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Liveaboards in Raja Ampat

Liveaboards in Raja Ampat

Book your Raja Ampat liveaboard trip from a selection of the best liveaboards in Raja Ampat, including luxury charter yachts, traditional phinisis and affordable dive safari liveaboards, with rates suitable for every diver, including those on a budget. Choose from liveaboards with nitrox, camera facilities, suites or shared cabins, and with year round departures and itineraries that visit Raja Ampat’s best dive sites, including Waigeo, the Dampier Strait, Piaynemo and Misool.

Whether you’re traveling solo, with family or in a group, ZuBlu’s expert travel team will help you choose and book the ideal liveaboard trip in Raja Ampat.

Choosing the right liveaboard in Raja Ampat

Your choice of liveaboard in Raja Ampat should be based on whether you are looking for a budget or luxury experience, the itineraries on offer, number of guests and dive guides onboard, and experience requirements, as well as facilities including nitrox or camera rooms. If you need help choosing, get in touch with one of ZuBlu's experienced travel team who will happily recommend the ideal liveaboard.

Liveaboard itineraries in Raja Ampat

Raja Ampat liveaboard itineraries normally include a mix of scuba diving, snorkeling, and opportunities to explore the stunning island landscapes. Most are typically 7 to 8 nights, although there are liveaboards that offer shorter trips, and much longer itineraries. Liveaboards depart from and return to Sorong or Waisai and will normally explore either the northern or southern regions of Raja Ampat, including classic areas like the Dampier Strait, Wayag, Piaynemo and Misool depending on the route.


Southern itineraries are usually longer and visit the iconic dive sites in the Dampier Strait before making their way to Misool in the south. Northern itineraries will travel through the Dampier Strait before heading north towards Kawe and Wayag. Longer liveaboard trips can cover Misool, the Dampier Strait and Wayag in a single itinerary, although these are uncommon given the distances involved.

Liveaboard seasons in Raja Ampat

Raja Ampat can be dived year round, although the best diving conditions and chances of encounters with manta rays are during the high season from October to April. Misool in the south is exposed to winds that blow from July to September and many liveaboards will sail back to Komodo for the high season there at this time of year.

Dive experience requirements in Raja Ampat

Liveaboards in Raja Ampat normally require a minimum experience level to join their trips as they may include more challenging scuba diving during their itineraries. By setting a minimum, the liveaboard ensures all guests are suitably qualified and the guides can concentrate on guiding rather than assisting complete beginners. If you are a fresh open water diver planning a dive trip to Raja Ampat without much experience, then we recommend booking at a dive resort rather than a liveaboard.

Recommended liveaboards in Raja Ampat

ZuBlu’s partner liveaboards in Raja Ampat have all been careful selected to ensure guests have an exceptional dive holiday experience in this renowned dive destination. All offer high standards of service and safety, a wide range of facilities and exciting itineraries. However, there are several that our guests have consistently reviewed very highly - our top-rated liveaboards in Raja Ampat. ZuBlu’s travel team can help you book your trip onboard one of these incredible liveaboards.

Luxury liveaboards in Raja Ampat

In recent years, the number of luxury liveaboards in Raja Ampat has grown considerably, meaning guests can now experience all that Raja Ampat has to offer whilst still enjoying a more luxurious experience. These exceptional liveaboards have beautiful cabins and common areas, more sophisticated dining and a wider range of amenities. ZuBlu’s travel team can recommend and book your ideal luxury liveaboard in Raja Ampat.

Affordable liveaboards in Raja Ampat

Affordable liveaboards in Raja Ampat are very popular, as they offer guests a cheaper way of diving and exploring throughout Raja Ampat. Cabins may be a combination of shared bunk rooms and private cabins, and the dining less sophisticated, but the itineraries and safety standards on offer will be the same as more expensive liveaboards. Speak to our travel team if you’d like to book a more affordable liveaboard trip in Raja Ampat.

Liveaboards for for non-divers and snorkelers in Raja Ampat

If you are non-divers and would like to book a liveaboard in Raja Ampat, or are traveling in a mixed group of scuba divers and non-divers, then ZuBlu’s travel team can recommend and book the ideal liveaboard for you. The majority of liveaboards in Raja Ampat cater to snorkelers and offer a range of excursions in-between dives.

Group bookings on liveaboards in Raja Ampat

If you are planning a group trip to Raja Ampat, ZuBlu’s travel team can help you find the ideal liveaboard for your group, as well as secure the best possible price. Our guest concierge can also assist you with arranging other details, including transfers, equipment rental and rooming arrangements. Get in touch if you planning a group trip to Raja Ampat, with details of the size of your group and how long a stay you’d like to book.

Booking your liveaboard in Raja Ampat

Let ZuBlu’s dive travel team help you choose the ideal liveaboard trip in Raja Ampat for your next dive holiday. Let them know your preferences - time of year, number of people, a rough cost - and they’ll narrow down your choices and make suitable recommendations. You can also read customer reviews, check the itineraries, facilities and cabins, and compare different liveaboards.


We’re experts at creating tailor-made packages and itineraries for your trip, but we also offer a best price guarantee, straightforward booking terms, and secure payments - meaning you can book your scuba diving holiday with ease.


Once you have chosen your liveaboard in Raja Ampat and are ready to book, your travel expert will confirm availability and put a complimentary hold on your preferred cabin. They will then send a final quote that will include accommodation, meals, diving, transfers and any extras such as rental equipment and port fees. This quote will also show any extras paid in advance or onboard - there are no hidden fees - as well as a payment schedule and cancellation terms and conditions.


Your booking is then completed once you have paid the deposit required by the liveaboard, or made the full payment if necessary.


After the booking is confirmed, your guest concierge will take over and assist with flight routes, transfers, collecting any personal information required by the liveaboard, and answering any questions you may have about your reservation. They are there to make the entire process as straightforward as possible.

Getting to your liveaboard in Raja Ampat

The vast majority of liveaboards in Raja Ampat depart from Sorong, where the domestic airport is located. These will offer transfers as part of their packages, either as a paid extra, or it will be already included in the cost. You’ll be picked up at the airport and transferred to the port, then out to the liveaboard. Some liveaboards depart from Waisai on Waigeo Island, which can be reached from Sorong using the public ferry.


ZuBlu’s travel team can advise you on what is or isn’t included and the cost, and will add the transfers to your quote. Once the booking is confirmed, your guest concierge will assist with planning any flights and transfers.


Flights to Sorong depart from Denpasar, Jakarta, Manado, Ambon or Makassar. Guests should plan their flights so that they arrive in Sorong early in the morning in order to meet resort transfers or catch the first ferry to Waisai leaving at 09:00am. This normally means a very early departure. For example, Garuda’s service from Jakarta departs at 00:30, while the same airline also operates direct flights from Denpasar on Fridays and Sundays, departing at around 02:15.


Please note that the 09:00am ferry is now ONLY available on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. The 14:00pm ferry is available every day of the week.


The second and final ferry to Waisai departs at 14:00. While the ferry terminal is only 15 minutes from the airport, guests arriving at Sorong later than 12:00 should plan on staying overnight before catching a ferry or transfer the following morning. 

Recommended transit hotels in Sorong

Although most dive resorts and liveaboards schedule their transfers and boarding times around the early morning flight arrivals into Sorong, you may want to book a hotel for the night before your trip starts - to give you some time to get over your jet lag, or in case of delays. We recommend the Swiss-Bellhotel or Aston in Sorong, and your guest concierge can advise you of the best way to book these hotels. 

Marine park fees in Raja Ampat

All visitors to Raja Ampat must pay two separate fees:


  • Raja Ampat Marine Park Permit – IDR 700,000
  • Raja Ampat Visitor Ticket – IDR 300,000


These can be paid in Sorong on your way to the ferry or resort transfer, but most liveaboards and dive resorts request this amount in advance and pay the fees for their guests - saving you time on arrival. They will combine the park fees with any necessary port fees or fuel surcharges, plus any islands and viewpoints fees combining them all together into a single payment.

Combining your liveaboard trip with a dive resort stay

A resort stay before or after a liveaboard trip is the ideal way to extend your holiday time in Raja Ampat. ZuBlu’s dive travel experts can recommend and book suitable dive resort packages for you, while our guest concierge team can liaise with your resort and liveaboard to ensure all transfers are seamless.


Visits to other destinations in indonesia can also be combined with your liveaboard trip in Raja Ampat. Triton Bay is easily accessible from Sorong, the gateway to Raja Ampat, while stays in Ambon or North Sulawesi are often combined with a liveaboard in Raja Ampat.