Alila Purnama dive boat review
The Alila Purnama liveaboard is simply the best of the bests, in Indonesia but also everywhere else. Indeed, this 46 meters traditional wooden Phinisi is a 6 stars floating hotel. Yes you read correctly, 5 stars would not make it justice. Forget about the unpleasant seafari stories you’ve heard and expect to splurge it all on this stunning luxury liveaboard.
Boat Cabins & Layout
The Alila Purnama welcomes a maximum of 10 guests in 5 luxurious suites. Every cabin includes a spacious en-suite bathroom with separate toilet, individually controlled air-conditioning and a comfortable hotel-like queen bed. Moreover, there are double closets and a writing desk in every room. The Alila Purnama’s cabins were conceived to match Alila’s resorts standards and offer an unparalleled experience at large.
You can check the latest schedule & prices for his liveaboard here.
The stunning Sriwijaya Master Suite is the ultimate experience. Indeed, this suite is even more spacious than the others. Most noteworthy is that the suite has a private balcony and private sundeck with loungers. Perfect for honeymooners!
Furthermore, the numerous communal areas of this dive boat will please the most discerning guest. The incredible space, given the size of the boat and the small amount of divers on-board, brings a great sense of freedom and privacy. There is a spacious indoor lounge with a dining area, all complimented by wall to wall windows. Moreover, there is plenty of cushioned seating available outside as well as an outdoor dining area.
Of course, the Alila Purnama has an extensive bar service available. All the non-alcoholic beverages are included while the large selection of wine & spirits is offered at an extra cost.
Alila Purnama On-Board Facilities
If you still think there’s space for boredom on-board the Alila Purnama, you will most likely be satisfied with a complete library. Indeed, this diving cruise boast a cozy salon where you can watch TV, find books or listen to music. Of course, you can also look at your best photos of the day on the television!
If you require additional relaxation, spa treatments are available during the dive cruise. Indeed, there will always be professional spa therapists on-board, to help your muscles relax after an extensive diving day!
Needless to say that the Alila Purnama is not quite comparable to anything else in term of quality and prices. If you wish to compare it with other dive boats, look at our list of the Best Indonesian Liveaboard of 2016.
The Alila Purnama was built with divers comfort in mind but the Scuba Diving part of the operation was never neglected. See below for diving related information.
Want to peek at how it’s like to be part of a luxury diving cruise on the Alila Purnama? Watch the video!
Diving with the Alila Purnama
This liveaboard has it’s own, fully licensed, dive center on-board the vessel. Most noteworthy is the fact that the divers can hire the diving equipment from the Alila’s dive center at no charge. Also, the Alila Purnama includes and takes care of all the national park fee and permits for 10 guests. Plus, a professional diving crew is supervising the dives. Dives are stated as “unlimited” by the Alila Purnama’s website. Sounds great, doesn’t it?
The itineraries available include Komodo, Ambon or Raja Ampat. Shore excursions, snorkeling and island hopping are also possible during the cruise.
Price starts at 7250$US for 7 days / 6 nights – Raja Ampat Expedition
Where does this liveaboard dive boat go?
Check out the fabulous places where this dive boat travels to.
Note: some destinations may not be listed below, please enquire for more details.
destination of the monthKomodo Island
Komodo pairs busy coral pinnacles and manta habitat with quieter bays and southern macro reefs. The best plan matches your experience to the tides, with a choice of Labuan Bajo day boats or longer cruises.
Wakatobi
Coral gardens, walls and tiny reef residents, with distinct choices between local island diving, Wakatobi Resort and Pelagian cruises.
Raja Ampat
Fish-filled reef corners, tiny pygmy seahorses and manta encounters give Raja Ampat its extraordinary range. Resorts, homestays and liveaboards offer different ways into this remote Indonesian archipelago.
Gili Islands, Lombok
Turtles, reef slopes and short boat trips make the three Gilis an appealing diving base. Training-friendly profiles and deeper drift sites offer quite different days underwater.
Lembeh Strait
Lembeh’s volcanic sand hides frogfish, seahorses and other remarkable small creatures. Slow macro dives are the main draw, with coral sites and guided snorkelling adding variety.
Bunaken, Manado
Bunaken pairs coral-covered walls with shallow reef gardens, turtle habitat and small creatures in the crevices. Island resorts and Manado-based boats offer different ways to enjoy the same marine park.
Tulamben
Tulamben’s USAT Liberty combines a shore-access wreck with reef life, while the Drop Off and nearby macro sites reward a longer stay. Rocky entries, depth and conditions still shape the dive.
Pemuteran, Lovina
Pemuteran combines shore-access restoration reefs, short boat dives and rewarding macro excursions. Lovina is a separate north-coast base; Puri Jati and Secret Bay offer a different, sand-and-critter diving day.
Padang Bai
Padang Bai rewards close looking: sandy slopes, reef fish and tiny macro subjects near Blue Lagoon and Jepun, with more demanding offshore dives available when conditions suit.
Nusa Penida / Nusa Lembongan
Manta cleaning stations, seasonal sunfish and lively coral drifts make Penida and Lembongan memorable. The best dive is the one matched to the current, swell and experience of the group.
Menjangan Island
Menjangan’s reef shelves and coral-covered walls reward unhurried diving and snorkelling from mainland bases in northwest Bali. Clear water and sea fans are part of the appeal, with profiles and site choices matched to conditions and experience.
Candidasa
Candidasa’s offshore islets offer dramatic walls, schooling fish and reef-shark encounters, with seasonal sunfish possibilities. Strong, changeable currents make Tepekong, Mimpang and Biaha outings for suitably experienced divers and careful local planning.
Bali
Bali brings together the coral-covered Liberty wreck, east-coast macro life and the manta encounters and seasonal sunfish of Nusa Penida. Shore dives and drift dives suit different experience levels; currents, colder upwellings and the chosen base shape the trip.
Indonesia
From Bali's volcanic shores to Raja Ampat's coral gardens, discover Indonesia's wrecks, walls, manta encounters and remarkable macro life. The most rewarding region depends on the season, your experience and the diving you love.
Amed
Amed combines volcanic-sand macro dives, shallow reef gardens, artificial reefs and deeper walls. Shore entries and short jukung trips make a rewarding east-Bali base, with sites chosen for experience and conditions rather than a promise of current-free diving.
- If you have been diving on board this liveaboard dive boat in Indonesia & Komodo Island & Raja Ampat, please share your review and let us know what you thought. Please post your comments in the review section below, by doing so you will help fellow divers to plan their next diving trip
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We chartered the boat with a group of friends about a year ago and honestly we have only great things to say. Amazing service, outstanding food, stunning water adventures and incredible comfort. The Alila Purnama is just the way you present it! I sure recommend it, on behalf of 8 other divers which had the time of their lives!