Ratu Laut Liveaboard, Indonesia

Diving onboard and itineraries

Ratu Laut offers up to four dives per day, including a sunset or night dive depending on the itinerary and conditions. Diving is run from a spacious dive deck and two custom tenders, with individual gear storage, rental equipment, camera rinse tanks and a charging station. Dive groups are kept small, with a typical 4:1 guest-to-guide ratio, and guiding is supported by the experienced local dive guides and marine biologists. Nitrox is not available.

Ratu Laut operates two main Raja Ampat itineraries - North and Central Raja Ampat, and South and Central Raja Ampat. North and Central routes explore Mioskon, Kawe, Wayag, Aljui Bay, Gam, Arborek, the Fam Islands and the Dampier Strait, visiting sites such as Melissa’s Garden, My Reef, Batu Rufus, Eagle Rock, Black Rocks, White Arrow, Barracuda Lompat, Channel #5, Mayhem, Citrus Ridge, Arborek Jetty, Cape Kri, Sardine Reef, Chicken Reef and Blue Magic. These itineraries offer a mix of manta cleaning stations, current-swept reefs, jetty dives, macro hunting and dramatic island scenery.

South and Central Raja Ampat routes add Misool’s remote reefs and seamounts to the sites in central Dampier Strait and Fam Islands. Dive sites may include Barracuda Rock, Four Kings, Whale Rock, Shadow Reef, Eagle’s Nest Pinnacle, Juliet Kecil, Boo Windows, Boo East, Melissa’s Garden, Cape Kri, Sardine Reef, Chicken Reef and Blue Magic. Divers can expect colourful hard and soft coral reefs, abundant marine life, wobbegong sharks, turtles, pygmy seahorses, macro life and seasonal manta encounters, with sites chosen around the tides, currents and conditions.

Diving in Raja Ampat, Indonesia

Indonesia sits at the heart of the Coral Triangle and offers some of the most varied diving on the planet, from manta cleaning stations and current-swept reefs to macro sites, volcanic seascapes, wrecks and remote islands. The country’s best-known liveaboard destinations include Raja Ampat, Komodo, the Banda Sea, Alor and other remote regions spread across the Indonesian archipelago.

Ratu Laut is based in Raja Ampat year round, and is an ideal option for divers who want a small, sociable boat with strong educational value. Raja Ampat is particularly known for its exceptional reef biodiversity, manta rays, endemic species, karst island scenery and some of Indonesia’s most fish-filled reefs, making Ratu Laut a good match for guests who want to combine classic diving Raja Ampat with a deeper understanding of the marine environment.

Learn more about diving in Raja Ampat here.

ZuBlu’s dive travel experts will help you book your trip onboard Ratu Laut, helping you choose your preferred cabin type, itinerary, equipment rental, transfers and any special requests. Share your travel dates, group size, diving experience and budget, and we’ll recommend the best options for your trip.

We’ll also help with practical travel planning, including flight routes, arrival timings, embarkation details and transfers, making sure your itinerary works as smoothly as possible from start to finish.
Once you’ve finalised your plans, your travel expert will put a complimentary hold on your preferred cabin and send a final quote that includes accommodation, meals, diving, transfers, rental equipment, port fees or other extras. This quote will also show any costs paid in advance or onboard - there are no hidden fees - as well as a payment schedule and cancellation terms and conditions.

Your booking is confirmed once the required deposit, or full payment when necessary, has been received.

After confirmation, your dedicated guest concierge will take over and assist with flight routes, transfers, any personal information required by the liveaboard, and questions about your reservation. They are there to make the entire process as straightforward as possible.

Ready to start planning your trip? Chat with a travel expert now.

Looking for more information about liveaboards in Indonesia? Read more in our guide here.

Getting there

Guests usually fly into Domine Eduard Osok Airport in Sorong, with domestic connections via major Indonesian hubs such as Jakarta, Makassar or Bali.

Guests meet at 08:00 in Sorong in the morning before transferring to the harbour and taking the public ferry to Waisai on Waigeo Island at 09:00, before boarding Ratu Laut. Airport or hotel transfers may be included, but the exact pickup point and transfers should be confirmed for the specific departure.

Because ferry schedules and domestic flights, ideally guests should plan to arrive in Sorong one day before embarkation. Departure timing should also be checked carefully before booking flights, as guests will use the ferry service to head back to Sorong.

Other activities

Itineraries on Ratu Laut normally include island walks, visits to beaches and villages, viewpoint visits such as Piaynemo, manta ID activities, marine biology presentations and conservation-focused activities such as beach clean-ups or even crown-of-thorns starfish control if needed.

Kayaks and SUP boards are available, and snorkelling equipment and snorkelling guidance are included. Non-divers and snorkellers can enjoy Raja Ampat’s reefs and island scenery, but suitability will depend on the route, currents and daily conditions.

Good to know

• WiFi - Internet is not available onboard.
• Mobile coverage - Coverage is limited and unreliable in remote Raja Ampat.
• Electricity - Charging stations are available onboard.
• Plug type - To be confirmed before travel.
• Payments on board - Extra costs may include marine park and harbour fees, alcoholic drinks, soft drinks, dive gear rental, courses and gratuities.
• Currency - Indonesian rupiah is used locally; some liveaboard extras may be quoted in USD.
• Time zone - Raja Ampat operates on Eastern Indonesia Time, UTC+9.
• Nitrox - Not available.
• Bathrooms - Cabins use shared bathroom facilities.
• Marine park fees - Raja Ampat marine park and harbour clearance fees are normally extra.
• Insurance - Dive insurance is required and travel insurance strongly recommended for liveaboard travel.
• Courses - PADI Advanced Open Water and Reef Check Eco Diver courses may be available on selected departures.
• Solo travellers - Shared cabins are available, usually allocated on a same-sex basis where possible.