With nearly 100 available Liveaboards in Indonesia (and counting!), it can be overwhelming trying to figure out which one to choose. We’ve done the research for you and compiled a list of the best Liveaboards in Indonesia for every budget, including what to look for when booking.
Indonesia is probably one of the most visited countries in the world. It has a unique draw for every type of traveler. There are ancient temples to explore, active volcanoes to hike, remote villages to discover, stunning beaches to surf, and of course, scuba diving is a popular draw as well.
A diving trip in Indonesia can be one of the most rewarding experiences. Home to more than 4,000 different invertebrate species and fishes, as well as 15 percent of the coral reefs found all over the world, it’s no wonder Indonesia is on every scuba diver’s bucket list.
With Indonesia Liveaboard, you can experience scuba diving in an entirely unique way. Reach remote areas and dive in places where marine life is plentiful and diverse, away from the disruption of regular tourism.
Wondering what a Liveaboard is? Here is everything you need to know about Liveaboard diving trips.
Our Komodo Liveaboard experience was the trip of a lifetime. As our second diving Liveaboard experience, we knew exactly what we were getting into and let me tell you, it did not disappoint!
In this article, we will walk you through the basics of participating in a Liveaboard dive trip and suggest some of the best Liveaboards in Indonesia for every budget.
Let’s dive in! (pun intended)…
Liveaboards in Indonesia
Jump to the section you are looking for, or keep scrolling to read them all…
- Best budget Liveaboards in Indonesia
- Best mid-Range Liveaboards in Indonesia
- Best luxury Liveaboards in Indonesia
- Tips for choosing your Liveaboard
- Best time of year to do an Indonesia Liveaboard
- Best places to do an Indonesia Liveaboard
- What to pack for a Liveaboard
Best budget Liveaboards in Indonesia
If you’re looking for the best Liveaboards in Indonesia that won’t break the bank, we recommend going with one of these top-rated experiences.
Akomo Isseki
- Length of voyage: 11 days
- Ship size: Up to 8 guests
- Cost: starting at $116 USD / day
- Destinations: Raja Ampat, Komodo National Park, and the Banda – Ambon crossing
The Akomo Isseki Liveaboard is a traditional hand-crafted wooden phinisi, crewed by the skilled Bugis sailors of South Sulawesi. Offering 11-day dive itineraries in Raja Ampat and Komodo National Park, this vessel is one of the best budget Liveaboards in Indonesia.
The ship accommodates 8 guests in four naturally ventilated (aka no AC) cabins with twin beds and shared bathrooms. Shared space on the boat includes a communal dining space and a large sun deck with partial shade.
Sokaraja
- Length of voyage: 4 and 5 days
- Ship size: Up to 10 guests
- Cost: starting at $155 USD / day
- Destinations: Central/North Komodo
Explore Komodo National Park on this excellent budget Liveabaord experience. You’ll have the opportunity to be diving with giant manta rays, reef sharks, and turtles, and discover fascinating critters like flamboyant cuttlefish, seahorses, and frogfish during macro night dives.
Onboard the Sokaraja, accommodations cater to every budget; from a 6-bunk dorm room to two private double-bed cabins. All guests share two toilets and three showers with running freshwater.
Freshly prepared Indonesian cuisine is served buffet-style in the open-air dining area, offering stunning views of Komodo’s dramatic landscapes. The top deck features a large open sundeck with comfortable sunbeds, perfect for relaxing between dives or stargazing at night.
Ikan Biru
- Length of voyage: 4-13 days (hop-on-hop-off)
- Ship size: Up to 8 guests
- Cost: starting at $186 USD / day
- Destinations: Komodo National Park
This unique Indonesia Liveaboard offers a “hop-on, hop-off” concept allowing guests to stay on the Ikan Biru for 3 to 12 nights, exploring Komodo National Park at their own pace. When you’re ready to disembark, you can hop on a dinghy to take you to shore.
The Ikan Biru accommodates up to 8 guests, sleeping under the stars on the top deck. Guests will share two bathrooms with hot freshwater showers below deck. Every morning, the onboard chef bakes fresh bread and can cater to specific dietary needs upon request.
The spacious upper deck is ideal for relaxing between daytime dives and transforms into a comfortable dining area before it becomes your sleeping area at night.
Good to know: The Ikan Biru is exclusively for Advanced Open Water divers, but you can also obtain your AOW certification and other diving courses on board.
Best mid-range budget Liveaboards in Indonesia
The following Liveaboards in Indonesia all come with great reviews and the mid-range price tag means you’ll find the facilities and amenities to be a bit more comfortable on your Liveaboard experience.
Amalia Komodo
- Length of voyage: 4, 5 and 6 days
- Ship size: Up to 11 guests
- Cost: starting at $218 USD / day
- Destinations: Komodo National Park
This 29-meter (95-feet) phinisi Liveaboard offers seasonal diving itineraries in both North and South Komodo.
The boat features 5 naturally ventilated cabins: 2 en-suite double cabins, 2 twin bunk rooms, and 1 family cabin, with shared bathroom facilities for the twin and family cabins.
Itineraries onboard the Amalia Komodo include 11 dives (with a night dive!) and trekking adventures on land to see Komodo Dragons, Pink Beach, and the Padar Island hike. There are also opportunities for snorkeling, paddleboarding, and relaxing on the spacious sun deck.
Amaya Explorer
- Length of voyage: 7, 8 and 11 days
- Ship size: 16-20 guests
- Cost: starting at $296 USD / day
- Destinations: Raja Ampat, Alore, Maumere, Bali, Komodo, and the Banda Sea
The Amaya Explorer vessel combines traditional wooden phinisi design with modern amenities, providing everything needed for a top-tier dive trip in Komodo.
Each cabin is fully air-conditioned and tastefully decorated, featuring comfortable beds, ample storage space, charging ports, and private en-suite bathrooms.
Social areas include a bright and inviting indoor lounge, bar, and dining area. The outdoor dining deck is perfect for enjoying gourmet Indonesian cuisine or relaxing under the stars after a day of diving.
Seven Seas Liveaboard
- Length of voyage: 7, 11 and 15 days
- Ship size: Up to 16 guests
- Cost: starting at $323 USD / day
- Destinations: Komodo, Raja Ampat, East of Flores, Banda Sea, and the Forgotten Islands
From delicious, fresh cuisine prepared by the onboard chef, to state-of-the-art diving equipment, it’s no wonder this is one of the top rated Liveaboards in Indonesia.
The Seven Seas Bali is a 45-meter sailing schooner operated by a well-trained, attentive crew of 20, including 2 cruise directors. Guests can choose from four double and four twin staterooms, each featuring en-suite bathrooms and air conditioning.
The ship is equipped with state-of-the-art diving gear, a spacious dive deck, three speed boats, and Nitrox. Outside of diving, guests can relax in the air-conditioned lounge and dining area, on the large sundeck, or the shaded deck.
Best luxury Liveaboards in Indonesia
For a luxury Indonesia Liveaboard experience, look no further than the top-rated boats below.
Adelaar
- Length of voyage: 7 and 12 days
- Ship size: Up to 8 guests
- Cost: starting at $454 USD / day
- Destinations: Komodo National Park, Raja Ampat and the Banda Sea
Let experienced dive guides show you the best dive sites and colorful marine life aboard this beautifully crafted 39m Dutch Schooner. The relaxed atmosphere, luxurious ship and quality of diving when combined make Adelaar Liveaboard the best luxury Liveaboards in Indonesia.
Each of the onboard staterooms feature air conditioning, en-suite marble bathrooms and flat screen televisions. The trained chefs onboard will prepare delicious Indonesia and western cuisine to keep your bellies full in between dives.
Coralia
- Length of voyage: 8, 10, 11, 12 and 13 days
- Ship size: Up to 16 guests
- Cost: starting at $511 USD / day
- Destinations: Komodo National Park, Raja Ampat, Ambon, the Banda Sea, Maumere, and the Forgotten Islands
Built in 2019 the new 48-meter Coralia phinisi was engineered to create unforgettable diving experiences while prioritizing environmental conservation. She is operated by a team renowned for exceptional service and extensive knowledge of the Indonesian archipelago.
The vessel features 8 cabins, all designed with traditional aesthetics and modern comforts, including ensuite bathrooms, air conditioning, ample storage, and a daybed.
The main deck boasts a large indoor salon and dining area, panoramic windows and a sofa area with flatscreen TV for movie nights. The outdoor lounge features tables for al-fresco dining, sun loungers, and sofas for relaxing between dives. The top deck offers additional sun loungers and a massage area for further relaxation.
Coralia’s dive facilities include a spacious dive deck with personal storage, free nitrox, two tenders for diving, and a dedicated camera room with charging points. Guests can enjoy up to 4 dives per day, as well as activities like bird-watching, hiking, and snorkeling.
Gaia Love
- Length of voyage: 9, 10, 11 and 12 days
- Ship size: Up to 22 guests
- Cost: starting at $539 USD / day
- Destinations: Raja Ampat North & South, Komodo National Park, the Banda Sea, and the Lesser Sunda Islands
Spanning four decks, the luxurious 40-meter Gaia Love Liveaboard accommodates 22 guests in 11 spacious cabins, each featuring private en-suite bathrooms, ample storage, and individually controlled AC.
Social areas include an indoor salon and dining room, outdoor lounge and dining area, a spacious partially covered sun deck, and an al-fresco bar.
The expansive dive deck at the rear of Gaia Love is designed to accommodate up to 28 divers, ensuring plenty of space for gearing up. Eleven large rinse tanks of various sizes are available for washing camera gear and dive equipment.
Tips for choosing the best Indonesia Liveaboard
With 93 available Liveaboards in Indonesia (and counting!), it can be overwhelming trying to figure out which one to choose. Here are some tips we’ve picked up from our own experience on how to choose a Liveaboard experience that’s best for YOU.
1. Look beyond the daily rate
Not only pay attention to the daily rates we’ve listed in our list above, but look at how many days the itineraries are. You may find the cheaper daily rate only offers long 10+ day itineraries making your total go way up from the slightly more expensive Liveaboard with a short 4 day itinerary.
Ask about park fees, and if they are included in your rate, as well as alcoholic beverages and anything else that may be an additional cost.
It’s also a good idea to think about tipping when calculating your total Liveaboard budget. It doesn’t hurt to ask ahead of time how much is typical for guests to leave as gratuity.
2. Pay attention to the sleeping arrangements
Are the cabins onboard shared or private? Double occupancy or single? There is even one Liveaboard on our list that doesn’t offer cabins at all—the whole group sleeps on the top deck under the stars each night.
While that may be great if you’re trying to minimize your budget, it’s a good thing to know before you book.
Also check to see if your cabin offers air conditioning and if it’s individually controlled or not. If a Liveaboard says it has “naturally ventilated” cabins, that’s a nice way of saying they do not have AC.
3. Find out the bathroom situation
Are the bathrooms on board private ensuites in each cabin, or will you be sharing a bathroom with other guests?
If you’re going for a shared bathroom situation, check how many guest bathrooms there will be compared to the number of guests onboard to get an idea of what that situation will be like.
4. What kind of food is served onboard
Some of the Liveaboards in Indonesia describe having both Indonesian and Western cuisine options, but some only offer the local cuisine.
If you have any special dietary needs or restrictions, it’s a good idea to ask beforehand if they will be able to accommodate you.
5. Ask about the diving onboard
Find out how many dives are offered each day, and if there are any special dives like night dives available. It’s also good to find out if there are any diving experience requirements for participating (some boats have minimum dives or advanced certification requirements).
You should also ask about the diving equipment onboard—how old it is, if it’s well-maintained and if it’s all included in the cost of the Liveaboard or if there are extra rental costs for things like dive computers.
If you are an underwater photography enthusiast, it’s good to know that some Liveaboards in Indonesia include space for underwater photography and equipment rentals.
6. Find out if there are any on-land excursions
One of the perks of our Liveaboard in Komodo was getting to experience some of the unique features of Komodo National Park on land. We got to do some hiking and see the famous Komodo dragons in person.
Having onland excursions can be a nice way to break up the monotony of being at sea everyday, and give your sea legs a nice break too!
Best time of year to do a Liveaboard in Indonesia
The best time of the year to visit Indonesia for an epic Liveaboard diving experience depends entirely on your diving destination.
Here are some of the top diving destinations for Liveaboards in Indonesia and the best time of year for diving in each location:
- Raja Ampat: September to May
- Komodo: All year round
- Triton Bay: May to September
- Banda Sea: March, April, September to December
Best places to do a Liveaboard in Indonesia
Being a nation made up of over 17,000 islands in between the Indian and Pacific oceans, Indonesia has more than one of the world’s top diving destinations. For the purpose of this article, we are going to focus on the two most popular regions for Liveaboards in Indonesia.
Raja Ampat
Scuba diving in Raja Ampat is on most serious divers’ bucket lists, and for good reason. The diving in this Indonesian island paradise is some of the most diverse in the world. Coupled with comfortable water temps and typically good visibility, and you’ve got yourself one hell of a dive trip!
The Raja Ampat archipelago consists of four main islands: Batanta, Waigeo, Misool, and Salawati. Its surroundings are composed of more than 1,500 small islands and reefs.
Known to have the highest number of corals, fishes, and mollusks, Raja Ampat represents the richest marine diversity in the world.
Some areas are specifically famous for the number of fish species you can spot on a single dive. One region has groups of manta rays, while the others have schools of parrotfish, barracudas, humpback groupers and many more.
With Indonesia Liveaboard, you have the luxury of seeing more of this region than you would with a single day diving excursion. Liveaboard trips are usually 8 and 14 nights long.
The south part of Raja Ampat is affected by the southeast monsoon season (June – October) which creates wind, waves and reduced visibility. On the other hand, the Dampier Strait and northern part of Raja Ampat is accessible all year long without visibility complications.
Komodo National Marine Park
Found in the Nusa Tenggara region of Indonesia, the Komodo Island National Marine Park is one of the most popular scuba destinations in the country (some might even say the world!).
Rich plankton harvests in the shallow water channels attract manta rays, whale sharks and other feeding pelagics.
The giant walls of coral boast colorful filter feeders including sea squirts, sea apples, crinoids, and tunicates. There is also macro life such as pygmy seahorses and frogfish in several protected bays.
Komodo Liveaboard trips usually include land visits to see the legendary Komodo dragons. The voyages average between 7 to 11 nights long. Although, there are also shorter stays offered by budget-friendly Liveaboards.
The climate in Komodo is sunny and dry from July to September. Evenings can be chilly. In May and October, expect the winds to be calmer but with a high chance of rain.
Tip: If you’re visiting the island of Bali and still want to do some diving, check out Amed for some of the best scuba diving on the island.
What to pack for a Liveaboard diving trip
Figuring out what to pack for a scuba Liveaboard can be tricky… you want to be prepared, but you definitely don’t want to overpack when you’re going to be living in tight quarters. There are some definite musts that you don’t want to forget, and even more things that you should just leave on land.
We’ve taken all the guesswork out of packing for you and compiled a complete liveaboard packing list so you don’t forget any essentials on shore. Oh, and it’s totally FREE!
Don’t forget about travel insurance!
World Nomads provides coverage for adventure activities like scuba diving that aren’t usually covered (read the fine print!) in typical travel insurance policies. We recommend getting their short-term trip coverage (on top of your regular travel insurance plan) if you plan on doing a Liveaboard diving trip.
Get an instant quote on World Nomads right now, it’s that simple! It’ll take less than 3 minutes.
Are you interested in Liveaboard diving and want help planning your trip?
We have some great resources for you!
Planning a Liveaboard Diving Trip
From the diving equipment to the bathroom situation, here’s everything you need to know about planning a Liveaboard diving trip. We’ll walk you through a typical daily schedule and clue you in on what to expect for the onboard experience. Plus we’ll include some expert tips and insider advice we wish we would have known before our first Liveaboard.
Be sure to look over our Indonesia travel guide to get quick advice on everything from the local currency to key words and phrases you should know. Browse our extensive article library for tips and advice on traveling to destinations all over the country.
Before you go…
- Check out this list of the best scuba diving Liveaboards around the world.
- Find out why our Komodo Liveaboard was the ultimate diving experience in Indonesia.
- Check out our roundup of the best Liveaboards in Raja Ampat.
- Read our personal account of our Similan Islands Liveaboard, our first ever Liveaboard dive trip!
Save this article on Pinterest for later!
We want to hear from you!
Which of these Liveaboards in Indonesia do you most want to book?? Are you considering doing a Liveaboard and still have questions? Leave your comment below and we’ll do our best to get back to you!
Indonesia is a best country, for the diving place.
Liveaboard diving it’s so far the best way to cover the each of huge destinations Indonesia offers to divers: Raja Ampat, Komodo and Banda. We dive year round in Indo according to seasonality and we confirm, it is always great! Good article!