Recommendations for Raja Ampat Liveaboard?

[TostitoBandito]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I'll peruse the suggestions and let you know if I have any questions.

 

[Dan]

Don't forget to bring your reef hook and don't miss Magic Mountain in Misool. @scubaNYC16 was there last week and saw 12 Mantas, First Timer Liveaboard in Raja Ampat - Help Needed

I'll be there next week. Here is a video I shot 5 years ago (17 Jan 2020) when I dove in Magic Mountain. It's simply MAGICAL!

 

[Darnold9999]

Have you been on Blue Manta?

No, but have been on Ambai and Mermaid (steel) as well as Dewi, Damai, Samambia and a couple of others all wood. All excellent choices.

 

[Darnold9999]

I would second that you want local guides NOT an expat doing the rounds of liveaboards in the area. A local knows the life intimately, the expat may or may not. My experience has been mixed, but mostly not great.

 

[TostitoBandito]

We just booked the Blue Manta in January 2026, 10 nights in Raja Ampat/Misool. Gonna be wild. Thanks again for all the feedback and info.

 

[Dan]

We just booked the Blue Manta in January 2026, 10 nights in Raja Ampat/Misool. Gonna be wild. Thanks again for all the feedback and info.

Good choice Say hi to Cedric for me if he’ll be your cruise director.

Hopefully you’ll see what I saw last year and more with Blue Manta.

 

[scubaNYC16]

We just booked the Blue Manta in January 2026, 10 nights in Raja Ampat/Misool. Gonna be wild. Thanks again for all the feedback and info.

Awesome boat and crew, you will love it. It’s huge and very stable. We hit a pretty nasty passing storm on the crossing to Misool and barely felt anything. I would not want to be on one of those wood boats in rough seas.

 

[John Starmer]

Hello all,

Never been to Indonesia and it's been on my list for a long time. I'd like to start with Raja Ampat as I think it's got the best combination of critters I'd like to see and the ease of diving (compared to say, Komodo).

Anyways, I haven't done a liveaboard in a number of years and have zero experience with them in Indonesia. Our budget is probably on the mid-high end. I'm familiar with the Aggressors since they're all over the world, but I know that some can be very good and others... not so much. I see that there's a number of other boats in Raja Ampat in the same price ballpark (or slightly higher) as well, so I'm open to any recommendations. Priorities for us are good staff and divemasters, good food/service, and ideally a smaller guest count (like under 20 for sure). Probably looking at a 7 night itinerary, sometime in the January-March 2026 timeframe.

Thanks in advance!

"Priorities for us are good staff and divemasters, good food/service, and ideally a smaller guest count (like under 20 for sure)"

"Our budget is probably on the mid-high end."

Sounds like you'll have a great time going with La Galigo there. They have a really good cook (check their Google Review). Their divemasters are also the best, Raja, Ambat, Jacob etc are the best ones I've had in the region. Also, a great option if you're looking for a mid-high end budget. Here's their website: Raja Ampat Liveaboard.