A Liveaboard Diving Journey from Raja Ampat to North Halmahera

Guests board Malaillo in Sorong before the vessel sets sail toward Friwin in Dampier Strait, once port formalities are complete. This first day marks the start of a cross-regional journey from West Papua toward North Maluku.

Begin diving in Dampier Strait with a check dive at Friwin, followed by Cape Kri and Sawandarek. The day introduces guests to lush coral gardens, turtles, trevally, barracuda, reef sharks, wobbegong sharks, and the rich marine life that makes a Raja Ampat liveaboard so memorable.

Explore Penemu with two dives at Melissa’s Garden, known for its hard-coral scenery, followed by Keruo Channel with Napoleon wrasse and turtles. The day ends with a night dive at Galaxy, where crustaceans and possible walking shark sightings add to the experience.

Continue the journey around Kawa with dives at Eagle Rock, Black Rock, and Eight Figure Rock. These sites bring together mantas, wobbegong sharks, sweetlips, macro life, and a night dive in Wayag Bay before the route moves deeper into the northern part of Raja Ampat.

Start the day with a morning trek to the famous Wayag viewpoint, where limestone peaks rise above clear blue water. In the afternoon, dive Wayag Rock and Far Out Rock for sharks, parrotfish, and dramatic underwater topography before ending with a night dive in Wayag Bay.

Enjoy two relaxed dives at Bump Head Reef and Sayang Channel, with chances to see bumphead parrotfish, turtles, and macro life. After the second dive, Malaillo begins cruising north toward Morotai, shifting the journey from Raja Ampat’s classic sites toward North Maluku exploration.

Begin the day with wartime history at the Bristol Plane Wreck, where remains from Bristol Beaufort aircraft lie alongside jeeps and tyres on a sloping reef. Continue with wall dives around Tanjung Liku, where reef sharks are commonly seen, before ending with a night dive at Tanjung Pandanga and the chance to encounter epaulette sharks.

Spend the day diving Womouw Seamount, where steep drop-offs and hard-coral tops attract schooling fish around the reef. After three dives around the seamount, the day continues with a night dive on Metita House Reef.

Spend the day around Kolorai, where The Canyon, Susi Wreck, and Kolorai Reef bring together coral life, reef fish, and wreck exploration. This section gives the route a stronger North Halmahera diving character, with a night dive at Kolorai Reef.

Dive around Doi, where Jackpot, Wonderwall, and The Boulder offer ridges, caverns, and active marine life. Guests may encounter reef sharks, tuna, schooling fish, and varied reef scenery before ending the day with a night dive at The Boulder.

Dive around Dagasuli, where sloping reefs, hard-coral gardens, seamount scenery, and soft corals create a varied underwater setting. Large groups of fusiliers, surgeonfish, sweetlips, Napoleon wrasse, and reef sharks may be seen moving around the reef.

Complete the diving programme around Nusa Kahatole and the Loloda area with two final dives. The sites feature sloping reefs covered with hard-coral gardens, large bommies, sea fans, and gorgonians, with schooling fusiliers, surgeonfish, Napoleon wrasse, and reef sharks often seen around the reef.

After breakfast, guests disembark in Ternate, closing the journey from Raja Ampat’s biodiversity to North Maluku’s reefs, wrecks, and exploration sites.