White Manta Explorer

Raja Ampat or ‘Four Kings’ is a true divers paradise, a wonderland lost in time, incredible natural beauty dominates above and below the blue waters; steep jungle-covered limestone islands, stunning white-sand beaches, hidden lagoons, and dense mangrove forests combine to create over 9.8 million acres of National Park. Underwater more than 1000 types of reef fish, 540 types of corals, sharks, rays, turtles, dolphins, and even whales call the park their home. This is the holy grail of dive destinations, truly one of the most beautiful places in the world. We invite you to discover a diver’s heaven on earth.

Raja Ampat will immerse you in a diving paradise: rich & varied topography, with the world’s richest underwater bio-diversity and sheer abundance of marine life to keep you coming back for more. The huge variety of coral and fish life is reflected in the diversity of dive sites you will visit; Walls, slopes, caves, canyons, seamounts, muck diving, and distinctive signature sites like Blue Water Mangroves and The Passage combine to make Raja Ampat one of the most celebrated and desired dive destinations in the world. The stunning beauty of Raja Ampat's exotic & enchanting islands both above and below the water will leave you in no doubt that this is a true natural wonderland.

In 2024 and beyond, White Manta Explorer will offer a few itineraries to Triton Bay (Papua Barat). This remote and well preserved area is acclaimed by many underwater photographers for its pristine reefs and rare critters. Triton boasts black coral forests, massive schools of jacks, trevallies, and bumphead parrotfish. Topside, escape in a virtually untouched paradise with stunning waterfalls, gorgeous sunrises and sunsets, and lush tropical forests.

• Water Temp: 80-86F/27-30C. Air Temp: 80-89F/27-32C.
• Visibility: 49-99FT/15-30M.
• Experience Level: Intermediate to advanced.
• Best Time to Dive: October to April (less rain & much less wind; perfect for diving).
  

Discover an untouched diving destination that offers everything you need for the ultimate liveaboard safari. Located off the East Coast of Kalimantan (The Indonesian portion of Borneo) the Islands of Sangalaki, Maratua, and Kakaban (also called the Derawan Archipelago) offer some of the most remote, uncrowded, and untouched diving spots visited by the White Manta Explorer. You be diving away from the crowds and the diving is spectacular with plenty of ‘Big Fish’ sightings possible throughout the area.

Sangalaki: Famous for large aggregations of Manta Rays who use the islands surrounding colorful reefs as a cleaning and breeding ground, in certain conditions Whale Sharks can also be spotted.

Kakaban: A stunning freshwater jellyfish lake fringed by virgin Mangrove forest, Sheer drop-offs, and walls that attract huge schools of Trevally and Barracuda along with the possibility of Hammerhead, Grey Reef, and Black Tip sharks.

Maratua: One of the most action-filled destinations in the region, The walls that surround this island provide some great big fish dives, massive schools of chevron barracudas, hunting trevallies, thresher sharks and much more!

• Water Temperature: 82-86F/28-30C.
• Air Temperature: 82-86F/28-30C.
• Visibility: 30-90FT/10-30M.
• Experience Level: Intermediate to advanced.
• Best Time to Dive: Year-round
• What to See/Highlights: Pelagics, including manta, rays, hammerheads, manta rays, barracuda, jacks, tuna, & even the chance of whale sharks! Reef life includes amazing soft corals, turtles, leopard & reef sharks, harlequin shrimps, pygmy seahorses, frogfish, ribbon eels, cuttlefish, nudibranchs, and theusual reef fish encountered in the Coral Triangle.
  

Located between Raja Ampat & Eastern Kalimantan the Molucca Sea & Halmahera region offers divers the opportunity to embark on some true world class diving. KM Raja Manta offers safaris that cross the Molucca Sea from Sorong to Manado as well as cruises departing and returning to Manado to the remote & largely unexplored Bangka & Sangihe islands. These trips will thrill even the most experienced of divers. Take this once in a life time opportunity to explore remote volcanic islands with uncrowded and rarely visited dive sites, amazing scenery both above and below the water, pelagic action in stunning visibility and some of the world’s best muck diving for lovers of weird & wonderful critters, all within the heart of the coral triangle. 

With breath-taking scenery both above and below, these trips take in some of the most remote and exclusive destinations visited by the Manta fleet. Volcanos, flora, fauna, deserted beaches, mangroves, and exotic birds will provide an incredible back drop top side whilst below the waves is equally jaw dropping with underwater volcanic landscapes rich in nutrients & bio-diversity both large & small. From spectacular full-on adrenaline dives to long slow relaxed macro spotting dives, these are cruises that really do have something for everyone. 

Pulau Pisang: Steep reef slopes carpeted in multi colored Dendrophylia soft corals and beautiful intact hard coral gardens in the shallows. Big schools of Dogtooth Tuna and Spanish Mackerel patrolling the slopes chasing the schools of Sleek Surgeonfish and Banner fish.

Halmahera: Located between Manado and Raja Ampat, Halmahera is Indonesia’s next world class scuba diving destination. Halmahera's pristine beauty, both above the water and below the water, is staggering, its remote location and lack of infrastructure have inhibited the growth of tourism and man made pollution pressures; discover an amazing group of islands with huge biodiversity, diverse, unspoiled and uncrowded dive sites.

Pulau Ternate & Pulau Tidore: Stunning Volcanic islands good for fish life: tunas, GT ́s, larges schools of jacks, black snappers, barracudas. common encounters with white tips and black tips, massive schools of Black and Midnight Snappers, another highlight at the nearby Tifore sea mount is an immense school of Barracuda and Big Eye Jacks – some of the biggest our dive guides have ever encountered.

Lembeh & Bunaken: Probably two of the world’s most famous muck diving destinations, all manner of sought after critters and macro subjects can be found here, an underwater photographers dream! 

Pulau Para: Amazing pelagic action. Schooling muscly Big Eye, dense schools of red tooth trigger fish and fusiliers. Grey reef sharks can also spotted. fabulous night dives in Para too where stary night octopus, dwarf cuttlefish, slipper lobster and all kinds of nudibranch's can be found. 

Mahengetang: A huge volcano with plumes of smoke rising from its crater provides a dramatic backdrop to a nearby twin pinnacle close to Mahoro and Batu Jendela. Schooling eagle rays have been seen here as well as schooling surgeon fish, rainbow runners and immense schools of blue fin trevally A huge school of Barracuda often call this pinnacle home.

Pulau Bangka & Sanghie: an Indonesian diver’s paradise, white sand beaches nestled under shady trees lead to a crystal-clear turquoise lagoon. Bangka is a beautiful lush island and within one of Indonesia’s most famous dive areas. Pods of spinner dolphins in the bay, seahorses on shallow reefs the aquatic environment is healthy and blissfully free of crowds. The diving is fantastic and offers you the chance to spot unusual species – look out for eagle rays, dugongs, frogfish, scorpionfish, mandarin fish, pygmy seahorses and much more.

Raja Ampat & Triton Bay

Raja Ampat or Four Kings is a true divers paradise, a wonderland lost in time, incredible natural beauty dominates above and below the blue waters; steep jungle-covered limestone islands, stunning white-sand beaches, hidden lagoons, and dense mangrove forests combine to create over 9.8 million acres of National Park. Underwater, more than 1000 types of reef fish, 540 types of corals, sharks, rays, turtles, dolphins, and even whales call the park home. This is the holy grail of dive destinations, truly one of the most beautiful places in the world. We invite you to discover a diver's heaven on Earth.

Raja Ampat will immerse you in a diving paradise: rich & varied topography, with the world's richest underwater bio-diversity and sheer abundance of marine life to keep you coming back for more. The huge variety of coral and fish life is reflected in the diversity of dive sites you will visit: Walls, slopes, caves, canyons, seamounts, muck diving, and distinctive signature sites like Blue Water Mangroves and The Passage combine to make Raja Ampat one of the most celebrated and desired dive destinations in the world. The stunning beauty of Raja Ampat's exotic & enchanting islands, both above and below the water, will leave you with no doubt that this is a true natural wonderland.

In 2024, White Manta Explorer will offer a few itineraries to Triton Bay (Papua Barat). This remote and well preserved area is acclaimed by many underwater photographers for its pristine reefs and rare critters. We will give you further information as soon as our schedule is finalized.

• Water Temp: 80-86F/27-30C.
• Air Temp: 80-89F/27-32C.
• Visibility: 49-99FT/15-30M.
• Experience Level: Intermediate to advanced.
• Best Time to Dive: October to April (less rain & much less wind; perfect for diving).

Learn more about diving Raja Ampat

Raja Ampat Dive Sites

Find out more about Raja Ampat liveaboards.

Ambon, Banda & Forgotten Islands

Embark upon once-in-a-lifetime voyages across the Banda Sea, visiting the famed Spice Islands to discover diving Nirvana in the Ring of Fire. Each year, from September to December and between April and May, our liveaboard itineraries offer diving as it was meant to be enjoyed; away from the crowds, true exploration is provided, and dive sites are discovered that very few divers will get a chance to explore. Discover unique and spectacular scenery both above and below the waves, where volcanic activity has created a remote island paradise, that is only accessible to divers via liveaboard. With our unmatched experience in this area, we can show you just what an incredible destination this is and take you to our Hammerhead hot spots where, at certain times of the year, schools of more than 200 Hammerheads have been witnessed (mainly from September to December).

Besides the schools of Hammerhead sharks, you will find pristine coral reefs, a unique local seaman in Alor, tons of sea snakes in Manuk, and a visit to the spice island in Banda Neira. The remoteness of these islands and the low levels of the human population have meant less fishing and pollution pressures resulting in a vibrant, natural, and healthy reef system. You can expect reefs bursting with life, huge sea fans and sponges, some monumental hard corals, and more fish than your mask can cope with; there is an extraordinary variety and volume of fish life, both in terms of large and small marine life.

Beyond providing some of the best diving in the region, the islands also have a long and fascinating history. Spices, foreign traders, colonial conflicts, wars, and earthquakes have all featured heavily in their checkered past. Up until the middle of the 19th century, this was the only place on Earth where the spices nutmeg and mace could be found and as a result, they were a crucial hub for the spice trade, for a taste of the historic atmosphere going ashore in Banda Neira and visiting the old colonial fort is a must.

• Water Temp: Generally 80-84F/27-29C. However, Alor can have temps in low to mid 60sF/20sC
• Air Temp: 71-87F/22-31C
• Visibility: 66-99 ft/20-30 m
• Currents: Medium to strong
• Experience level: Intermediate to advanced
• Best Time to Dive: March, April, & mid-September to December

Learn more about diving Ambon and Banda Sea

Komodo National Park

Discover some of Indonesia's most biodiverse and healthy reef systems in UNESCO Komodo National Park; submerged pinnacles and stunning fringing coral reefs, Big Fish, adrenaline-pumping currents, sharks, mantas & dolphins in crystal clear waters provide a sensory overload for first-time visitors. Amazing macro discoveries such as pygmy seahorses, frogfish, and nudibranch galore offer secret delights to photography enthusiasts. Komodo really does have something for everyone, including stunning scenery above and below the waves and a walk on the wild side with the world's largest lizard, the infamous Komodo Dragon!

More than 1,000 species of tropical fish, 260 species of coral, and rare marine mammals such as the dugong live within Komodo National Park. Strong daily tidal flows combine with nutrient-rich water upwelling from the depths of the Indian Ocean to create ideal conditions for thousands of species of corals and tropical fish to flourish. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991, divers travel from all over the globe to experience the spectacular biodiversity of more than 50 world-class dive sites ranging from challenging blue water current dives with a chance of glimpsing large pelagic species to discovering rare invertebrates on a muck dive closer to shore.

Enjoy spectacular diving in the North, Central, and (weather permitting) Southern areas of this incredible National Park. In the Northern and Central areas of the park expect excellent visibility and warm (27-28C) water, big fish sightings are common and photographers will find wide-angle is the default setting. Highlight Dive Sites include Crystal & Castle Rock, Shotgun, Batu Bolong, and Makassar Reef (Mantas on the Moon). In the South, the water temps are usually much cooler (21-25C), and the visibility can be less than perfect in these nutrient-rich waters. However, dive sites such as Cannibal Rock, Secret Garden, and Torpedo Alley provide sightings of the most diverse marine life in the park. Incredible Manta aggregations can also be seen in the South at Manta Alley. Prepare for strong currents and conditions suitable for advanced-level divers throughout the itinerary. We recommend 30-50 minimum dives logged prior to your Komodo itinerary. Currents are usually strongest around the New and Full moon; you can easily check out the moon phase for your trip by visiting a website such as moonconnection.com.

• Water temp: 27-28C (80-83F) in North & Central, 21-25C (70-77F) in South
• Visibility: 15-40m (average 25m)
• Recommended dives: 30-50 minimum dives logged prior to your Komodo itinerary

Sangalaki, Kakaban & Maratua (Derawan Islands)

Discover an untouched diving destination that offers everything you need for the ultimate live-aboard safari. Located off the East Coast of Kalimantan (The Indonesian portion of Borneo), the Islands of Sangalaki, Maratua, and Kakaban (also called the Derawan Archipelago) offer some of the most remote, uncrowded, and untouched diving spots visited by the White Manta Explorer. You will be diving away from the crowds, and the diving is spectacular, with plenty of Big Fish sightings possible throughout the area.

• Sangalaki is famous for large aggregations of Manta Rays, which use the islands surrounding colorful reefs as a cleaning and breeding ground. Under certain conditions, you can spot whale sharks.
• Kakaban: A stunning freshwater jellyfish lake fringed by virgin Mangrove forest, Sheer drop-offs, and walls that attract huge schools of Trevally and Barracuda along with the possibility of Hammerhead, Grey Reef, and Black Tip sharks.
• Maratua: One of the most action-filled destinations in the region. The walls that surround this island provide some great big fish dives, massive schools of chevron barracudas, hunting trevallies, thresher sharks, and much more!
• Water Temp: 82-86F/28-30C. Air Temp: 82-86F/28-30C.
• Visibility: 30-90FT/10-30M.
• Experience Level: Intermediate to advanced.
• Best Time to Dive: Year-round
• What to See/Highlights: Pelagic: Manta, rays, hammerheads, manta rays, barracuda, jacks, tuna, & even the chance of Whale Shark! Reef: amazing soft corals, turtles, leopard & reef sharks, harlequin shrimps, pygmy seahorses, frogfish, ribbon eels, cuttlefish, nudis & usual reef fishes encountered in the Coral Triangle.

Learn more about diving in the Derawan IIslands or diving Bin orneo.

Sangalaki Dive Sites

Halmahera & Molucca Sea

Located between Raja Ampat & Eastern Kalimantan, the Molucca Sea & Halmahera region offer divers the opportunity to embark on some truly world-class diving. KM Raja Manta offers safaris that cross the Molucca Sea from Sorong to Manado, as well as cruises departing and returning to Manado to the remote & largely unexplored Bangka & Sangihe islands. These trips will thrill even the most experienced of divers. Take this once-in-a lifetime opportunity to explore remote volcanic islands with uncrowded and rarely visited dive sites, amazing scenery both above and below the water, pelagic action in stunning visibility, and some of the world's best muck diving for lovers of weird & wonderful critters, all within the heart of the coral triangle.

With breathtaking scenery both above and below, these trips take in some of the most remote and exclusive destinations visited by the Manta fleet. Volcanos, flora, fauna, deserted beaches, mangroves, and exotic birds will provide an incredible backdrop on the top side, whilst below the waves is equally jaw-dropping with underwater volcanic landscapes rich in nutrients & bio-diversity, both large & small. From spectacular full-on adrenaline dives to long, slow, relaxed macro spotting dives, these are cruises that ro have something for everyone.

• Pulau Pisang: Steep reef slopes carpeted in multi-coloured Dendrophylia soft corals and beautiful intact hard coral gardens in the shallows. Big schools of Dogtooth Tuna and Spanish Mackeral patrol the slopes, chasing the schools of Sleek Surgeonfish and Bannerfish.
• Halmahera: Located between Manado and Raja Ampat, Halmahera is Indonesia's next world-class scuba diving destination. Halmahera's pristine beauty, both above the water and below the water, is staggering, its remote location and lack of infrastructure have inhibited the growth of tourism and man made pollution pressures; discover a fantastic group of islands with immense biodiversity, diverse, unspoiled and uncrowded dive sites.
• Pulau Ternate & Pulau Tidore: Stunning Volcanic islands suitable for fish life: tunas, GTs, large schools of jacks, black snappers, and barracudas. Common encounters with white tips and black tips, massive schools of Black and Midnight Snappers, and another highlight at the nearby Tifore Sea Mount is an immense school of Barracuda and Big Eye Jacks, some of the biggest our dive guides have ever encountered.
• Lembeh and Bunaken are probably two of the world's most famous muck diving destinations. Here, you can find all manner of sought-after critters and macro subjects—an underwater photographer's dream!
• Pulau Para offers amazing pelagic action. Schooling muscly Bigeyes, dense schools of red-tooth triggerfish, and fusiliers can be spotted. Grey reef sharks can also be spotted. There are fabulous night dives in Para, too, where starry night octopuses, dwarf cuttlefish, slipper lobsters, and all kinds of nudibranchs can be found.
• Mahengetang: A huge volcano with plumes of smoke rising from its crater provides a dramatic backdrop to a twin pinnacle near Mahoro and Batu Jendela. Schooling eagle rays, surgeonfish rainbow runners, and immense schools of bluefin have been seen here. A huge school of barracuda often calls this pinnacle home.
• Pulau Bangka & Sanghie: an Indonesian divers paradise, white sand beaches nestled under shady trees lead to a crystal-clear turquoise lagoon. Bangka is a beautiful, lush island in Indonesia's most famous dive areas. Pods of spinner dolphins in the bay, seahorses on shallow reefs, the aquatic environment is healthy and blissfully free of crowds. The diving is fantastic and offers you the chance to spot unusual species look out for eagle rays, dugongs, frogfish, scorpionfish, mandarin fish, pygmy seahorses and much more.