Best Liveaboards in Indonesia: Komodo & Raja Ampat Guide
Indonesia has two liveaboard regions that regularly top every diver's bucket list: Komodo National Park, famous for manta rays and adrenaline-charged currents, and Raja Ampat, the most biodiverse reef system on the planet. Both are best explored from a liveaboard, since the richest sites sit hours from shore and change with the tide.
This guide lists real liveaboards currently bookable on Be Underwater, organized by region, with capacity, number of trips on the calendar, and starting prices per person. Every boat below links to its own page where you can check live departure dates and request a cabin.
Komodo or Raja Ampat: Which Liveaboard Should You Book?
Komodo (departing from Labuan Bajo) is built for drift diving and big animal encounters — manta rays at Manta Point and Karang Makassar, strong currents at Batu Bolong and Castle Rock, and the chance to see Komodo dragons on land between dives. Best season for the northern sites and mantas is roughly June to September, though the park runs trips year-round.
Raja Ampat (departing from Sorong or Waisai) is about sheer numbers of species — the highest reef biodiversity recorded anywhere, calmer water for photography, and iconic sites across the Four Kings, Dampier Strait and Misool. The main season runs October to April, when the Arafura Sea stays calm.
How Liveaboard Prices Work on Be Underwater
Every price marked "from" in this guide is the starting rate per person in a shared cabin, for the shortest or lowest-season trip that boat runs. Prices vary by cabin type, trip length and season — open the boat's page to see the exact departure dates and rates before you book.
Booking is online through Be Underwater, but every reservation goes through a manual approval step with the operator before it is confirmed — this protects you from double-bookings and lets the crew confirm cabin availability for your exact dates.
Best Komodo Liveaboards (From Labuan Bajo)
Komodo liveaboards range from small budget boats to full luxury phinisi schooners, all built around the same core itinerary: Manta Point, Karang Makassar, Batu Bolong, Crystal Rock and Padar Island, usually over 3 to 7 nights.
1. Komodo Aggressor
Part of the well-known Aggressor Fleet, this 16-guest liveaboard is one of the most established operators in Komodo, with 39 scheduled departures — the widest calendar of any boat in this guide. A solid choice if you want proven service standards and flexible dates.
Capacity: 16 guests · Departures: 39 · From: $3,325 per person.
2. Mikumba Dua
A smaller 10-guest boat that shows up often in searches for Mikumba Dua liveaboard — intimate group size, personal attention from the dive crew, and a manageable calendar of 16 departures across the season.
Capacity: 10 guests · Departures: 16 · From: €1,475 per person.
3. Naga Biru
A mid-size 12-guest phinisi with 22 departures on the books, Naga Biru sits in the middle of the Komodo fleet on both size and price — a comfortable, reasonably priced option for groups of friends or small dive clubs.
Capacity: 12 guests · Departures: 22 · From: €1,650 per person.
4. Moana
Moana runs a tighter, more curated calendar — 7 departures for 10 guests — which tends to suit divers who want a specific date range rather than year-round flexibility. Worth checking early since spots sell out faster on boats with fewer trips.
Capacity: 10 guests · Departures: 7 · From: €2,195 per person.
5. Tiare Cruise
A larger 14-guest liveaboard with a busy calendar of 32 departures, Tiare Cruise works well for divers who want a bigger boat with more onboard space and social atmosphere without sacrificing a wide choice of dates.
Capacity: 14 guests · Departures: 32 · From: $4,270 per person.
6. Adishree
Adishree specializes in short trips — a 12-guest boat with only 4 scheduled departures, priced accordingly as the most affordable entry point on this list. A good fit if you only have a long weekend in Labuan Bajo rather than a full week.
Capacity: 12 guests · Departures: 4 (short trips) · From: $948 per person.
7. Uber Scuba Komodo & Maika — Local Budget Options
If you are searching for an Uber Scuba liveaboard, two boats from the same local operation are listed on Be Underwater: Uber Scuba Komodo (11 guests) and Maika (10 guests). Both are locally run, no-frills liveaboards that focus on getting divers to the same Komodo sites as the bigger boats at a lower cost — check each boat's page for pricing on your chosen departure.
Best for: Budget-conscious divers who want the Komodo dive sites without the premium phinisi experience.
Best Raja Ampat Liveaboards (From Sorong & Waisai)
Raja Ampat trips are longer on average than Komodo — most run 7 to 12 nights — since the region covers a much larger area. Typical routes combine Dampier Strait, the Four Kings and, on longer itineraries, Misool in the south.
8. Dewi Nusantara
A 58-meter luxury goleta and the largest, most premium boat in this guide, Dewi Nusantara carries 18 guests across an extensive calendar of 39 departures. Expect top-tier cabins, spacious dive decks and a crew built around long-range Raja Ampat expeditions.
Capacity: 18 guests · Departures: 39 · From: $6,921 per person.
9. Dancing Wind
With 16 guests and 61 scheduled departures — the most of any Raja Ampat boat here — Dancing Wind offers the widest choice of dates for divers planning around a specific travel window.
Capacity: 16 guests · Departures: 61 · From: $3,990 per person.
10. DUNE Aurora
Divers searching for a DUNE Aurora liveaboard will find an 18-guest boat with 35 departures, positioned in the mid-to-upper price range for Raja Ampat — a solid balance of comfort and capacity for larger groups.
Capacity: 18 guests · Departures: 35 · From: $3,095 per person.
11. Sea I See
The largest-capacity boat in this guide at 24 guests, with 88 departures on the calendar — Sea I See runs almost continuously through the season, making it one of the easiest boats to slot into a fixed travel schedule. Also the most affordable Raja Ampat option listed here.
Capacity: 24 guests · Departures: 88 · From: $2,875 per person.
12. Calico Jack
A 10-guest boat with 29 departures, Calico Jack keeps group sizes small for a more personal Raja Ampat trip while still offering a healthy spread of dates across the season.
Capacity: 10 guests · Departures: 29 · From: $3,700 per person.
13. Gaia Love
A 22-guest liveaboard with 10 departures per season, Gaia Love suits larger groups or dive clubs looking to book out a significant share of the boat for a single departure.
Capacity: 22 guests · Departures: 10 · From: $4,480 per person.
14. KLM Gaya Baru Indah
The most budget-friendly Raja Ampat boat in this guide, sailing from Waisai with room for 8 guests across 20 departures — a good option for divers prioritizing price over onboard luxury.
Capacity: 8 guests · Departures: 20 · From: $2,190 per person.
15. Pearl of Papua
A 15-guest boat with 17 departures, Pearl of Papua sits comfortably in the mid-range for Raja Ampat pricing and capacity — a dependable middle-of-the-road choice.
Capacity: 15 guests · Departures: 17 · From: $2,730 per person.
16. Raja Ampat Aggressor
The Aggressor Fleet's Raja Ampat boat brings the same established operating standards as its Komodo sister ship, with 16 guests and 37 departures. A frequent search term for divers who already know and trust the Raja Ampat Aggressor brand from other destinations.
Capacity: 16 guests · Departures: 37 · From: $4,025 per person.
17. Damai I & Damai II — Luxury, Based in Bali
Rather than being based in Raja Ampat or Komodo year-round, Damai I and Damai II sail out of Bali and reposition through the year to cover Komodo, Raja Ampat and Banda Sea itineraries. Both are premium phinisi schooners aimed at divers who want a five-star experience and the flexibility to combine multiple regions on a single, longer trip.
Damai I from: $4,170 per person · Damai II from: $3,675 per person.
Komodo & Raja Ampat Liveaboards Comparison Table
| Boat | Region | Guests | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Komodo Aggressor | Komodo | 16 | $3,325 |
| Mikumba Dua | Komodo | 10 | €1,475 |
| Naga Biru | Komodo | 12 | €1,650 |
| Moana | Komodo | 10 | €2,195 |
| Tiare Cruise | Komodo | 14 | $4,270 |
| Adishree | Komodo | 12 | $948 |
| Dewi Nusantara | Raja Ampat | 18 | $6,921 |
| Dancing Wind | Raja Ampat | 16 | $3,990 |
| DUNE Aurora | Raja Ampat | 18 | $3,095 |
| Sea I See | Raja Ampat | 24 | $2,875 |
| Calico Jack | Raja Ampat | 10 | $3,700 |
| Gaia Love | Raja Ampat | 22 | $4,480 |
| KLM Gaya Baru Indah | Raja Ampat | 8 | $2,190 |
| Pearl of Papua | Raja Ampat | 15 | $2,730 |
| Raja Ampat Aggressor | Raja Ampat | 16 | $4,025 |
| Damai I | Bali / multi-region | — | $4,170 |
| Damai II | Bali / multi-region | — | $3,675 |
Best Season for Komodo vs Raja Ampat Liveaboards
- Komodo (Labuan Bajo): Trips run year-round, but the northern sites and the best manta encounters concentrate around June to September, when nutrient-rich currents peak. Expect cooler water and a wetsuit thicker than 3 mm in these months.
- Raja Ampat (Sorong / Waisai): The main season is October to April, when the Arafura Sea is calmest for the longer crossings between the Four Kings and Misool. Many boats pause operations during the rougher mid-year months.
Because both regions rely on strong currents, Advanced Open Water certification is recommended for most itineraries — some operators require it outright for sites like Karang Makassar or Cape Kri.
How to Book an Indonesia Liveaboard
- Check the cabin type and trip length on each boat's page — the "from" price in this guide is a starting point, not the price for every cabin or every date.
- Book online, get manual approval: Reservations on Be Underwater are confirmed by the operator after you submit your request, so you know a real crew member has checked your cabin and dates before it's locked in.
- Match the trip to your certification level: Komodo and Raja Ampat both involve current diving — review our guide on Komodo's dive sites before choosing a boat if you are newly certified.
- Combine islands if you have time: Longer Raja Ampat trips (10–12 nights) sometimes extend south into the Banda Sea; see our Indonesia dive spots guide for the full country picture.
- Chasing mantas specifically? Both regions rank among the world's top manta destinations — see our manta ray diving destinations guide.
FAQ: Indonesia Liveaboards
Should I choose a Komodo or Raja Ampat liveaboard?
Choose Komodo for manta rays, strong drift diving and shorter, more affordable trips from Labuan Bajo. Choose Raja Ampat for the highest reef biodiversity on the planet, calmer water for photography, and longer, more comprehensive itineraries from Sorong or Waisai.
How much does a liveaboard in Indonesia cost?
Starting prices per person range from roughly $948 for a short Komodo trip on Adishree up to $6,921 for a full luxury Raja Ampat expedition on Dewi Nusantara. Most mid-range boats in both regions start between $2,000 and $4,500 per person, depending on cabin type and trip length.
What certification level do I need?
Open Water divers can join most itineraries, but Advanced Open Water is recommended across both regions because of strong currents at signature sites like Karang Makassar (Komodo) and Cape Kri (Raja Ampat). Some operators require Advanced certification for specific dives.
What is the best time to dive each region?
Komodo runs trips year-round with peak manta activity around June–September. Raja Ampat's main season is October–April, when seas are calmest for the crossings between dive areas.
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