Manta Mae Liveaboard was launched in 2014 and is a modern replica of the native spice-trading vessel that enables you to experience the fabulous spirit of Indonesian culture and nature in an adventurous way.
The wooden schooner’s interior is ornately decorated with natural indigenous materials such as coral, shells, and fossil woods. The result is a breathtaking ambiance, unmatched within the fleet.
Its length of 30- and a beam of 7 meters caters to 9 guests on diving trips to astonishing Komodo National Park and Raja Ampat. These intimate trips may vary from 5 to 12 nights.
Manta Mae liveaboard offers a choice of 3 cabins with portholes for fresh air and daylight.
The large master cabin (18 sqm) has a king-size bed and an additional single bed. The two deluxe cabins (10 sqm) have a queen-size bed and one single bed.
All have en-suite bathrooms, air conditioning, TV, and a safety box. The comfortable beds are made up of luxurious Egyptian cotton sheets. Daily housekeeping is part of the service.
Manta Mae’s cordial and professional staff consists of 6 Indonesian members and two western cruise directors. We speak English, French, and Indonesian.
Personal attention is guaranteed. The indoor lounge area is well-appointed with modern conveniences like aircon, audio/video entertainment, and computers.
Outside, Manta Mae liveaboard has a leisure and sun deck, perfect for enjoying the seascapes, sunbathing, relaxing, and alfresco dining. At a fee, we offer internet, massages and a launderette.
Three meals and two snacks are served during the day. According to your preference, you can enjoy meals either family-style or as plate service at the dining table. If an individual cabin books the cruise, we are usually served by a single plate.
Manta Mae kitchen staff prepares tasty dishes of local and western origin. Vegetarian alternatives are offered. Special dietary requests need to be notified at the time of booking.
There are various soft drinks, juices, teas, and coffees from the espresso machine in the Bar. Alcoholic beverages are available at a surcharge.
On every trip, Manta Mae organizes a beach BBQ on one of the many deserted tropical islands.
The dive deck is equipped with fresh water rinse tanks and warm water showers. The use of nitrox and diving gear is complimentary.
A zodiac brings divers and snorkelers to the most pristine dive sites with beautiful corals and marine life.
Manta Mae offers you the use of a water ski as well as kayaks. Land excursions of natural or cultural interest are optional.
Year built: 2014
Length: 30 meters
Beam: 7 meters
Top speed: 9 knots
Cruising speed: 7 – 9 knots
Engines: Mitsubishi M/E type 8DC9 295 HP
Max guests: 9
Number of cabins: 3
Number of bathrooms: 4
Tenders: 1 RIB tender 5.2 MT with outboard 100 HP engine +1 RIB tender 4 MT with 25HP engine
Water capacity: 6000 liters
Fuel capacity: 6500 liters
✓ Radar
✓ GPS
✓ Radio VHF/DSC/SSB
✓ Emergency Rafts
✓ Life Vests
✓ Oxygen
✓ First Aid Kits
✓ Satellite & mobile phones
✓ Crew trained in first aid
Manta Mae liveaboard, a traditional crafted Indonesian spice trade vessel, provides guests with Indonesia's spirit on their dive trip.
Day 1. Ambon
Pick up at your hotel or Ambon airport by our crew for a short transfer to Teluhu Bay, where Mantamae awaits you. Once onboard, welcome drink in hand, you will be introduced to the rest of the crew, shown around, and immediately start to feel at home. We’ll have a check muck dive at Teluhu Bay. The Intensity of marine life here is unrivaled; critters benefit from the nutrient-rich currents pushing into this bay but are still protected by sheltered waters in the many small coves. This unique combination creates conditions that nourish an incredible ecosystem, making it one of the richest and most exciting places to dive. In the late afternoon, we’ll set sail for the Banda Islands.
Day 2. Banda Islands
The Banda area offers a good variety of dive sites. Volcanic rocks at Pulau Pisang create a deep swim-through that you can drift through and view the sponge-covered wall on the other side, perhaps spotting Moral eels at the top of the wall as well as schools of bump head parrotfish. We’ll also dive at the black sand of Batu Kapal in Banda’s harbor, a submerged pinnacle, breaking the surface of the water in the shape of a boat which offers muck diving with flying gurnards spreading their electric blue wings, sea moth, nudibranchs and the mandarin fish. Various types of fish are present in vast numbers, along with huge gorgonian fans and some truly monumental sponges. We’ll also have a wall dive at Tanjung Burung with a strong current.
Day 3. Pulau Hatta
Once known as Rozengain, Pulau Hatta is a stunning flying-saucer-shaped island of jungle-swathed limestone trimmed with white sand. It offers some of the finest underwater panoramas and is considered one of the world’s best-snorkeling sites. Long white beaches edged with swaying palms, unspoiled reefs, and superb diving at the Hatta Arch, Takat Hatta Reef, and Tj Buton make Hatta everyone’s favorite destination.
Day 4. Pulau Run
Early morning we’ll sail to Pulau Run to dive at Tanjung Noret, Tanjun Lokon, and Pulau Nailaka, all great locations with white sandy slopes interspaced with large coral heads and healthy reefs. This region is full of unexplored dive sites, and the Banda Sea is the perfect location for the discovery of new underwater treasures. This tiny island has a fascinating history, too; in 1667, the English traded Run for New Amsterdam (now Manhattan), giving the Dutch full control of the Banda archipelago and the nutmeg trade.
Day 5. Pulau Ai
Very few divers witness Pulau Ai’s unspoiled reef’s true nature – a secret in the middle of the Banda Sea reached by live-aboard only. This area acts as an oasis for pelagics that cruise by these pristine hard coral reefs cloaked in clouds of fish – Napoleon wrasse, green and hawksbill turtle, tuna, rainbow runner, vast schools of barracuda mixing with schools of bannerfish, red tooth triggers, and fusiliers. Batu Payung, Umbrella Rock, is named for the many overhangs along the island walls, which divers can drift along and enjoy the thousands of tiny reef fish darting in and out of the cracks crevices. We’ll also have night dive at Mandarine City.
Day 6-7. Banda Island
Back at Banda Neira, you will have the chance to explore the fabled islands’ historical and cultural legacies, the center of the former lucrative spice trade. Wandering through the town, you’ll observe the Dutch colonial architecture, which remains to this day, as well as Fort Belgica with its incredible views overlooking the bay. During the day, we’ll dive around the Lighthouse Reef, one of the Lava Flow sites under the volcano, and we’ll also have a night dive close to the harbor at Mandarine City.
Day 7-8. Pulau Suanggi
Early morning, we cruise towards the northern island of Banda Neira, Pulau Suanggi, stopping on the way to dive at Pulau Pisang Barat. At Pulau Suanggi, we’ll dive at Tanjung Selatan and Tanjung Utara, where it’s possible to see schooling o hammerhead sharks. Late afternoon we’ll sail to Nusa Laut.
Day 8. Nusa Laut – Pulau Molana
Early morning, we arrive at the beautiful Ahmet Reef in Nusa Laut. The locals have introduced sustainable methods to protect their reefs, and their efforts have produced excellent results. We’ll dive at Nildesperandum and at Karang Duisburg, where white tips and reef sharks patrol the depths, playful turtles can be spotted, and In October and November, there’s the chance of diving with Hammerhead sharks.) We might choose to visit the fort and the waterfall here or sail to Pulau Molana for one more wall dive. The shallow wall breaks in places, and in the sandy slopes, ribbon eels, small pipefish, and moray eels can be found. Above the reef, turtles are seen feeding in the beautiful coral garden.
Day 9. Ambon – departure day
We’ll transfer you to your accommodation or to the airport to catch your next flight.
Marine Life: Snapper, bumphead, blunt head parrotfish, turtles, sharks, moray eels, dog-toothed tuna, fusiliers, jacks, Hammerhead, thresher, and silvertip sharks, mobula rays, whales, dolphins, and much more.
Please note that the itineraries are examples only; we reserve the right to change the itinerary or specific agreed services if force majeure, unforeseen or unavoidable circumstances require us to do so.
This is a sample itinerary. Route and trip dates may be altered if approved by the vessel’s captain. Enquire to discuss your perfect charter.
Day 1. Arrival at Sorong
Day 2 – 5 Misool a diving Paradise
Day 6. Penemu – Fam Island
Day 7. Wayag
Day 8. Kawe
Day 9. Pulau Wofoh – Gam Island – Arborek
Day 10. Arborek – Dampier Strait
Day 11. Sorong – Departure day
Marine Life: At least 75 percent of all coral species can be found in Raja Ampat. Divers can expect a range of topography from soft corals and sea fans to hard corals, seagrass beds, mangroves, shallow reefs, deep drop-offs, caves, black sand, and white sand. Giant manta rays, sea turtles, sharks, cuttlefish, pipefish, various seahorse species, and massive schools of reef fish are the norm, plus the delightful wobbegong sharks and epaulet sharks inhabit these waters too.
This is a sample itinerary. Route and trip dates may be altered if approved by the vessel’s captain. Enquire to discuss your perfect charter.
Day 1. Arrival at Sorong
Day 2 – 5 Misool a diving Paradise
Day 6. Penemu – Fam Island
Day 7. Wayag
Day 8. Kawe
Day 9. Pulau Wofoh – Gam Island – Arborek
Day 10. Arborek – Dampier Strait
Day 11. Sorong – Departure day
Marine Life: At least 75 percent of all coral species can be found in Raja Ampat. Divers can expect a range of topography from soft corals and sea fans to hard corals, seagrass beds, mangroves, shallow reefs, deep drop-offs, caves, black sand, and white sand. Giant manta rays, sea turtles, sharks, cuttlefish, pipefish, various seahorse species, and massive schools of reef fish are the norm, plus the delightful wobbegong sharks and epaulet sharks inhabit these waters too.
This is a sample itinerary. Route and trip dates may be altered if approved by the vessel’s captain. Enquire to discuss your perfect charter.
Day 1. Arrival at Sorong
Day 2 – 5 Misool a diving Paradise
Day 6. Penemu – Fam Island
Day 7. Wayag
Day 8. Kawe
Day 9. Pulau Wofoh – Gam Island – Arborek
Day 10. Arborek – Dampier Strait
Day 11. Sorong – Departure day
Marine Life: At least 75 percent of all coral species can be found in Raja Ampat. Divers can expect a range of topography from soft corals and sea fans to hard corals, seagrass beds, mangroves, shallow reefs, deep drop-offs, caves, black sand, and white sand. Giant manta rays, sea turtles, sharks, cuttlefish, pipefish, various seahorse species, and massive schools of reef fish are the norm, plus the delightful wobbegong sharks and epaulet sharks inhabit these waters too.
Included: VAT, Accommodation, Complimentary toiletries, Transfers/pickups from airport, Personal diving gear, Tanks, Weights, Belts, Divemaster services, All meals, Free Nitrox, Towels Provided, Transfers/pickups from a hotel, Snorkel Gear, Kayaks
Excluded: National Parks Entrance Fees – For Raja Ampat 100 USD. For Komodo avg 15 USD Per day per person, Fuel Surcharge (up to 5 hours navigation per day no extra fuel surcharge) based upon true costs. It changes based on cruise itinerary, Diving Courses, International and domestic flight tickets, Hotels and meals before and after the cruise, Alcoholic drinks and Wine, Travel insurance (mandatory ), DAN Insurance or similar, Souvenirs, Crew gratuities, WIFI satellite connection (60 USD per day / per person)
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