) in size.
Blue Manta will take only 20 guests. The 14 en-suite cabins comprise of 10 single cabins and 4 twin or double cabins, each averaging 20sqm in size.
- C1, C2, C3, C4, En-suite (double) cabins,
- C5 C6, En-suite (twin share) cabins, upper deck
- C7 C8, En-suite (twin share) cabins, main deck
- C9 C10, En-suite (combined double/ twin) cabins, main deck
- C11 C12, En-suite (twin share) cabins, lower deck
- C13 C14, En-suite (twin share) cabins, lower deck
-
Lower Deck Twin Cabin
There are 4 Twin cabins on the lower deck with a port hole
All cabins are air-conditioned and fitted with speakers, fire and smoke alarms and all the sound proofed wall panels are made of fire retardant materials. -
Main Deck Combo Cabin
There are 4 cabins on main deck with sea view window.
All cabins are air-conditioned and fitted with speakers, fire and smoke alarms and all the sound proofed wall panels are made of fire retardant materials. -
Main Deck Twin / Double Share Cabin
There are 4 cabins on main deck with sea view window.
All cabins are air-conditioned and fitted with speakers, fire and smoke alarms and all the sound proofed wall panels are made of fire retardant materials. -
Main Deck Twin Cabin
There are 4 cabins on main deck with sea view window.
All cabins are air-conditioned and fitted with speakers, fire and smoke alarms and all the sound proofed wall panels are made of fire retardant materials. -
Main Deck Bathroom
There are 4 cabins on main deck with sea view window.
All cabins are air-conditioned and fitted with speakers, fire and smoke alarms and all the sound proofed wall panels are made of fire retardant materials. -
Upper Deck Double Cabin
There are 6 cabins on Upper Deck with sea view window.
All cabins are air-conditioned and fitted with speakers, fire and smoke alarms and all the sound proofed wall panels are made of fire retardant materials. -
Upper Deck Twin Cabin
There are 6 cabins on upper deck with sea view window.
All cabins are air-conditioned and fitted with speakers, fire and smoke alarms and all the sound proofed wall panels are made of fire retardant materials. -
Upper Deck Bathroom
There are 6 cabins on Upper Deck with sea view window.
All cabins are air-conditioned and fitted with speakers, fire and smoke alarms and all the sound proofed wall panels are made of fire retardant materials.
Blue Manta Cabins
The 14 beautifully furnished en-suite cabins, each averaging 20sqm in size.
There are 4 Twin cabins on the Lower deck with a port hole, 4 cabins on Main deck with a sea view window and 6 cabins on the Upper deck also with a sea view window.
The price varies dependant on what deck you are on, the Lower Deck Cabins are the lowest price followed by the Main and Upper Deck.
Please check the schedule for the full pricing.
All cabins are air-conditioned and fitted with speakers, fire and smoke alarms and all the sound proofed wall panels are made of fire retardant materials.
Main Deck Cabin
4 cabins on main deck with sea view window.
All cabins are air-conditioned and fitted with speakers, fire and smoke alarms and all the sound proofed wall panels are made of fire retardant materials.
Upper Deck Cabin
6 cabins on the Upper deck with sea view window.
All cabins are air-conditioned and fitted with speakers, fire and smoke alarms and all the sound proofed wall panels are made of fire retardant materials.
Blue Manta - itineraries
Due to the many and varied itineraries we have provided links to the PDF forms for each trip
Ambon-Banda-Alor-Maumere12D11N
Ambon-Banda-Raja Ampat11D10N
Ambon-Banda-Raja Ampat12D11N
Ambon-Forgotten Island11D10N
Komodo7D6N
Komodo8D7N
Komodo11D10N
Komodo-Maumere9D18N
Forgotten Island-Ambon11D10N
Forgotten island-Raja Ampat12D11N
Maumere-Forgotten Island-Saumlaki11D10N
Maumere-Forgotten Island-Saumlaki12D11N
Raja Ampat-Banda-Ambon11D10N
Raja Ampat-Misool8D7N
Raja Ampat-Misool9D8N
Raja Ampat-Misool10D9N
Raja Ampat-Misool11D10N
Raja Ampat-Ring-Ambon11D10N
Saumlaki-Forgotten Island-Maumere12D11N
Blue Manta - specs
We do not take risks or compromise on the safety and diving of our guests and crew. In addition to twin engines, the Blue Manta is fitted with the following security and safety features:
- All cabins are with speakers, fire and smoke alarms
- Furuno Radar, GPS plotter, Echo Sounders
- SSB radio, VHF radio, SART, EPIRB
- Standard Fire Fighting Equipment
- 2 x 30 Life Rafts
- Life Jackets in all cabins
- 4 x chase boats installed with twin engines
- 2 x Anchor System (DC/AC)
- First Aid Oxygen Kit
- Fire Extinguishers
- Satellite Telephone Wi-Fi
- Night Watch Security
Personalised Service
The high crew and guest ratio ensures attentive, outstanding and personalised service. With a total of 22 crew members working onboard, we are committed to your comfort and enjoyment.
- 2 Captains/Deck Officers
- 3 Engineers
- 4 Dive guides
- 3 Chefs
- 2 Masseuses
- 2 Hostesses
- 1 Cruise Leader (Instructor)
- 1 Manager (Instructor)
- 4 Dinghy Drivers/Deck Hands
Wi-Fi at Sea
The Wi-Fi is connected via Satellite and with 24/7 Wi-Fi connection, you can be connected with your family and friends anytime, anywhere, it is US$30 per trip.
Photographers Dream Boat
The Blue Manta is equipped with camera-friendly facilities, designed for the most avid underwater photographers.
- Individual Rinse Tanks
- Wide Outdoor Work Table
- Indoor Dry Camera Room
- Blow-dry Stations
- Small dive groups (4 photographers : 1 guide)
Delectable Dining
Having good food should be one of the most important criteria when choosing a liveaboard. On the Blue Manta you start your day with freshly baked breads. With no less than 5 meals a day, you will be filled and satisfied with an extensive range of treats for your taste buds.
Blue Manta Specifications
Twin or Single cabins: 10
Twin/Double cabins: 4
Total Guests: 16
Crew: 22
Length: 45m (148ft)
Width: 9m (29ft)
Hull: Steel
Cruising Speed: 10knots
Engine: 2 x 826hp Yanmar
Generator: 3 x Yanmar Gensets
Compressor: 3 x 250 litres
Nitrox: 1 x Nitrox system
Dinghy: 4 x 6.5m dinghy with twin 40hp OBM
Watermakers: 2 x Watermakers 20 ton freshwater daily
Fresh water tank : 20,000 litres
Diesel tank: 45,000 litres
Range : 3500 nm
Special Mention
- Laundry service US$10 per basket
- Free soft drink
- Low cost Nitrox (US15 per day)
- Un crowded dinghy
- Videographer/photographer services
- Maximum 20 divers
- 22 crew including 2 western instructors and 4 local dive masters
- Individual camera rinse tank
- Spacious dry camera room
- Gourmet food
Blue Manta - diving
Raja Ampat diving
All our boats run fantastic Raja Ampat liveaboards of varying length visiting all the best places each with their own unique itinerary and features.
They are all different prices dependant on the length of the trip and standard of the liveaboard.
All our liveaboards are for people enthusiastic or serious about their diving but also welcome snorkellers and non-divers who will have their own separate itinerary.
Raja Ampat (or the Four Kings) is an archipelago consisting of the islands of Misoool, Salawati, Batanta, and Wiageo which are surrounded by over 1,500 small islands and cays. Formerly known as Irian Jaya, this area is now part of the newly named West Papua province of Indonesia and is located on the northwest tip of Bird's Head Peninsula, on the island of New Guinea.
Put simply, Raja Ampat could quite possibly be the best diving in the world. It certainly is the world's most bio diverse marine region with more recorded fish, coral and mollusc species than anywhere else on Earth. The variety of marine life can be staggering. Some areas boast enormous schools of fish and regular sightings of sharks, such as wobbegongs. In Mansuar, you may encounter large groups of manta rays and turtles. From the boat and often close to shore you may get the chance to don your snorkelling gear for some unforgettable interaction with resident pods of dolphins or even some passing whales. Other highlights include the innumerable war wrecks, both ships and planes (with new wrecks being discovered constantly).
The reefs of Raja Ampat are just as varied as the marine life. There are vertical walls, reef flats, slopes, sea mounts, mucky mangroves, lagoons and pinnacles. The reefs are in pristine condition with miles of perfect hard corals and many varied colourful species of soft corals. The diving is predominantly drift dives due to the moderate prevalent currents in the area which provide nutrients for the myriad fish and coral. Currents are average to moderate and vary from none to very strong. Visibility is normally very good but can vary and is normally at its best earlier in the day so your pre-breakfast dives are not to be slept through!
This is truly "Frontier Diving". Topside the beautiful islands stretch as far as you can see and are largely uninhabited. At night the lights of local fishing boats twinkle in the dark along the few inhabited shorelines while in more remote areas you may only see a distant spec of light over the entire horizon.
Raja Ampat has a high season from October to May and weirdly enough it is during their rainy season due to the winds in the dry season making parts of the park inaccessable.
The rainy season should not be mis-construed though. It is generally mostly a shower in the late afternoon and evening and most of the time the days are nice, wind is minimal and the skys are generally clear or slightly over cast.
The seas are calmer at this time of the year as the oppposite season has winds that kick up waves and make it very difficult to dive the more exposed sites in the Southern part of Raja Ampat.
The water temperature stays roughly the same around the 27-30 degrees celcius mark all year round.
Recently, due to the popularity of Raja Ampat, a lot of boats have been running trips in the so called low season (May to October) and this is also the dry season and so promotes nicer weather and better visibility but the trade off is that only the northern more sheltered part of the park is accessable due to higher winds and waves but as the area is so vast and there are so many quality dive sites the reports from these northern trips have been glowing so far and there are new dive sites being discovered all the time.
Komodo diving
The Top 10 reasons to go to Komodo:
1. Marine Biodiversity: Komodo National Park is one of the most diverse marine habitats in the world with over 1,000 fish species, 260 species of coral, and a wide variety of macro life.
2. Manta Rays: The waters surrounding Komodo are famous for the presence of manta rays, making it a popular destination for manta ray encounters.
3. Komodo Dragons: Komodo National Park is the only place in the world where you can see the famous Komodo dragons, the world's largest lizards.
4. Vibrant Reefs: The reefs around Komodo are known for their vivid colors and healthy coral growth, with numerous dive sites to explore.
5. Wrecks: There are several sunken World War II-era wrecks in the area that are popular among divers.
6. Current Diving: Komodo is known for its thrilling and challenging currents, which can provide an exciting diving experience for experienced divers.
7. Macro Life: In addition to the larger marine life, Komodo also offers a wealth of macro life for underwater photographers to capture.
8. Drift Diving: The currents around Komodo also provide excellent drift diving opportunities, allowing divers to effortlessly glide over the reefs.
9. Whale Sharks: Although sightings are not as common as manta rays, whale sharks can also be seen in the waters surrounding Komodo.
10. Island Hopping: In addition to the diving, Komodo National Park offers the opportunity to explore and hike the scenic islands, and relax on the beaches in between dives.
Diving in Komodo is not a new idea but recently it's being recognised as a premier destination due to the awesome variety of diving to be had.
Crystal clear water and dive sites where you never see another diver provide a little something for everyone whether it's macro or massive you love.
One day you can be crawling along the bottom looking at pygmy seahorses, frogfish and unusual nudibranch and the next you are in the big blue on an open water pinnacle as the mantas fly by, the sharks circle and the dolphins hunt and the next day diving a live volcano!!
For sheer variety there is no better place on earth.
Komodo is one of the few places left in the world where sharks are not rare and down south is one of the places where manta rays have their legendary aggregations, meaning they are here in the area in their hundreds!!!
One of the highlights of these trips is the rare opportunity to walk with the lengendary Komodo dragons. These truly awesome beasts can reach 3 metres plus and can reportedly run at 20km an hour chasing their prey. It's the icing on the cake, Stunning diving and one of the world's last surviving dinosaur descendants all one amazing package.
Covering the best of both worlds, from up close and personal with aggragating mantas to shy pygmy seahorses and rare nudibranches Komodo diving has it all. The beauty of Komodo liveaboard diving is in the balance between the large and small animals. One day you will be in the blue swimming with mantas and sharks and the next swimming along a bubbling volcanic reef covered with venting submerged fumeroles blowing bubbles into the water and hiding one of the worlds best kept secret macro dive sites.
In North Komodo the water temperature is normally 27-29°C. Around Southern Komodo and Rinca Islands the water temperature drops can drop a bit to 22-26°C. A 5mm long suit is advised and hood and booties are strongly recommended for the southern area.
These are some of the top sites that most liveaboards visit.
Angel reef, Moyo, Sumbawa diving
We start our Komodo liveaboard with the first dive of the trip and the check out dive. This dive site doesn't disappoint. A beautiful wall stretching down to 50 metres covered in hard and soft corals very reminiscent of Bunaken in North Sulawesi. Schools of bannerfish and trevally patrol the walls with the occasional reef sharks making an appearance. Ribbon eels hide in crevices and many different nudibranchs crawl over the vast elephant ear sponges that hang from the beautiful soft coral infested wall.
Satonda island bay
A protected bay on Satonda island north of Sumbawa hosts a treasure trove of macro critters, the more we dive here the more we find. The rare Denise pygmy seahorse lives in fans here, frogfish hang out in big barrel sponges and ghost pipefish hide amongst the featherstars that cover the reef slope. In the sandy bottom you can find jawfish with their mouths full of eggs, myriads of anemonefish, mushroom coral pipefish and spearer mantis shrimps.
Sangeang island diving
Sangieng island is a perfectly round volcanic island jutting up from the sea bed. Still active and last blowing in 1996 this well kept secret is one of the world's finest macro dive areas. With diving available all around the island there is not one specific spot but always new ones to be discovered. Bubbles of volcanic gas seep through the sand creating a surreal atmosphere and a warm black sand bottom hosting rare and unusual nudibranch. Pygmy seahorses, frogfish, Pegasus sea moths and carnivorous shells and all common here, this is my personal favourite dive site as every time we dive here there is a surprise in store of something new that is often not in the books - this site is why you go Komodo liveaboard diving.
Gps point - Gili Banta diving
Gps point is an open sea mount prone to strong currents at certain times of the day. This provides prolific hard and soft coral growth that is home to hundreds of different types of reef fish. Loved by sharks, white tip sharks cruise around the whole dive in amongst the hunting giant trevallies and schooling jacks and surgeon fish, an exciting dive.
Takat Toko, Gili Lawalaut diving
This is one of my favourite sites on the Komodo liveaboard itinerary and is very similar to Gps point this site takes it to the next level. Grey reef shark, white tip sharks, occassional dolphins and a literal fish soup created by jacks, surgeonfish, giant trevallies and bannerfish surround this large sea mount as you hang on to the reef edge and watch the action. Again this site is prone to strong currents but we time our dives to hit around slack tide and a little current brings in the big fish. Great pelagic action, my favourite blue water dive.
Lighthouse reef, Gili Lawalaut diving
An adrenalin pounding drift dive along the wall and around the corner under the lighthouse. Sharks, mantas, dolphins are all frequent visitors on the dive with some of the best coral reef top in the area around the corner out of the current at the end of the dive you can hunt for porcelain crabs, cuttlefish and unusual seahorses whilst waiting for the adrenalin to funnel out of your system and your heart rate to return to normal-this is what Komodo liveaboard diving is all about!.
Crystal rock, Gili Lawalaut diving
A stunning soft coral and sea fan covered pinnacle with crystal water clarity this is a great site for those magazine cover wide angle shots. With at least 5 different types of angelfish, 4 types of trigger and butterflyfish everywhere it is a excellent reef fish dive with frequent visits from eagle and manta rays and the resident sleepy hawksbill turtle.
Pink beach, Komodo diving
Colder water and lower vis here due to the huge amounts of organic matter in the water due to the southern currents but this is more than made up for by the astounding life available to see here due to this phenomenon. Normally done as a night dive it also makes a good day dive with everything from white tip sharks to pygmy seahorses; zebra crabs, Coleman shrimp, many coloured frogfish, xeno crabs, Spanish dancers, and unusual nudibranchs are hidden amongst the dense coral growth.
Cannibal rock, Rinca island diving
Colder water than the north but touted by many as one of the worlds best 10 sites, yes I know there seems to be way more than 10 "top 10 sites" but this one really is one if you like macro. Everything is here even the rarest of the rare, the Rhinopias scorpionfish. It's nudi heaven with only the special and the rare getting to appear here, more species than I care to mention along with large and different frogfish mixed in with schools of fish and the resident dopy turtle we do 2 dives here and it's still not enough!! You will love it, I personally adore this dive site.
Torpedo alley, Rinca island diving
Just next to cannibal rock and where the boat moors is a beach that has wild pigs, monkeys and Komodo dragons in the daytime and hosts a myriad of critters in the waters in front if it at night. Named for the large amount of torpedo rays found here, a member of the electric ray family- no touching! They cover the sandy bottom along with loads of nudis obvious on the black sand bottom along with bizarre crabs and octopus.
Manta alley, Komodo diving
In the cooler waters in the south of Komodo there is a bay in which there are a series of pinnacles that seem to be a magnet for aggregating mantas. They are here in their tens, often we come up having seen over 20 different individuals. Often a little shy, their evasive spins and pirouettes makes the watching of them that much more enjoyable.
Takat Makassar, Komodo diving
This is our other manta site. A little bit more of a risk to see them as it is a huge area and we drift along the bottom in about 10 metres but along the way we always run into loads of turtles, napoleon and humphead wrasse, white tip sharks and very very occasionally you will be incredibly lucky and run into the resident dugong that inhabits this area along with scores of mantas as they migrate north.
3 sisters, Padar island diving
A series of underwater pinnacles reaching nearly to the the surface off the coast of Padar island next to Komodo this site constantly springs surprises on you from silvertip sharks and mobular ray schools to marbled rays and rare nudibranchs.
Blue Manta - faqs
Standard Indonesian FAQS
Please note these are generic FAQs about Indonesia in general and not always boat specific.
If you are unsure about something please ask us to get confirmation.
What documents will I need to show on the boat?
Dive certification cards and dive logbook.
What money will I need?
Most boats accepts payment by Visa or Mastercard, Indonesian Rupiah, Euro or US Dollar. Please be advised that foreign notes should be clean, new and crisp. Indonesian banks and money changers will not accept old notes or notes which are damaged in any way. You can also use your credit or debit card at ATM machines in towns prior to boarding the boat to withdraw Rupiah, which is better should you wish to purchase local souvenirs or for tips. It is advisable to inform your bank or credit card company that you will be visiting Indonesia prior to your departure, as it is not uncommon for the bank to put a block on the card if they suspect it has been misappropriated.
Will there be any opportunities to go ashore during the cruise?
There are many different land excursions which are dependent on the schedule and guest preferences. Some land excursions available are beach visits, village visit and other treks dependant on the area, weather and local conditions.
What if I am prone to sea sickness?
If you are prone to sea sickness we strongly urge you to bring some motion sickness medication.
What is the voltage on the boat?
Voltage in Indonesia is 220-240 V.
If you feel you will need an adaptor please bring one.
What time zone is Indonesia located?
Komodo, Flores, Derawan and Sangalaki, Kaimantan and Sulawesi are 8 hours ahead of GMT. Raja Ampat is covered by Eastern Indonesia Standard Time which is 9 hours ahead of GMT.
Is smoking permitted?
Most boats provide a designated area on the boat is available for smoking.
Smoking is not permitted in any other area for any reason.
What about crew gratuities?
Gratuities for the crew are not included in your trip price. If the crew performs to your expectations, we suggest a gratuity of approximately 5-10% of the published package price per person be considered normal aboard a liveaboard dive boat.
All tips are generally split equally among the boat crew. Personal tipping is frowned upon. Payment of gratuities can be by cash or credit card.
Do I need evacuation/dive insurance?
It is mandatory that each guest purchase comprehensive evacuation and dive accident insurance.
The boat will be operating in extremely remote areas. Emergency evacuations from remote locations can cost in excess of USD $100,000.
We recommend Divers Alert Network (DAN): www.DiversAlertNetwork.org (in USA), www.daneurope.org (in Europe).
Are there any limitations or restrictions on the diving?
You should stay within the limits and standards of your qualifying agency.
All dives should be no- decompression dives. Solo diving is not permitted.
What dive equipment do I need?
Tanks, weights and weight belts are provided onboard. Divers will need to bring BCD, regulator, wetsuit,fins, mask, snorkel and dive light.
Rental equipment is available and will need to be ordered in advance.
What can I expect the water temperature to be and what wetsuit do you recommend?
This is always a difficult question to answer because people have different reactions to temperature.
Typically temperatures range from 25-30C or 80-86F so usually a 3mm suit or even a skin is fine.
The southern waters of Komodo can be colder with 20-25C or 70-75F so a 5mm suit with a hood is recommended.
How do we dive from the boat?
All dives will be made from the tenders. Equipment will be transferred to the tenders and guests will board the tender with only their wetsuit on.
Can I drink alcohol and dive?
No. Drinking alcohol and diving can increase your risk of decompression problems.
You can drink alcohol once your have completed your last dive of the day.
Can I pay by Credit card on board?
For most things yes you can but there is a bank charge of 3%, normal in Indonesia. Please check with us beforehand about this.
Climate:
The average air temperature in the regions you will visit ranges from 25 - 35 Celsius or 77-90 Fahrenheit.
Health and innoculations:
Vaccinations for typhoid, paratyphoid, tetanus, Cholera, Polio, and Hepatitis A are recommended but not mandatory.
Malaria is endemic in many parts of Indonesia, please check with your local Tropical Disease Centre for anti-malaria/diver friendly medication.
You will also need to have been vaccinated from Covid.
Money:
The Indonesian currency is Rupiah. Rates fluctuate enormously, please check with our cruise directors for your cruise exchange rates.
Population and people:
Regarded as the fifth most populous nation in the world, there are approximately 200,000,000 in Indonesia. The majority, around 60% reside on the island of Java.
Religion:
An amazing diversity of religions exists. Predominantly a Muslim nation, islands like Timor, North Sulawesi and Flores are Christian.
Hinduism is found mainly in Bali.
Scattered throughout the region are a variety of other beliefs.
Language:
Bahasa Indonesia, almost identical to Malay is the one national language.
Several local dialects exist in each region as well. English is widely spoken in the more popular tourist destinations such as Bali.
Diving Indonesia
Out of 14,000+ islands in the archipelago, there are a plethora of exclusive dive locations in Indonesia, boasting up to 80% of the worlds species of undersea life. With Indocruises we take you to pristine spots not that known in your average dive travel guide and which are still being explored.
Dive conditions in Indonesia
Diving all year around is possible.
Watertemperature 24°(75°F) to 30°C(86°F) (In the south of Komodo it can drop down to 21-23°C (70-75°F)
Visibility is mostly very good (up to 30m)
Safety Procedures and Emergency Evacuation Information:
There are 6 recompression chambers in Indonesia to treat decompression sickness
Bali: Sanglah General Hospital (in Indonesian language) USUP Sanglah Denpasar JI. Diponegoro, Denpasar 80114 Bali, Indonesia Phone 62-361-227911 through -15 ext. 232 (hyperbaric medical department) Fax 62-361-22426 Run by Dr. Antonius Natasamudra and Dr. Etty Herawati
Manado (Sulawesi): At the Malalayang Hospital (chamber for 3 to 4 persons) Phone: 0811430913 and ask for Dr Jimmy Waleleng (Phone home 860953).
Makassar (Sulawesi): Rumah Sakit Umum Wahidin Sudirohusodo. Contact person: Pak Daniel Address: Jl. Perintis Kemerdekaan Km. 11, Tamalanrea Kampus UNHAS Indonesia TEL:++ 62 - 0411 (584677) , 584675. Said to be for 3 to 4 persons.
Jakarta (Java): Rumah Sakit Angkatan Laut (Navy Hospital) in Jl. Bendungan Hilir No.17, Central Jakarta (see text in italian with some addresses - list of help)
Kalimantan: The Borneo Divers have the only professional recompression chamber located on Sipadan island (Borneo - Malaysia)
Surabaya (Java): Rumah Sakit Angkatan Laut (RSAL) (Military Marine hospital) Jl. Gadung no. 1, SurabayPhone 031-45750 and 41731 (another number given was 031-838153 and fax 031- 837511) Run by Dr Suharsono
Available SAR (search and rescue) contact information:
- SAR Bali : ph 0361 - 751111 Radio : 13545.0
- SAR Lombok : Ph 0370 - 633253 Radio : 13545.0
- SAR Makassar : Ph 0411 - 554111 Radio : 13545.0
- SAR Manado : Ph 0431 - 825986
- SAR Kupang : Ph 0380 - 831111
- SAR Ambon : Ph 0911 - 351111
- SAR Sorong : Ph 0951 - 323816
**Available SAR (search and rescue) contact information:
Medivac facilities from Travira Air www.travira-air.com