.jpeg)
Raja Ampat in West Papua is broadly accessible by two formats: liveaboard diving vessels, which roam the archipelago with a dive-first itinerary, and small-group expeditions, which combine sailing, snorkeling, diving, and island life with a curated group of guests. Both are extraordinary. They're designed for very different kinds of travellers.
Liveaboards like the Pindito, Dewi Nusantara, and MSY Seahorse are purpose-built dive platforms. You sleep onboard, eat onboard, dive multiple times per day, and drift between remote atolls with a programme designed around maximising dive time. Groups typically run 12–16 guests. The social dynamic is dive-focused — you bond over dives, buoy briefings, and debriefs at the dinner table.
This is the format for experienced divers who want access to dive sites unreachable from land, who are happy spending 3–4 hours underwater per day, and who are comfortable with the social lottery of sharing a small vessel with a dozen strangers.
Maui's Raja Ampat expedition is structured differently. Maximum 8 guests, all pre-selected through an application process, sailing between pristine islands on a traditional vessel. The programme includes diving and snorkeling, but the experience extends beyond the waterline: island exploration, cultural encounters, long dinners, and the kind of conversations that happen when 8 compatible people are somewhere truly remote together.
This format suits travellers who want the marine wildlife AND the expedition atmosphere. Who want to be in the water, but also on a deserted beach at sunset with people they've chosen — or been chosen alongside.
Choose a liveaboard if: you're a certified diver who wants maximum dive time and access to remote sites, and you're comfortable with a larger, self-selecting group.
Choose a Maui expedition if: you want the complete Raja Ampat experience — the ocean encounters, the island life, and the people — and you want to be certain the group you share it with is worth sharing it with.
.png)
.svg)