Is the 3-Week Liveaboard Adventure to Raja Ampat’s Four Kings Islands Worth It?

At the end of December last year, when the mask mandate was lifted, I immediately seized the opportunity to embark on an adventure to Raja Ampat. Liveaboard trips in Raja Ampat are always in high demand, and with only 20 days’ notice, the only boat that fit my vacation schedule, had availability, and met my hardware requirements was AMAYA, which sails the northern route of Raja Ampat.

It seems that everyone is more interested in the hardware conditions (and cockroaches) of Indonesian wooden boats 😼. In this post, we will delve into the world of boats in Indonesia ⛵️.
💰 For a detailed list, see the previous note.

1⃣️ About choosing a boat
👁‍🗨 Every diver planning their first liveaboard trip in Indonesia is captivated by the retro appearance of traditional Indonesian wooden boats, and so was I. However, it’s crucial to temper your expectations: the sails are rarely raised during the voyage, and the actual appearance of the wooden boats is not as picturesque as in the brochures.

👁‍🗨 The daily price for a comfortable wooden boat in Raja Ampat ranges from $2,500 to $3,000, but there are also more economical options like Jaya, which costs less than $2,000 per day. However, the conditions on smaller boats are not as luxurious.
🔘 TIPS:
✔️ Steel boats are more stable and comfortable than wooden ones.

✔️ The routes in Raja Ampat, both north and south, pass through straits where big waves are common; smaller wooden boats may struggle in rough seas.
✔️ Try to book as early as possible; if you catch a discount from the boat company, it can save you a significant amount.
✔️ Within your budget, choose a boat that is longer, more recently built or refurbished, has a larger freshwater capacity, a stronger engine, and an upper deck cabin.

2⃣️ About Amaya
👁‍🗨 Amaya generally met my expectations. It’s a 2018 boat that has been recently refurbished, with clean linens, each cabin featuring a separate dry and wet bathroom, and a spacious deck with ample space for photography.
🙄 The downside was that I stayed in a lower deck cabin next to the kitchen, separated from the kitchen duct by just a wooden board.

There were many cockroaches in the room, and I woke up with one squished on my face 🙄. If you’re not afraid, you can scroll to picture 9… I spent half a day forcing myself to get used to it 🙄.
🔘 Tips:
✔️ Upper deck cabins almost never have cockroach problems.
✔️ Try sleeping with the lights on; cockroaches might be wary of light 🙄.

Bring an eye mask.
✔️ Use earplugs, as the sound of the engine at night and the noise from the deck late into the night are unavoidable.

3⃣️ Food
👁‍🗨 The chef on Amaya was excellent. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and afternoon tea were all delightful, and the food suited Chinese tastes. The beef was particularly delicious, and I especially enjoyed the watermelon 🍉.
👁‍🗨 The crew shared their homemade Jungle Juice, a mix of lemon and alcoholic beverages. Hmm? Why not call it Pelagic Juice?

4⃣️ Service
You can always trust the diving services in Indonesia.

From the moment your feet touch the ground until you bid farewell, a dedicated team is on hand to assist you. All you need to do is unpack your diving gear and daily essentials from your luggage, and they’ll take care of the rest.

Due to space constraints, I’ll dive into the thrilling underwater experiences along the northern route in my next post. Stay tuned for an exciting journey beneath the waves!

Was it all worth it? Absolutely!

@LifeSpud @OutdoorSpud