La Galigo Liveaboard, Indonesia

Day 1:

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

Day 2-11:

The boat cruise to Batanta, for the fabulous muck diving that the area has to offer, at sites such s ‘Diversity’ and ‘Reflections'. From there, boat sail south to Misool, where the breathtaking underwater experience will leave you wanting more. Here divers can visit must see sites like ‘Candy Store’, and the world famous ‘Boo Islands’. After several days exploring the south, the boat heads to north again, overnighting to the Fam Islands. Here you will have the opportunity to dive such legendary sites as ‘Melissa’s garden’ and 'Harto', amongst others. Onwards, north again, heading to Kawe Island, for encounter some of the big stuff at sites like ‘Eagle Rock’. The time now for a U-turn, as boat heads to the Island of Gam. On the last leg of the tour, the boat heads south east, to the world renowned ‘Dampier straight’. The stretch lying between Batanta and Gam is the perfect end to any diving holiday. Here you'll visit two standalone dive sites, each of their names starting with the word ‘Manta’. This should give you a large clue as to what you just got yourself in to. To top it all off, you will spend another day diving the fabled ‘Cape Kri and ‘Sardine’ dive sites. 

Day 12:

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:
Dampier Strait - Kri area. Whilst in the central Dampier Strait we will conduct 4 dives. This is what we typically aim for in a day throughout the trip, although some days are a little different as the number of dives may be reduced by doing a land tour or having to do a large crossing from one region to another (Raja Ampat is a big place!). The typical schedule is morning dive, breakfast, mid-morning dive, lunch, afternoon dive, afternoon snack, night dive, and dinner... 
The top dive sites in this area are Blue Magic, home to majestic Oceanic Manta Rays, and other large pelagicʼs such as Spanish Mackerel and Bigeye Trevally. Chicken Reef, an amazing dive site filled with fish of all varieties and amazing colorful corals will dazzle you next. Cape Kri, arguably the top house reef in the world, was made famous by Raja Ampat pioneer Max Ammer and is next on the itinerary. And just to top off this (fish) action-packed day, we will take you for a night dive on Kriʼs south coast, in Yenbuba Villageʼs Jetty after you soak in the stunning sunset views with the islands of Waigeo and Gam in the distant, fiery horizon.

Day 3:
Pianemo (a.k.a. Penemu) Melissaʼs Garden Dive Site is undoubtedly the top dive in this area, with a staggering number of coral and fish species packed into this small piece of marine real estate. It gets its name from an amazing hard coral garden situated on a reef between 3 small islands. Its beauty needs to be seen to be believed.
Another one of the places we may visit today is the Keruo Channel Dive Site. A great gentle drift dive down a mini wall and slope on the edge of Keru Island. One of the other favorites we often visit in this area is the Batu Rufus dive site. This dramatic dive site has a 40m plus drop-off wall to the blue. Amazing views when you sit at 20 meters depth and look up and down at the stark landscape you are floating between. The iconic limestone pinnacles have become as much a part of the Raja Ampat experience as the diving has, and Pianemo lagoon/lookout is just one of many such stunning formations. The best time to hike this hill is late afternoon when the temperature has dropped and the lighting starts
to turn golden, but the rewards for climbing are well worth it.

Day 4:
Wayag. Awake bright and early to witness sunrise on the equator, cruising between the limestone formations that make up the island of Wayag, in preparation for the morning hike. These limestone islands and pinnacles have become synonymous with Raja Ampat and the bay is also home to the worldʼs first confirmed Manta breeding nursery. The best time to hike this hill is early morning before temperatures rise, but the rewards for climbing are well worth it. The beaches here are also pristine, with fine white sand and turquoise waters surrounding the limestone cliffs of the islands. After trekking, we will endeavor to dive Wayag Corner if the conditions are right, this site is a manta cleaning station so fingers crossed they are in getting a spa treatment and we get to see them.
We will stick around the same area at the western end of the lagoon where we plan to dive another great dive site, which will be dependent on the conditions of the day, it could be Ridge Rock, Two Hump Rock, or Figure 8 Rock, there is quite a few Mantas around this area so we will try to choose whichever site has had the most manta action at the time of your trip.
While you have lunch, the boat will cruise to the eastern side of Wayag. After lunch, we take a short trip to the Wayag Ranger Station, which is also a Black Tip Reef Shark breeding area. Here we will get the chance to chill out on the beach with these baby sharks in the shallows under the ranger jetty. If conditions are right we will conduct a night dive around the Eastern Wayag area too.

Day 5:
Kawe. Kawe is an island located exactly on the equator and is one of our favorite islands to dive in north of Raja Ampat. Dive sites visited here are very heavily dependent on day-to-day unpredictable conditions such as swell, but one of our favorite sites in the area is a very colorful coral reef (somewhat ironically) known as Black Rock. Eagle Rock (which comprises 3 separate dive sites) is well known for its Pygmy Seahorse as well as its Manta populations, and we will dive these sites late morning and early afternoon.
Around 4 pm, La Galigo will move into Alyui Bay, one of the worldʼs most spectacular bays to watch the sunset, and also do some great muck diving at arguably the best night dive site in all of Raja Ampat, the Cendana Pearl Farm Jetty.

Day 6:
Gam & Western Dampier Strait.
We wake up just off the coast in Gam Island. There are some great dive sites around this area with vibrant fish-covered reefs and plenty of stunning macro subjects. Two sites we regularly visit in Gam are Citrus Ridge and Mayhem. As we have lunch we will cruise down to the Western Dampier Strait, after lunch, we take a land tour of the peaceful Arborek Island. The village itself is tranquil and surrounded by beautiful beaches. Our 3rd dive of the day will also be here at a dive site named Manta Ridge, for an opportunity to dive with the Manta Ray population often located here.
We will then take off to the southern coast of Mansuar Island. A night dive will take place here called Sawandarek Jetty, this is where you will probably feel like youʼre in an aquarium - only the fish are incredibly numerous, wild, and free. We anchor here for the night before heading to the eastern end of the Dampier Strait for our final dive and a special land tour tomorrow.

Day 7:
Eastern Dampier Strait - Kalibiru.
We will be making our way along the Dampier Strait, and this is a great opportunity to dive into Mikeʼs Point. Legend has it that it was mistaken for a battleship during WWII, and was heavily bombed by enemy aircraft. It has a stunning overhang, as well as gentle-swim throughs in addition to its magnificent coral reef. 
We will then take you on a land trip to one of Raja Ampatʼs hidden natural wonders, Kalibiru, a river with cool, clear blue fresh waters surrounded by lush tropical jungle. A wondrous
sight to simply take in, it also makes a great spot for a swim in an unspoiled, remote plot of paradise. After an incredible trip, our crew will make sure you are comfortable, while they
prepare a night of food, song, and dance to party the night away with for your last night in pristine Raja Ampat before we set sail for Sorong.

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 2-7:
Departing & check dive. Safari according to the planned route.

Day 8:
2 dives on the last day. Return to the port.

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. Departing & check dive.

Days 2-10:
Safari according to the planned route.

Day 11:
2 dives on the last day. Return to the port.

Day 12:
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 portю Onboarding, meeting the crew & briefing.
After around 2 hours of sailing, we will arrive at our first destination, the islands of Sebayur Kecil and Sebayur Besar, where we will conduct 2 dives after lunch. We have identified Sebayur as a fantastic, calm introduction for your first day in the park. These two great little islands are well sheltered from the infamous currents around Komodo, allowing you a great opportunity to practice using your SMB, cameras, dive computers, or just to get back into the swing of things after a lengthy layoff from diving.

Day 2:
After a morning dive at stunning Tatawa Besar, we go in search of Manta rays at the world-class dive site Manta Point (known to the locals as Karang Makassar). After lunch, we will head to one of the highlights of Komodo diving - Batu Bolong, which presents us a chance to see large pelagic species such as Giant Trevally and Barracuda, as well as sharks and Napoleon Maori Wrasse. Later that afternoon, we set sail for the northwest part of Komodo, for a light trek on the island of Gili Lawa Darat, to witness an amazing Komodo sunset, dipping behind the nearby active volcano of Sangeang. For the night dive, we will stay in the bay close to the trekking area, and dive at the site Stranger Things, for a chance to get your first glimpse of macro life in the national park.

Day 3:
Day three is our personal favourite in terms of diving, and all three of the dives normally conducted on this day are what we would consider unforgettable. The morning is spent on both Crystal Rock and Castle Rock, two submerged pinnacles that are home to an abundance of marine life. Teams of hunting Giant and Big-Eye Trevally patrol the blue waters of the reefs, chasing large schools of smaller fish. Eagle rays glide effortlessly in the currents whilst the reef sharks hunt for their next meal.
The afternoon sees us visit the legendary dive site known as The Cauldron (a.k.a The Shotgun). Famous for its rip-roaring drift dive, it is akin to an underwater rollercoaster that needs to be experienced to be believed, and a ‘bucket listʼ dive site for divers from across the world. Hold on until the end of the dive for a big surprise The night dive will be spent diving on Komodo Bay, depending on mooring conditions.

Day 4:
We wake early in the morning to take in one of Komodoʼs world-class golden sunrises, followed by one of its best dive sites, the Golden Passage which is a drift dive that offers outstanding coral reef topography, as well as encounters with schools of sweetlips, and snappers, white tip reef sharks and the occasional passing Manta Ray.
During breakfast, La Galigo will anchor up and head south into the center of the park, where we will endeavor to dive into Police Corner if conditions are favorable, one of the less-known sites in central Komodo. In the afternoon we plan to visit the island of Mauan, where mantas come to visit its cleaning station.
Up next is Siaba Besar, a fantastic night dive for the macro photographer, where it is possible to encounter flamboyant cuttlefish, ghost pipefish, various types of nudibranchs, as well as the elusive wunderpus and blue-ringed octopus!

Day 5:
Our last 2 dives of the trip will be at Wainilu and Pengah Kecil dive sites. Wanilu is an amazing muck dive, on a gentle sand and silt slope, your last chance to see some Frogfish! Pengah Kecil is a steep-sided sea mount - keep your eyes out for orangutang crabs! After the morningʼs diving, we head on foot to The Island of Rinca, home to the legendary Komodo Dragons - a must-see while in Komodo.
The nighttime sees our crew arrange a fancy BBQ banquet on the top deck as you take in your final Komodo sunset.

Day 6:
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. Departing & check dive.

Days 2-10:
Safari according to the planned route.

Day 11:
2 dives on the last day. Return to the port.

Day 12:
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:
Piynemo.
Whilst in Penemu we will conduct 3 dives, allowing us time to trek the outlook of Bintang lagoon. Dive sites visited will depend on the conditions but we never miss a chance to dive the site made famous by Max Ammer, Melissa’s garden. The large colorful reef system at the top of the dive site, with its thousands of Anthias dodging predators is what gives Melissa’s garden its name. There is also and an opportunity to dive Kerou channel, which is located close to Leo’s reef, a fish breeding farm funded by Hollywood legend, Leonardo DiCaprio. Overnight we sail to the northernmost part of Raja Ampat, and what awaits is one of the most breathtaking sceneries in Indonesia.

Day 3:
Wayag Island.
You awake in the morning cruising between limestone formations on the way to the now infamous lookout of Mt. Pindito. This small mountain has become synonymous with Raja Ampat, and the bay is also home to a Manta breeding station. The best time to hike this hill is early morning before temperatures rise, but the rewards for climbing are well worth it. The beaches here are also pristine, with fine white sand and turquoise waters surrounding the limestone cliffs of the islands. After trekking, we will endeavor to dive either Way-out-Rock or Figure 8 Rock, both submerged pinnacles home to large pelagic fish, and the occasional passing Manta. While you have lunch, the boat will cruise to the eastern side of Wayag. Here is where we plan to dive into the legendary dive site, Cathedral, which is renowned for its spectacular topography and swim throughs. Following the dive, we take a short trip to the Wayag Ranger station, which is also a Black Tip Reef Shark breeding area. Here we will hopefully get the chance to do some snorkeling with these baby sharks under the ranger jetty, and also conduct a night dive on the same stretch of reef.

Day 4:
Kawe and Aljui Bay.
In Kawe Island we will do 3 dives. Dive sites visited here are very heavily dependent on day-to-day unpredictable conditions such as swell, but one of our favourite sites in the area is Changgo, located on the equator in the east of Kawe Island. Black Rock and Eagle Rock are both well known for their currents and their Manta populations, and we will dive these sites late morning and early afternoon. Around 4 pm, La Galigo will move into Aljui Bay, one of the world’s most spectacular bays to watch the sunset, and also do some great muck diving, at sites such as the Fuel Dock or the Pearl Farm Jetty.

Day 5:
Gam and Western Dampier Straight.
We wake up just off the coast in Gam Island. There are some great dive sites around this area with vibrant fish covered reefs and plenty of stunning macro subjects. Two sites we regularly visit in Gam are Mayhem and Citrus Ridge. As we have lunch we will cruise down to the Western Dampier Strait, to a dive site named Manta Ridge, for an opportunity to dive with the Manta ray population often located here. In the late afternoon, we take a land tour onto the peaceful Arborek Island. The village itself is tranquil and surrounded by beautiful beaches. Arborek is also home to what we consider to be one of the best night dives in the world, Arborek Jetty, for a chance to find Walking Sharks, Blue-ringed octopus, and many other critters.

Day 6-7:
Central Dampier Straight.
Day 6 is almost like a highlights reel of Raja Ampat, and in the morning we often visit Cape Kri, with its schools of Barracudas and Snappers, as well as passing Manta Rays and Sharks. After Kri, we take a visit to another world-class dive site, Blue magic, a submerged reef with Mantas and Giant Trevally nursing the currents, to Wobbegong sharks hiding under bommies. Our afternoon is often spent at either mikes point or Sardine, dependent on the currents in the area, but either dive site is memorable in its own right. The night is spent underneath Saonek Jetty, spotting critters in the seagrass

Day 8:
Eastern Dampier Straight.
On the penultimate day of the trip, we will repeat one of the guest's favorite dive sites from the day before, then move onto Mioskon, for a shallow dive to allow you to gas off in time for your flight. The afternoon can be spent snorkeling or relaxing on the beach whilst we prepare a beach BBQ, before setting course for Sorong around 11:00.

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 2-8:
After a Sorong departure, we spend the afternoon at the stunning lagoon of Palau Wai. After your first morning awaking in paradise, you will spend the day at the muck diving kingdom of Batanta, exploring such sites as ‘diversity’, where macro subjects are our prerogative. An overnight trip south delivers us to Misool in the morning, the vivid reefs surrounding Misool are a divers dream destination. We circumnavigate the island of Misool clockwise, spending most of our time diving in the southeast. Next, we head north of Misool and take a day diving at Kofiau, relatively unexplored by other dive liveaboards. Being an exposed oceanic island, visibility is generally excellent, and Kofiau’s fish diversity is astounding, housing an incredible 284 species, the highest count in Raja Ampat. From Kofiau we cross the open sea to explore the south of Gam and the entrance to the Dampier straight, the regular hangout for giant pacific mantas. We then pass through the straight, visiting some of the areas more famous dive sites, including Cape Kri and Sardine.

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.
After a refreshing welcome drink, a quick breakfast, and a safety briefing of our vessel, we aim to anchor up around 10:00 am from Labuan Bajo. After around two hours of sailing, we will arrive at our first destination, the islands of Sebayur Kecil and Sebayur Besar, where we will conduct two dives after lunch. We have identified Sebayur as a fantastic, calm introduction for your first day in the park. These two great little islands are well sheltered from the infamous currents around Komodo, allowing you a great opportunity to practice
using your SMB, cameras, dive computers, or just to get back into the swing of things after a lengthy layoff from diving.

Day 2:
After a morning dive at stunning Tatawa Besar, we go in search of Manta rays at the world-class dive site Manta Point (known to the locals as Karang Makassar). After lunch, we will head to one of the highlights of Komodo diving the Golden Passage which is a drift dive that offers outstanding coral reef topography, as well as encounters with schools of sweetlips and snappers, white tip reef. Sharks and the occasional passing manta ray. Later that afternoon, we set sail for the northwest part of Komodo, for a light trek on the
Island of Gili Lawa Darat, to witness an amazing Komodo sunset, dipping behind the nearby active volcano of Sangeang.
For the night dive, we will stay in the bay close to the trekking area, and dive at the site Stranger Things, for a chance to get your first glimpse of macro life in the national park.

Day 3:
Day three is our personal favorite in terms of diving, and all three of the dives normally conducted on this day are what we would consider unforgettable. The morning is spent on both Crystal Rock and Castle Rock, two submerged pinnacles that are home to an abundance of marine life. Teams of hunting giant and big-eye trevally patrol the blue waters of the reefs, chasing large schools of smaller fish. Eagle rays glide effortlessly in the currents whilst the reef sharks hunt for their next meal.
The afternoon sees us visit the legendary dive site known as The Cauldron (a.k.a The Shotgun). Famous for its rip-roaring drift dive, it is akin to an underwater rollercoaster that needs to be experienced to be believed, and a ‘bucket list dive site for divers from across the world. Hold on until the end of the dive for a big surprise The night dive will be spent diving on Komodo Bay, depending on mooring conditions.

Day 4:
We wake early in the morning to take in one of Komodoʼs world-class golden sunrises, followed by one of its best dive sites, Batu Bolong, which presents us a chance to see large pelagic species such as Giant Trevally and Barracuda, as well as sharks and Napoleon Maori Wrasse. During breakfast, La Galigo will anchor up and head south into the center of the park, where we will endeavor to dive Tatawa Kecil with its strong currents and curious rock formations and swim-throughs, this dive site is a high-action topographical wonder.
Up next is Siaba Besar, a fantastic night dive for the macro photographer, where it is possible to encounter flamboyant cuttlefish, ghost pipefish, various types of nudibranchs, as well as the elusive Wunderpus and blue-ringed octopus!

Day 5:
Staying around the Southwest Komodo area, we will dive Police Corner if conditions are favorable, one of the less-known but utterly amazing sites in Komodo. In the late morning, we plan to visit the island of Mauan, where mantas come to visit its cleaning station, although shallow there are strong currents here that bring the Mantas into play.
The afternoon will see us travel to Pink Beach, a gorgeous, shallow coral garden with schools of sweetlips and other colorful reef fish. We then sail on to Soro Lia Bay for our exciting night dive.

Day 6:
Undisputedly, Manta Alley is among the top draws of southern Komodo diving, where sizable aggregations of manta rays often come to feed and clean in the splendid reef among these peculiar-looking rocks. We will dive into this incredible site before heading to Padar Island, the location of the spectacular views you may associate with the national park after an online search for ‘Komodoʼ.
Padar is also home to some great south Komodo dive sites including Pillarsteen, which is the best wall dive in this region. Do note that it is difficult for us to confirm individual dive sites in advance due to changing ocean conditions in the south. However, the area is vast enough for us to be able to plan ahead and identify sites closer to the time (that are slightly more sheltered from any southerly conditions if they are unsteady during your trip). In the afternoon we will make the trek up this unique-looking island for some stunning views over the park, followed by our night dive, which is regularly conducted at Padar Wreck, where we often encounter a population of Giant and other species of frogfish. 

Day 7:
Our last 2 dives of the trip will be at Wainilu and Pengah Kecil dive sites. Wanilu is an amazing muck dive, on a gentle sand and silt slope, your last chance to see some Frogfish! Pengah Kecil is a steep-sided sea mount - keep your eyes out for orangutang crabs!
After the morningʼs diving, we head on foot to The Island of Rinca, home to the legendary Komodo Dragons - a must-see while in Komodo. The nighttime sees our crew arrange a fancy BBQ banquet on the top deck as you take in your final Komodo sunset.

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