Blue Manta Explorer Liveaboard

Just returned from a 10-day liveaboard in Raja Ampat with Blue Manta. This trip exceeded expectations in every category. The boat and accommodations were wonderful... Large cabins and private baths, AC that worked wonderfully, spacious dive deck with personal cubbies for divers to store their stuff at each tank spot, a dedicated camera/charging room for charging all your devices. Food was wonderful with Indonesian and western choices, and you could choose to eat in the dining hall or take your meals al fresco on the covered upper deck. Onboard amenities included laundry service (so bring fewer clothes) and massages. Wi-Fi is available but limited by MBs, but I would recommend you purchase a SIM or eSIM card at the Jakarta airport, as many locations had cell service. The diving did not disappoint. Clear, warm water, and so much marine life! This is the place for tons of schooling fish and abundant macro—don't expect to see large animals, although you will probably be graced by some sharks, mantas, and turtles. The dive guides are super experienced and can spot the tiniest of pygmy seahorses, shrimps, and crabs. The dive crew takes care of everything with your gear if you want them to. They even had warm water showers right when you get off the skiff for rinsing. Our dive director, Cedric, set the bar for excellence and created a great itinerary and handled any issues immediately. Already planning for a return trip in 2026!

Highlights: Our first dinner was marlin steaks, and the food continued to be chef-quality for every meal the rest of the trip. There was also free unlimited Coke Zero, which was a huge plus for me. Our room on the upper deck was amazing. Despite being on a boat, it was a reasonably spacious room with air conditioning, a private bathroom, and a nice view. The boat had multiple indoor and outdoor lounging areas, all quite comfortable. Before each dive, the boat’s manager, Cedric, gave the highest-quality dive briefings I’ve ever seen. Good briefings are important in Komodo since there can be strong and unpredictable currents, and Cedric knocked it out of the park. All of the divemasters were friendly, competent, and safety-minded. They also took great care of our equipment. Larger 15L tanks were available for rent, which was a nice bonus for me since my air consumption tends to be higher than others’. Komodo was an amazing dive destination. The Blue Manta also does trips to Raja Ampat and the Banda Sea. With how much we liked both the boat and the staff, we would happily dive with them anywhere.