Liveaboard Diving in Indonesia

Indonesia liveaboad diving offers some of the best scuba diving in the world. Over 17,000 remote islands are only accessible by liveaboard, this famous Coral Triangle is a divers’ paradise. Dive cruises here on yachts White Manta Explorer and Blue Manta Explorer are exotic and enchanting.

Choose from itineraries in Raja Ampat, Triton Bay, Banda Sea, Sangalaki, Halmahera, Lembeh Strait, the Gulf of Tomini, Komodo, and Alor. Or try them all (you’ll want to visit more than once anyway)! With over 50,000 square miles of islands and reefs, 580 kinds of coral, and 1,397 species of fish including big pelagics and weird and wonderful macro life, there is something to wow everyone. Join us to discover Indonesia.

Indonesia liveaboard diving adventures

Diving Highlights

The Coral Triangle has several world-famous diving regions.
What you can see depends on the region you choose!
4 dives a day, weather permitting.
Famously vibrant reefs of soft and hard corals.
Exhilarating drift dives, deep drop-offs, and shallow lagoons.
Fascinating night and muck dives.
Rare macro life like pigmy sea horses, mantis shrimp, and more.
Whale sharks, manta rays, mola-molas, and seasonal hammerheads.
Countless species of unique reef fish, octopuses, turtles, and rays.

Liveaboard Itineraries

Indonesia, the Holy Grail for scuba divers, is an epicenter of diversity. The Coral Triangle contains 17% of the worlds’ reefs and 80% of the world’s marine species. From pigmy sea horses to the majestic whale shark, photographers will easily overload their memory cards. Depending on the Indonesia liveaboard diving itinerary, your dives could entail exploring shallow waters, drifting along drop-offs, or meandering in black sand lagoons. Regardless of where you dive, you’ll see some of the world’s most incredible sites filled with soft and hard corals, rare fauna, reef sharks, manta rays, bump-head parrotfishes, wobbegong, silversides, and more. You may even spot a Komodo dragon or two! Choose from several diving areas:

Package Overview

  • 7 to 12-day itineraries in multiple unique regions
  • Up to 4 dives daily (18-33 dives depending on itinerary)
  • Accommodation, delicious meals, snacks, and beverages
  • Around the clock service from a friendly and experienced crew
  • Onboard diving amenities; Nitrox and rental equipment additional
  • Great for intermediate to advanced divers
  • Round trip transfers from local airports and select hotels
  • Excellent value – see pricing

Guaranteed Single Occupancy is billed an additional 20% of the retail stateroom price.

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Photos and Video Galleries

Underwater in the Banda Sea
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About Manta X

Scuba diving in Indonesia

Launching in November 2026 in partnership with White Manta Diving, the Manta X is the newest addition to the Explorer Ventures Fleet Indonesia lineup. Designed for spacious, high-end liveaboard diving experiences, the 41m steel vessel combines modern comfort with the attentive service and professional operations that define diving in Indonesia.

From 2026–2027, Manta X will accommodate up to 20 guests across 12 spacious en-suite cabins, including two Upper Deck Master Suites. Onboard features include expansive indoor and outdoor lounge spaces, a dedicated camera room with 12 workstations, a spacious dive deck, Nitrox capabilities, and chef-prepared Western and Asian cuisine. With up to 20 crew members onboard and diving conducted in small groups, guests can expect attentive service both above and below the water.

Manta X itineraries will explore some of Indonesia’s most sought-after diving regions, including Raja Ampat, Misool, Komodo, Alor, Banda Sea, Ambon, and the Forgotten Islands. Routes may vary seasonally and are subject to operational and weather considerations.

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Personalized Service

With up to 20 crew members onboard, Manta X is designed around a high crew-to-guest ratio that allows for attentive and personalized service throughout each itinerary.

The onboard team includes captains and deck officers, engineers, dive guides, chefs, hostesses, dinghy drivers, and cruise leadership staff working together to deliver a seamless liveaboard experience both above and below the water.

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About White Manta Explorer

Scuba diving in Indonesia

Accommodations on White Manta Explorer include fourteen beautifully furnished en-suite staterooms averaging 215 sqft (20 sqm). The substantial staterooms provide modern lodging for up to 24 guests, of which 6 can be available for single occupancy. Matched with a number of amenities, including 24-hour satellite WIFI connection (at an extra cost), a spacious sundeck (equipped with long chairs and comfortable double day-beds), and two dining areas – a popular outdoor alfresco area and an indoor air-conditioned room for finer dining – you're ensured the onboard ambiance of a world-class dive holiday. In addition, chef-prepared meals will feature a blend of Western and Asian cuisine and with no less than 4 gourmet meals a day, you will be satisfied with an extensive range of flavors to delight your taste buds. 

Built with intention, White Manta Explorer's dive deck is sizeable and comfortable. You'll find a large dedicated camera room with charging stations, an outdoor workstation, and a full range of rental equipment. Diving is also conducted in small groups meaning attentive and personalized service. With a total of 20 crew members onboard and a high crew-to-guest ratio, you can expect first-class service above and below the water.

Explorer Ventures group made the planning of the trip easy (pre-booking, paperwork, visa info etc...). Customized transfers were organized for our boarding.The whole crew did a terrific job during the week. All wonderful Indonesian people.Dive briefings are perfect, dive guides are experienced and knowledgeable, crew members are taking care of equipment, all the logistic around tenders and groups of divers is smooth and efficient.The choice of dive sites and land excursions is perfect.The boat is large, cabins are spacious, clean and comfortable and the food is great!

– Charles, March 13, 2023

Pygmy seahorse (Hippocanthus bargibanti), camouflaged within a gorgonian.
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Photographer Amenities Aboard White Manta Explorer

From tiny critters and endemic species to brilliant reefs and big animals, Indonesia is the kind of destination where choosing a lens can be half the challenge. White Manta Explorer has extensive facilities designed for underwater photographers and their equipment. Indonesia aboard White Manta Explorer is best for photographers seeking rare marine species, extraordinary macro life, graceful manta rays and sharks, alongside vibrant coral reefs, spectacular wide-angle scenes and Indonesia’s incredible underwater biodiversity.

Camera Facilities 

Camera room: Large, dedicated air-conditioned camera room   Workspaces: Individual desks with non-slip mats, towels and tools   Charging: Multiple international and USB sockets; 220V   Additional camera tables: Available on the tenders, dive platform and dive deck   Camera rinse: Dedicated rinse facilities on the dive deck   Drying: Air guns available on the dive deck   Storage: Camera equipment can be stored in the dedicated camera room   Camera handling: Easy access between the camera room and dive deck, with crew assistance carrying camera systems   Important: Battery charging is not permitted in guest cabins    

Drone Usage

Operators must follow special guidelines and limitations from Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in Indonesia.

Photography and drone information is provided for general guidance only. Photographers and drone operators are responsible for verifying and complying with all applicable local regulations and permit requirements. Regional policies and restrictions

What Underwater Photographers Can Shoot 

Depending on the itinerary, photographers can encounter rare macro life, manta rays, schooling hammerheads, wobbegong sharks, endemic species and some spectacular reef scenes across the Indonesian archipelago. 

White Manta Explorer at a Glance

Everything you need to know about White Manta Explorer, from accommodations and onboard amenities to the dive deck and technical specifications.

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About Blue Manta Explorer

Scuba diving in Indonesia

The 22 passenger M/V Blue Manta Explorer provides 14 spacious ensuite cabins situated over three decks. All rooms feature air conditioning, stereos, safes, and en-suite bathrooms with jet showers. There is plenty of space onboard, both on the dive deck and in the extensive and welcoming main deck salon with a separate dining area. On surface intervals, divers can unwind on the covered sun decks, watch movies or listen to music on the latest entertainment systems.

There is a salon with a Plasma TV, DVD, and media server. 24-hour satellite internet is also available (with extra cost) so you can easily stay in touch with family at home. The dive deck is equipped with personal rinse tanks and a wide outdoor work table for underwater digital cameras. There is also a dedicated indoor camera room with plenty of space & charging stations to set up your camera equipment. Full equipment rentals are available onboard, all scuba tanks have din or yoke fittings and there are larger tanks available for those requiring a little extra air.

Aboard Blue Manta Explorer, comfort and exceptional service are as much a part of the experience as the diving. Spacious cabins, thoughtfully designed dive facilities, delicious meals and a crew that takes care of the details make exploring Indonesia's remarkable underwater world even more enjoyable.

Here's what one experienced diver had to say about their time aboard:

Blue Manta is a standout liveaboard! 🌊

As a seasoned diver, I was blown away by the level of comfort and thoughtfulness. This massive ship is designed for divers, offering spacious, cozy cabins - even the standard ones feel luxurious.The service? Absolutely top-notch! The large crew is incredibly attentive - you'll barely lift a finger. Cruise director Cedric is brilliant, with detailed, engaging briefs and a personal touch. The dive team of 5 dive masters takes care of every little detail, ensuring a smooth experience underwater. And the food? A culinary treat - restaurant-style dinners you will remember.Blue Manta sets the bar high for liveaboard comfort, service, and diving experience. Can’t recommend it enough!

- Valeriia, November 28, 2024

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Photographer Amenities Aboard Blue Manta Explorer

Indonesia can take a photographer from a tiny, rare macro subject to a manta ray or schooling hammerheads in the space of a single trip. Blue Manta Explorer has extensive dedicated camera facilities for photographers travelling with serious underwater setups. Indonesia aboard Blue Manta Explorer is best for photographers chasing majestic manta rays, schooling hammerheads and elusive wobbegong sharks, alongside rare endemic species, incredible macro life, colourful coral reefs and spectacular wide-angle scenes across Indonesia.

Camera Facilities 

Camera room: Large, dedicated air-conditioned camera room   Workspaces: Individual desks with non-slip mats, towels and tools   Charging: Multiple international and USB sockets; 220V   Additional camera tables: Available on the tenders, dive platform and dive deck   Camera rinse: Dedicated rinse facilities on the dive deck   Drying: Air guns available on the dive deck   Storage: Camera equipment can be stored in the dedicated camera room   Camera handling: Easy access between the camera room and dive deck, with crew assistance carrying camera systems   Important: Battery charging is not permitted in guest cabins  

Drone Usage

Operators must follow special guidelines and limitations from Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in Indonesia.

Photography and drone information is provided for general guidance only. Photographers and drone operators are responsible for verifying and complying with all applicable local regulations and permit requirements. Regional policies and restrictions may change without notice and may vary by location, site, species, or governing authority.

What Underwater Photographers Can Shoot 

Depending on the itinerary, Indonesia can bring rare macro life, vibrant reefs, manta rays in Komodo and Misool, schooling hammerheads in the Banda Sea, wobbegong sharks in Raja Ampat and endemic species around Triton Bay and Halmahera. Few destinations give underwater photographers quite this much range. 

Blue Manta Explorer at a Glance

Everything you need to know about Blue Manta Explorer, from accommodations and onboard amenities to the dive deck and technical specifications.

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