Raja Ampat Liveaboard Sept 19-28th 2027 including Wayag region

This 10 day liveaboard is going out of Sorong to Raja Ampat area.  In addition to the central, classic region of Raja Ampat diving (Gam, Penemu, Arborek, Cape Kri Area/Dampier Strait) on this somewhat longer liveaboard we are going to visit the less frequented, but I’m told just as amazing, Northern area of the Wayag islands (Wayag, Kawe, Aljui Bay).  Our exploration of Indonesia diving continues!

Why this trip?

Because Raja Ampat is area may becoming my favorite place to dive on the planet.  They hype for the region is not just hype, it is truly “wow” on almost every dive.  The seamounts dives in the current with massive clouds of fish of so many types – jacks, fusiliers, scad, butterflies, baracuda – and then you look at the reef below you and are stunned by the coral reef fish biodiversity.  It is just awesome, and I don’t think once a year is too much for this place!  Actually, we are doing more than that if you count itineraries with muck!

Also, after researching boats for these trips we booked in advance and got $500 per person for the trip, which is nice.

The Boat Harmoni

The Emperor Liveaboard fleet has a page about their boat of course, if you want to dig into it. There are 4 kinds of cabins on this boat: 2 lower deck double cabins, 6 lower deck couple share cabins, 2 upper deck twins, 2 upper deck doubles. That is 12 cabins for a total of 24 people.  We have chartered the entire boat.

Price of this Raja Ampat Liveaboard

Prices start at $5681 per person, various cabin type upgrades are available.  We are using the new Emperor liveaboard boat Harmoni.  This is the first time we have used one of this fleets Indonesia boats, but we have been really happy with the quality and service of past trips in the Red Sea and in the Maldives.  The fact that nitrox is included, and so are all port and fuel surcharge fees, really effectively lowers the cost.

Of course, you still need to get to flights to Sorong.

Getting to Sorong Indonesia (and a little about Bali)

I recommend pricing flights to Jakarta, then letting a local agent handle domestic fligths from Jakarta to Sorong.  I will provide the contact for that.  Also, you may want to come a day or two early and stay in Sorong to adjust to the time zone.  Sorong town is not awesome.  However, there is a tour you can do to go see a famous bird of paradise (it is on the island of Papua).  The Swiss Bell Hotel there is nice, and reasonably priced.

Sometimes you can get direct flight from Bali as well.  An add on trip to Bali is not a bad idea, especially if it is before and helps you adjust to time zone.  You might have to go back to Jarkart to get to Sorong though.  If you are going to go through Bali, doing that from major Australian cities is easy and direct, is you are looking for add on adventures.

Me and Sheila have been to Bali a few times now and can make some recommendations.  This would be the right time of year for a side trip out of Bali to Nusa Penida island to see the sunfish (Mola mola).  Amed also has some amazing shore diving and local fisherman boat drift diving, lots of restaurants and abundant cheap ocean-side rentals.  Tulumben for the Liberty wreck dive is a good side trip.  Ubud for the monkey forest pretty neat too.  Point is, we can help you plan a “side quest” in Bali.

The diving

This is the video we got from our 2024 trip on the Damai.  Cruise director put it together from our own shots and vids.

Book It

Trip deposits are $500 a person.  Here is booking page that will redirect to our WeTravel site for Dive Travel Services that handles payments and collects things like flight info.

Just FYI, this is a intermediate trip and you need to be able to handle strong currents at times by being skilled enough to duck out of them or avoid a down draft.  You need 50 dives under the belt.