Indonesia Liveaboard Diving

Dive in the Heart of the Coral Triangle

Located at the epicentre of world marine biodiversity, there are no places that can compete with the underwater riches of Indonesia. It is such a huge country consisting of over 13,500 islands, that a liveaboard is the natural choice if you're lucky enough to dive here.

There are over 3,000 species of fish (with new discoveries being made all the time) and some 600 species of coral, vertical walls, deep water trenches, submerged volcanoes, World War II wrecks, and a seemingly endless variety of macro sealife.

Indonesia liveaboards allow you the freedom to explore further in the vast archipelago, to dream destinations such as Komodo, where the cruises include land visits to see the famed dragons. The Banda Islands in the Banda Sea has incredible-sized schools of fish and a rich historical background. If pioneer diving is your goal then look no further than the glorious Raja Ampat region, or cruise around the Ring of Fire in North Sulawesi. With all these superb liveaboard destinations, it is little wonder that Indonesia ranks at the top of the charts for unforgettable, world-class diving adventures.

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Banda Islands

The Banda Sea is located in the central region of Indonesia and was once known for its lucrative spice trade where foreigners came from all over the world to trade in that most valuable of commodities, nutmeg. Nowadays the region is attracting overseas visitors for very different reasons. The waters of Banda and Ambon promise riches beyond the wildest dreams of many 'big name' dive destinations worldwide.

Limited human impact has left the reefs in great health, and the rich waters that they lie in are home to an unbelievable array of life. There are the small and beautiful macro creatures that are more often seen around Ambon, such as the scorpionfish which carries its name. You will see big numbers of pelagic fish, most notably impressive numbers of dog-toothed tuna and squadrons of mobula rays at sites throughout the Banda Islands area. And the schools of fish in the Banda Sea need to be seen to be believed.

You can expect to visit one excellent dive spot after another, with some of the best being Gunung Api, Nusa Laut, Batu Kapal and Pulau Ai. For more detailed information, visit our Banda Sea diving website section.

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Komodo

The Komodo National Park is home to some of Indonesia's finest and most popular dive destinations. You can choose between trips that run to and from Bali, or cruises that concentrate only on the sites within the park.

Trips to the Komodo National Park include GPS Point a submerged pinnacle bedecked in soft coral where dog-tooth tuna, schools of barracuda and a variety of sharks patrol the area in search of food. Cannibal Rock must be one of the most colourful dive sites in the world where vibrant anemones, sea apples and purple gorgonian fans make beautiful photographic subjects. Pillarsteen provides a break from the colour and vast fish life of the park, by being a site where a series of caves, chimneys and rocky outcrops provide breathtaking swim-throughs.

Some of the other dive sites you will visit on Komodo liveaboards are Red Beach, Yellow Wall of Texas and Tatawa Island. For more detailed information, visit our Komodo diving website section.

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Raja Ampat in Irian Jaya

Recent studies have shown that the marine diversity in Irian Jaya is considerably greater than all other areas sampled in the Coral Triangle of Indonesia, the Philippines and Papua New Guinea; which simply means it is the best of the best. Among the best experiences you can have whilst diving in Raja Ampat are encounters with indigenous wobbegongs, the incredible topside beauty of Waigeo and the mushroom islands and lagoons of Misool, and the sheer joy of simply drifting over some of the most pristine and colourful coral scenes on Earth.

Raja Ampat liveaboard cruises include dives at Fabiacet; a dive site that proves that you can believe the hype, with more fish life than you thought possible. Here are great hammerheads, green turtles, schools of fusiliers and pale-lipped surgeonfish, red-toothed triggerfish and bannerfish, to name but a few. Farondi Island offers tunnels, caverns and walls festooned with fascinating marine life. There is plenty of action in the blue, but the highlights are to be found in and around the reef, such as ornate ghost pipefish and pygmy seahorses (often up to 40 on one fan!). Manta Ridge at Mansuar Island is one of many dives sites where manta rays can be seen, but it stands alone in terms of numbers. Up to 30 different mantas can be seen here making it surely one of the best manta dives in the world.

Other dive sites you may visit on Raja Ampat liveaboard trips include Jef Fam, Sardines and Sel Pele Bay. For more detailed information, visit our Raja Ampat diving website section.

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Sulawesi

The seas off the northern arm of this island are host to many and varied ecosystems, from the reefs and walls of Bunaken and Bangka Island, to the macro paradise of the Lembeh Strait, and the breathtaking diving in the Ring of Fire in the Sangihe Archipelago.

Tanjung Kopi is a great site to see the best of the Bunaken National Marine Park, with plenty of big fish action including black tip reef sharks, dogtooth tunas, Napoleon wrasse, giant trevally, eagle rays and the occasional hammerhead shark.

Hairball is a dive site that typifies the quirky nature of the Lembeh Strait and what makes it the world's best place for macro diving. Here you can expect to encounter rarities such as stargazers, frogfish (white, yellow, black, painted, hairy, giant!), flamboyant cuttlefish and Spanish dancers. Drowned Village in the volcanic region of Sangihe allows you to dive over what was once a human habitation, diving among a topography carved out by man's own hand; a unique sensation not to be missed.

Other dive sites you may visit on Sulawesi liveaboard trips include Bunaken Timur, Angels Window, Nudi Falls, Batu Mandi and Ruang Island. For more detailed information, visit our Sulawesi diving website section.

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Diving Season

The season for scuba diving in Indonesia runs all year round but conditions vary from place to place. For these liveaboard destinations, there are scheduled trips for most of the year.

Reef Summary

Great for: Small animals, underwater photography, wall dives, drift dives, reef life and health and advanced divers
Not so great for: Beginner divers
Depth: 5 - >40m
Visibility: 10 - 60m
Currents: Can be very strong
Surface Conditions: Calm
Water Temperature: 19 - 30°C
Experience Level: Intermediate - advanced
Number of dive sites: >500
Recommended length of stay: 2 - 4 weeks

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