Blue Manta Explorer + Raja Manta Explorer

RAJA MANTA EXPLORER + BLUE MANTA EXPLORER: General Info

Here’s the Exciting New M/V Blue Manta Explorer
Exploring Ambon, Banda, Forgotten Islands, Komodo and Raja Ampat, the spacious Blue Manta Explorer is fully equipped to take you to some of the most beautiful, exotic and remote diving destinations in Indonesia. The large steel hull vessel can accommodate up to 22 passengers in 14 beautiful, fully ensuite cabins. Measuring 45 meters in length (148 feet) the spacious cabins are situated over three decks. There is a sundeck with lounge chairs for sunbathing and a covered area for shade, perfect for relaxing in between dives. The vessel provides an open outdoor alfresco dining area and an indoor air-conditioned dining area, ideal for enjoying one of the many meals prepared by the vessel's three top quality chefs! You will never go hungry. There is a salon with a Plasma TV, DVD and media server. 24 hour satellite internet is also available so you can easily stay in touch with family at home. The dive deck is equipped with personal rinse tanks and a wide outdoor work table for underwater digital cameras. There is also a dedicated indoor camera room with plenty of space & charging stations to set up your camera equipment. Full equipment rentals are available onboard, all scuba tanks have din or yoke fittings and there are larger tanks available for those requiring a little extra air. With up to 20 highly trained crew members, the Blue Manta Explorer is dedicated to providing exceptional service, while maintaining the highest safety standards. Half the boat crew are certified scuba divers and share a passion for the underwater world. Enjoy a warm towel, hot drink and fresh fruit after every dive.

Vessel Specifications
Length: 148 ft (45 meters)
Beam: 29 ft (9 meters)
Main engines: 3x Yanmar, 826 hp
Generators: 3x Yanmar
Cruising Speed: 10 knots
Fuel Capacity: 11,887 gallons (45,000 liters)
Accommodations: 22 passengers in 14 air-conditioned cabins situated over three decks, all with private bathrooms and showers. Up to 22 crew members.
Safety Equipment: Life rafts (2), life rings/strobes, life vests/strobes, emergency position locator, flares, oxygen and first aid equipment
Air Systems: 3 electric Bauer compressors with nitrox membrane, producing 32% nitrox, bank storage
Tenders: Rigid hull inflatables (3), used for passenger transport and diver pickup
Accessories: Diving Equipment

And Here’s the Luminous New M/V Raja Manta Explorer
With a major makeover in 2016, the Raja Manta Explorer is a boat designed for divers, by divers. Offering exciting itineraries through Ambon, Banda, Sangalaki, Raja Ampat and other extended itineraries, the 37 meter (121 foot) vessel is stable, strong and reliable making it perfect for long range travel to the most desirable dive sites. With 8 double & twin shared-bath ensuite cabins and 3 shared cabins with wash basins, the Raja Manta Explorer can comfortably accommodate up to 22 passengers. There is a large salon with a digital media center, sound system and widescreen plasma TV for your entertainment, an expansive sundeck that spans the length of the boat and a large outdoor dining area. A blend of Western and Asian cuisine awaits you after every dive. With up to 18 well-trained crew, excellent service above and below water are ensured.
There is an enormous dive deck with ample space for gearing up. Warm towels, hot drinks and fresh fruits are available after dives. The Captain and dive crew have years of experience in Indonesia including Komodo, Alor, Banda Sea and Raja Ampat. Diving is conducted in small groups. There is a full range of rental equipment available, all tanks have din and yoke fitting and larger tanks are available for those requiring a little extra air. Many of the boat crew are certified scuba divers and share a passion for the underwater world.

Vessel Specifications
Length overall: 121 ft (37 meters)
Beam: 24.5 ft (7.5 meters)
Main engines: 2x Cummins; 1400 hp
Generators: 2 x 100 Kva, 1 x30 Kva spare
Cruising Speed: 10 knots
Range: 1,500 nm
Accommodations: 22 passengers in 11 air-conditioned cabins situated over three decks. Eight cabins with private bathrooms and showers and three cabins with shared facilities. Up to 19 crew members.
Safety Equipment: Life rafts (2), life rings/strobes, life vests/strobes, emergency position locator, flares, oxygen and first aid equipment
Air Systems: 3 L&W compressors with nitrox membrane, producing 32% nitrox, bank storage
Tenders: Rigid hull inflatables (2), used for passenger transport and diver pickup
Accessories: Diving Equipment

Your liveaboard diving adventures in Indonesia can take you throughout the Coral Triangle, which boasts the world’s highest marine biodiversity and offers truly unique diving. This region is a mecca, from the rich plankton waters of the Komodo Islands to the beautiful and remote mushroom shaped islands of Raja Ampat, the diving opportunities are endless. With over 3,000 fish species and 600 species of coral, steep walls, deep water trenches, underwater volcanic mountains, World War II wrecks and an endless variety of macro life, scuba diving Indonesia is truly excellent. The Banda Sea, Sulawesi (Celebes) Sea, Bali Sea and Flores Sea hold some of the best diving opportunities in this mind-boggling underwater wonderland. Diving itineraries in Indonesia include Raja Ampat in Irian Jaya (West Papua), the Banda Islands and Sulawesi, all excellent destinations for a scuba adventure holiday. Our liveaboard cruises also can take you further afield to such stunningly beautiful places as Komodo and the Banda Sea.

Raja Ampat or ‘Four Kings’ is a true divers paradise, a wonderland lost in time, incredible natural beauty dominates above and below the blue waters; steep jungle covered limestone islands, stunning white sand beaches, hidden lagoons, and dense mangrove forests combine to create over 9.8 million acres of National Park. Underwater more than 1000 types of reef fish, 540 types of corals, sharks, Rays, turtles, dolphins and even whales call the park their home. This is the holy grail of dive destinations, truly one of the most beautiful places in the world. We invite you discover a diver’s heaven on earth.

Raja Ampat will immerse you in a diving paradise: rich & varied topography, with the world’s richest underwater bio-diversity and sheer abundance or marine life to keep you coming back for more. The huge variety of coral and fish life is reflected in the diversity of dive sites you will visit; Walls, slopes, caves, canyons, seamounts, muck diving and distinctive signature sites like Blue Water Mangroves and The Passage combine to make Raja Ampat one of the most celebrated and desired dive destinations in the world. The stunning beauty of Raja Ampat's exotic & enchanting islands both above and below the water will leave you in no doubt that this is a true natural wonderland.

Komodo is an island famed throughout the world for its legendary huge meat-eating lizards called “dragons.” So all liveaboard trips include going ashore to see these incredible creatures in their natural habitat. But it's not all about monitor lizards. Diving around Komodo means world-class reefs full of color and life with pinnacles and walls, manta rays and maybe even dolphins and dugongs!

Komodo really does have something for everyone, Including stunning scenery above and below the waves and a walk on the wild side with the worlds largest Lizard, the infamous Komodo Dragon! More than 1,000 species of tropical fish, 260 species of coral, and rare marine mammals such as the dugong live within Komodo National Park. Strong daily tidal flows combine with nutrient-rich water upwelling from the depths of the Indian Ocean to create ideal conditions for thousands of species of corals and tropical fish to flourish. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991 Divers travel from all over the globe to experience the spectacular biodiversity of more than 50 world-class dive sites ranging from challenging blue water current dives with a chance of glimpsing large pelagic species to discovering rare invertebrates on a ‘muck’ dive closer to shore.

Enjoy spectacular diving in the North, Central and (weather permitting) Southern areas of this incredible National Park. In the Northern and Central areas of the park expect great visibility and warm (27-28C) water, big fish sightings are common and photographers will find wide angle is the default setting. Highlight Dive Sites include Crystal & Castle Rock, Shotgun, Batu Bolong and Makassar Reef (Mantas on the moon).

In The South the water temps are usually much cooler (21-25C) and the visibility can be less than perfect in these nutrient rich waters. However dive sites such as Cannibal Rock, Secret Garden and Torpedo Alley provide sightings of the most diverse marine life in the park. Incredible Manta aggregations can also be seen in the South at Manta Alley.

Prepare for Strong currents and conditions suitable for advanced level divers throughout the itinerary. We recommend 30-50 minimum dives logged prior to your Komodo itinerary. Currents are usually strongest around the New and Full moon, you can easily check out the moon phase for your trip by visiting a website such as www.moonconnection.com.

The Banda Islands are fast becoming known as one the world finest diving destinations since a trip here means you can expect, not only huge variety and numbers of pelagics and reef fish, but also vibrant healthy reefs with immense hard corals, sea fans, sponges and the critters of Ambon.

From September through to December and also between April & May each year it is possible to embark upon once in a lifetime voyages across the Banda Sea, visiting the famed ‘Spice Islands’ to discover diving Nirvana in the ‘Ring of Fire.’ This is diving as it was meant to be enjoyed, true exploration, away from the crowds, discovering dive sites that very few divers will get a chance to explore; discover unique and spectacular scenery both above and below the waves where volcanic activity has created a remote island paradise, only accessible to divers via live aboard. With our unmatched experience in this area, we can show you just what an incredible destination this is and take you to our ‘Hammerhead hot spots’ where at certain times of the year schools of more than 200 Hammerheads have been witnessed.

Besides the schools of Hammerhead sharks, you will find pristine coral reefs, unique local seaman in Alor, tons of sea snakes in Manuk and a visit to the spice island in Banda Neira. The remoteness of these islands along with the low levels of human population, have meant less fishing and pollution pressures resulting in a vibrant, natural and healthy reef system. You can expect reefs bursting with life, huge sea fans and sponges, some monumental hard corals, and more fish than your mask can cope with, there is an extraordinary variety and volume of fish life, both in terms of large and small marine life.

Beyond providing some of the best diving in the region the islands also have had a long and fascinating history. Spices, foreign traders, colonial conflicts, wars and earthquakes have all featured heavily in their checkered past. Up until the middle of the 19th century this was the only place on Earth where the spices nutmeg and mace could be found and as a result they were crucial hub for the spice trade, for a taste of the historic atmosphere going ashore in Banda Neira and visiting the old colonial fort is a must.