Luxury Raja-Misool-Halmahera Liveaboard Expedition 2029

Journey through the heart of Indonesia’s Coral Triangle aboard the luxurious Dewi Nusantara, diving the spectacular reefs of Raja Ampat and Misool through to the remote waters of Halmahera.

May 23 - June 3, 2029

Guided Group Trip

11 Nights

Dewi Nusantara Deluxe Stateroom From $8,799 per person

Dewi Nusantara Master Suite From $10,599 per person

Prices are per person, based on double-occupancy.

Why Join This Trip?

Manta rays, wobbegong sharks, mind-blowing corals, and schooling fish, highest marine diversity in the world
Luxury liveaboard experience and unique one-way route
11-night route dives the absolute best of Indonesia
Diver to Guide ratio is 4:1
25% off rental photo gear from Bluewater Photo
Fully refundable deposit until 18 months from departure

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Trip Overview

This expedition aboard the Dewi Nusantara combines two exceptional and very different regions of the Indonesian archipelago: the renowned Misool region of Raja Ampat and the remote waters of South-West Halmahera. The journey begins in Misool, the southernmost of the Four Kings, before crossing to South-West Halmahera, a lesser-explored region known for its pristine reefs and exceptional marine biodiversity.

Misool offers spectacular underwater scenery, from caves and walls to rocky islets connected by marine ridges. Colorful corals and abundant marine life make the region a highlight for divers, while South-West Halmahera provides a different experience with pristine coral gardens, ridges, pinnacles, caverns, swim-throughs, muck sites, and ancient volcanic landscapes.

Click the Manta Trust logo to learn more!

Want to learn more about this trip? Check out our Halmahera Recap Video!

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Marine Life To Photograph

The Misool and South-West Halmahera route offers an impressive variety of marine life and underwater environments, with opportunities for both wide-angle and macro photography. In Misool, divers can encounter colorful coral reefs, schooling fish, reef sharks, dogtooth tuna, Spanish mackerel, giant trevally, and mobula rays.

South-West Halmahera offers an equally diverse range of subjects. Reef sites can produce schools of fusiliers, snapper, and batfish, along with moray eels, cuttlefish, nudibranchs, reef sharks, eagle rays, and potentially manta rays. Pygmy seahorses and ghost pipefish can be found among soft corals and gorgonian fans, while tuna and trevally patrol offshore reefs and coral plateaus.

The route also includes dedicated critter and muck diving at Makian Volcano. Its dark volcanic sand and nutrient-rich waters provide habitat for flamboyant cuttlefish, mimic octopuses, hairy frogfish, colorful nudibranchs, pipefish, mantis shrimp, and ghost pipefish.

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Trip Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary and is subject to weather and other conditions.

Day 1 – Sorong (Embarkation)
Day 2 – Balbulol
Day 3 – Daram
Day 4 – Fiabacet & Boo
Day 5 – Wayil
Day 6 – Jef Pele, Lili & Kepotsol
Day 7 – Nampale
Day 8 – Pisang
Day 9 – Orang Kaya
Day 10 – Ganone
Day 11 – Pantinti Strait
Day 12 – Makian Volcano
Day 13 – South-West Halmahera
Day 14 – Crossing toward Ternate
Day 15 – Ternate (Disembarkation)

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Diving Conditions

Diving conditions in Misool and Halmahera in May are excellent, with calm seas, reliable visibility and some of the richest coral reefs in Indonesia. The mix of gentle currents and vibrant marine life makes this a great month for wide-angle photography, reef exploration and relaxed diving. August weather is typically dry, warm and settled, offering ideal surface conditions throughout the trip.

Water temperature: 80 - 84F (27 - 29C)
Visibility: 50 - 100 feet (15 - 30m)
Depth range: 20 - 100 feet (6 - 30m)

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Recommended Scuba Gear

Download our full scuba gear guide to Halmahera, Bluewater Travel guests receive 10% OFF! Click the image below to download (PDF).

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Trip Type

This is a GUIDED GROUP TRIP. Led by an experienced Bluewater trip leader or accredited local guide who will manage the trip logistics and ensure your needs are met throughout. While this trip is designed to optimize your photography opportunities, it is not led by one of our photo instructors and so meaningful photography advice from your trip leader should not be expected.

What to Expect from Our Guided Group Trips

Meet like-minded travelers - Our Group Trips are perfect for solo travelers who enjoy meeting other divers or photographers and enjoy the support of a pre-arranged itinerary. Your trip leader will arrange group activities such as meals or game nights to ensure everyone feels part of the Bluewater family.
Problems solved - Your trip leader will be on hand to assist with any issues you may have. From delayed or canceled flights, to lost room keys and dietary requirements. We have dealt with it all before and will ensure that your trip runs smoothly.

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Trip Inclusions

11 nights accommodation onboard, double/twin occupancy
Meals: grazing breakfast, full breakfast, buffet lunch, snacks, elegant dinner with waiter service
Beverage: water, soft drinks, tea & coffee (including espresso machine), local beer, a glass of red or white wine for dinner
Bathroom robes and towels, deck towels
Mid-cruise bed linen and towel change
Mini massage (head and shoulders) after each dive
Two-way ground transfers on embarkation and disembarkation dates (hotel or airport - Dewi Nusantara - hotel or airport)
Diving: up to 4 dives per day, including night dives. Up to 2 shallow dives on the day before disembarkation, depending on the departure flight time
Activities (weather permitting): excursions, 2 kayaks, 2 stand-up paddle boards
Camera room for photographers: multiple charging stations, DVD player and TV for photo/video playback
Wi-Fi for messaging only (WhatsApp, emails etc.) - available only in areas with mobile phone coverage
Professional dive guide (4 divers per guide)
12 lt. air aluminum tanks (for both DIN and YOKE regulators)
Weights, weight belt
Safety equipment for the duration of the cruise: Nautilus Lifeline, whistle, SMB

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Trip Exclusions

Port & Park Fees $390 pp (invoiced in advance)
Long Distance Fee $360 pp (invoiced in advance)
Fuel Surcharge $330 pp (invoiced in advance)
Nitrox $230 pp (invoiced in advance)
Equipment rental $330 per trip
Larger tank
Domestic and international flight tickets
Visa for Indonesia
Hotel before/after the cruise
Diving insurance (mandatory for each diver)
Travel and “Cancel for any reason insurance” (ask about our preferred plan)
Satellite-based Wi-Fi (voucher/s to be booked and paid on board)
Massages (to be paid on board)
Boutique items (souvenirs and/or alcoholic beverages)
Crew gratuities/tips

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About The Dewi Nusantara

The Dewi Nusantara is a serene and elegant wooden three-masted schooner built for scuba diving adventures throughout Indonesia. Carrying up to 18 guests, the liveaboard offers spacious accommodations and explores some of Indonesia's most remote dive regions, including Raja Ampat, Komodo, the Banda Sea, Halmahera, Triton Bay, Cenderawasih Bay, and the Forgotten Islands.

Cabin options include the spacious Master Suite on the Main Deck and eight Deluxe Staterooms on the Lower Deck. The Master Suite features a king-size bed, panoramic wrap-around windows, a private lounge area, writing desk, wardrobe storage, and an en-suite bathroom with a hot rain shower. The Deluxe Staterooms offer queen or twin bedding, porthole views, en-suite bathrooms, individually controlled air-conditioning, and practical desk and storage space.

Dewi Nusantara Master Suite

Dewi Nusantara Deluxe Stateroom Queen / Twin

Connectivity

Check with your local cell phone provider for bolt-on roaming service while visiting Indonesia. Upon arrival in Jakarta, tourist SIM cards are available at airports. The mobile phone provider Telkomsel works best in remote areas (see here: Telkomsel Tourist Prepaid Card).

Dewi Nusantara is equipped with a satellite-based phone for emergency communications. WiFi (based on mobile phone signal) is available free of charge when there is a 3G or 4G signal, but it can be slow. It is suitable for sending WhatsApp messages, but it may not work for uploading large files. In addition to the free-of-charge WiFi, Dewi Nusantara is equipped with Starlink satellite internet. You can arrange this with the team when you arrive onboard if you would like to purchase a Starlink voucher for your trip.

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Raja Ampat Trip Extensions

Want to extend your trip? We can also help with that. Flying all that way merits a multi-destination vacation! See more of Indonesia before or after your Bluewater group trip. Check out our recommended extensions, or ask us to create your own bespoke package.

Read More.

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How To Get There

Flight Information

ARRIVAL

The boat embarks in Sorong at 12 noon on May 23rd. The recommended route is to fly internationally to Jakarta and then take a domestic transfer to Sorong (SOQ). We recommend arriving into Sorong at least 1 day before embarkation to allow time to rest and for delayed flights/baggage.

Recommended hotels in Sorong are the Swiss BelHotel and the Aston. You will be transferred from your hotel to the boat on embarkation day.

If you arrive on the early flight on the 23rd, the Dewi team will meet you at the airport and take you to a hotel for breakfast and coffee.

DEPARTURE

Dewi Nusantara will disembark in Ternate (TTE) and typically arrives in port in the afternoon or evening the day before disembarkation at the end of the cruise. Final disembarkation will occur according to your departure flight, but no later than 9.00 AM on June 3rd.

Flight Package

Our group trips attract guests from all over the globe and many of our customers prefer to book their own flights to take advantage of mileage points or credit card discounts. For these reasons, flights are not included in our group trip packages.

However, we are more than happy to work with you to find the best travel itinerary for your trip and will gladly give suggestions and advice, even if you make the final booking. We will check through your travel reservations at any time to ensure they fit with the trip schedule and can give recommendations on transit hotels and day tours where needed.

If you would like us to book flights and transit hotels for domestic and/or international travel on your behalf, we are also happy to arrange this. Contact Us for more information.

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