Over fifty boats work Raja Ampat. The daily rate rarely shows the full cost, and most boats have fewer than five Divebooker reviews to go on. Seven are worth comparing, across three budget tiers.
The order rests on verified Divebooker data, operator track record and the checks in the next section. For the planning context, including entry costs, experience requirements and how to get to Sorong, read the Raja Ampat liveaboards planning guide first.
All pricing is per person per day, and all prices and ratings are as of May 2026.
What to check before you choose
Sorong routing. Every boat departs from and returns to Sorong (SOQ). What differs is transfer handling, airport coordination, and how the boat manages the park fees and the entry-fee paperwork. Established operators do this smoothly. Newer boats vary.
Nitrox. Raja Ampat runs 3–4 dives per day. Most boats offer nitrox at a surcharge ($100–150 a week), and a small number have no nitrox at all. Confirm before booking if it matters to you.
Guide experience. The Dampier Strait sites (Cape Kri, Sardine Reef, Manta Sandy) depend on the current. A guide who knows when to enter, how to position the group and when to abort is not interchangeable. Check that the guide-to-diver ratio is one guide to four divers or better, and look for boats that state guide experience in their listings. Our top pick, Calico Jack, runs one guide to five divers, which is below that bar, so weigh it against its 10-guest maximum and the marine biologist on board.
Itinerary coverage. Not all Raja Ampat itineraries are equal. A good one covers the Dampier Strait (north) and at minimum reaches the Four Kings area. The better ones push south toward Misool. If Misool is non-negotiable for you, confirm coverage before booking, because not all 7-night itineraries reach it.
Our top Raja Ampat liveaboards
Seven boats, in ranked order. These are "from" prices as of May 2026, so check current dates and prices on Divebooker before you commit.
| Boat | Best for | 7 nights from | Nitrox |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calico Jack | Serious divers, marine life, a small group | About $2,464 | Surcharge |
| Emperor Raja Laut | True all-in pricing, an intimate 12-guest boat | About $3,024 | Included |
| Seahorse | Nitrox divers, connectivity, structured dive operations | About $3,024 | Included |
| Mermaid II | Experienced divers, multi-destination Indonesia trips | About $2,135 | Surcharge |
| Neptune One | Budget-conscious divers, a newer vessel | About $2,114 | Surcharge |
| Sea Safari 8 | Dive clubs, groups of 8+ | About $3,430 | Surcharge |
| Scubaspa Zen | Luxury divers, mixed dive and wellness groups | About $4,326 | Surcharge |
1. Calico Jack
$352/day · 7 nights from about $2,464
A 30-metre phinisi built in 2014, with a maximum of 10 guests, one guide to five divers and an onboard marine biologist who delivers detailed pre-dive briefings on what you are about to see and why. That combination gives a different underwater experience from a 20-guest boat where the guide is managing a crowd.
Departs Sorong (SOQ) · 10 guests · Nitrox: surcharge
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I've sent clients on this boat and the feedback has been consistent: the dive quality is the best they've experienced in Raja Ampat.
Manie Eksteen, PADI Staff Instructor
It is not the newest boat on this list or the most glamorous, and it is there for the diving, not the Instagram shots. 3–4 dives per day including night dives, full board, kayaks and SUP boards. Nitrox and Wi-Fi are at a surcharge. This is a remote location, so manage expectations on Wi-Fi for every boat.
I have personally sent guests on this boat, know the owners and overall a great operation…
Manie Eksteen, PADI Staff Instructor
2. Emperor Raja Laut
$432/day · 7 nights from about $3,024
Most boats advertise a daily rate that leaves out the roughly USD 300–470 per person you will pay in nitrox and park fees on top. Emperor Raja Laut includes nitrox and park and port fees in the daily rate, so the $432 a day you see is the real daily cost, apart from the entry fee, while a lower headline rate understates it by roughly $43–67 a day.
Departs Sorong (SOQ) · 12 guests · Nitrox: included
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It is a 31-metre wooden schooner built on a 19th-century Baltic trader design and renovated in 2018, with just 12 guests. Free Wi-Fi is included, and the rating is 5.0★ across 2 verified reviews. The Emperor Fleet is an established operator in Indonesian liveaboard diving.
3. Seahorse
$432/day · 7 nights from about $3,024
Nitrox is included in the rate for certified divers, and there is Starlink internet (up to 5GB, which matters in a remote destination), a 5.0★ rating and one guide to four divers. The boat is a 33-metre vessel with 16 guests, built in 2005 and renovated in 2018. Wallacea Dive Cruises runs it with a focus on structured dive operations rather than a resort-style atmosphere. 3 dives per day, plus night dives when conditions allow.
Departs Sorong (SOQ) · 16 guests · Nitrox: included
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As with Emperor Raja Laut, at $432 a day with nitrox and Starlink included, the real-cost conversation is different from boats listed cheaper with both as surcharges.
4. Mermaid II
$305/day · 7 nights from about $2,135
Mermaid II has the highest review count of any boat here (4 verified reviews at 4.6★), and the track record behind it is longer than its Divebooker page suggests. Mermaid Liveaboards has run Indonesian routes for over two decades, and transfers, paperwork and itinerary execution run smoothly.
Departs Sorong (SOQ) · 18 guests · Nitrox: surcharge
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It has 18 guests across 10 cabins on a 33-metre steel-hulled vessel renovated in 2018, covering Raja Ampat, Komodo and Banda Sea routes. It suits divers who prioritise proven operator reliability and want to chain Indonesian destinations across several trips.
5. Neptune One
$302/day · 7 nights from about $2,114
Neptune One was built in 2017 and renovated in 2023, the most recently updated vessel in the sub-$350 a day tier on this list. That matters: many budget boats in Raja Ampat are ageing phinisi vessels with deferred maintenance. It has 16 guests across 8 cabins, is 39 metres long, has free Wi-Fi and a 4.8★ rating. Nitrox is at a surcharge.
Departs Sorong (SOQ) · 16 guests · Nitrox: surcharge
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The real-cost note: the park fees the boat lists (USD 200–320 per person, as of May 2026) are not included in the daily rate. Add the park fee and nitrox and 7 nights comes to about $2,414–2,584, or $345–369 a day, against $3,024 on Emperor Raja Laut. Neptune One stays the cheaper boat, but by $440–610, not the $910 the headline rates suggest.
6. Sea Safari 8
$428/day · 7 nights from about $3,430
Sea Safari 8 has 26 guests across 12 cabins, which suits dive clubs, group trips and anyone wanting the economics of a full charter. The operator has run dedicated Raja Ampat itineraries for years, and the route (Cape Kri, Melissa's Garden, Manta Sandy, Sardine Reef, The Passage) is documented in detail. 4 dives per day, nitrox at a surcharge, and no Wi-Fi on board.
Departs Sorong (SOQ) · 26 guests · Nitrox: surcharge
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The same operator also runs Sea Safari 6 at $280 a day, a 20-guest version of the same experience.
7. Scubaspa Zen
$618/day · 7 nights from about $4,326
The 45-metre main vessel handles accommodation, dining and spa, while the diving runs from a separate 21-metre diving dhoni that works as an independent floating dive centre. The dive deck stays uncrowded whatever the guest numbers, gear is always set up, and the surface interval on the main yacht is separate from the dive workflow. It suits divers who want serious diving and a resort-quality experience between dives.
20 guests · Nitrox: surcharge
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Three packages are available: Scuba-only (up to 19 dives), Spa-only, or combined Scuba and Spa. 5.0★, 20 guests, from $618 a day. Nitrox is at a surcharge.
Ready to look at boats?
The real cost of a Raja Ampat liveaboard trip
The daily rate is not the full cost. Every diver pays two mandatory fees on top of any cabin rate, and most boats charge for nitrox too.
| Cost | Per person | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Raja Ampat entry fee | IDR 1,000,000 (roughly USD 60) | Paid once per person, not per day, as of 17 September 2026 (rajaampatbiodiversity.com). Non-negotiable |
| Park and port fees | USD 200–320 as boats listed them in May 2026, depending on the operator | Some boats (Emperor Raja Laut) include them in the daily rate. Most charge them separately |
| Nitrox | $100–150 a week on most boats | Included on Emperor Raja Laut and Seahorse |
Before comparing boats by headline price, calculate the real all-in cost. Seven nights at $302 a day is $2,114. Add the park fee ($200–320) and nitrox ($100–150) and it comes to $2,414–2,584, against $3,024 for seven nights at $432 a day with both included. The all-in boat still costs $440–610 more, and the entry fee applies to both. The gap is smaller than the headline rates suggest, but the budget boat is still cheaper. The marine-park charge changed in August 2026 and the source prints no amount, so treat the park fees as May figures and confirm the current total with the boat before you book.
When to go
The Raja Ampat diving season runs October to April, with settled seas, 20–30 metre visibility and full site access. November through March is peak season: manta aggregations at Manta Sandy and Manta Ridge are most reliable, and fish density in the Dampier Strait is at its highest. Popular boats fill 6–12 months out in peak season, so book early. For the month-by-month picture, see scuba diving in Raja Ampat.
Questions
What is the best Raja Ampat liveaboard for 2026?
It depends on what you want. For diving first: Calico Jack, with a marine biologist on board, a 10-guest maximum and one guide to five divers. For all-inclusive value: Emperor Raja Laut, with nitrox and park fees included, the Emperor Fleet behind it and 12 guests. For luxury: Scubaspa Zen, which has a separate dedicated diving vessel.
How much does a Raja Ampat liveaboard cost in 2026?
Budget boats start from $302 a day per person before mandatory fees (as of May 2026). Mid-range boats with inclusions (nitrox, park fees) run $430–450 a day all-in, and luxury starts at $618 a day. A 7-night budget trip costs roughly $2,100–2,500 before fees and flights, and you add roughly $300–470 for the park fee and nitrox on boats that charge for them. A mid-range trip is $3,000–3,500 all-in.
Which Raja Ampat liveaboard includes nitrox?
Emperor Raja Laut and Seahorse both include nitrox in their daily rate. Calico Jack, Sea Safari 8, Mermaid II and Neptune One all offer it at a weekly surcharge, typically USD 100–150. Confirm availability and cost before booking.
Do I need to book a Raja Ampat liveaboard in advance?
For peak season (November to March), 6–12 months ahead is not unusual for well-reviewed boats. Smaller boats (Calico Jack at 10 guests, Emperor Raja Laut at 12) fill faster than large vessels. Shoulder-season departures (October and April) are more flexible.
What experience level is required?
Advanced Open Water and 30–50 logged dives minimum for most operators. The current at the Dampier Strait sites is strong and variable, so get comfortable with your ascents and descents before you go. Raja Ampat is not a beginner destination, whichever boat you choose.