Best Raja Ampat Dive Cruises!

raja ampat liveaboard diving cruises

Best Raja Ampat liveaboard dive cruises

Raja Ampat is an exceptional cruise diving destination! Far from the major tourist areas of Indonesia, Raja Ampat offers an unprecedented marine biodiversity and allows Scuba divers to escape the crowds. Right in the heart of the Coral Triangle, the region promises a unique diving experience.

Raja Ampat is an archipelago of over 1,500 islands with Misool, Salawati, Batanta and Waigeo being the main islands. The majority of liveaboard cruises go to the north of the archipelago: there are located some of the most beautiful dive spots of the world! Further south, Misool is simply majestic; it’s a pristine island with lovely and friendly inhabitants, which takes good care of their land and sea. The shark sanctuary will not miss to make you feel bonded to the cause.

The diving cruise, or liveaboard, is the preferred way to visit the archipelago of Raja Ampat. The islands are quite spread out and a liveaboard only can grant you access to the best spot and give you plenty of time to enjoy them all.

More information on Raja Ampat liveaboards here!

What is the best time to cruise dive in Raja Ampat?

The best time to dive in Raja Ampat extends from October to April. The conditions will be nearly perfect and the visibility will be great during those months. As the water temperature remains the same, it is possible to dive Raja Ampat year round.

The underwater world is swept by currents, sometimes medium, sometimes stronger. Either way, it is recommended to have a certain diving experience to dive Raja Ampat. These currents carries all the nutrients which the marine life needs to flourish. This easily explain the impressive density of the archipelago.

Manta rays, dolphins, whale sharks, uncountable shark species, many turtles and thousands fishes and citters await in the crystal clear waters of Raja Ampat.

More information on the best diving in Raja Ampat here.

liveaboard cruise rates of Raja Ampat

The cost of a diving trip in Raja Ampat will vary according to some factors: lenght of stay, luxury level of the boat, season, etc.

In order to get the cheapest dive cruise deals in Raja Ampat, one has to look for special offers, last minute deals or shorter trips. Otherwise, see below to find out about the price standards.

The high season, which lines up with the best season to dive Raja Ampat, is between October and April. Prices then starts at $ 270 USD per day and go up to over $ 500 USD / day. Between May and September, there are rarely liveaboard cruises visiting the region as most of them move to Komodo to catch the best diving season there.

The entry permit in the Raja Ampat National Park costs about $ 100 USD – 1,000,000 IDR (Indonesian Rupiah). This is often not included in the rates, be sure to read the fine print!

Some travel agencies offer an all-inclusive rate with airfare and accommodation on arrival, if necessary. Otherwise, you need to find a round-trip flight to Indonesia and then a local flight to Sorong in Papua. The price range is way too wide to be set, look for airlines sales!

Shortest the cheapest!

If your budget is very tight, you should look for the shortest dive cruises, which in Raja Ampat means an average of 7 days. Sometimes, but rarely you will see a 4-5 days cruise. Keep your eyes open and your suitcase packed!

Raja Ampat takes some time to be well-dived as the sites are many and spread out. A diving cruise can last 7 days, 8 days, 10 days or even 14 days! Some among the longest propose a second destination as Cenderawasih, the Banda Sea, Ambon, etc.

Dive cruise or Resorts ?

If you wanted to, you could visit Raja Ampat independently. There are ferries between most inhabited islands. On some islands, you’ll find prestigious diving resorts, the Misool Eco Resort is one of many example. You sure can find more budget friendly kind of accommodations. Either ways, the based-diving option will limit your experience of Raja Ampat to the nearby dive sites. Wouldn’t it be a shame to make it there and not even see it all ? Nothing beats a scuba-diving cruise to really explore the underwater world of the Four Kings – Raja Ampat in English.

The liveaboard cruises are designed to maximize your time, increase the amount of time you spend actually diving and add to the quality of the experience. In a nutshell, a diving cruise is a week in the comfort of a boat, where everything is designed to simplify your life and make your diving experience ultimately unforgettable!

More information on Indonesia liveaboards here!