MSY Damai 2 dive boat review
Photographs: Damai II / LiveAboard.com. Gallery checked November 2026; capture dates are not stated.
Damai II: generous cabins and an Indonesian horizon
Room to spread out is part of Damai II’s appeal, especially for photographers travelling with more than a compact camera. Its wooden phinisi character comes with a dedicated dive setup and a small passenger group, while the route can change the feel of the holiday completely.
2011 · 47 m · 9 m beam · seven cabins · normally 12 guests
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Divezone reader reviews
Damai II, through your eyes.
The most useful advice often comes from someone who slept in the cabin and shared the dive deck. This is the place for your Damai II experience.
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The overall score is the average of the overall ratings in published reviews submitted through this form. Each optional criterion has its own average and response count. Unrated criteria are excluded.
Earlier stories remain part of the conversation, without assigning scores their authors did not provide. Reviews describe individual experiences; publication does not verify a stay or certify the boat’s safety.
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Stories shared on Divezone
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Reviews from other websites · separate from Divezone
What guests love
The crew, generous rooms and meals recur in the examined feedback.
What guests like less
Enno F’s April 2023 report is less enthusiastic about the diving, despite praise for the crew and cuisine. This is one dated account.
Eight published booking reviews were read, dated 2017–2025. Service, cabin space and meals receive repeated praise. Enno F (April 2023) was less convinced by the diving experience while still praising the crew and cuisine. That individual account should not be turned into a fleet-wide verdict.
LiveAboard.com snapshot · checked 12 November 2026
9.2/10 from 8 verified booking reviews. Samantha S (5 June 2025) praises spacious rooms and service; Stefan D (17 June 2025) values communication about dive decisions.
How the evidence is used
This manual snapshot is secondary to the Divezone contributions above. Different trips and dates are not interchangeable, and the platform score is never included in the Divezone average.
Seven cabins, with different reasons to choose them
Damai II was built in South Sulawesi in 2011. Lower-deck rooms and the larger stern cabins offer different layouts. The stern accommodation has private outdoor space, while the lower-deck rooms put more emphasis on the indoor living area.
Master Cabin 5
A generous stern room appeals to guests who want space beyond the bed. Cabin 5 and Cabin 6 have different published rates.
Twin or double cabin
The twin/double category suits guests who prioritise the diving programme. The assigned cabin number determines the actual bed configuration.
Most departures carry 12 guests. The operator also offers 14-guest full charters; this is not the standard capacity to assume for an individual booking.
Between the dives
The camera room and larger individual rinse stations are central to Damai II’s diving layout. Outside, several deck areas and an open-air dining space give guests somewhere to linger between dives. The extra room is useful on longer voyages, when everyone develops a favourite corner.
The original Divezone account highlights Indonesian and international meals. Dietary arrangements need advance planning: the operator asks for at least three weeks’ notice because some ingredients must be sent to the vessel. Remote cruising is a good reason to settle the details before departure.
Small groups, tender diving
The operator advertises three guides and one instructor, with a usual ratio of four guests to one guide. Two tenders serve the dive sites. Actual groups and profiles depend on the passengers and conditions; a small group does not remove the need for suitable experience.
Damai encourages Advanced Open Water certification and Nitrox training. Dive insurance is required. Currents, crossings and the distance between regions deserve attention when comparing departures; a comfortable cabin is not a substitute for an appropriate dive programme.
A route worth choosing before the cabin
Raja Ampat · Sorong return
1–8 February 2027: seven nights. The operator listed one space when checked; availability can change and differs between booking channels.
Raja Ampat to Triton Bay
21 February–4 March 2027: eleven nights, Sorong to Kaimana. The reverse direction also appears on the programme.
Halmahera to Raja Ampat
5–16 April 2027: eleven nights, Ternate to Sorong. This is a one-way journey, with separate embarkation and disembarkation flights.
These dated programmes establish the ports and duration, not guaranteed daily dive stops. The itinerary for the actual departure takes precedence over a general destination list. Other seasonal sailings include Komodo and eastern Indonesian crossings.
Two dated route examples
Numbered connections show the main regions in published sample programmes, not sailing tracks or dive-entry positions. The captain adjusts the itinerary to conditions.
Raja Ampat · 7 nights
1–8 February 2027. The booking overview connects Dampier Strait and Penemu with southern Misool before returning to Sorong. Open Water certification and 30 logged dives are listed for this particular departure.
- Sorong
- Dampier Strait
- Penemu
- Misool region
- Sorong
Halmahera–Raja Ampat · 11 nights
5–16 April 2027. The daily sample runs from Ternate through Goraici, Lata Lata, Salea and Bacan, then Pulau Pisang and the Misool groups before Sorong. The map groups these into the main regions and does not pinpoint the ambiguously named Pisang island. This departure lists Advanced Open Water certification and 50 logged dives.
- Ternate
- Halmahera region
- Misool region
- Sorong
The 21 February–4 March 2027 Sorong–Kaimana programme is described above. Its intermediate sequence needs confirmation, so it is not drawn as a route here. Other seasonal trips also require their own itinerary; these examples are not the entire annual programme.
What the 2027 fare covers
| Cabin category | USD/person/night sharing | Sole occupancy/night |
|---|---|---|
| Deluxe · 1–4 and 7 | $735 | $955 |
| Master Deluxe · 5 | $785 | $1570 |
| Master Suite · 6 | $855 | $1710 |
The seven-night Deluxe base is $5,145 per person sharing. This is not an all-in trip total. Park and harbour fees, conditional fuel charges, flights and personal extras need to be added for the selected departure.
Meals, listed drinks and air diving are included. Nitrox, rental equipment, laundry, massage and internet are not universally free. Repeat-guest or special packages can differ; the invoice identifies the applicable inclusions. Rates checked 12 November 2026, in USD.
A seven-night Raja Ampat budget
The operator’s current estimate adds US$200 for Raja Ampat park charges and US$40 per person per night for a Sorong embarkation: US$280 over seven nights. Added to the shared Deluxe fare, that gives about US$5,625 per person before flights, insurance, any fuel surcharge and personal extras. Local charges and exchange rates can change; the departure invoice supplies the final amounts.
Nitrox is US$10 per day, capped at US$100 per trip under the standard tariff. Fuel supplements are conditional on the operator’s oil-price formula, assessed 120 days before departure; US$200 is not an automatic flat fee on every cruise.
A companion who does not dive
The booking platform identifies Damai II as snorkeller-friendly. That does not mean every dive site is a suitable snorkelling stop or that a separate guide is automatically included. A companion’s planned activities, tender access and price are best agreed for the particular route. The onboard decks are appealing downtime, but long crossings can make the holiday quite different from a beach stay.
When a different trip might fit better
Damai II’s larger accommodation is attractive, but the extra cabin budget is worthwhile only if it matters to your holiday. Anyone mainly seeking short, sheltered outings may prefer a shore base. A long crossing itinerary deserves a closer look when sleep at sea or motion sensitivity is a concern.
Damai II questions
Does Damai II take only ten guests?
No. The current normal programme is 12 guests, with 14 possible on selected full charters.
Are the seven cabins all the same?
No. The cabin number, bed arrangement and category affect both the room and the price.
Is Nitrox always free?
No. Current standard conditions list it separately, although some packages and repeat-guest inclusions differ.
Is laundry included?
The current standard conditions charge for laundry. A historical guest comment is not a current inclusion list.
Can special diets be arranged?
The operator requests at least three weeks’ notice so the necessary supplies can reach the vessel.
Do trips always return to the same port?
No. Some are round trips; others connect different Indonesian ports. The dated departure determines the flights.
Does the displayed fare include flights?
No. International and domestic flights are separate, along with the applicable local fees and extras.
Are the old Divezone reviews current inspections?
No. Contributions retain their original dates and describe those guests’ trips; they do not establish today’s capacity or prices.
Editorial review: 12 November 2026. Source-based planning information; guest contributions retain their own travel dates.
Historical Divezone account · William, UK, 2015
Original account retained below. It is not a current inspection and is not included in the reader-rating average.
“Staying onboard MSY Damai II is one of the grandest adventures I had in my life! As a SCUBA diver for ten years, spending time on various liveaboards that run regular trips in the most popular diving sites in the world, has got to be my most guilty pleasure! I have been very particular when it comes to choosing a liveaboard. Space and comfort come first. MSY Damai II disappoint me. The dive boat is spacious and her dive deck gives enough space for everyone to move around and to prepare for their equipment. Therefore being in this boat can be very comfortable. This liveaboard also have spacious sundecks, where guests can hang out and socialize with one another.
I had a fantabulous time diving in the stunning waters of Raja Ampat, which gives me nothing but absolute underwater pleasure! Water visibility was astounding and the diversity of the marine life was awe-inspiring. The water was teeming with corals, fish of different kinds, invertebrates, pygmy seahorses, manta rays and all the other spectacular species you can find in Raja & Banda Sea areas.
This amazing diving experience won’t be possible without the help of the entire crew of MSY Damai II! A special shout out to their diving team for running a magnificent trip. We were fortunate to be guided and supervised them. They made sure that all of us were well-looked after. Our dive guide was of great help too. I am thankful to the entire crew for their hospitality. They were professional, knowledgeable, and friendly. They were attentive to our needs without being intrusive, still respecting each diver’s privacy. Safety was their utmost priority. They assisted us to make sure we go back to the boat safe and sound.
I have been on many liveaboards and I would say that MSY Damai II serves one of the best fantastic food in town! I personally love their delectable and delicious international meals.
Can’t wait to be back in Raja Ampat and dive with this superb liveaboard! Keep up the good work, guys!”
William, UK, 2015
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.
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.
- If you have been diving on board this liveaboard dive boat in 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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Before I’ll start sharing my wonderful experience in Raja Ampat, I would like to express my gratitude to my generous best friend for giving me the chance to visit the astonishing beauty of Raja Ampat Islands. It was an unparalleled birthday treat! Thanks, buddy!
A bunch of thanks also to the entire management and crew of Damai II for creating an excellent diving experience! I thoroughly enjoyed every moment I spent while onboard this marvelous dive boat. I loved diving with the mantas. I will also cherish the fun night dives. The liveaboard dive masters were fun to be with and were very keen in pointing out amazing sea creatures and spotting those hidden ones. There is definitely no unhappy face on this ship! Raja Ampat’s breathtaking underwater scenery and the exceptional crew gave me incredible memories.
Damai II is a spacious boat. It’s squeaky clean and chic. Her Dive Directors were excellent and make sure that every dive is special. They were flexible, patient and of course, knowledgeable. So I did enjoy and treasure every moment I spent underwater! The rest of the crew was helpful, friendly and efficient. The MSY Damai II crew indeed made my liveaboard trip worry-free, relaxing and filled with lots of fun!
There were lots of delicious local and international dishes served with great smiles, which I would surely miss! The beauty of the diving sites in Raja Ampat is indescribable. The exceptional service rendered by everyone running MSY Damai II is exceptional. Great service and fabulous experience with great people! I feel safe & very spoiled. ‘Till next time!
Spent time on damai 11 in 2013
Was not impressed at all with the so called Directors who didnt care and other divers felt the same.
They skimped on food which was average and never really got into the mode that divers had paid a lot of money to dive with them
Been on a fair few and as uk divers speak our mind
Average for top prices you pay