Offering everything from large pelagics to diverse macro life, sheer overhangs, quintessential coral gardens, and thrilling drift dives. The Komodo National Park of East Indonesia is one of the best places to dive in the world, with some of its most distinguished underwater treasures only accessible via luxury liveaboard.
Spread out over almost 2,000 square kilometers, traveling in Komodo and scuba diving from a liveaboard enables you to explore more than you would through day trips, while also traveling in maximum comfort and style.
At ReefProtect, we aim to provide trustworthy information backed by our own diving experience. Thus, we only recommend companies and services that have undergone thorough reviews to ensure they meet our high standards. We have selected a variety of reliable and exemplary luxury liveaboard options for divers seeking high-end services and premium amenities. Read on to discover the best luxury liveaboard options for your dive trip to Komodo.
Luxury Liveaboard Options
Diving in Komodo is possible all year round, however is best between the months of April to November. Most liveaboards in Indonesia rotate between Komodo National Park and various other destinations such as Raja Ampat, Alor, and Banda Sea in order to dive where and when the conditions are best. Some liveaboards curate trips only within Komodo, and others provide combination trips with other special destinations. Thus, it is important to explore the schedules provided by your chosen liveaboard operator to ensure the best holiday experience for you!
Below is a table showing the best luxury liveaboard options for Komodo National Park, followed by specific details of each experience below.
| Liveaboard | Daily Cost | Max Guest Capacity | Itinerary Length for Komodo National Park trips | Destinations | Check Best Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gaia Love | USD 538 | 22 | Option of 11 days and 10 nights or 12 days and 11 nights. | Komodo National Park, Raja Ampat North & South, Banda Sea, and the Lesser Sunda Islands. | VIEW LATEST PRICE |
| Damai II | USD 500 | 12 | Options ranging between 8 days and 7 nights to 14 days and13 nights. | Komodo, Alor, Bali, Banda Sea, Gorontalo, Halmahera, Raja Ampat, Triton Bay, and the Forgotten Islands. | VIEW LATEST PRICE |
| Pindito | USD 498 | 16 | 12 days and 11 nights. | Komodo, Banda Sea, and Raja Ampat. | VIEW LATEST PRICE |
| Samambaia | USD 473 | 14 | Option of 8 days and 7 nights or 12 days and 11 nights. | Komodo, Raja Ampat, Banda Sea, and Alor. | VIEW LATEST PRICE |
| Blue Manta Liveaboard | USD 382 | 20 | Options ranging from 7 days and 6 nights to 15 days and 14 nights. | Komodo, Alor, Raja Ampat, the Forgotten Islands, and Banda Sea. | VIEW LATEST PRICE |
| Solitude Adventurer | USD 373 | 18 | Option of 7 days and 6 nights or 14 days and 13 nights. | Komodo National Park, Raja Ampat, Misool, Ambon, Banda Sea, and Maumere. | VIEW LATEST PRICE |
Gaia Love
Amenities
Gaia Love is a pristine vessel boasting a contemporary modern design. It has 11 spacious cabins, each with private en-suite bathrooms, with upper deck cabins providing sea views and private outdoor balconies. Gaia Love serves luxury to the highest standard.
Onboard, there is an indoor salon, a partially covered sundeck, and an al-fresco bar. Furthermore, Gaia Love holds an indoor and outdoor dining area, where free wine is served with dinner, and food is catered to every dietary preference.
Dive Sites
With 2 diving skiffs, you will be able to access any dive site in the Komodo National Park. One of the most notable that Gaia Love ventures to regularly is the Cauldron or “Shotgun”. This is a drift dive that increases in speed and strength as you move along the site, at the end of which you will be shot through a gap in the reef, emerging out onto a serene coral garden with mild to no current. This contrast in dive sites is something that you will become accustomed to on your liveaboard experience in Komodo.
Damai II
Amenities
Damai II is one of the most established and well-known liveaboards in all of Indonesia. Not only do they offer a traditional wooden interior that screams pirate luxury, private and shared bedrooms with private bathrooms, an all-inclusive spa, and gourmet western cuisine catered to any dietary requirement, but Damai II is also extremely dive-focussed. They provide a large dive station, individual freshwater rinse tanks, a dry camera room with individual workstations, and nitrox tanks upon request. Damai II is diving opulence.
Dive Sites
Aiming to provide the safest and most personalized dive experience, Damai II takes their dive guests in small groups to the most pristine dive sites of the Komodo Islands. To name a few, Batu Bolong and Karang Makasar may be on the agenda for manta sightings, Castle Rock for pinnacles and schooling fish, and Wainilu for world-class muck diving.
Pindito
Amenities
Providing 6 double cabins and 2 twin cabins with ensuite bathrooms and daily housekeeping service, the Pindito liveaboard encapsulates modern diving luxury. Providing beer, wine, all-day snacks, and international cuisine prepared by expert chefs who are happy to accommodate any diet preferences, Pindito aims to provide the smoothest liveaboard experience possible.
Dive Sites
Offering up to 4 dives per day, “you can’t go wrong with Pindito. Edi, the owner, pioneered diving in that part of the world. I think it’s one of the best values in that area, and as mentioned, the experience on that boat is second to none.”
World-famous sites such as the Yellow Wall of Texas, Cannibal Rock, Tatawa Besar, and Batu Batu Dekat are on the agenda for Pindito cruises. You will have no shortage of variety in underwater topography and wildlife encounters on board Pindito.
Samambaia
Amenities
Newly built in 2015, Samambaia encapsulates the essence of a traditional wooden Phinisi with a modern and lavish touch. Fresh bread and pastries are prepared daily by onboard chefs, and guests are personally catered to with international cuisine. Beer is included and wine can also be brought on for a corking fee.
Samambaia also provides an onboard masseuse and an exceptional experience for non-diving guests. Scenic rides through lagoons are on offer, as well as trekking, beach exploration, whale watching, wakeboarding, and kayaking.
Samambaia is a 6-cabin (with private bathrooms) vessel offering ocean views for those on the top deck, and is also available for private charter.
Dive Sites
Samambaia begins their trips with easy dives, before progressing to those that are more challenging. Starting at sites such as Tatawa Besar and a night dive at Wainilu, and moving onwards towards Torpedo Alley and the Cauldron.
Blue Manta Liveaboard
Amenities
Built in 2014, Blue Manta Liveaboard is a crisp and modern luxurious vessel. Each cabin has its own private bathroom, and the meals are taken very seriously as 5 are prepared daily, with freshly baked bread every morning.
Each diver will receive their own camera rinsing station, indoor camera space, and drying stations. Perfect for underwater photographers, Blue Manta also ensures small dive groups of a maximum of 4 guests to 1 guide.
Dive Sites
Exploring South and North Komodo, onboard Blue Manta you will be given many chances to see manta rays in sites such as Manta Alley, Cannibal Rock, Torpedo Alley, Karang Makasar, and Mawan. However, the magic does not end there. Castle Rock, Crystal Rock, and The Cauldron are also commonly visited sites that showcase action-packed dives full of hunting fish and reef sharks! Each dive onboard the Blue Manta brings something new and exciting to the logbook!
Solitude Adventurer
Amenities
The Solitude Adventurer is a newly renovated luxury liveaboard from 2017. Catering to the finer details of a liveaboard experience, hot towels and tea are served upon every return from a dive, and a show of live music is given at every dinner creating a caring and lively atmosphere.
The social areas of the Solitude Adventurer include a library, indoor and outdoor lounge, dining area, and a large sundeck. Meals are served buffet style, accounting for any dietary needs, and snacks are always available.
Furthermore, underwater photographers will be treated with royalty as they are given a dedicated camera station and rinse tanks, air guns, camera towels, and a studio workspace with a PC for editing photos!
Dive Sites
With 3 to 4 dives planned each day, you will be sure to visit all the world-class sites as well as the lesser-known but equally stunning Police Corner, Pulau Pengah, and Siaba Kecil.
Importance of Safety and Credibility
When we are out at sea and far from civilization and emergency medical facilities, we need to be prepared for potential accidents and disasters. Unfortunately, liveaboard disasters happen more often than we realize, or than most of us know of. This is why it is integral to undertake thorough research into your chosen liveaboard company, listen to their emergency briefings, and be aware of your surroundings when onboard.
DAN has great suggestions for emergency preparations that you can do to increase your safety in case of an emergency on a liveaboard. An emergency evacuation is never something that is expected, however may always be a possibility when out at sea.
Conclusion
Luxury liveaboards are the best way to explore the underwater world of Komodo National Park. By choosing to dive with liveaboards carefully selected by our team, you are ensuring a safe, effortless, and memorable experience. So don’t wait to book a liveaboard trip for your next scuba diving adventure to the Komodo Islands!
And If you plan a stop in Bali, don’t miss out on these eco-diving spots selected by our team.