Indonesia Dive Liveaboards
The Raja Ampat island group in Indonesia's West Papua province is known for its incredible biodiversity but yet still remains virtually untouched by tourism. By joining a liveaboard dive cruise, you can be one of the first to visit this beautiful island group and experience genuinely pristine environments both below and above the water.
Whether your preference is for macro photography or for action packed big fish diving you will not be disappointed. The larger species you are likely to encounter include giant Mantas, Mobula rays (often in large numbers), large schools of Barracuda, Jacks, Mackeral, as well as Wobbegong sharks, Tawny sharks and many others. Macro enthusiasts can see Blue Ringed Octopus, Mimic Octopus, numerous types of Pygmy Seahorse, Ghost Pipefish, Frogfish, Mandarin fish and a huge variety of strange and wonderful molluscs and crustaceans.
A biodiversity survey conducted by “Conservation International”, suggests that "due to it's location near the heart of the coral triangle coupled with an amazing diversity of marine habitats, the area is 
potentially the world's richest in terms of marine biodiversity" - Mc Kenna, Allen and Suryadi (April 2002). The findings of this project showed more species diversity than any other area previously surveyed worldwide. A similar survey was repeated the following year by a different independent NGO, The Nature Conservancy, which also concluded that Raja Ampat has the highest biodiversity of both fish, and coral species. To date, there are a known total of 970 fish species, 565 hard coral species and 699 species of molluscs.
Above the surface, the Raja Ampat islands offer some of the most beautiful and dramatic island scenery to be found anywhere. Shakti's itineraries offer a chance to see completely untouched rainforest and mangrove environments as well as dramatic karst limestone island groups. These forests are home to some of the world’s rarest and most exotic bird species which include various types of Parrots, Cockatoos and the famous Birds of Paradise.
The Shakti has been permanently based in Raja Ampat since 2002. During this time David and his team have extensively explored the area for new dive sites and can now offer diving itineraries to previously unknown locations.
Note - Shakti cruises require a minimum of 6 passenger to confirm departure. Individual bookings are confirmed through receipt of a 25% deposit. In the event that the required minimum six passengers have not been confirmed by six weeks prior to the departure date, Shakti's cruise director may decide to cancel the cruise, in which case the 25% deposit will be refunded in full including any bank charges that have been incurred.
Day 2: After an early morning sail we arrive at Manta point, where some channels between a shallow reef systems provide a good place for manta's and other large rays to hang in the current feeding on plankton, and a perfect place for us to dive with them! Our second dive is at Andy's reef. A ridge, which rises out of deep water to 8m and slopes off steeply on each side. This ridge provides a home for thousands of fish both big and small. As the current picks up huge shoals of silverside and the smaller fish come close to the reefs, flashing as the sunlight catches them, as they avoid the big hunting Tuna's and Jacks. Our third dive is at Fam wall, a excellent place to spot some more unusual critters such as, Mandarin fish and juvenile cuttle fish hiding amongst the coral at the bottom of the wall.
Day 3: South Fam Wall, a great dive starting just before the point where there?s lots a action as the big fish hunt in the current. Drifting around the corner and out of the current we can explore all the excellent macro life on the wall. This site you can find the rare yellow pigmy seahorse and lots of other critter such as Orang utan crabs and many nudibranchs. The second dive is called Melissa?s garden, and it really is a garden! Hardly a spot that isn?t covered in soft, hard or fan corals. Our third dive is another Garden, this time Anita?s garden, a great relaxing afternoon dive looking for Wobbigong sharks that lie in wait for their prey under big coral blocks.
Day 4: Equator Islands is our first dive. Literally a chance to dive across the equator! Possible to find Harlequin shrimps hiding under rocks in the shallows at the end of the dive. An adrenalin packed second dive at white rock. Huge schools of Jacks, surgeon fish, barracuda, and dog tooth tuna keep you company as you watch out for the occasional big gray reef shark to come cruising by. Our last dive is around a tiny islet with a single tree on it, hence the name, ?one tree rock? Very interesting topography, with walls, slopes, flats, caverns and huge boulders all on one dive!
Day 5: We arrive in Wayag, a stunning group of islands formed from Karst limestone and covered in jungle. The main island has many beautiful lagoons with hundreds of tiny mushroom shaped islets dotted around in the still blue water. This breathtaking scenery is often compared to Pulau?s famous islands and described as a ?James Bond? set! First dive is a small island just to the north west of Wayag. A steep wall drops to 35m where huge house like boulders are home to giant dogtooth tunas and trevalleys. Another island with no name is the site for the second dive, following the slope down the west side we come to a large underwater sea mound covered in big sea fans and coral.
The last dive is at Twin Island, one of the most beautiful coral dives of the trip. A shallow slope to the south of the island has a magnificent coral garden, crammed with table coral, soft and fan corals. There are always big schools of surgeonfish and midnight, Andaman and lined sweet lips to keep you company, and for the macro photographers this is a great place to spot some of the more unusual nudibranches.
Day 6: The first dive of the morning is close to the anchorage, a beautiful reef around one of the many unique mushroom shaped islands that are dotted around Wayag Island. For the second dive we sail around to the east of Wayag Island, a good chance to get some above water photos of the stunning top side scenery. This dive is full of surprises as the topography is continually changing. We drift along a vertical wall to start the dive, and as we round the small island there is a huge arch, big enough for a bus to drive through!! As we swim through the arch, there are small caves in the island on the other side, with every type of snapper you?ve ever seen and much more. It is also a good place to see gray reef sharks and mantas cruising past in the blue water beyond the arch.
KLM Shakti is a traditional-style Pinisi sailing schooner able to cover large distances in a short time carrying up to 13 divers in Air-conditioned comfort. Her sleek lines and modern equipment mix with her traditional massive sail plan and rigging to offer the sensation of cruising West Papua's Raja Ampat Islands and the other eastern islands of Indonesia in a time honored fashion but in the maximum of comfort.
SHAKTI was launched from the famous boat building beaches of southern Sulawesi where she was designed and built by her owner David Pagliari.