Liveaboard advice Raja Ampat

[billt4sf]

2020? When the Hell is that? I guess it's later than I think!

 

[OrcaBoy87]

Very nice!

Does anyone have experience with the Samambaia liveaboard? It seems to have great value for money, but there are barely any reviews.

I just did RA with them from xmas 2017 to new year 2018. The trip covers south RA, then cruise to north, then back to central RA, with some land excursion in the middle of the trip. Dives were conducted professionally, food is extremely good, they even offer to do laundry for free. The price might be a bit high, but consider that they provide free nitrox, comfortable stay and friendly crews, i think it's worth every single bucks! I would like to do banda sea with them in october but they are fully booked for 2018 and 2019...sad...

 

[Dan]

Hello,

I'm trying to decide which liveaboard to choose, probably for October/november 2018 (I know, still a long time away). I would like to include Misool Area in the trip. Is the weather ok around this time? Many liveaboards seem to focus on Raja Ampat in December.

Some liveaboards I've been looking at:
Raja Ampat Agressor
MV Putri Papua
MV Raja Ampat Explorer
MV ****kira
Pearl of Papua

Any recommendations?

Thanks in advance!

I looked at MV Putri Papua for Dec 24, 2019 - Jan 3, 2020 (11 days) here: Putri Papua. $3150 / person for 11 days is a good price for Raja Ampat.

Another good feature is it has 5 cabins for 9 guest. I like small group. Also, there is a room for single for the same price. So, I booked the room! This will be my 7th time in Raja Ampat.

I’ve been with Grand Komodo fleet Raja Ampat Liveaboard Diving, also Komodo, Alor, other Indonesia before (with MV ****kira for Raja Ampat, MV Tarata for Komodo twice) and pretty happy with the operation. So, I figure I give Putri Papua a whirl. After all, it’ll be in Raja Ampat.

Anyone wants to join me?

 

[BDSC]

When I die I want to come back as Dan_T !

 

[Dan]

When I die I want to come back as Dan_T !

Like @billt4sf I haven’t got tired of Raja Ampat, yet.

 

[Dan]

We are looking at October 2018, Blue Manta leaves on oct 2th and returns Oct 30th. Like what I am reading but wish there were some reviews here. Have you looked at them? Sounded crazy planning this far out till I looked but many boats are already full. Bill

Bill, I’m in the process of booking Blue Manta about a year after yours, 9-19 September 2019. Trying to round up a group of 6 for a group rate that I can split equally amongst us. I have 4 so far. Looking for 2 more, as I posted here: Alor ? Best of Indo

Let us know what you think about Blue Manta after you come back from your trip in October.

Thanks
Dan

 

[Dan]

....I would like to do banda sea with them in october but they are fully booked for 2018 and 2019...sad...

I like to go to Banda too, especially the Ring of Fire trip from Maumere to Ambon, passing through Alor & Banda. Another alternative is going there with Blue Manta. I’m planning to do that next year, 9-19 September 2019, as posted here:
Alor ? Best of Indo Blue Manta offers a free of charge (FOC) if I can bring 5 divers to go with me. I got 3 so far. I’m looking for 2 more divers to join me so we can split the FOC equally amongst the group of 6. Basically, each of us would pay 5/6 of the trip.

 

[OrcaBoy87]

I like to go to Banda too, especially the Ring of Fire trip from Maumere to Ambon, passing through Alor & Banda. Another alternative is going there with Blue Manta. I’m planning to do that next year, 9-19 September 2019, as posted here:
Alor ? Best of Indo Blue Manta offers a free of charge (FOC) if I can bring 5 divers to go with me. I got 3 so far. I’m looking for 2 more divers to join me so we can split the FOC equally amongst the group of 6. Basically, each of us would pay 5/6 of the trip.

thanks for asking but I will give it a pass. I plan to go next year too, but will aim late Sept-early Oct to increase chances of the sighting. Cheers and good luck!

 

[Dan]

thanks for asking but I will give it a pass. I plan to go next year too, but will aim late Sept-early Oct to increase chances of the sighting. Cheers and good luck!

Thanks for letting me know. I’ll post a trip report about it if the trip is a go.

Late Sept - early October may increase chances of sighting (of hammerheads, I assume that’s what you are referring to). My plan B is to consider going with Mermaid I in October if the Blue Manta is not a go. It’s older boat, less luxurious, smaller cabins & more expensive since I need to book it as individuals instead of as a group, as they don’t do group booking for biodiversity special trip such as this.

 

[OrcaBoy87]

Thanks for letting me know. I’ll post a trip report about it if the trip is a go.

Late Sept - early October may increase chances of sighting (of hammerheads, I assume that’s what you are referring to). My plan B is to consider going with Mermaid I in October if the Blue Manta is not a go. It’s older boat, less luxurious, smaller cabins & more expensive since I need to book it as individuals instead of as a group, as they don’t do group booking for biodiversity special trip such as this.

Yep hammerhead
I am looking at Mermaid and Ambai, both do late sept 2019 at ring of fire, but both are quite pricey...likely will decide whether to book by end of this month.