Top rated liveaboards in the Komodo National Park

Komodo National Park is one of Indonesia’s most exciting dive destinations, and a liveaboard is easily the most immersive way to experience it. Offering prehistoric scenery and unbelievable endemic wildlife, as well as white-knuckle drift dives, manta ray encounters, and a kaleidoscope of cryptic critters, a Komodo liveaboard itinerary will never disappoint.

But how to choose from the different dive liveaboards cruising the Komodo National Park? To help you decide, we’ve selected and reviewed Komodo’s best liveaboards.

Of course, everybody’s idea of the perfect liveaboard dive holiday is different. So, to ensure you find the right vessel, we’ve listed Komodo’s top dive liveaboards based on our most popular requests. Read on to find your favourite or check out our in-depth guide to liveaboard diving for more information on choosing the perfect boat.

With just four cabins, Wunderpus offers intimate and adventurous voyages in style. Plus, this traditional sailing vessel features outstanding onboard amenities and some of Komodo's most sustainable operations.

Choose from exciting four and five-day scheduled safaris, or opt for a private charter with your own bespoke itinerary. No matter which adventure suits you best, you'll enjoy outstanding dive services with small group sizes, top of the line rental gear, and perfectly timed experiences aimed at helping you watch wildlife – not other divers. You'll also appreciate the well-appointed cabins, four delicious meals per day, and incredible views from the beanbag lounge and outdoor dining room.

If you’re travelling on a particularly tight budget and hoping to get the most bang for your buck, check out this boat’s partner liveaboard – Mimic. This vessel offers some of Komodo’s lowest prices, and shared dorm-style accommodations.

The salubrious Gaia Love motor yacht offers an outstanding alternative to the classic Indonesian phinisi vessel typically cruising Komodo National Park. This 40-metre steel-hulled liveaboard was designed with modern style and an emphasis on comfortable diving in remote waters.

Luxury and exceptional service are at the heart of this liveaboard’s operations, thanks to a range of exclusive elements reminiscent of a five-star hotel. Communal areas are both spacious and sophisticated, and have been finished with plush details and inviting furniture, while upper deck cabins feature private balconies. And the elevated facilities don’t stop there. Gaia Love’s dive deck is extensive, enabling stress-free experiences and easy access to the tenders. Underwater photographers will also greatly appreciate this boat’s dedicated camera room and 11 large compartmentalised camera rinse tanks to suit a variety of setups.

Budget travellers and backpackers, rejoice! Sokaraja offers incredible four and five-day trips with some of Komodo National Park's most accessible prices.

Don't let this boat's low prices fool you, it's still a spacious and stylish option for liveaboard diving in Komodo. Guests can choose between shared dorm-style or private cabins, with options for every budget and personal travel style. Sokaraja also promises a fun and relaxed social atmosphere, with family-style meals, chilled out sun and shade lounges, and a maximum of ten guests on board. Plus, creative itineraries hitting all of Komodo's most impressive dive sites and above-water attractions.

Planning to capture your incredible Komodo diving experiences on film? Blue Manta has some of Komodo’s best facilities for underwater photographers, comparable to some of the top resorts.

Guests aboard this spacious and modern motor yacht will enjoy an incredible selection of itineraries combining northern and southern Komodo with the world-class muck diving of Maumere. These fully photo-supported safaris feature small dive groups, with a maximum of four guests per eagle-eyed guide as well as an onboard photo crew. Plus, dedicated rinse bins, compressed air for drying, and individual camera stations to help you care for photo and video gear.

Travelling with somebody who doesn’t dive? Komodo Sea Dragon is a snorkeler-friendly ensuring non-divers don’t miss-out on the fun.

This recently refurbished phinisi liveaboard features an inviting beach-house style, with golden wooden construction, linen furnishings and an abundance of natural light. Diving and snorkelling activities are conducted from an accompanying 18-metre tender, leaving the main vessel free from unnecessary clutter. Try-dives are available for snorkelers interested in dipping a toe into the world of scuba, while free nitrox certification is available for more experienced guests.

Plenty of liveaboards claim to be family-friendly, but few actually are. However, the Jakaré is doing things differently – offering incredible hospitality for guests of all ages and plenty of action for non-divers as well.

Enjoy seven to twelve action-packed days at sea, with options for adventure beyond scuba diving. Each itinerary includes snorkelling, kayaking, and trekking. Plus, yoga and mindfulness sessions on select trips. This traditional sailing vessel also offers a small and intimate group setting with plenty of room for each guest to spread out in the shaded beanbag lounge, or topside on the spacious sundeck.

Many liveaboards spend around five days exploring Komodo, but Adelaar is setting a new standard! This boat offers incredible 10-day expeditions to lesser-known diving areas, with a focus on wildlife conservation and exploratory diving.

Whether you're diving in Komodo for its powerful drift dives, manta rays and sharks, or incredible reef diving, Adelaar offers a mind-blowing itinerary just for you. These unique expedition-style adventures focus on relatively unexplored areas like Sumbawa and the park's northwestern waters, plus all the classic sites around Komodo National Park. Speciality conservation-focused trips are also available, with a marine-biologist led agenda complete with individual manta ID, daily lectures, above-water environmental activities, and more!

Cheng Ho is a traditional Indonesian phinisi boasting beautiful teak construction. This liveaboard’s style of service is best described as laid-back luxury, offering a down-to-earth atmosphere complemented by a handful of onboard indulgences.

Guests on board this vessel will be captivated by its undeniable charm, which combines an age-old design with flourishes of modern comfort and style – including an on deck hot tub offering spectacular views. Part of the reputed Sea Safari Cruises fleet, Cheng Ho offers first-class facilities for divers of all types, including extra assistance for underwater photographers, as well as tech and rebreather support with prior notice. 

Are you hoping to blend adventure, romance, and relaxation during your Komodo dive holiday? If so, Scubaspa Zen might be your best boat. This luxurious partner of the legendary Scubaspa Ying and Yang in the Maldives specialises in an indulgent escape from the everyday, with brand new facilities and sublime services at every turn.

Scubaspa Zen feels more like a floating five-star resort than a boat, boasting creative gourmet cuisine, daily yoga and wellness offerings, exceptional spa services, and water sports of all kinds. Plus, stunning itineraries, outstanding amenities for divers and photographers, and unparalleled personal service from a highly-trained international team.