









Indonesia · Liveaboard★ 5
from USD 1,650 / person
Plan this trip with AI →Welcome aboard the Epica, a budget-friendly liveaboard that takes you deep into the stunning underwater realms of Indonesia. With itineraries that explore the breathtaking Raja Ampat region, you can expect thrilling dives at rocky overhangs and pinnacles, where the currents promise exhilarating experiences. The chance to encounter remarkable marine life, including wobbegong sharks, giant mantas, and tiny pygmy seahorses, makes each dive unforgettable.
Onboard, you’ll find basic yet comfortable cabins, perfect for resting between dives. The Epica accommodates up to 4 guests, ensuring a cozy and intimate atmosphere. With full board accommodation, including freshly prepared meals and light snacks, you’ll be well-fueled for your diving adventures. Plus, with 3 to 4 guided dives each day, you’ll have ample opportunity to explore the vibrant underwater world. Join us on the Epica for an incredible diving journey in one of the most biodiverse regions on the planet!
Meet up in front of the tourist information centre in Waisai at 11am where we will board the Epica. If you would like to be picked up in Sorong (VIP transfer), we meet you between 7.30 and 8.00 in the morning at the Je Meridien Hotel just next to the airport. Safety Briefing, Crew Introduction, Necessary Dive Paperwork, Cabin allocation and ship orientation will take place before departing the Harbour. During the journey to our first dive site for a check dive, please take this opportunity to familiarize yourselves with the vessel and make yourself comfortable. After lunch depart to the first dive site in central Raja Ampat. The check dive is usually at Friwen Bonda, a beautiful reef teeming with colourful fish. Please Note: This is a sample itinerary and nº of dives, dive sites, etc. may be subject to change due to weather conditions and other unforseeable factors
4 dives Raja Ampat is littered with tiny villages that feature rugged wooden jetties. Among the coral encrusted pylons, you find a dazzling amount of sergeant majors, snappers and sweetlips gently swaying in the clear water. Possible dive sites We start the day with a drift dive at Sardine or Chicken Reef. Both sites are seamounts with a shallow top that gently slopes down to about 30m. Schools of snappers, fusiliers and surgeonfish provide a snack for pelagic predators such as barracuda, giant trevallies or reef sharks. As we slowly move towards Arborek Island we explore the south side of Pulau Mensuar where two spectacular jetty dives wait for us at Yenbuba and Sawandarek village. The latter is also a cleaning station for sea turtles. A land visit at Arborek gives you a chance to meander through the picturesque village and watch a fiery sunset on the white sandy beach. We conclude the day with a night dive at Arborek jetty.
3 dives Whether you climb on top of a hill to admire the stunning view of Piaynemo or plunge into the depths of the underwater realm, it’s not just the destination, but also the journey that changes your perspective of the world. For the first dive we visit well known Manta Sandy, a cleaning station for reef mantas. While enjoying our big breakfast we cross over to the Piaynemo area where we dive Melissa’s Garden, named after the pioneer Max Ammer’s daughter. Batu Rufas - dive site number three - is on the east side of Piaynemo and features a very photogenic submerged arch. We conclude our day with a trip to the iconic viewpoint at Piaynemo. 341 steps lead to a platform where we can observe one of nature’s most artistic designs. The spectacular view is composed of turquoise sea framed by jungle where a handful of karst islets jut dramatically out from the calm surface of the lagoon.
3 dives For day four we stay in the neighbourhood. Fam provides some awesome, fishy dives that simply cannot be missed. We start our day at My Reef where we play with massive aggregations of schooling fishes like fusiliers, jacks and snappers. The top of the seamount lies at 12m and is a popular chillout place for the tasselled Wobbegong shark. Moving on to Kerou Channel we hope for current! The spectacular drift dive rushes us past a rich, coral covered reef where huge sea fans hold on for dear life feeding on the current. But don’t worry – there are also some sheltered areas where we can search for pygmy seahorses, nudibranchs and other colourful reef critters. On the northside of Piaynemo lies Barracuda Point, where we do our last dive of the day before crossing over to Pulau Yanggefo for the night.
4 dives On our fifth day we swim side by side with massive aggregations of fish gathering around completely submerged reefs. One of our favourite pastimes is watching them hunt. A morning dive at Citrus Ridge is a sure way to put a smile on your face. Teeming with fish the reef is coated in yellow and orange soft coral creating a fresh and happy backdrop for large schools of barracudas, playful sharks and hungry tunas. We follow up with Mayhem where the name of the dive site says it all. Heading back towards Arborek we stop at Lalosi for dive number three. For all those who have missed browsing through seagrass and sand looking for small creatures, welcome to our favourite night dive site. The muck dive at Saporkren is full of surprises. From seahorses, to flamboyant cuttlefish, to swimming wobbegongs – a spectacular dive is almost guaranteed.
3 dives This is the last full day to show off the biodiversity in Raja Ampat. We chose lush, healthy reefs in the Dampier Strait, that foster a large number of species. From pygmy seahorses to mantis shrimp to sharks – chances are we see them all. Depending on the tide we start our day at Sardine or Chicken Reef. On the eastern tip of Pulau Kri lies the famous Cape Kri, record holder for the most fish species found in one dive. Our third and last dive of the day is at Mioskon, also called “Bat Island” because of its residential fruit bat population. At dusk they fly to the bigger islands to snack on fruit and return at dawn to settle in the trees for the day. The sunset can be enjoyed on the white sandy beach of Mioskon with a cold beer in your hand. If you’re lucky and weather permits – there will be a beach BBQ later on!
1 dives on the last day The last day starts early. Really. But it’s worth it, trust us. We try to be the first to jump at Blue Magic, a cleaning station for oceanic mantas. The dive site can be a wee bit ‘currenty’. But while you cling to a rock and your jaw is locked tightly around your regs and you leave a horizontal stream of bubbles behind you, hundreds of schooling jacks, grey reef sharks, spanish mackerel and hopefully a few graceful mantas will make it all worthwhile. The last dive will be finished by 10 am at the latest. Back on board, we gently prepare you for your departure. This includes a debriefing, delicious food, a group photo and plenty of time to gather your items while pondering how your belongings ever fit in your backpack when you left home. After lunch we say our tearful goodbyes and drop you off at the harbour – hoping the goodbye is not forever! Diving will be finished by 10am or earlier. If you are returning to Sorong the same day, you will be ready to board the ferry by 2pm. Expected arrival in Sorong is 4pm.
Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the date you plan to return home from your trip It is your responsibility to review and meet the vaccination requirements and visa/immigration requirements for the countries you're visiting Dive accident insurance (to include medical evacuation) is mandatory for everyone who dives: it's your responsibility to have adequate cover in place and to bring your certificate as proof All diving passengers must provide their dive certification card and their logbook: you will be unable to dive unless you can prove you meet the boat's minimum certification level Dive computers are mandatory: please bring your own or arrange with us in advance to rent one Please remember it is your responsibility to ensure you are fit to dive: some liveaboards require you to produce a medical certificate, often dated under two years or under a year, proving you can dive safely Itinerary and number of dives are indicative and subject to weather conditions and may change in advance, and during, your trip - safety will always come first. Itinerary changes do not give you the right to cancel your trip Taxes, levies, or surcharges, if applicable, are indicated in the Online Booking System during the checkout process for informational purposes. Supplements, government taxes, marine park fees, fuel surcharges, harbour fees, rental equipment and other upgrades or surcharges are subject to change at any time pre-booking or post-booking. These changes can be driven by local conditions, extreme weather, changes to government policy, operator decisions, oil prices, or other factors. Changes are outside PADI Travel's control and travelers are responsible to pay any increases. A change in these fees or surcharges does not grant travelers the right to cancel a reservation or dispute the surcharges. We recommend you buy travel and trip cancellation insurance (to include storm coverage where appropriate) Ensure you bring suitable electrical adaptors for the country or countries you are visiting In case of a rescheduled booking or a rebooking to a new dive operator, any payments made for the original booking are non-refundable. Beyond that the cancellation terms apply. Travelers are responsible to be aware of covid travel guidelines, local rules, and procedures for the country they are travelling to and to maintain up to date knowledge of any changes regarding entry requirements or local guidelines. Changes with regard to entry requirements to a country are outside of the control of PADI Travel. As such, customers do not have the right to cancel or seek reimbursement if unable to travel due to any updates to a country's entry requirement, airline flights, or other similar situations. PADI Travel Packages do not include travel insurance. PADI Travel strongly recommends that travelers purchase travel insurance. The Service Provider has the right to operate outside of the standard terms and conditions set out in the booking for rescheduled trips. Standard cancellation policies will not apply to rescheduled trips. The Service Provider reserves the right to make any amendments to booked packages prior to trip dates or during trip dates due to, but not limited to, covid related issues or changing restrictions.
Before your trip Meet at Meridian Hotel in Sorong at 7am, here you will get your Park Pass Then taken to Waisai via ferry, there you will board the boat. It is reccomended to arrive in Sorong the day before incase any flight delays After the trip Its recommended to buy flight tickets out the next day after arrival. Dive staff will arrange cars to drop you off at your hotel. Arrival is 4:30pm
| Date | nights | from | Spots |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 18, 2026 – Oct 26, 2026 | 8 | USD 2,395 | — |
| Oct 28, 2026 – Nov 3, 2026 | 6 | USD 1,750 | 5 left |
| Nov 5, 2026 – Nov 11, 2026 | 6 | USD 1,750 | 8 left |
| Nov 13, 2026 – Nov 19, 2026 | 6 | USD 1,750 | — |
| Nov 21, 2026 – Nov 27, 2026 | 6 | USD 1,750 | 7 left |
| Nov 29, 2026 – Dec 5, 2026 | 6 | USD 1,750 | 10 left |
| Dec 7, 2026 – Dec 13, 2026 | 6 | USD 1,750 | 12 left |
| Dec 15, 2026 – Dec 21, 2026 | 6 | USD 1,750 | 12 left |
| Dec 22, 2026 – Dec 28, 2026 | 6 | USD 1,750 | 12 left |
| Dec 30, 2026 – Jan 5, 2027 | 6 | USD 1,750 | 7 left |
| Jan 9, 2027 – Jan 15, 2027 | 6 | USD 1,750 | 12 left |
| Jan 17, 2027 – Jan 23, 2027 | 6 | USD 1,750 | 11 left |
| Jan 31, 2027 – Feb 6, 2027 | 6 | USD 1,750 | 12 left |
| Feb 8, 2027 – Feb 14, 2027 | 6 | USD 1,750 | 3 left |
| Feb 16, 2027 – Feb 22, 2027 | 6 | USD 1,750 | 11 left |
| Feb 24, 2027 – Mar 2, 2027 | 6 | USD 1,750 | 12 left |
| Mar 6, 2027 – Mar 12, 2027 | 6 | USD 1,750 | 12 left |
| Mar 14, 2027 – Mar 20, 2027 | 6 | USD 1,750 | 12 left |
| Mar 24, 2027 – Mar 30, 2027 | 6 | USD 1,750 | 12 left |
| Apr 1, 2027 – Apr 7, 2027 | 6 | USD 1,750 | 12 left |
| Apr 9, 2027 – Apr 15, 2027 | 6 | USD 1,750 | 12 left |
| Apr 17, 2027 – Apr 23, 2027 | 6 | USD 1,750 | 12 left |
| Apr 27, 2027 – May 3, 2027 | 6 | USD 1,750 | 12 left |
| May 5, 2027 – May 11, 2027 | 6 | USD 1,750 | 12 left |
| May 13, 2027 – May 19, 2027 | 6 | USD 1,750 | 12 left |
| May 23, 2027 – May 29, 2027 | 6 | USD 1,750 | 12 left |
| May 31, 2027 – Jun 6, 2027 | 6 | USD 1,750 | 12 left |
| Aug 7, 2027 – Aug 13, 2027 | 6 | USD 1,750 | 12 left |
| Aug 15, 2027 – Aug 21, 2027 | 6 | USD 1,750 | 12 left |
| Aug 23, 2027 – Aug 29, 2027 | 6 | USD 1,750 | 12 left |
| Sep 2, 2027 – Sep 8, 2027 | 6 | USD 1,750 | 12 left |
| Sep 10, 2027 – Sep 16, 2027 | 6 | USD 1,750 | 12 left |
| Sep 18, 2027 – Sep 24, 2027 | 6 | USD 1,750 | 12 left |
| Sep 26, 2027 – Oct 2, 2027 | 6 | USD 1,750 | 12 left |
| Oct 4, 2027 – Oct 10, 2027 | 6 | USD 1,750 | 12 left |
| Oct 14, 2027 – Oct 20, 2027 | 6 | USD 1,750 | 12 left |
| Oct 22, 2027 – Oct 28, 2027 | 6 | USD 1,750 | 12 left |
| Oct 30, 2027 – Nov 5, 2027 | 6 | USD 1,750 | 12 left |
| Nov 9, 2027 – Nov 15, 2027 | 6 | USD 1,750 | 12 left |
| Nov 17, 2027 – Nov 23, 2027 | 6 | USD 1,750 | 12 left |
| Nov 25, 2027 – Dec 1, 2027 | 6 | USD 1,750 | 12 left |
| Dec 5, 2027 – Dec 11, 2027 | 6 | USD 1,750 | 12 left |
| Dec 13, 2027 – Dec 19, 2027 | 6 | USD 1,750 | 12 left |
| Dec 21, 2027 – Dec 27, 2027 | 6 | USD 1,750 | 12 left |
| Dec 29, 2027 – Jan 4, 2028 | 6 | USD 1,750 | 12 left |
Safety Briefing, Crew Introduction, Necessary Dive Paperwork, Cabin allocation and ship orientation will take place before departing the Harbour. During the journey to our first dive site for a check dive, please take this opportunity to familiarize yourselves with the vessel and make yourself comfortable. Please Note: This is a sample itinerary and nº of dives, dive sites, etc. may be subject to change due to weather conditions and other unforseeable factors
Raja Ampat is famous for its coral reefs and marine biodiversity The exploration trips are unique adventures. The experienced Raja Ampat guides will take you off the beaten path in search of the next great discovery in this world-famous diving destination. During these trips you will be looking for new dive sites, testing some theories, and trying out new ideas. This is the perfect trip for the experienced Raja diver looking for something new or the diver with a strong sense of adventure and interest in doing things differently. This itinerary is not fixed and subject to change spontaneously, but along our journey we’ll hit a few of our favourite sites and aim to make at least 17 dives in and around the Dampier Strait islands.
1 dive on the last day
Unfortunately our trip has come to an end and we have to say goodbye, but we hope to see you again soon!
Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the date you plan to return home from your trip It is your responsibility to review and meet the vaccination requirements and visa/immigration requirements for the countries you're visiting Dive accident insurance (to include medical evacuation) is mandatory for everyone who dives: it's your responsibility to have adequate cover in place and to bring your certificate as proof All diving passengers must provide their dive certification card and their logbook: you will be unable to dive unless you can prove you meet the boat's minimum certification level Dive computers are mandatory: please bring your own or arrange with us in advance to rent one Please remember it is your responsibility to ensure you are fit to dive: some liveaboards require you to produce a medical certificate, often dated under two years or under a year, proving you can dive safely Itinerary and number of dives are indicative and subject to weather conditions and may change in advance, and during, your trip - safety will always come first. Itinerary changes do not give you the right to cancel your trip Taxes, levies, or surcharges, if applicable, are indicated in the Online Booking System during the checkout process for informational purposes. Supplements, government taxes, marine park fees, fuel surcharges, harbour fees, rental equipment and other upgrades or surcharges are subject to change at any time pre-booking or post-booking. These changes can be driven by local conditions, extreme weather, changes to government policy, operator decisions, oil prices, or other factors. Changes are outside PADI Travel's control and travelers are responsible to pay any increases. A change in these fees or surcharges does not grant travelers the right to cancel a reservation or dispute the surcharges. We recommend you buy travel and trip cancellation insurance (to include storm coverage where appropriate) Ensure you bring suitable electrical adaptors for the country or countries you are visiting In case of a rescheduled booking or a rebooking to a new dive operator, any payments made for the original booking are non-refundable. Beyond that the cancellation terms apply. Travelers are responsible to be aware of covid travel guidelines, local rules, and procedures for the country they are travelling to and to maintain up to date knowledge of any changes regarding entry requirements or local guidelines. Changes with regard to entry requirements to a country are outside of the control of PADI Travel. As such, customers do not have the right to cancel or seek reimbursement if unable to travel due to any updates to a country's entry requirement, airline flights, or other similar situations. PADI Travel Packages do not include travel insurance. PADI Travel strongly recommends that travelers purchase travel insurance. The Service Provider has the right to operate outside of the standard terms and conditions set out in the booking for rescheduled trips. Standard cancellation policies will not apply to rescheduled trips. The Service Provider reserves the right to make any amendments to booked packages prior to trip dates or during trip dates due to, but not limited to, covid related issues or changing restrictions.
For itineraries starting or ending in Waisai, guests should check the ferry schedule between Sorong and Waisai in advance, as timings may change without prior notice. Depending on your flight times, it may be necessary to arrive in Sorong one day earlier and/or plan to depart one day later. The ferry is operated by Belibis Group, and the latest schedule is available on their official Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/belibis.group The ferry journey takes about 2 hours. Tickets can usually be purchased at the terminal on the day of departure. Taxis are available from Sorong Airport to the ferry terminal Dive computer is mandatory Bring your own din/int adaptor As domestic flights in Indonesia are known to be unreliable we recommend that you plan to arrive the day before and plan to leave the day after. A refresher dive is mandatory if you have less than 30 dives and haven’t dived in the last 12 months. If you have 30 dives or more, a refresher is required if more than 24 months have gone without diving. With very experienced divers (100+ dives) will be evaluated the need for a refresher case by case.
★ 53 guest reviews
★ 5 · Fabian Zoia · 2024-12-11My first liveaboard - and I already know that it will be one of the great adventures of my life. Raja Ampat is a jewel, a treasure that will hopefully be preserved through its exemplary ecotourism and conservation To the liveaboard: It was all FABULOUS! Super relaxed atmosphere, brand new dive gear, safe and exciting dives with the lovely guides Otis, Rickson and co, all briefed by the super friendly and experienced cruise manager Brad. This team makes the difference, they are super organized and highly relaxed, and know every corner of this unique underwater world. There is not enough space here to list everything you can see down there. An explosion of colors, shapes and senses. Swarms of different fish, coral patches like Melissa's Garden that seem to come from another world. The boat is in perfect condition, clean and spartan. No huge rooms, but either way you are constantly either on deck, where you can chill out on cushions and mattresses, or under water. P.S.: Thanks also to the crew members who work in the background and to the formidable cook - the food was delicious!
★ 5 · Hannah Kalenius · 2024-06-27The best diving experience we’ve ever had. So much life in Raja Ampat. We took the Advanced Open Water course during the week and are so happy about that. Our instructor Brad was very professional and made us feel confident and safe underwater. Would definately recommend Epica to everyone. Thank you Brad and the rest of the crew for this experience! /Hannah & David
★ 5 · Luisa Gastambide · 2018-08-03Boat, Crew and Service are great! I wanted some more action in Raja Ampat, but we stayed in some safe diving spots due to more beginner divers in the boat, which is reasonable as the crew wanted to keep everyone safe. I strongly recommend Epica and Scuba Republic.
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