Mari Itinerary
Flores, Komodo, Bali & Whale Sharks (MOF - DPS) 11N

12 days / 11 nights

About Mari

Spacious vessel accommodating non-divers and families
Flexible cabin configurations with doubles, twins and bunks
Up to four dives a day in Indonesia’s top destinations
Enjoy al fresco dining set to panoramic views of the scenery

Crafted by master boat-builders from Sulawesi, Mari liveaboard offers safe, comfortable, and exciting dive safari voyages throughout the Indonesian Archipelago – including remote regions like Raja Ampat, Cenderawasih Bay, Banda Sea and Triton Bay. With low guest numbers, modest yet contemporary communal areas, and a range of itineraries and destinations, Mari’s remarkable liveaboard adventures represent incredible value for money.

Learn more about Mari

Itinerary details

Length of trip 12 days / 11 nights

Number of dives 33

Experience Open Water - Minimum 30 dives

Insurance Required

Highlights

One-way trip incorporating the best of Maumere, Komodo, and Bali
Meet the mantas of Komodo National Park
Dive into the well-known macro-haven Cannibal Rock
Trek in search of the world's largest lizard, the Komodo dragon
Enjoy the current-swept Lintah Strait
Dive at the foot of an active volcano
Night dives included

Day 1:

The crew will transfer guests from the airport to MARI. After boarding, cabin allocation and ship orientation take place before MARI sets sail. A warm welcome briefing by our cruise director covers safety procedures and what to expect from the days ahead. Guests can familiarize themselves with the vessel and set up their equipment.

Check Dive—A shallow, controlled dive to verify equipment and buoyancy before the expedition begins in earnest.

Days 2:

North of Flores, the volcanic island of Palue rises sharply from the sea. Steep underwater walls draped in gorgonians and soft corals create dramatic vertical landscapes. With patience and keen observation, pygmy seahorses and rare nudibranch species may reveal themselves.

Equipment is secured following the second dive. MARI departs early afternoon for the overnight crossing toward Komodo National Park.

Day 3:

An introduction to Komodo National Park, with two of its most iconic above-water experiences.

Morning: Komodo Dragon Trek—ranger-guided walk across dry savannah terrain in search of Varanus komodoensis, the world's largest lizard.

Pink Beach (Pantai Merah) — Hard coral slopes with reef sharks and anthias clouds. Opportunity for a beach visit between dives.

Makassar Reef (Manta Point) — Sandy feeding lanes where mantas glide above divers on incoming tides.

Siaba Kecil (Mandarin Point) — Calm reef; structured dusk dive for mandarin fish courtship behavior.

Day 4:

Castle Rock—Grey reef sharks, tuna, giant trevallies, and barracuda schools in numbers thick enough to block the light.

Crystal Rock—Submerged pinnacle rising from depth with exceptional visibility. Grey reef sharks, Napoleon wrasse, and dense fish schools congregate around the structure.

The Cauldron (Shotgun) — Exhilarating channel drift; occasional manta sightings.

Gili Lawa Laut—Current-fed pinnacle with strong fish density; reef sharks and schooling pelagics in the blue.

Day 5:

Returning through Central Komodo.

Batu Bolong—Coral-covered pinnacle rising from deep water. Anthias clouds, Napoleon wrasse, grey reef sharks, and giant trevallies dominate the slopes.

Tatawa Besar — Elegant drift dive over pristine coral gardens.

Tatawa Kecil — Vibrant reef with colorful soft corals and schooling fish; ideal for extended bottom time.

Padar Island hike at sunrise or sunset, at the Cruise Director's discretion. One of Indonesia's most photographed panoramas — three crescent bays in different shades of sand, ringed by dry volcanic ridgelines. A short, steep climb that earns its reward.

Day 6:

Remote and wind-swept, Banta lies between Sangeang and Komodo and benefits from strong tidal exchange without always requiring extreme exposure. Its reefs are healthy, vibrant, and often visited by pelagics when conditions align.

GPS Point — A gently sloping reef transitioning into a deeper contour. Grey reef sharks patrol the outer edge, turtles cruise over hard coral terraces, and large schools of fusiliers and snappers gather mid-water.

Star Wars — Named for its dramatic topography, this site features ridges, gullies, and bommies rising from depth. Current lines attract giant trevallies and occasional eagle rays.

Tondok Rasa (East Banta Reef) — A more protected coral slope. Dense anthias clouds hover over branching coral formations, while sweetlips and reef fish schools move across the reef face.

Day 7:

An active volcano dominates the skyline.
Bubble Reef — Volcanic vents release shimmering streams of bubbles across black sand slopes. Nudibranchs, frogfish, mimic octopus.

Hot Rocks — Soft corals and anthias contrasting against dark substrate.

Bonto — Rare macro life including rhinopias and blue-ring octopus.

Day 8:

Angel Reef — Healthy coral slopes with turtles and reef sharks.

Tanjung Pasir — Coral bommies and macro life.

Between dives, guests visit Mata Jitu Waterfall, accessible by tender and short jungle walk.

Panjang Reef — Exposed drift along Moyo's outer wall. Tuna, trevally, and pelagics concentrate along the current line. Dived as an afternoon drift before overnight navigation toward Teluk Saleh.

Day 9:

Early morning arrival in Teluk Saleh. Working closely with local fishermen, we search for the resident whale sharks that gather beneath traditional bagan platforms. Encounters alternate between snorkeling and diving depending on positioning and depth.

A defining highlight of the expedition. Afternoon navigation toward Satonda Island.

Day 10:

A dormant volcanic island with a hypersaline crater lake at its centre and a flying fox colony that lifts from the forest canopy at dusk in a single wave—one of the quieter dramatic moments on any Indonesian liveaboard crossing.

West Wall — Dense soft-coral wall with chromis clouds, reef fish schools, and occasional reef mantas on the southern face.

South Reef — Hard coral gardens at a reliable manta cleaning station.

Topside: short hike to the crater rim overlooking the hypersaline lake.

MARI departs after the night dive for the overnight crossing toward the Gili Islands.

Day 11:

The coral gardens of Lombok's Gili Islands offer a composed final morning underwater before the crossing to Bali.

Shark Point—A current-swept reef on Gili Trawangan's northwest tip. White-tip and black-tip reef sharks patrol the bommies alongside eagle rays and schools of trevally and snapper.

Halik Reef—Barrel sponges and gorgonian fans line the reef from the shallows to 40 m (131 ft). A relaxed drift through coral ridges and canyons—a fitting final dive before Bali.

Equipment is rinsed and stowed following the second dive, respecting recommended no-fly intervals. Overnight navigation toward Serangan, Bali.

Day 12:

Disembarkation after breakfast at Serangan Harbour.

Sample itineraries are for guidance only. Actual itineraries may differ slightly due to factors such as weather, wildlife, logistics and local regulations.