Emperor Raja Laut

Overview

Dutch 'schooner style' sailing yacht Emperor Raja Laut will be taking guests to the world-renowned diving areas of Raja Ampat, Triton Bay, the Banda Sea and Komodo National Park. Her itineraries range from 7 to 12 nights.

Raja Laut means 'King of the Sea' and stepping on board this schooner inspired yacht built from tropical hardwood, you will experience a truly regal sense of sailing the Indonesian seas; freedom, style and comfort. Asia's geography, climate, logistics and infrastructure present its own unique challenges and, with this in mind, the Raja Laut was designed with the specific requirements for yacht charter in South East Asia.

This beautiful, traditional sailing yacht was built in south Sulawesi in 2005. She has spent much of the last 12 years sailing around Southeast Asia for private charter and will be Emperor Divers' introductory boat in the magical Indonesian archipelago.

With 12 berths, the attention to detail and level of service from the seven crew and three dive guides will aim to leave guests wanting to return time and time again. A strong team will see Emperor teaming up with Andrew Laughlin, who has spent the last 10 years building and managing Indonesian liveaboards and has over 30 years' experience in the diving and yachting industry. He is also a PADI Master Instructor and Yacht Master.

Likely encounters include mantas, hammerhead sharks, whale sharks and pygmy seahorses, as well as Komodo Dragons on land. Indonesia offers riches for all and is a truly magical place.

ACCOMMODATION

Offering 12 berths on the Lower deck: 3 x twin (bunk bed) cabins, 3 x double cabins, each with ensuite, individually controlled air-conditioning, fan and mini-safe.

Lounge: Lower deck, fully air-conditioned with fridge

Upper deck: Outdoor dining area, sun loungers, with and without shade and small bar

Entertainment: 49" full HD flat screen and movie, music & book library and board games

Please click here to view a floorplan for Emperor Raja Laut

SPECIFICATION

• Type: Wooden hull 
• Length: 31m - Beam: 7.2m
• Engine: 300 HP Yanmar
• Generators: 2 x 28 kW Mitsubishi
• Desalination: 3,000 l / day & storage

Diving facilities

• Compressors: 2x CAT Compressor + Nitrox
• Tanks: 12 ltr aluminium tanks with INT & DIN adapters. 15 ltr aluminium tanks available at extra charge
• Nitrox diving: Yes
• Rebreather friendly: No
• Dive equipment rental: Full dive sets available for hire + reef hooks, dive computers. SMBs and Lifelines are complimentary.
• Safety: Life raft, life jackets, oxygen, First Aid Kit, VHF & SSB radio, radar & GPS, mobile phone, fire alarm, extinguishers, firefighting system
• Water Access: 1 x 5.2m RIB with 75 Hp outboard + 1 x 5.5m with 85 HP outboard
• Camera facilities: Power sockets for battery chargers and flash in cabins only. Camera rinsing tank and camera preparation area on upper deck

NAVIGATION / SAFETY

Navigation and Communication: GPS, VHF/SSB radio, satellite & mobile phone. Recompression chambers located in Bali.

TWIN CENTRES & CITY STOPOVERS

Extensions can be arranged for land based stays on Bali, Flores and Singapore, Kuala Lumpur or Bangkok (airline dependant).

Schedules & prices

Dive info

Liveaboard diving in Indonesia

The vast Indonesian archipelago was almost made for liveaboard trips. Thousands of tropical islands slide into the most biodiverse seas on Earth, where all manner of fascinating and rewarding encounters await on every dive.

With so many wonderful scuba diving opportunities spread over such a large area, a liveaboard is an ideal way for more experienced divers to get the best from this incredible destination, with both classic and off the beaten track itineraries available.

If you’ve not yet experienced Indonesia, now's the time to open your eyes to a world of wonder! The Coral Triangle, macro diving and more awaits.

Liveaboards diving to & from Bali

Eastwards from Bali, a string of picturesque islands stretch east towards Komodo, offering a wealth of different dive sites to choose from as you dive your way to or from Komodo National Park. Lombok, Gili Islands, Sumbawa, Moyo, Satonda and Sangeang are the main land masses, with numerous other islets.

This group of islands further east are surprisingly dry, looking more like parched grassland on steep volcanic formed slopes than the expected lush green tropics, unless visiting during the more rainy season (winter months).

Liveaboard diving in Komodo, Flores & Alor

Officially declared a World Heritage Site in 1986, the Komodo National Park comprises Komodo, Rinca and Padar Islands. The variety of islands within the park, combined with the current, wave and wind exposure have resulted in an incredible diversity of coastal and marine habitats.

Underwater, strong currents and deep upwelling's transport nutrient-rich waters throughout the area, which supports a cornucopia of life. Mangrove forests, sea grass beds and pristine coral reefs define the main habitats within the borders of the park. Dive sites vary from walls and coral gardens to pinnacles, drop offs and quiet bays that are ideal for macro lovers seeking rarely seen species.

Over 1,000 fish species, 260 reef building coral species and 70 sponge species have been recorded in the Komodo National Park, with a particularly high number of organ pipe coral, which accounts for the famous pink sand beaches. Turtle and dugong frequent Komodo's waters, while manta ray are regularly seen. The area is even known for the occasional whale sighting as they migrate through the park.

The islands of Komodo are also home to many rare and endemic land species including a population of the world's largest lizard, the Komodo dragons. Most cruises covering the park incorporate an island visit to see these interesting reptiles in their natural environment.

Occasionally, liveaboard boats venture farther east from Komodo to Flores and Alor. The currents that flow through the straits which connect the Banda and Savu seas create thrilling drift dives that attract large animals such as whale, tuna, shark (including hammerhead), giant grouper, eagle and manta ray, napoleon wrasse, schools of big eye jack, mola-mola, and other pelagic fish. In the Pantar strait between Alor and Pantar pilot-whale and dolphin are common as they pass between the islands during their seasonal migration to the Pacific Ocean.

Liveaboard diving Ambon & Raja Ampat

Vast areas of West Papua's land and sea are designated conservation areas. With over 3,000 reef fish and 400 coral and sponge species recorded, as well as dolphin, dugong, green, hawksbill and leatherback turtle, the diverse marine life will not fail to amaze. Above water, exotic creatures such as the venus fly trap inhabit the region.

Diving Raja Ampat by liveaboard tends to focus between December and March when the winds in this area are favourable. This is a large area with some liveaboards focusing on the north, central or south of Raja Ampat, or a combination thereof, including the dive sites of Cenderawasih Bay and Triton Bay. The entire region has world-class diving however.

Before and after this period, the focus moves to Ambon and the Banda Sea, part of the Maluku Islands. These seldom visited reefs and atolls are known for thrilling encounters, including hammerhead shark. This big fish action is complimented by incredible muck diving, particularly around Ambon.

Transition cruises taking in the Banda Sea and Raja Ampat are particularly sought after.

 Some great Raja Ampat footage from our friends at Mermaid Fleet:

EXTENDED ITINERARIES & OFF THE BEATEN TRACK CRUISES

Occasionally, special itineraries are offered which either take in multiple regions on an extended itinerary, or head to more unusual regions of Indonesia, such as Wakatobi, Halmahera or the Forgotten Islands. Eye-catching options include itineraries starting in Manado, North Sulawesi and finishing in Raja Ampat (or vice versa), or beginning in Maumere and journeying east towards the Maluku Islands.

These itineraries, which are best suited to those that have already experienced Indonesian liveaboards previously, often have an exploratory feel, allowing eager divers to feel like pioneers exploring seldom charted waters!

When's the best time to dive Indonesia by liveaboard?

Indonesia spans approximately 3,000 kilometres from east to west and incorporates a range of climates and seasons. Most liveaboards move around the archipelago throughout the year, planning schedules to offer diving in each region at its best months. 

The majority of liveaboards will focus on Komodo between May and September, Raja Ampat between December and March. In between these months, itineraries to locations such as Alor or the Banda Sea are offered.

Who is liveaboard diving in Indonesia suitable for

Diving in these areas is often undertaken in remote locations. Some of the dives can be quite challenging, suiting only more experienced divers in exciting, bizarre and unpredictable currents. Liveaboard diving does not get more adventurous than this!

Flight Information

The most common entry points for a liveaboard holiday to Indonesia are Jakarta and Bali. 

International flights are available on multiple airlines serving this region, for example: Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Thai Airways, Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways and Garuda Indonesia.

For most liveaboard departures, domestic flights are also required, which will form part of your holiday package on flight inclusive holidays. There are numerous domestic airlines providing for a wide variety of routes and options in Indonesia. The length of journey to certain liveaboard locations necessitate an overnight stop on route, which also allows valuable time to recharge and recover after a long flight.

Flight changes can be a regular occurrence in Indonesia, therefore we recommend to build in plenty of time between domestic and international flights to account for changes and delays.

Typical flight duration:

Approx. 15–17 hours including flight change.

Passports & Visas

Passengers travelling to Indonesia and Timor-Leste should have minimum six months valid on their passport from the date of return to the UK, plus one full page free. Hotel receptions may be required to take a photocopy of your passport for registration purposes.

British nationals travelling to Indonesia on holiday can enter the country purchasing a visa on arrival for up to 30 days at certain ports of entry, including international airports in Jakarta and Bali. The cost of this is Rp 500,000pp.

For further information about entry requirements, visit the website of the Indonesian Embassy in London or your nearest Indonesian embassy.

Visitors to Timor-Leste require a visa, which British passport holders can purchase on arrival at the airport. A 30 day tourist visa, single entry costs US $30. It is your responsibility to check that your passport complies with Indonesian and Timor-Leste entry requirements.

Vaccinations

There are no compulsory vaccinations for travel, but we recommend protection against typhoid, tetanus, hepatitis A and polio. Vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed before departure with your GP or local travel clinic.

Advice on Malaria, Dengue Fever and Japanese Encephalitus should be sought before travelling specific to the area of your boat's itinerary.

Further information regarding vaccinations for travel to this country can be found at www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk, from your local healthcare provider or from a specialist travel clinic.

Itineraries

Please note that liveaboard itineraries can change without notice. The itinerary will depend on several factors including, but not limited to, weather, diving ability of guests & the number of other boats already present at the various dive sites. All dive sites visited are subject to weather conditions and are at the discretion of your dive guides and vessel captain.

Itineraries vary from 7 to 12 nights and include:

Komodo National Park

Raja Ampat

Raja Ampat & Banda Islands

Banda Sea

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