Adelaar Liveaboard, Indonesia

Day 1:
Meet & greet at the airport. Group transfer to the port. Onboarding, meeting the crew & briefing.

Days 2-9:
Departing & check dive. Safari according to the planned route.

Day 10:
2 dives on the last day. Return to the port.

Day 11:
Check-out from the yacht, group transfer to the airport.

This is a sample itinerary. Routes can be affected by adverse weather conditions and unforeseen events, force majeure or other similar reasons

Day 1:
Meet & greet at the airport. Group transfer to the port. Onboarding, meeting the crew & briefing.

Days 2-5:
Departing & check dive. Safari according to the planned route.

Day 6:
2 dives on the last day. Return to the port.

Day 7:
Check-out from the yacht, group transfer to the airport.

This is a sample itinerary. Routes can be affected by adverse weather conditions and unforeseen events, force majeure or other similar reasons

Day 1:
Meet & greet at the airport. Group transfer to the port. Onboarding, meeting the crew & briefing.

Days 2-6:
Departing & check dive. Safari according to the planned route.

Day 7:
2 dives on the last day. Return to the port.The crew hosts a sunset cocktail party at 17:30 followed by dinner ashore.

Day 8:
Check-out from the yacht, group transfer to the airport.

Routes can be affected by adverse weather conditions and unforeseen events, force majeure or other similar reasons

Day 1:
Meet & greet at the airport. Group transfer to the port. Onboarding, meeting the crew & briefing.

Days 2-6:
Departing & check dive. Safari according to the planned route.

Day 7:
2 dives on the last day. Return to the port.

Day 8:
Check-out from the yacht, group transfer to the airport.

This is a sample itinerary. Routes can be affected by adverse weather conditions and unforeseen events, force majeure or other similar reasons

Day 1:
Onboarding, meeting the crew & briefing.

Day 2:
Komodo National Park Dragon walk (3 dives).
Dragons! We go ashore at 7:00 AM for a ranger guided hike into on Rinca Island, to look for Komodo dragons. And hope to spot some of the terrestrial wildlife found in the park. After the walk we’ll dive some of the action-packed sites of the central section of the park – stunning coral reefs bathed in a dazzling explosion of colorful fish life, that will make any diver beg for more of the same.

Day 3:
Komodo National Park (4 dives).
The seamounts and drift dives around the Gili Lawa islands in the northernmost part of the park are deservedly amongst the signature dive sites of the Komodo archipelago – a real diver’s dream. In the evening, the effort of climbing up to the viewpoint will be rewarded with a glorious sunset over the whole national park.

Day 4:
Sangeang (3 dives).
A very early morning departure, with destination Sangeang, a volcano whose most recent eruption was in 2014. Upon our sunrise approach, Sangeang rises majestically from the sea, emitting the occasional puff of smoke. The black sandy bottom of this site makes for spectacular diving. In places, a steady stream of gaseous sulphur, bubbles up from the sand making its way towards the surface. Swimming through, you have the feeling of being in an underwater jacuzzi! The critters inhabiting the colorful reefs of Sangeang’s rich black sandy slopes are waiting to be discovered. Tonight, we sail through the night towards Moyo Island.

Day 5:
Moyo (2 dives + waterfall walk).
We arrive at Moyo Island early this morning, for our two dives along the fringing reef, near the main village. Clear, warm water with lots of fish await you on the seamounts off the island of Moyo. A shore excursion takes you through the local village along a winding path towards a waterfall. Those daring enough can grab the rope, swing out over the falls and drop into the pool below! Once back onboard, we move into Teluk Saleh a large bay hosting a permanent aggregate of whale sharks.

Day 6:
Saleh Bay (Bagans, 1 dive).
Our cruise director is up extremely early to meet up with our local fixer to coordinate our whale shark encounter with the local Bagans. Going by dinghy from platform to platform to find out who has sighted circling whale sharks. Once identified, we get geared up as Adelaar moves closer to the Bagan site. Typically clear water

Day 7:
Check-out from the yacht, group transfer to the airport.

This is a sample itinerary. Routes can be affected by adverse weather conditions and unforeseen events, force majeure or other similar reasons

Day 1:
Onboarding, meeting the crew & briefing.

Day 2:
Komodo National Park Dragon walk (3 dives).
Dragons! We go ashore at 7:00 AM for a ranger guided hike into on Rinca Island, to look for Komodo dragons. And hope to spot some of the terrestrial wildlife found in the park. After the walk we’ll dive some of the action-packed sites of the central section of the park – stunning coral reefs bathed in a dazzling explosion of colorful fish life, that will make any diver beg for more of the same.

Day 3:
Komodo National Park (4 dives).
The seamounts and drift dives around the Gili Lawa islands in the northernmost part of the park are deservedly amongst the signature dive sites of the Komodo archipelago – a real diver’s dream. In the evening, the effort of climbing up to the viewpoint will be rewarded with a glorious sunset over the whole national park.

Day 4:
Sangeang (3 dives).
A very early morning departure, with destination Sangeang, a volcano whose most recent eruption was in 2014. Upon our sunrise approach, Sangeang rises majestically from the sea, emitting the occasional puff of smoke. The black sandy bottom of this site makes for spectacular diving. In places, a steady stream of gaseous sulphur, bubbles up from the sand making its way towards the surface. Swimming through, you have the feeling of being in an underwater jacuzzi! The critters inhabiting the colorful reefs of Sangeang’s rich black sandy slopes are waiting to be discovered. Tonight, we sail through the night towards Moyo Island.

Day 5:
Moyo (2 dives + waterfall walk).
We arrive at Moyo Island early this morning, for our two dives along the fringing reef, near the main village. Clear, warm water with lots of fish await you on the seamounts off the island of Moyo. A shore excursion takes you through the local village along a winding path towards a waterfall. Those daring enough can grab the rope, swing out over the falls and drop into the pool below! Once back onboard, we move into Teluk Saleh a large bay hosting a permanent aggregate of whale sharks.

Day 6:
Saleh Bay (Bagans, 1 dive).
Our cruise director is up extremely early to meet up with our local fixer to coordinate our whale shark encounter with the local Bagans. Going by dinghy from platform to platform to find out who has sighted circling whale sharks. Once identified, we get geared up as Adelaar moves closer to the Bagan site. Typically clear water

Day 7:
Check-out from the yacht, group transfer to the airport.

This is a sample itinerary. Routes can be affected by adverse weather conditions and unforeseen events, force majeure or other similar reasons

Day 1: 
Meet & greet at the airport. Group transfer to the port. Onboarding, meeting the crew & briefing. As soon as everyone is aboard, we depart the harbor, with destination Sabolon island, where we will do 2 check dives. Then, we anchor in a quiet bay for the night.

Day 2:
North Komodo National Park (4 dives).
We spend the day diving around the northern boundary of the Park, off the uninhabited islands of Gili Lawa Laut and Gili Lawa Darat. At sunset we move in closer to Komodo bay for our night dive.

Day 3:
North & Central Komodo National Park (4 dives).
An early morning hike is planned on Komodo for a chance to see the elusive Komodo dragon. Dives will be along the coast of Komodo as we head down to the southern end of the Island. A night dive is planned.

Day 4:
South Komodo Island & South Rinca (4 dives).
This morning we move around to the extreme southern end of Komodo Island to our dive site, Manta Alley. This area typically has much cooler temperatures with nutrient rich waters, perfect for Mantas! After our two dives here, we enjoy lunch as the boat moves to southern Rinca to an area known as Nusa Kode. With the towering cliff walls surrounding all sides, the landscape in this remote destination is breathtaking. Dragons like to roam the beach area scavenging for food, easily seen from the safety of the Adelaar. A night dive is planned.

Day 5:
South Rinca & Padar island (4 dives).
An early morning departure out of the bay and we move north to Padar for the day. Just before sunset, we go ashore and hike across Padar to a beautiful crescent bay, with a perfect view of the sunset. Alternately, for those who prefer to be underwater, a night dive is planned.

Day 6:
Sebayur (2 dives).
Our last diving day is spent around the island of Sebayur just north of the park.

Day 7:
Check-out from the yacht, group transfer to the airport.

Routes can be affected by adverse weather conditions and unforeseen events, force majeure or other similar reasons

Day 1:
Sorong
After the airport or hotel pick-up and transfer to Adelaar, the first day is dedicated to getting to know the crew, settling in, and enjoying the first day on the boat while we are sailing toward Raja Ampat. Depending on boarding time, we may already do a check dive.

Day 2:
Misool – Wagmab
It is difficult not to be too overwhelmed by the kaleidoscope of colours created by the dense soft and black coral growth around Wagmab to notice the equally colourful critters hiding within, such as nudibranchs, frogfish, boxer crabs, blue ringed octopi and others. They are also amongst the best sites to find Raja’s endemic walking shark on night dives. There are several lagoon and cavern systems waiting to be explored by speedboat, and snorkellers can immerse themselves in marine lakes inhabited by stingless jellyfish. 3 day dives, 1 night dive

Day 3:
Misool - Fiabacet
The healthy reef systems beneath the karst islands of Fiabacet have often been described as the world’s most complex and richest. A place where it is possible to see a bit of ‘everything’ from small to large. Several sites are reliable for sightings of mantas at cleaning stations. From time to time the stunning reefs are completely invaded by huge bait-balls of silversides, tiny fish that in turn attract squadrons of mobula rays, as well as hunting trevallies and barracudas. 3 day dives, 1 night dive

Day 4:
Misool – Wayilbatan
Wayilbatan’s seamounts and limestone outcroppings count amongst Raja ’s finest and most diverse dive sites. Already spectacular from both a topographical as well as coral coverage point of view, they are also rich in fish life as well as smaller critters. Larger pelagic animals are attracted to its more oceanic sites. 3 day dives

Day 5:
Misool - Balbulol
Exploring the Balbulol Lagoon, known for its dramatic limestone formations.
Dives at sites such as Two Tree Island, Plateau, No Contest, and Love Potion, featuring impressive drop-offs, schooling fish, and stunning coral formations.
A scenic boat tour of the Balbulol Lagoon, showcasing its unique karst formations and turquoise waters. 2 day dives

Day 6:
Pisang
We stopover in the Pisang archipelago off the Fakfak coast, before reaching Raja Ampat. Its ridges, seamounts and walls attract schooling batfish, reef sharks, leopard sharks and eagle rays. Just after the last afternoon dive, we raise the sails and start the final crossing to Raja Ampat in style. 3-day dives

Day 7:
Momon
The Momon Area of New Guinea is without a doubt one of the highlights for photographers. The very photogenic Kiti Kiti waterfall falls directly out of the vibrant jungle and into a turquoise sea. For those who are up for a land excursion, there are opportunities to venture into the forest a jungle trek. But first, there will be dives along the seamounts off the coast, known for their big schools of big eye trevallies, sharks, pelagic fish and oceanic manta rays. 3-day dives

Day 8:
Namatote
If your trip happens to fall around a new moon, we will spend the day in the north of the island of Namatote. There we visit the traditional outrigger fishing platforms that are regularly visited by what the fishermen refer to as ‘mothers of fish’, i.e. the world’s largest fish, the majestic whalesharks. Closer to full moon there are no fishermen and whaleshark sightings are rare. During such times we will concentrate on the dive sites south of Namatote with their pinnacles, caverns, swim-throughs, and black coral forests. On one special rock cliff only visible by boat we can see prehistoric rock art, evidence of the culture of the region’s earlier human inhabitants.
After Namatote we leave the Triton Bay area and start our journey to the North. 3-day dives

Day 9:
Triton Bay
The diving in Triton Bay is unique, as the small islands act as fish magnets and feature exquisite coral growth of both hard and soft corals. The bay is home to a plethora of critters such as pygmy seahorses, leopard and tiger shrimps, endemic flasher wrasses or rare cephalopods. On night dives in this bay, be on the lookout for Triton Bay’s endemic walking shark.
A structure resembling a huge underwater coral caldera is one of the topographic features of this area. Another topside highlight is our speedboat tour through the maze of the large Triton Bay lagoon with its countless hidden bays and channels surrounded by unique karst rock formations. 3-day dives, 1-night dive

Day 10:
Aiduma
The along the coast of the karst island of Aiduma in the Aru Sea there are numerous little coves, islets and underwater formations with unique topography that are covered in dense soft coral growth. Fish life is profuse and features schools of snappers, sweetlips and fusiliers as well as napoleon wrasses, large groupers and wobbegong sharks. 2-Day Dives

Day 11:
Kaimana & Farewell
Early morning arrival in Sorong. After breakfast, our crew assists with airport transfers or hotel drop-off.

This is a sample itinerary. Routes can be affected by adverse weather conditions and unforeseen events, force majeure or other similar reasons

Day 1: Sorong

After the airport or hotel pick-up and transfer to Adelaar, the first day is dedicated to getting to know the crew, settling in, and enjoying the first day on the boat while we are sailing toward Raja Ampat. Depending on boarding time, we may already do a check dive.

Day 2: Misool – Wagmab

It is difficult not to be too overwhelmed by the kaleidoscope of colours created by the dense, soft and black coral growth around Wagmab to notice the equally colourful critters hiding within, such as nudibranchs, frogfish, boxer crabs, blue ringed octopi and others. They are also among the best sites to find Raja’s endemic walking shark on night dives. There are several lagoon and cavern systems waiting to be explored by speedboat, and snorkellers can immerse themselves in marine lakes inhabited by stingless jellyfish. 3 day dives, 1 night dive

Day 3: Misool - Fiabacet

The healthy reef systems beneath the karst islands of Fiabacet have often been described as the world’s most complex and richest. A place where it is possible to see a bit of ‘everything’ from small to large. Several sites are reliable for sightings of mantas at cleaning stations. From time to time, the stunning reefs are completely invaded by huge bait balls of silversides, tiny fish that in turn attract squadrons of mobula rays, as well as hunting trevallies and barracudas. 3 day dives, 1 night dive

Day 4: Misool – Wayilbatan

Wayilbatan’s seamounts and limestone outcroppings count amongst Raja’s finest and most diverse dive sites. Already spectacular from both a topographical and coral coverage point of view, they are also rich in fish life as well as smaller critters. Larger pelagic animals are attracted to the more oceanic sites. 3 day dives

Day 5: Misool - Balbulol

Exploring the Balbulol Lagoon, known for its dramatic limestone formations.

Dives at sites such as Two Tree Island, Plateau, No Contest, and Love Potion, featuring impressive drop-offs, schooling fish, and stunning coral formations.

A scenic boat tour of the Balbulol Lagoon, showcasing its unique karst formations and turquoise waters. 2 day dives

Day 6: Koon

Do you like diving with a lot of fish? In that case, Koon is the place for you. Apart from having too many fish to list, there is also a spectacular land – or rather surface – activity nearby. Depending on the tide we can enter a hidden system of marine lakes and canals for a snorkel and swim trek unlike any other! Typically, at the end of the trail, you will be greeted by enthusiastic local village children. 3 day dives

Day 7: Watubela

The sites around the Watubela archipelago are as remote as it gets. However, this is not the only charm of these remote islands located at the border between the Banda and Seram Sea. Spectacular white sandy beaches offer perfect locations for those postcard sunset drinks after a day’s diving, surrounded by schooling fish. 3 day dives

Day 8: Banda & Sjahrir

On the menu today is a dive on a spectacular submerged pinnacle covered in dense schools of fish, followed by a couple of drift dives. The unique location of the Banda archipelago enhances the chances of close encounters with pelagics such as big tunas, Spanish mackerels, giant jacks, or even thresher sharks. In the evening, we will dive at dusk to try to catch a glimpse of the ever-romantic mandarin fish. Then it is off to the town of Banda Neira for dinner in the tropical gardens of a beautiful house from the colonial period. 3 day dives, 1 dusk dive

Day 9: Banda Neira & Manukang

We spend the morning on a guided tour through the historic town of Banda Neira, taking in the fort, the museum, as well as spice plantations. We take time to enjoy a traditional Bandanes breakfast before strolling back to the port, passing through the bustling market of this lovely town. Then it is off to dive on a new reef that has been growing naturally on the spur of the lava from Gunung Api’s 1988 eruption – it is a fantastic example of nature’s ability to recover from natural disaster. The other two dives today will be along a volcanic outcrop off Manukang, that is, according to Moluccan lore, known to be haunted. This we cannot judge, but what we do know is that it attracts its fair share of pelagic visitors. Schooling hammerhead sharks swim along the underwater ridges that are covered in huge barrel sponges. 3 day dives

Day 10: Nusa Laut

Nusa Laut is the smallest and easternmost of the Lease Islands east of Ambon. This historically fascinating little island will host the final dives of the trip. The local villages here are proud of the way they were able to conserve their beautiful coral reefs off their famous white beaches. Nusa Laut’s stunning coral gardens are a worthy final chapter of the underwater part of the trip. After the dives, we will hoist the sails to start heading toward Ambon, passing the islands of Sarapua and Haruku. 2 day dives

Day 11: Ambon

After breakfast, it is time to say goodbye and disembark – until the next time.

This is a sample itinerary. Routes can be affected by adverse weather conditions and unforeseen events, force majeure or other similar reasons

DAY 1 MAUMERE
After boarding Adelaar in Maumere in the North of Flores, you will enjoy your first day on board whilst cruising eastwards along the Flores coast.

DAY 2 ADONARA
The submerged seamounts off Adonara are covered by a diverse mix of hard and soft corals. They provide shelter for a variety of reef fish and attract bigger predators such as jacks, tunas, and black tip and grey reef sharks. Juvenile silvertip sharks are often seen patrolling the typically clear blue water.
3 day dives

DAY 3 PANTAR
We start the day with an adrenalin filled dive with the objective to see schooling hammerhead sharks, followed by a second morning dive on a stunning wall that is covered so completely in soft corals that we might get a sensory overload. The afternoon and night dive take place on a patch reef that is well known for harboring rhinopias. After the afternoon dive, we let the locals show us around their picturesque village.
3 day dives, 1 night dive

DAY 4 PURA
Today's diving takes us on a unique site that is dominated by sheer endless carpets of anemones and regularly visited by thresher sharks and mola molas, a spectacularly beautiful hard coral reef, where one of the attractions is observing local freediving fishermen and a impressive big overhang where critters such as clown frogfish, pontohi seahorses or halimeda ghost pipefish can be found. Very likely Adelaar will be boarded in between dives by a group of local ikat weavers that offer their beautiful fabrics for purchase.
3 day dives

DAY 5 WETAR
After a night's crossing we arrive in the morning in the Moluccas! We are diving the walls and slopes of Reong and Wetar. Depending on the prevailing current they can be very rich in fish. Grey reef sharks, bamboo sharks, giant trevally, schooling big eyed jacks, rainbow runners and tunas are often seen here. On the quieter dives there are areas completely covered in zebra anemones. With a bit of luck, we may spot the beautiful but rare leopard shrimp that lives in symbiosis with them.
We will set the sails as we start our journey into the heart of the Banda Sea. With a bit of luck, we may see some of the whales that migrate through these waters during this time of the year.
3 day dives

DAY 6 GUNUNG API
Gunung Api means simply volcano in Indonesian. It is an old, lonely volcano that arises from the depth of the Banda sea. It attracts a huge colony of resident seabirds above the waves, while under water the island is home to schools of jacks, surgeonfish, tunas, barracudas and other pelagic fish species - as well as a lot of sea snakes. These venomous but unaggressive reptiles can be encountered on each dive around Gunung Api, sometimes in great numbers, which makes these dives absolutely unique.
4 day dives

DAY 7 LUCIPARA MAISEL ARCHIPELAGO
The Lucipara archipelago consists of several uninhabited low profile sandy islands with lush tropical vegetation. The islands themselves are inaccessible, protected by very shallow fringing reefs that extend several hundred meters from the islands themselves. At the edge these huge coral shallows plunge steeply into the typically crystal-clear abyss of the Banda Sea. Diving these remote locations has by definition an exploratory character - their location in the middle of the deep sea with no other islands around is very inviting for passing pelagics to hang around, thus increasing chances of close encounters between divers and bigger species such as tunas, rainbow runners, thresher sharks, silky sharks or hammerhead sharks.
4 day dives

DAY 8 SOUTH AMBON
After two morning dives on the exposed south coast of Ambon island that are both stunning from a topographical and coral cover point of view, we enter Ambon Bay where we will go hunting for critters. Thorny seahorses, ornate ghost pipefish, rhinopias, frogfish and ribbon eels are just a few examples to illustrate the extraordinarily rich muck diving of Ambon Bay.
3 day dives. 1 night dive

DAY 9 LAHA
Laha's muck diving sites are world renowned. Apart from a plethora of nudibranchs, cephalopods, ambon scorpionfish and different species of leaf scorpionfish, Laha is also famously the only place in the world where - with some luck! - the beautifully weird psychedelic frogfish may be spotted.
2 day dives

DAY 10 AMBON
After a last delicious breakfast, it is time to say goodbye and disembark - until the next time.

This is a sample itinerary. Routes can be affected by adverse weather conditions and unforeseen events, force majeure or other similar reasons

DAY 1 AMBON

After boarding Adelaar in Ambon, you will enjoy your first day on board whilst cruising straight into the heart of the blue Banda Sea.
 

DAY 2 AI & GUNUNG API

Our first day of diving is along the steep walls surrounding the whole island of Ai. From a plateau with pretty hard coral gardens, these walls, beautifully decorated in yellow soft corals, plunge deep into the dark blue clear Banda Sea. With a bit of luck we might already meet the first hammerhead shark of the trip. In the late afternoon everybody will be on deck to witness the goose bump moment of the arrival into one of the most spectacular and beautiful natural harbours in the world between the islands of Banda Neira, Gunung Api and Lonthor (Banda Besar). 3 day dives, 1 night dive
 

DAY 3 BANDA NEIRA

After a guided visit to the historic town of Banda Neira, the fort, museum and spice plantations, we have traditional Bandanes breakfast before strolling back to port through the bustling market of this lovely town. One of today's dives is on a new reef that has been growing naturally on the spur of the lava from Gunung Apis 1988 eruption - it is a fantastic example of nature's ability to recover from natural disaster. In the evening we will dive at dusk to try and spot some romantic mandarin fish. 2 day dives, 1 dusk dive
 

DAY 4 BANDA BESAR & SJAHRIR

On today's menu is a spectacular submerged pinnacle covered in dense schools of fish and a couple of drift dives. The unique location of the Banda archipelago enhances chances of close encounters with pelagics such as big tunas, Spanish mackerels, giant jacks or even thresher sharks. In the evening we have a farewell dinner from Banda Neira in the tropical garden of a beautiful house from the colonial period. 3 day dives
 

DAY 5 HATTA

The diving off Hatta, the easternmost Island of the Banda archipelago, named after Indonesia's first vice-president, is our first day of diving dedicated to seeing schooling hammerhead sharks. The sight of groups ranging from a handful to literally hundreds of those majestic animals is an unforgettable experience - and one of the main reasons diving in the Banda Sea is so special. 4 day dives
 

DAY 6 MANUK

Manuk - "bird" in javanese - is an old, lonely volcano that arises from the depth of the Banda sea. It attracts a huge colony of resident seabirds above the waves, while under water the island is home to schools of jacks, surgeonfish, tunas, barracudas and other pelagic fish species - as well as a lot of sea snakes. These venomous but absolutely unaggressive reptiles can be encountered on each dive around Manuk, sometimes in great numbers, which makes these dives absolutely unique. 4 day dives
 

DAY 7 SARUA

There are no words that can do justice to the sheer awesomeness of the hammerhead site of Sarua. So we do not even try. 4 day dives
 

DAY 8 SARUA

As mentioned above. That's why one day is not enough. 3 day dives
 

DAY 9 RUN & NAILAKKA

Back in the Banda archipelago we dive around Run, an island that used to be the most desirable piece of real estate in the whole world. So desirable that it was reluctantly and under a lot of pressure traded by the English to the Dutch against an undesirable piece of land on the other side of the world called Manhattan. Apart from its history, Run is beautiful - on the surface covered in nutmeg trees and under the water the steep slopes are studded with huge gorgonian sea fans. It is yet another place that attracts schooling hammerhead sharks and other pelagics. We finish the day with a few drinks on the beach of Nailakka, the beautiful, but tiny island that was home to the English for several years after they lost Run to the Dutch. 3 day dives
 

DAY 10 MANUKANG

On the way between Run and Ambon we stop for a couple of dives on a volcanic outcrop that is according to Moluccan lore known to be haunted - this we cannot judge, but what we do know, is that it attracts its fair share of pelagic visitors that swim along its underwater ridges that are covered in huge barrel sponges. After the last dive we set sails and start our trip back to reality. 2 day dives
 

DAY 11 AMBON

After a last delicious breakfast it is time to say goodbye and disembark - until the next time.

This is a sample itinerary. Routes can be affected by adverse weather conditions and unforeseen events, force majeure or other similar reasons

Day 1: Sorong

After the airport or hotel pick-up and transfer to Adelaar, the first day is dedicated to getting to know the crew, settling in, and enjoying the first day on the boat while we are sailing toward Raja Ampat. Depending on boarding time, we may already do a check dive.

Day 2: Misool – Wagmab

It is difficult not to be too overwhelmed by the kaleidoscope of colours created by the dense, soft and black coral growth around Wagmab to notice the equally colourful critters hiding within, such as nudibranchs, frogfish, boxer crabs, blue ringed octopi and others. They are also among the best sites to find Raja’s endemic walking shark on night dives. There are several lagoon and cavern systems waiting to be explored by speedboat, and snorkellers can immerse themselves in marine lakes inhabited by stingless jellyfish. 3 day dives, 1 night dive

Day 3: Misool - Fiabacet

The healthy reef systems beneath the karst islands of Fiabacet have often been described as the world’s most complex and richest. A place where it is possible to see a bit of ‘everything’ from small to large. Several sites are reliable for sightings of mantas at cleaning stations. From time to time, the stunning reefs are completely invaded by huge bait balls of silversides, tiny fish that in turn attract squadrons of mobula rays, as well as hunting trevallies and barracudas. 3 day dives, 1 night dive

Day 4: Misool – Wayilbatan

Wayilbatan’s seamounts and limestone outcroppings count amongst Raja’s finest and most diverse dive sites. Already spectacular from both a topographical and coral coverage point of view, they are also rich in fish life as well as smaller critters. Larger pelagic animals are attracted to the more oceanic sites. 3 day dives

Day 5: Misool - Balbulol

Exploring the Balbulol Lagoon, known for its dramatic limestone formations.

Dives at sites such as Two Tree Island, Plateau, No Contest, and Love Potion, featuring impressive drop-offs, schooling fish, and stunning coral formations.

A scenic boat tour of the Balbulol Lagoon, showcasing its unique karst formations and turquoise waters. 2 day dives

Day 6: Koon

Do you like diving with a lot of fish? In that case, Koon is the place for you. Apart from having too many fish to list, there is also a spectacular land – or rather surface – activity nearby. Depending on the tide we can enter a hidden system of marine lakes and canals for a snorkel and swim trek unlike any other! Typically, at the end of the trail, you will be greeted by enthusiastic local village children. 3 day dives

Day 7: Watubela

The sites around the Watubela archipelago are as remote as it gets. However, this is not the only charm of these remote islands located at the border between the Banda and Seram Sea. Spectacular white sandy beaches offer perfect locations for those postcard sunset drinks after a day’s diving, surrounded by schooling fish. 3 day dives

Day 8: Banda & Sjahrir

On the menu today is a dive on a spectacular submerged pinnacle covered in dense schools of fish, followed by a couple of drift dives. The unique location of the Banda archipelago enhances the chances of close encounters with pelagics such as big tunas, Spanish mackerels, giant jacks, or even thresher sharks. In the evening, we will dive at dusk to try to catch a glimpse of the ever-romantic mandarin fish. Then it is off to the town of Banda Neira for dinner in the tropical gardens of a beautiful house from the colonial period. 3 day dives, 1 dusk dive

Day 9: Banda Neira & Manukang

We spend the morning on a guided tour through the historic town of Banda Neira, taking in the fort, the museum, as well as spice plantations. We take time to enjoy a traditional Bandanes breakfast before strolling back to the port, passing through the bustling market of this lovely town. Then it is off to dive on a new reef that has been growing naturally on the spur of the lava from Gunung Api’s 1988 eruption – it is a fantastic example of nature’s ability to recover from natural disaster. The other two dives today will be along a volcanic outcrop off Manukang, that is, according to Moluccan lore, known to be haunted. This we cannot judge, but what we do know is that it attracts its fair share of pelagic visitors. Schooling hammerhead sharks swim along the underwater ridges that are covered in huge barrel sponges. 3 day dives

Day 10: Nusa Laut

Nusa Laut is the smallest and easternmost of the Lease Islands east of Ambon. This historically fascinating little island will host the final dives of the trip. The local villages here are proud of the way they were able to conserve their beautiful coral reefs off their famous white beaches. Nusa Laut’s stunning coral gardens are a worthy final chapter of the underwater part of the trip. After the dives, we will hoist the sails to start heading toward Ambon, passing the islands of Sarapua and Haruku. 2 day dives

Day 11: Ambon

After breakfast, it is time to say goodbye and disembark – until the next time.

This is a sample itinerary. Routes can be affected by adverse weather conditions and unforeseen events, force majeure or other similar reasons

Day 1:
Onboarding, meeting the crew & briefing.

Day 2:
Aiduma.
The along the coast of the karst island of Aiduma in the Aru Sea there are numerous little coves, islets, and underwater formations with unique topography that are covered in dense soft coral growth. Fish life is profuse and features schools of snappers, sweetlips, and fusiliers as well as napoleon wrasses, large groupers, and wobbegong sharks. 3-Day Dives, 1-Night dive.

Day 3:
Dramai.
The southernmost point of our voyage is the island of Dramai. The waters surrounding this island are a sheer fish lover’s paradise. Reminiscent of rush hours in a big city, schools of different species of snappers, sweetlips, surgeonfish, batfish, fusiliers, jacks, and other species make it so dense, it is difficult for divers to get a glimpse of the unique topography. The coral-studded underwater formations include massive overhangs and swim-throughs. With a bit of luck, we may even encounter oceanic manta rays. 3 day dives, 1 night dive.

Day 4:
Iris Strait.
There is a regular through-flow of water in the Iris Strait between mainland New Guinea and Aiduma Island. This steady supply of nutrients triggers a veritable explosion of coral growth. Healthy areas dominated by enormous hard coral formations are interchanged with slopes covered in immense black coral bushes. The surrounding area is literally invaded by the largest and most colorful soft coral gardens that exist. All of this benthic life attracts schools of fish and squadrons of mobula rays. 3 day dives, 1 night dive

Day 5:
Triton Bay.
The diving in Triton Bay is unique, as the small islands act as fish magnets and feature exquisite coral growth of both hard and soft corals. The bay is home to a plethora of critters such as pygmy seahorses, leopard and tiger shrimps, endemic flasher wrasses, or rare cephalopods. On night dives in this bay, be on the lookout for Triton Bay’s endemic walking shark.
A structure resembling a huge underwater coral caldera is one of the topographic features of this area. Another topside highlight is our speedboat tour through the maze of the large Triton Bay lagoon with its countless hidden bays and channels surrounded by unique karst rock formations. 3 day dives, 1 night dive.

Day 6:
Namatote.
If your trip happens to fall around a new moon, we will spend the day in the north of the island of Namatote. There we visit the traditional outrigger fishing platforms that are regularly visited by what the fishermen refer to as ‘mothers of fish’, i.e. the world’s largest fish, the majestic whale sharks. Closer to the full moon there are no fishermen and whale shark sightings are rare. During such times we will concentrate on the dive sites south of Namatote with their pinnacles, caverns, swim-throughs, and black coral forests. On one special rock cliff only visible by boat we can see prehistoric rock art, evidence of the culture of the region’s earlier human inhabitants.
After Namatote we leave the Triton Bay area and start our journey to the North. 3 day dives.

Day 7:
Momon.
The Momon Area of New Guinea is without a doubt one of the highlights for photographers. The very photogenic Kiti Kiti waterfall falls directly out of the vibrant jungle and into a turquoise sea. For those who are up for a land excursion, there are opportunities to venture into the forest a jungle trek. But first, there will be dives along the seamounts off the coast, known for their big schools of big eye trevallies, sharks, pelagic fish, and oceanic manta rays. 3-day dives.

Day 8:
Pisang.
We stop over in the Pisang archipelago off the Fakfak coast, before reaching Raja Ampat. Its ridges, seamounts, and walls attract schooling batfish, reef sharks, leopard sharks and eagle rays. Just after the last afternoon dive, we raise the sails and start the final crossing to Raja Ampat in style. 3 day dives.

Day 9:
Misool - Wayilbatan.
Wayilbatan is one of many miniature archipelagos off Raja Ampat’s southernmost region of Misool. Its seamounts and limestone outcroppings are among Raja’s finest and most diverse dive sites. Already spectacular from a topographical point of view, the coral coverage is vast with many unique critters and extremely rich in fish life. 3-day dives, 1-night dive

Day 10:
Misool - Daram.
The area surrounding Daram is littered with impressive coral-studded underwater limestone formations, bathed in fish. Schooling barracudas, Spanish mackerels, batfish and trevallies are common here. The sea fan forests of Daram are home to Raja Ampat’s endemic ‘Santa Claus’ pygmy seahorse. 3-day dives

Day 11:
Batanta.
Batanta, located in Part of Raja Ampat’s central section, offers divers a wide diversity of options. Explore macro heavens and mandarin fish sites, drift along pristine reefs to manta aggregation points. The area is also a spectacular destination for land-based activities. Trek to waterfalls, keeping an eye out for birds of paradise or hornbill nesting sites.2-day dives.

Day 12:
Check-out from the yacht.

This is a sample itinerary. Routes can be affected by adverse weather conditions and unforeseen events, force majeure or other similar reasons

Day 1: 
Meet & greet at the airport. Group transfer to the port. Onboarding, meeting the crew & briefing. As soon as everyone is aboard, we depart the harbor, with destination Sabolon island, where we will do 2 check dives. Then, we anchor in a quiet bay for the night.

Day 2:
North Komodo National Park.
We depart sangeang island very early morning with destination banta island, which lies just outside the park boundary. We plan two dives here on banta’s northern coastline. During lunch we cross to enter the komodo national park and plan our first stop in north west komodo. Our afternoon and night dive will be in this bay. We anchor here for the night. (3-4 dives)

Day 3:
North & Central Komodo National Park.
During breakfast we move to the north of komodo. We spend the day diving around the northern boundary of the park, off the uninhabited islands of gili lawa laut and gili lawa darat. At sunset we move in closer to komodo bay for our night dive. (3-4 dives)

Day 4:
Komodo National Park - Komodo Island.
Dragons! We go ashore at 7:00 am for a ranger guided hike into the interior of komodo island, to look for komodo dragons. This unesco world heritage site is the only natural habitat of these giant monitor lizards. The area was designated as one of the new 7 wonders of nature in 1991. Once safely back aboard, we move around the corner to our dive site just off komodo’s famous pink beach. During lunch we travel south for an afternoon dive along the coast of komodo. At dusk, we dive lehok sera to search for the elusive mandarin fish. (3 dives)

Day 5:
South Komodo National Park.
This morning we move to the extreme southern end of komodo island to our dive site, manta alley. This area typically has much cooler temperatures with nutrient rich waters, perfect for mantas! After our two dives here, we enjoy lunch as the boat moves to southern rinca to an area known as nusa kode. With the towering cliff walls surrounding all sides, the landscape in this remote destination is breath-taking. The resident dragon population likes to sun themselves on the beach from time to time. Catch a glimpse of these prehistoric animals from the safety of adelaar’s main deck. After the sun sets, we prepare for a night dive, and then a late dinner. (3-4 dives)

Day 6:
South Komodo National Park.
This morning we are diving the southeast corners of horseshoe bay in nusa kode. At lunch we move north to padar for an afternoon dive. Just before sunset, we go ashore and hike across padar to a beautiful crescent bay, with a perfect view of the sunset. Alternately, for those who prefer to be underwater, a night dive is planned. (3-4 dives)

Day 7:
Central Komodo National Park.
We enter the central park area, also known as ‘current city’. This area of the park is subjected to the strong tidal currents that run through the lintah strait, bringing with them, plenty of marine life. These currents make for lots of action and exhilarating drift dives. Mantas are often seen in these parts. (4 dives)

Day 8:
Sebayur & Pungu.
Our last diving days is spent around the island of sebayur just north of the park. For the afternoon, keeping our no-fly time in mind, we plan a tour of the atlas pearl farm on pulau pungu. With their environmentally friendly approach, they assure a healthy ecosystem, essential for the finest white and silver pearls to be grown. We anchor here for the night. (3 dives)

Day 9:
Check-out from the yacht, group transfer to the airport.

Routes can be affected by adverse weather conditions and unforeseen events, force majeure or other similar reasons

Day 1:
Meet & greet at the airport. Group transfer to the port. Onboarding, meeting the crew & briefing.

Days 2-6:
Departing & check dive. Safari according to the planned route.

Day 7:
2 dives on the last day. Return to the port.The crew hosts a sunset cocktail party at 17:30 followed by dinner ashore.

Day 8:
Check-out from the yacht, group transfer to the airport.

Routes can be affected by adverse weather conditions and unforeseen events, force majeure or other similar reasons

Day 1:
Meet & greet at the airport. Group transfer to the port. Onboarding, meeting the crew & briefing.

Day 2:
Lucipara archipelago.
The Lucipara archipelago consists of several uninhabited low-profile sandy islands with lush tropical vegetation. The islands themselves are inaccessible, protected by very shallow fringing reefs that extend several hundred meters from the islands themselves. At the edge, these huge coral shallows plunge steeply into the typically crystal-clear abyss of the Banda Sea. Diving in these remote locations has by definition an exploratory character - their location in the middle of the deep sea with no other islands around is very inviting for passing pelagics to hang around, thus increasing chances of close encounters between divers and bigger species such as tunas, rainbow runners, thresher sharks, silky sharks or hammerhead sharks. 4 day dives.

Day 3:
Lucipara archipelago.
Similar kind of diving to yesterday spoils us today. Apart from the chances to see pelagics other strong points of these dives are the general healthiness and sheer vastness of the reefs. Some of the walls and steep slopes are studded with luxuriant soft coral growth, in other parts the landscape is dominated by huge barrel spongers or immense sea fans. The shallows are mainly intact hard coral gardens inhabited by myriads of different species of reef fish. 4 day dives.

Day 4:
Gunung Api.
Gunung Api means simply volcano in Indonesian. It is an old, lonely volcano that arises from the depth of the Banda sea. It attracts a huge colony of resident seabirds above the waves, while underwater the island is home to schools of jacks, surgeonfish, tunas, barracuda, and other pelagic fish species - as well as a lot of sea snakes. These venomous but unaggressive reptiles can be encountered on each dive around Gunung Api, sometimes in great numbers, which makes these dives absolutely unique. 4 day dives.

Day 5:
Wetar. During our last stop in the Moluccas, we diving the walls and slopes of Reong and Wetar. Depending on the prevailing current they can be very rich in fish. Grey reef sharks, bamboo sharks, giant trevally, schooling big-eyed jacks, rainbow runners, and tunas are often seen here. On the quieter dives, there are areas completely covered in zebra anemones. With a bit of luck, we may spot the beautiful but rare leopard shrimp that lives in symbiosis with them.
We will set the sails as we start our crossing away from the Moluccas toward Alor and Nusa Tenggara Timur. With a bit of luck, we may see some of the whales that migrate through these waters during this time of the year. 3 day dives.

Day 6:
Pantar. Today's four dives in the scenically beautiful Pantar strait are distinctly different from one another: from an adrenalin-filled dive with the objective to see schooling hammerhead sharks, and a second morning dive on a stunning wall that is covered so completely in soft corals that we might get a sensory overload, over an afternoon dive on a unique site that is covered in carpets of anemone and known for attracting mola molas and thresher sharks, to finally one of the richest black sand critter spotting night dives - it is really a day that demonstrates Indonesia's underwater richness in nutshell! 3 day dives, 1 night dive

Day 7:
Beangbang.Hairy frogfish, mimic octopus, rhinopias, ambon scorpionfish, hairy octopus, thorny seahorse, hairy shrimp, halimeda ghostpipefish are just a few stars we might be lucky enough to spot on the rich dark sands of Beangabang Bay in the South of Pantar. Another highlight will be the enthusiastic welcome we'll get by the village kids when we go and let them guide us through their place. 3 day dives, 1 night dive.

Day 8:
Alor Strait.
The weather this time of the year typically provides good conditions to dive the exposed sites off the barren, dry south of the Alor archipelago. Apart from iconic huge soft coral "trees" growing on the seafloor and profuse coral growth all around, we can expect a lot of pelagics, clouds of anthias and may even be lucky enough to meet mola molas or thresher sharks. 3 day dives.

Day 9:
Boling Strait.
Another chance to find some macro treasures! Critters hiding in the patch reefs and bright sandy substrates below the waters underneath the towering volcano Lewotolo include but are not limited to, blue ring octopus, roughsnout ghostpipefish, rhinopias, frog fish, tiger shrimp or wonderpus. 3 day dives, 1 night dive.

Day 10:
Adonara. The submerged seamounts off Adonara are covered by a diverse mix of hard and soft corals. They provide shelter for a variety of reef fish and attract bigger predators such as jacks, tunas, and black tip and grey reef sharks. Juvenile silvertip sharks are often seen patrolling the typically clear blue water. After the dive we cruise back into the sunset and arrive in Maumere at night for a farewell dinner. 2 day dives.

Day 11:
Check-out from the yacht, group transfer to the airport.

This is a sample itinerary. Routes can be affected by adverse weather conditions and unforeseen events, force majeure or other similar reasons

Day 1:
Onboarding, meeting the crew & briefing.

Day 2:
Moyo.
Clear, warm water with lots of fish awaits you on the first day of diving on the seamounts off the island of Moyo. An optional village visit with a stroll to a nearby waterfall is also possible.
2 to 3 day dives.

Day 3:
Sangeang.
After a second night's crossing, the critters inhabiting the colorful reefs of Sangeangs rich black sandy slopes are waiting to be discovered.
3 day dives, 1 night dive.

Day 4:
Banta.
A completely different underwater landscape provides the setting for today's underwater adventure. The hard coral formations on Banta's white sandy substrate are the home of a multitude of fish, turtles, sea snakes, reef sharks and the occasional eagle and manta rays.
3 day dives, 1 night dive.

Day 5:
South Komodo:
This whole day is dedicated to rays: during the day we check out "Manta Alley", arguably one of the world's best sites to observe the gentle giants - and in the evening we look for their smaller cousins, the elusive torpedo rays.
3 day dives, 1 night dive.

Day 6:
Southe Rinca.
Extraordinarily healthy and unique reefs that shelter an abundance of weird and wonderful critters make this part of the Komodo national park a photographer's dream.
3 day dives, 1 night dive.

Day 7:
Central Komodo.
In the morning we visit the island of Rinca to spot some of the terrestrial wildlife found in the park - with the Komodo dragons as highlights. After the walk, we'll dive into some of the action packed sites of the central section of the park - stunning coral reefs bathed in a dazzling explosion of colorful fish life, that will make any diver beg for more of the same.
2 day dives, 1 night dive.

Day 8:
Gili Lawa.
The seamounts and drift dives around the Gili Lawa islands in the northernmost part of the park are deservedly amongst the signature dive sites of the Komodo archipelago - a real diver's dream. In the evening, the effort of climbing up to the viewpoint will be rewarded with a glorious sunset over the whole national park.
3 day dives, 1 night dive.

Day 9:
Tatawa.
The constant current feeding the corals around the Tatawa islands makes sure that the surrounding reefs are as colorful as tropical reefs can get - an adequate setting for our last dives in the park.
3 day dives.

Day 10:
Palue.
The steep walls of the volcanic Island Palue to the North of Central Flores are covered in soft corals and gorgonians - with a bit of luck we might even spot a pygmy seahorse or some of the rare nudibranchs found on these reefs. After the morning's diving, we'll pull up the sails and start the final stretch of our voyage.
2 day dives.

Day 11:
Check-out from the yacht.

This is a sample itinerary. Routes can be affected by adverse weather conditions and unforeseen events, force majeure or other similar reasons

Day 1:
Onboarding, meeting the crew & briefing.

Day 2:
Arise for coffee on the deck admiring the coastline. Two morning dives are scheduled at Pulau Moyo along the fringing reef outside the main village. Arrival in Satonda will be a late afternoon with one dive along a sloping reef. The sandy bottom with many coral outcroppings offers plenty of interesting things to see. Satonda is a volcanic island. The boat departs and cruises through the night toward Sangeang.

Day 3:
Sangeang volcano, whose most recent eruption was in 2014, rises in front of your eyes. You can see the smoke as it flows from the crater edge into the wind. The black sandy bottom makes for spectacular diving. In places, gaseous sulfur bubbles up from the ground, creating an underwater jacuzzi! The second night dive.

Day 4:
The boat arrives early at Gili Lawa Laut, in the northern area of Komodo National Park. The park is located in the region known as Wallacea, denoting the overlapping of Australian and Asian biogeographical areas. This overlapping ensures an interesting mix of bird species. As the day continues, the boat travels through the Park diving along the way to reach a quiet bay for the night.

Day 5:
Early start today at 7:00 to meet park ranger for a guided hike into the interior of Komodo Island, for sightings of prehistoric Komodo dragons. This World Heritage site, the only place on earth that these giant monitor lizards can be found, was recently designated Bali Java Lombok Sumbawa Komodo Sumba Flores as one of the 7 Wonders of the World. Once back on board, a scrumptious lunch will be served on deck. Enjoy the beautiful ocean views as the boat heads towards South Komodo. The boat will make a stop along the coast for diving, then continue on to Lehok Sera for a dusk dive to search for the elusive mandarin fish. The boat will anchor for the night in this quiet and picturesque bay. Weather permitting, dinner will be served topside.

Day 6:
The boat will leave early morning for Langkoi, also known as Manta Alley, on Komodo’s south coast. Manta quest today, two dives are planned here. This area typically has much cooler temperatures with nutrient rich waters, and lower visibility. After dives, the boat moves to Southern Rinca to an area known as Nusa Kode. With the towering cliff walls surrounding all sides, the landscape in this remote area is breathtaking. The third dive today will be the first macro dive of the trip. Between dives, divers will board the dinghy and head towards shore to get up close to the resident dragon population. Weighing up to 350 pounds and with a total length of over 10 feet, these fearsome hunters can charge swiftly to bring down a variety of prey, some as big as a water buffalo. After the sun sets, preparation for a night dive, and a late dinner.

Day 7:
South Rinca Mornings and evenings in Nusa Kode are a time where you can spot dragons wandering along the beach foraging for food. Monkeys, deer and hunting sea eagles are also known to make an appearance. There are two dives planned for this area, one of which will be the famous ‘macro temple” of Cannibal Rock. Depending on the season, almost everything you can find in a critter book has been sighted here. During lunch, we journey back up north for diving in Padar, where water temperatures start to get warmer and visibility gets a bit better. Later in the afternoon we go ashore for a hike across the island for a spectacular view of the sunset and enjoy a sundowner.

Day 8:
The boat will leave Padar in the early morning to re-enter the center of the Park for our diving day. Here there is generally better visibility and larger schools of fish. In the late afternoon, the boat will make her way to Wainilu where she anchors for the night and prepares for a night dive.

Day 9:
You will spend the day diving around the center and the northernmost boundary of the Park of the uninhabited islands of Gili Lawa Laut and Gili Lawa Darat. There is a splendid assortment of dive sites just outside these picturesque islands. Typically in the north larger schools of fish can be seen, good visibility and some current. Before sunset, you may want to take the opportunity to hike to the top of the hill, where you will be able to catch a glimpse of the magnificent panorama of the entire Komodo Archipelago. The boat will anchor in a quiet bay for the night.

Day 10:
Enjoy the last four dives of the trip around the Northern boundary of the Park and the islands of Sebayor (subject to no flight time!). You can stroll along the beach of Sebayor Besar to spot unusual fish and get a glimpse of baby sharks who shelter in the mangroves for the night.

Day 11:
Check-out from the yacht, group transfer to the airport.

This is a sample itinerary. Routes can be affected by adverse weather conditions and unforeseen events, force majeure or other similar reasons