- Iconic
- Nitrox included
- 4 cabins left
Galápagos Darwin and Wolf
Darwin and Wolf schooling hammerheads with whale shark encounters in season.
- 5.0(287 reviews)
- Galápagos, Ecuador
- Pacific Giants Liveaboard
- Length
- 10 nights
- Dives
- Up to 28
- Guests
- 16 max
- Cabins
- 8
- Guide ratio
- 1:4
- Nitrox
- Included
Raja Ampat holds the highest recorded marine biodiversity on earth — over 1,600 fish species and three quarters of all known coral species inside an area you can cover in ten nights. The catch is that it is genuinely remote: there is no way to dive the best of it from land, which is why liveaboards dominate here.
This itinerary is the one experienced divers ask for, because it covers both halves of the archipelago. Misool in the south delivers the soft coral walls and the photography people come for. Dampier Strait in the north delivers the current-fed action: manta cleaning stations at Manta Sandy, schooling fish at Cape Kri, and the mangrove shallows at Yangeffo.
The Papua Explorer is a traditional phinisi rebuilt in 2019 with air-conditioned cabins, a shaded dive deck with individual stations, and two tenders so groups of four splash together instead of waiting.
- Advanced certification required
- Park fees handled onboard
- Naturalist-guided land excursion
Dates and prices
Every confirmed departure with live cabin availability. Select one to price your trip.
| Dates | Nights | Itinerary | Availability | From | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 8 – 18, 2026 | 10 | Misool & Dampier | 4 cabins | $4,890members $4,595 | |
| Nov 20 – 30, 2026Last cabin | 10 | Misool & Dampier | 1 cabins | $4,890members $4,595 | |
| Dec 3 – 13, 2026Price drop | 10 | Misool & Dampier | 6 cabins | $4,590members $4,290 | |
| Dec 16 – 26, 2026Almost full | 10 | Festive Misool | 2 cabins | $5,290members $4,990 | |
| Jan 7 – 17, 2027Waitlist | 10 | Misool & Dampier | Sold out | $4,890members $4,595 | |
| Jan 20 – 30, 2027 | 10 | North Raja & Wayag | 8 cabins | $5,090members $4,790 |
Cabins and pricing
Prices are per person on the selected departure.
Day by day
Day 1
Board in Sorong
Transfer from the airport, check dive, briefing, and overnight steam south.
Day 2–4
Misool south
Boo Windows, Four Kings, Magic Mountain. Four dives daily including a night dive.
Day 5
Misool north
Soft coral walls and Nudi Rock, with an afternoon lagoon excursion.
Day 6
Crossing
Long steam north with two dives at Fiabacet and a talk on Raja conservation.
Day 7–9
Dampier Strait
Cape Kri, Blue Magic, Manta Sandy, Sardine Reef. Current-fed big fish diving.
Day 10
Yangeffo and mangroves
Shallow mangrove shooting, final dives, then steam to Sorong.
Day 11
Disembark
Breakfast onboard and transfer to Sorong airport after 8:00 AM.
Dive sites on this route
Cape Kri
Holds the record for most fish species counted in one dive
Manta Sandy
Reef manta cleaning station, best on incoming tide
Boo Windows
Two swim-through openings in a coral wall
Magic Mountain
Seamount with oceanic and reef mantas
Blue Magic
Current-swept pinnacle, schooling barracuda and trevally
Nudi Rock
Soft coral photography, macro and wide angle
What's included
Included
- 10 nights accommodation in your chosen cabin
- Up to 28 dives with guide, tanks, and weights
- Nitrox for certified divers
- All meals, snacks, soft drinks, tea and coffee
- Raja Ampat marine park fee
- Airport transfers in Sorong on trip dates
- Camera room with charging and rinse
Not included
- International and domestic flights to Sorong
- Dive insurance (mandatory)
- Equipment rental
- Alcoholic drinks
- Crew gratuity, typically 5–10%
- Indonesian visa on arrival if applicable
The vessel
- Type
- Traditional phinisi, rebuilt 2019
- Length
- 40 m / 131 ft
- Guests
- 16 in 8 cabins
- Crew
- 18 including 4 guides
- Tenders
- 2 aluminium dive tenders
- Compressors
- 2 plus nitrox membrane
Onboard
- Air conditioned cabins with ensuite
- Shaded upper sun deck
- Indoor salon and library
- Camera room with individual stations
- Freshwater maker
- Starlink connectivity
- Onboard nurse and oxygen
- Massage available
Dive deck
- Individual station with tank rack and box
- Two rinse tanks plus dedicated camera rinse
- Nitrox analyser at each fill
- Tender loading with gear pre-set
Three cooked meals and two snacks daily, alternating Indonesian and western. The galley handles vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and allergy requirements with two weeks notice.
Requirements and getting there
- Certification
- Advanced Open Water or equivalent
- Logged dives
- 50 minimum, 100 recommended
- Experience
- Current and drift diving essential
- Insurance
- Dive insurance mandatory, DAN accepted
- Last dive
- Ends 24 hours before flights
International
Fly to Jakarta or Makassar
Most divers route through Singapore or Jakarta, then take an overnight domestic connection.
Domestic
Jakarta / Makassar to Sorong (SOQ)
Garuda and Lion Air fly nightly. Arrive the morning of departure day or a night early.
Transfer
Included from SOQ
Crew meet you at arrivals and transfer to the harbour. Boarding from 2:00 PM.
Visa
Visa on arrival for most
30-day visa on arrival, extendable once. Passport valid six months beyond entry.
Payment and protection
25% deposit today
Secures your cabin. Fully refundable for 7 days.
Balance due 90 days before
Pay in up to 4 interest-free instalments.
Free date change
Move to another departure up to 120 days out, once, at no cost.
Trip protection available
Cancel for any reason coverage from 7% of trip cost.
Diver reviews
- HKSailed Oct 2026
Hannah Kruse
Hamburg, DE · 310 logged dives
November 2026
Both regions on one trip is the whole point
I had done a Dampier-only week before and it does not compare. Misool's soft coral is the reason to come and most itineraries skip it. Four guides for sixteen guests meant we always splashed in fours, never queued for the tender.
- DPSailed Sep 2026
Dev Patel
Singapore · 158 logged dives
October 2026
Camera room was better than my dive shop
Individual station, dedicated rinse, and actual charging capacity for sixteen photographers. Starlink meant I could back up and send images mid-trip. Nitrox on every dive without asking.
- MOSailed Aug 2026
Maya Ortiz
Austin, TX · 142 logged dives
September 2026
Brilliant, but respect the 50-dive minimum
The current at Blue Magic and Cape Kri is real and there were two divers aboard who were clearly out of their depth. Crew handled it well but it cost the group time. Go with buoyancy sorted.
Common questions
How many dives will I actually get?
Up to 28 across the ten nights, typically three day dives plus an optional night dive. Travel days and the final morning reduce the count slightly, and the last dive ends 24 hours before flights.
Is dive insurance really mandatory?
Yes, and it is checked at boarding. Raja Ampat is a long way from a chamber — the nearest is in Sorong and serious cases evacuate to Bali or Singapore. DAN, DiveAssure, and equivalent policies are accepted.
Can I book a single cabin without sharing?
Yes. Solo occupancy is priced at roughly 1.45× the twin share rate. We can also pair you with another solo diver of the same gender at the standard rate if you prefer.
What happens if the boat cancels?
You choose a full refund or transfer to any other departure within 24 months. WSN holds operator deposits in escrow until 30 days after your trip ends.
How rough is the crossing?
The Misool to Dampier steam is an overnight run in open water and can be moving. Most guests sleep through it. Bring seasickness medication even if you do not normally need it.
Compare with other boats in this region
Same destination, different budget and style.
| Vessel | Length | Guests | From | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSY Papua Explorer | 10 nights | 16 guests | $4,890 | This trip — Misool and Dampier |
| Damai II | 11 nights | 12 guests | $7,450 | Luxury, photographer focused |
| Mermaid Liveaboards | 8 nights | 16 guests | $3,690 | Dampier only, better value |
| Samambaia | 10 nights | 14 guests | $5,980 | Misool focused, high crew ratio |