Duration
11 days
Cabins left
10 / 18
Capacity
18 divers
Operator
Dewi Nusantara
Included
Mandatory surcharges
Optional extras
Certification
OWD or equivalent
Min. dives
20 logged
Check-in
12:00–12:00
Check-out
09:00–09:00
Raja Ampat casts a spell on all who visit: scientists, photographers, novice divers, and crusty sea salts alike. This group of majestic islands, located in the northwestern tip of Indonesia’s Papuan “Bird’s Head Seascape,” lies in the heart of the Coral Triangle, the most bio-diverse marine region on earth. There are some areas where soft corals and sea fans dominate, others with amazing, diverse hard corals, seagrass beds, mangroves, shallow reefs, drop-offs, caves, black sand, and white sand. Then there is the marine life - lots of it, in more shapes and sizes than anywhere else in the world. Raja Ampat’s reefs, from pygmy seahorses to top predators, are teeming with life. The region is huge, 50,000 sq km, with hundreds of islands and an astounding array of habitats, translating to wildly different diving experiences. They range from pelagic drift dives to magic muck dives, and even some habitats that are special to Raja Ampat, such as clear-water mangroves with corals growing right next to them. There are thousands of potential dive sites, and there are chances for new and amazing discoveries on every trip. Raja Ampat is also known for its spectacular above-water scenery. Sparsely inhabited, most of the region still has pristine rain forests atop dramatic limestone islands and cliffs, uninhabited bays with white sand beaches, and all sorts of hidden treasures to greet the intrepid explorer. It’s a kayaker’s dream - an intricate coastline with caves, bays, gorges, and hidden rivers, all buzzing with exotic tropical wildlife. The friendly people of Raja Ampat have primarily been able to maintain their traditional way of life and values, making it an exciting destination and an anthropological haven. There is a wide variety of community celebrations, including various types of music, dancing, singing performances, and lots of fun! For selected expeditions during her cruising season, Dewi Nusantara focuses her attention on the northern region of the Raja Ampat marine protected park, giving our guests exclusive access to some of the very best dive sites that Raja Ampat has to offer, without the crowds. Get On-Board with Dewi Nusantara Dewi Nusantara was among the original group of purpose-built liveaboard yachts to explore Raja Ampat. To this day she still concentrates the majority of her cruising season around this sensational region of the Indonesian archipelago. Begin your next scuba adventure on board the Indonesian archipelago’s premier liveaboard and experience the best that Indonesia has to offer, along with Dewi Nusantara’s outstanding service, exceptional facilities, and her highly experienced crew.
Mioskon and Kri are just two among the many idyllic islands that lie scattered off the shores of Gam and Waigeo in the heart of the Dampier Strait - one of the most biologically diverse marine environments on Earth. This area is a true highlight of Raja Ampat, offering some of the most awe-inspiring scuba diving experiences found anywhere on the planet. The underwater landscape surrounding these islands is nothing short of spectacular. Pristine coral gardens stretch as far as the eye can see, punctuated by dramatic seamounts that rise from the depths to form vibrant underwater peaks. These natural structures serve as gathering points for marine life of all shapes and sizes - from dazzling macro critters to powerful pelagic predators. Every dive here offers a thrilling encounter with nature, whether you’re gliding alongside swirling schools of fish, marvelling at the intricate beauty of the coral gardens, or catching a glimpse of hunting barracudas or patrolling reef sharks. The exceptional number and variety of dive sites in this region make it a fantastic destination for coral enthusiasts and fish spotters alike. The Dampier Strait’s intricate network of channels, islands, and submerged reefs creates a dynamic marine environment, with strong tidal currents flowing in and out from the surrounding deep waters. These nutrient-rich currents sustain the vibrant coral ecosystems and support an astonishing concentration of marine biodiversity. This constant movement of water ensures that every dive reveals a seascape bursting with life - colourful coral heads, dense clouds of fusiliers, schools of jackfish and trevally, and even encounters with oceanic manta rays drifting through the blue. Mioskon, Kri, and the neighbouring island of Mansuar are celebrated not just for their beauty but for the diversity of marine life found within such a relatively compact area. This stretch of the Dampier Strait is simply unmissable. It represents the perfect convergence of ecological richness, underwater drama, and natural beauty – a hotspot for divers of all levels.
Scuba diving around Yangello is very popular with visiting divers. The coral-covered ridges, reefs, and seamounts around the island create a number of excellent and exciting dive sites. One of the most popular seamounts to dive at Yangello is called Mayhem, close to the west side of the island. This is a current-washed, shallow coral reef for experienced divers seeking a little more adventure. Another submerged reef formation, Batu Dalam, is just south-west of Mayhem. Its shallowest depth is 10 metres, and it could prove to be interesting with some exploration and effort. Inside the waterway separating Yangello from Gam Island, there are a number of ridges that extend into the channel. Extensive mangrove forests grow just above the corals at the shoreline, providing excellent opportunities to shoot under/over split images when the conditions are calm, clear, and still. Some of the soft corals growing in the waterway are bright pink or purple in colour, and these too make fabulous photo subjects.
There are some excellent and exciting dives around the Kawe seascape, located between the Wayag Group and the much larger island of Waigeo to the south. Strong tidal currents wash over islets and rocky reefs that break the surface, creating the kind of underwater environments that marine animals adore to hang out and feed in. The signature dive in the Kawe area is Eagle Rock. Manta rays and a wide variety of schooling pelagics frequently visit this group of three rocky islets with varied underwater terrain. Other dives in the area include Black Rocks, a spiky surface-breaking reef between Balabalak and Kawe, and to the southeast of the group, the island of Roibe, which also features some interesting and exciting dive sites. The collection of islands that give this section the name The Equator Islands are found a short distance further north. These feature excellent reefs, walls, and caves, with plenty of scope for further exploration.
Diving at Wayag Island is an experience like no other. The island is famous for its breathtaking limestone karst formations and crystal-clear turquoise waters, making it a paradise for divers and topside adventurers alike. Beneath the surface, the underwater world is teeming with marine life, from vibrant coral reefs to schools of tropical fish. Divers can encounter majestic manta rays, reef sharks, and even the elusive wobbegong shark, which camouflages itself on the ocean floor. The pristine condition of the reefs, thanks to strict conservation efforts, ensures that every dive is a spectacular display of biodiversity. The most remarkable dive sites around Wayag are the pinnacles covered in soft corals and sea fans, creating a mesmerising seascape. Currents here can be strong, making exciting drift diving opportunities for experienced divers. As you glide effortlessly with the current, you may come across large pelagic species such as tuna, barracuda, and even the occasional whale shark. The visibility is often exceptional, allowing divers to fully appreciate the intricate details of the coral formations and the dynamic marine ecosystem. Macro photographers will also find plenty to capture, with nudibranchs, pygmy seahorses, and other small critters hiding among the coral. Beyond the thrilling diving opportunities, Wayag Island offers a surreal topside experience. After a dive, many visitors hike up the limestone hills to enjoy a panoramic view of the stunning island formations scattered across the sea. The sense of seclusion and unspoiled beauty makes Wayag a dream destination for those seeking adventure and tranquillity. Whether exploring the depths or marvelling at the landscape from above, diving at Wayag Island is an unforgettable journey into one of the most pristine marine environments on the planet.
The dramatic high forested islands of Quoy and Uranie lie just to the east of the Wayag collection. They are much less visited than their much more popular neighbour; however, they do feature several dive sites that are, in fact, superior. Both of the locations also have satellite islands close by: Yeflay next to Quoy and Bag next to Uranie. These islands offer some spectacular diving with colourful fish-filled reefs combined with some idyllic white sand beaches and jaw-dropping kayak and paddleboard routes under astonishing vertical limestone cliff faces. For adventurous divers wanting to test their skills, the biggest and most exciting marine secrets sit at the eastern points of both islands. The high-rise northern shorelines of both face the unrelenting forces of the mighty Pacific Ocean. Over the ages, these have sculpted two of the most impressive and vastly different dive sites in all of Raja Ampat. Massive caves and caverns tunnel into the vertical walls around these points, and the rocky architecture of the seascape extends eastward, where impressive rocky pinnacles form awe-inspiring panoramas and marine life magnets. The tidal currents that wrap around each extremity attract huge schools of fish and at times are visited by some other more unusual denizens of the deep, which are rarely seen at other locations. Quoy and Uranie are packed with a diverse range of underwater and topside adventures far away from the attentions of many other operators.
Diving at Aljui is quite different from other locations in Raja Ampat; it is geared much more towards smaller critters than huge schools of fish and vast coral fields. The edges of the islands in the bay drop very steeply along sloping reefs and walls. Different species of pygmy seahorses make their lifelong homes on the large fan corals that sprout from the steep reefs. In addition, nudibranchs of all types are easy to find around the slopes, ledges, and reefs. One of Raja Ampat’s premier night dives is centred around the three piers at the Cendana Pearl Farm. There is the main pier, where most of the farm’s operations are carried out; and two more a little further down the coast. The bottom topography and terrain are different from Aljui’s other sites; it is much flatter with a lot more sand, rubble, and gravel. Several excellent critter hunting areas are easy to find here, with plenty of fascinating subjects on offer, including sightings of wobbegong and the endemic walking epaulette shark.
Despite the fact that the Wofoh Islands have a limited number of dive sites, they remain a popular destination for visiting yachts. With easy anchorages, pristine reefs, and sublime beaches, it is not difficult to see why. The sites at Wofoh are concentrated around the southern tip of the islands; both are excellent and can be combined into a single dive if needed. Firstly, there is the dramatic wall under the westfacing cliffs. This drops into the deep and is covered with small indents and ledges that teem with marine life. The reef at the southern end that extends away from the wall is the second named area. The topography here is a nicely sloping reef covered with black coral bushes. Extra exploration around the reefs around the tip of the north island could also turn up some interesting areas for divers to enjoy around this pretty location.
Arborek is one of the most popular anchorages for yachts and land-based operations to visit during a Raja Ampat trip, primarily to be entertained by everyone’s favourite marine animal, the magnificent manta ray. In the channels around the reefs to the east of the pretty tropical island of Arborek, it is possible to see these huge flying carpets cleaning, cruising, feeding, and generally having a good time. There are a number of favourite spots, including the well-known sites of Manta Sandy and Manta Ridge. Besides the world-renowned manta ray action, there are some other very enjoyable, very pretty, and fairly diverse sites in the area. The jetty on the stunning island of Arborek features a magnificent reef and critter dive that also serves as a memorable night dive, while the Lalosi sunken reef, to the north-west of Arborek Island, is a great place for spotting turtles, schooling fish of all kinds, and the ubiquitous manta rays.
Lying just under 15 nautical miles west of Arborek Island, the Penemu Group is a big favourite with\ visiting yachts. With numerous exciting land and watersports activities, this island collection has a lot to offer. Penemu’s varied dive sites all feature dazzling, colourful reefs teeming with marine life. There are awesome offshore ridges and seamounts, exciting drift dives, and one of the most talked about and photographed reefs in Indonesia: the mesmerising shallow corals of Melissa’s Garden. As well as diving Penemu’s well-known sites, there is a good deal of scope for open-water exploration too. The deep seamounts, a few nautical miles to the west of the islands, give marine adventurers the chance to make their own discoveries and dive where few have ever dived before. An added attraction at Penemu is a beautifully constructed walkway that takes visitors up to the peaks of the karst islands in the lagoon. This affords spectacular views over the seascape.
There are a number of different types of dive sites accessible from the Birie/Wruwarez Channel anchorage. The most popular dive sites are located inside the extensive waterways close to the Batanta shoreline, while others are located in the open sea further north and east. Dive types include some colourful current-washed fishy seamounts, several very worthwhile critter dives, and two World War II aeroplane wrecks that lie on the pretty reef on the south side of Wai Island. The dive sites closer to the calm and sheltered anchorage marks inside the waterways are a critter hunter’s dream, with plenty of unusual marine life on display.
• Flexible Itineraries: Our cruise routes are intentionally adaptable. Throughout the journey, the captain and cruise director continuously assess sea conditions, weather, and tides to ensure the best possible experience. Guest preferences for specific dive sites are always considered whenever feasible. • More Than Is Listed: The locations featured in these itineraries represent only a portion of what’s possible. Numerous additional anchorages and activity options are available along the way, making each voyage truly unique. • Simplified for Clarity: The destinations shown in our presentations are not necessarily listed in the order they will be visited. They are organized for clarity and to help guests visualize the overall routing. • Extended Stays: If a particular anchorage offers exceptional experiences, guests may opt to linger a bit longer. The captain and cruise director have the flexibility to accommodate such preferences, provided they align with the overall cruise schedule. • Overnight Passages: To maximize daylight hours at our most spectacular destinations, longer transits between anchorages are typically conducted overnight. • Escape the Crowds: With the exception of embarkation and disembarkation points, our itineraries are carefully crafted to avoid congested areas and busy commercial ports, allowing for a more tranquil and immersive experience. • Beyond the Dive: Many of our anchorages offer more than just diving and snorkelling. Guests can enjoy kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, and occasional visits to local villages and cultural sites — adding even more richness to the journey.
Price per person
$5,921
All taxes included
Select cabin
No payment charged until confirmed.
