Emperor Raja Laut 8D7N

The Emperor Raja Laut liveaboard 8D7N Komodo Island lets you see the raw strength and beauty of Komodo National Park from the deck of a famous Indonesian schooner. This 8-day trip on the beautiful wooden Emperor Raja Laut is carefully planned to show off the park’s most famous dive sites. It combines world-class diving with the timeless elegance of traditional Phinisi sailing. You will explore the exciting, current-swept canals of the north at famous places like Batu Bolong and Crystal Rock, where sharks, manta rays, and huge schools of fish are abundant. Then you will find the colorful coral gardens and manta cleaning stations of the south. This 8-day liveaboard trip to Komodo is great for divers who want to see the island’s famous biodiversity in a real and exciting way. The boat itself symbolizes the essence of Indonesian nautical tradition.

The Emperor Raja Laut Komodo Island cruise is a wonderfully timed excursion that mixes exciting dives with cultural experiences that will stay with you forever. The 8-day itinerary gives you enough of time to thoroughly see Komodo’s many ecosystems, and it also includes important land trips to see the powerful Komodo dragons on Rinca Island. On the magnificently made Emperor Raja Laut, you’ll feel the real rhythm of a liveaboard trip. During the day, you’ll explore underwater venues, and at night, you’ll rest on the teak deck under a blanket of stars. This trip is the best choice for the ambitious diver who wants a real Komodo liveaboard experience that focuses on real exploration instead of modern luxury. It combines exciting dives, famous wildlife sightings, and traditional sailing to make memories that will last a lifetime.

Dives: Approximately 18 dives in total

Experience: Advanced Open Water – 50 minimum logged dives

Central Section – dives including:

• Gili Lawa Lawa: Castle Rock, Crystal Rock, Shotgun, Lighthouse Reef and Golden Passage.
• Tatawa: Tatawa Kecil and Tatawa Besar.
• Sebayor: Sebayor Kecil and Sebayor Mini Wall.
• Makasar Reef: Manta feeding and cleaning.
• Wai Nilu: Critter dive near the entrance to Rinca Drago Walk Ranger station.
• Batu Bolong: Rock outcrop in the middle of the Komodo channel. (Dive protected side).

Southern Section – dives including:

• Padar: Three Sisters and Secret Garden.
• Nusa Kode: Cannibal Rock, Yellow Wall of Texas, Boulders, and Torpedo Alley.
• Manta Alley: South Komodo if conditions permit. Manta cleaning stations.

Note: Divers going to South Komodo need to realize the temperatures can drop from 28°C down to around 20°C. A 5mm wetsuit and hood is highly recommended for this region. Water temperature in the central and northern sections of the park averages 27-28°C.

This itinerary is not for beginners and most dives will involve going to depth and currents can be strong. Emperor recommends that you have 50 logged dives to join this trip. We require that you are Advanced Open Water or equivalent. If you are Open Water or equivalent you will be required to take part in the Advanced Open Water course on board. All diving is made from zodiacs to give precise entry and exit points.