Seven Seas

More than 1500 islands make up the Raja Ampat archipelago off the Bird’s Head of West Papua. These islands and their surrounding coral reefs support the richest tropical marine bio-diversity found anywhere in the world.

The area includes 4.6 million hectares of diverse marine habitats and is home to more than 1,000 species of fish, 700 species of mollusks, and some 540 species of hard corals (75% of the world’s total!). Larger marine life includes sperm whales, baleen whales, and even orcas coming through this area, and there are green turtle nesting beaches on the island of Sayang in the North.

No wonder that this ecosystem attracts more and more divers and other tourists and is a focus area for the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism and Culture and the private sector for eco-tourism development. Several resorts are have started up in the Raja Ampat archipelago, but due to the immense size of the area, the large distances between the top sites, and the great variety of islands in different parts of this region, a comfortable liveaboard like the Seven Seasis still the very best way to explore Raja Ampat. And the Seven Seas has all the local knowledge and experience to be your number one choice for this adventure.

Some of the highlights of a Raja Ampat cruise with the Seven Seas include the great diving, snorkeling, and cave exploring around the rocky islands off South East Misool, the coral reefs of the Fam Island group, the fish and manta rays of the Dampier straight, the critter diving at Batanta and in Aljui Bay, and of course the great karst formations of the Wayag Archipelago up North.

Kayaking among the beehive-shaped karst formations in the Wagmab Island chain in the South is nothing short of stunning, and scattered deserted beaches throughout the Raja Ampat islands make for excellent sunset hideaways. Village visits are unique throughout this region. Paradise birds can be seen at various locations, and an enormously extended Atoll can be found around Ayau Island in Pacific waters in the far North. Of course, for the real adventurers willing to explore this vast archipelago, many islands and reefs are still unexplored, and many new highlights yet to be discovered.

Day 1: Seven Seas crew will transfer the Guests from the Airport to the ship. After an excellent Welcome briefing by our Cruise Director, cabin allocation and ship orientation will occur; Guests can familiarize themselves with the vessel, set up equipment, and get comfortable.

Day 2-13: A maximum of 4 dives per day are offered onboard: 3-day dives and a night dive.

Day 14: Check out. Seven Seas crew will transfer the Guests to the Airport.

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.

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 epaulette sharks inhabit these waters too.

More than 1500 islands make up the Raja Ampat archipelago off the Bird’s Head of West Papua. These islands and their surrounding coral reefs support the richest tropical marine bio-diversity found anywhere in the world.

The area includes 4.6 million hectares of diverse marine habitats and is home to more than 1,000 species of fish, 700 species of mollusks, and some 540 species of hard corals (75% of the world’s total!). Larger marine life includes sperm whales, baleen whales, and even orcas coming through this area, and there are green turtle nesting beaches on the island of Sayang in the North.

No wonder this ecosystem attracts more and more diverse and other tourists and is a focus area for the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism and Culture and the private sector for eco-tourism development. Several resorts are have started up in the Raja Ampat archipelago. Still, due to the immense size of the area, the large distances between the top sites, and the great variety of islands in different parts of this region, a comfortable liveaboard like the Seven Seas is the very best way to explore Raja Ampat. And the Seven Seas has all the local knowledge and experience to be your number one choice for this adventure.

Some of the highlights of a Raja Ampat cruise with the Seven Seas include the great diving, snorkeling, and cave exploring around the rocky islands off South East Misool, the coral reefs of the Fam Island group, the fish and manta rays of the Dampier straight, the critter diving at Batanta and in Aljui Bay, and of course the great karst formations of the Wayag Archipelago up North. Kayaking among the beehive-shaped karst formations in the Wagmab Island chain in the South is nothing short of stunning, and scattered deserted beaches throughout the Raja Ampat islands make for excellent sunset hideaways.

Village visits are unique throughout this region, birds of Paradise can be seen at various locations, and an enormously extended Atoll can be found around Ayau Island in Pacific waters in the far North. Of course, for the real adventurers willing to explore this vast archipelago, many islands and reefs are still unexplored, and many new highlights yet to be discovered…

Banda Sea

Once sought by Columbus and Marco Polo, the Banda Islands were the original Spice Islands and the most coveted destination on earth, particularly by the Dutch and Portuguese who colonized the islands and exported the indigenous nutmeg and cloves. History tells of a violent past under colonial rule. Now, the seas around these tropical paradise islands are coveted for their spectacular diving and snorkeling on some of the world’s richest reefs, unspoiled corals, and large pelagic fish.

Steep drop-offs, impressive hard coral, and some fast currents make this area absolutely breathtaking. Schools of jacks are a familiar sight: large tuna, many turtles, Napoleon wrasse, groupers, rays, sharks, and large lobsters. Great visibility is a blessing here, and there are also some special critter sites.

The Banda Sea is surrounded by islands from the large islands of Buru, Halmahera, Ambon, and Seram in the north towards Gorom, Kei, and Aru in the east, the islands of Tanimbar, Wetar, and Reong, and a series of smaller islands such as Babar and Moa, touching East Timor in the south. Ambon Bay is host to some of Indonesia’s best critter diving. The nearby island of Halmahera is still largely unexplored and has recently produced some stunning sites.

Gunung Api is an isolated volcanic peak rising from the heart of the Banda Sea. Surrounded by crystal clear waters, this uninhabited island is home to thousands of nesting seabirds. Exuding sulfur above and below the landmark, the water is also home to extraordinary numbers of banded kraits (sea snakes), which have become a special attraction for divers. It’s not unusual to have swarms of these non-aggressive sea snakes around you while diving on Gunung Api.

The 5 tiny atolls of Lucipara in the middle of the Banda Sea are the tops of undersea mountains rising over a mile from the ocean floor. The uninhabited beaches are ideal green turtle nesting sites, while the reef’s breathtaking drop-off to ocean waters is ideal for diving and snorkeling. A highlight here is night diving with the rare Photoblepheron bandanensis, more commonly known as the “flashlight fish.”

Sample Itinerary:

Day 1: Seven Seas crew will transfer the guests from the airport to the ship. After a nice Welcome briefing by our Cruise Director, cabin allocation and ship orientation will occur; Guests can familiarize themselves with the vessel, set up equipment, and get comfortable.

Day 2 – 14: A maximum of 4 dives per day are offered onboard: 3-day dives and a night dive.

Day 15: Check out. Seven Seas crew will transfer the Guests to the Airport.

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 epaulette sharks inhabit these waters too.

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.

Snorkelers or other adventurers are also welcome.

Spectacular diving and snorkeling
Sensational kayaking in the shallow bays, especially in the mangrove forests
Slow afternoon cruise with one of the tenders – get up-close-and-personal with the stunning land scenery
Bird spotting – find the elusive Bird of Paradise from the water
Hiking into the forest to experience the diversity of birds and animals
We have several contacts with the local people who can guide you on your search for mysterious birds and plants
Fishing – unexplored fly-fishing for bonefish or deep water trolling for marlin and sailfish

>1,000 species of fish >700 mollusks>540 species of scleractinian (hard) corals = 75% of the world total 4.6 million hectares of reefs, seagrass beds, mangroves, and rocky coastline low resident human population and minimal industrial development