“Magic exists,” the American author Nora Roberts wrote. “Who can doubt it, when there are rainbows and wildflowers, the music of the wind, and the silence of the stars?” If Roberts had been a scuba diver, she would have added “the infinite beauty of the blue seas” to her list.

Indeed, once divers experience the enchanting underwater realms in Indonesia, they’ll feel as if they’ve transported to one of the most magical places on earth. All around them is an astonishing amount of marine life in gorgeous turquoise waters, from the largest fish in the sea, the whale shark, to the tiniest seahorse on the reef, the pygmy seahorse. The colors range from the sublime (soft corals in purples, reds, pinks and yellows, blue-green chromis, false clownfish, saddle butterflyfish and banggai cardinalfish) to the flamboyant (mandarinfish, royal angelfish, blue-ringed octopus, mantis shrimp and the aptly named psychedelic frogfish). And then there are all the majestic creatures — giant Pacific manta rays, green sea turtles, and zebra, hammerhead and thresher sharks.

There is no better way to explore the incredible marine life diversity in this amazing archipelago than on an itinerary with Wallacea Dive Cruises. Whether you choose MV Ambai or MSY Seahorse, one thing is certain — you will be immersed in magical moments, both onboard and underwater.

The Magic of the Wallacea Experience

Family owned, operated and managed, Wallacea Dive Cruises is an Indonesian liveaboard operator that has been cruising and exploring Indonesia’s best diving destinations since 2002 with its two luxury boats, MV Ambai and MSY Seahorse. Both yachts are available for individual divers or whole-boat charters.

The liveaboard itineraries include Indonesia’s famed destinations, such as Raja Ampat, Komodo National Park and Sulawesi, as well as off-the-beaten-track regions, such as Banda Sea, Triton Bay and Halmahera.

The team at Wallacea Dive Cruises prides itself on providing 24/7 support and assistance at all stages of your booking — pre-trip, during and post-trip. They can help arrange every detail of your dive vacation, from booking safe domestic flights and making transit hotel reservations to arranging add-on trip extensions (both land and underwater excursions).

The friendly and attentive dive boat crew will pamper you in countless ways — from being indulged with an onboard massage to finding the most unique marine life on a dive site, you will be spoiled morning, afternoon and evening.

The Magic of the Liveaboards

Both liveaboards accommodate 16 passengers in 8 air-conditioned cabins with ensuite bathrooms and hot water. Towels and toiletries, soap, shampoo and toothpaste are complimentary.

The MV Ambai is a 105-foot ironwood and teak boat that was custom-built for diving. Guests can choose between two upper-deck seaview cabins with a double bed; four lower-deck cabins with a double bed and a single bunkbed; and two lower-deck cabins with twin bunkbeds. The air-conditioned restaurant on the main deck also has a bar. The meals include both Indonesian and Western entrees and are served family-style. Guests can relax in either the main-deck lounge or on the sundeck. There is a large flat-screen TV in the main-deck lounge; photographers and videographers use it to present their photos and videos at the end of the day. When you’re not diving, you can spend your surface intervals kayaking, or waterskiing.

The 108-foot MSY Seahorse is a traditional Phinisi, a classic sailing vessel that has been used for centuries in Indonesia’s seafaring culture. It’s a strikingly beautiful ship that accommodates guests in two seaview cabins with double beds; one lower-deck cabin with double bed; and five lower-deck cabins with twin beds. Like the Ambai, guests enjoy both Indonesian and Western entrees that are served family-style in the main-deck restaurant. There is a spacious lounge on the upper deck, and kayaks are also available for guests to use.

If you’re interested in a land-based stay, Wallacea also offers the Tompotika Dive Lodge, an eco-friendly and intimate resort with five bungalows located on the east coast of Central Sulawesi. The resort gets its name from the area’s inactive ancient volcano, which is believed by locals to possess magical properties (the magic is everywhere!).

The Magic of the Diving

Pick a site — any site — and no matter where you dip a fin into the waters off Indonesia, you will be treated to off-the-charts biodiversity. This vast archipelago is in the heart of the acclaimed Coral Triangle and is home to some of the richest and most diverse marine ecosystems on earth. Depending on the itinerary, the diving includes thrilling drifts, pristine reefs, shark and manta encounters, wall dives, muck diving, and so much more. Each region that the Wallacea liveaboards visit offers something special.

MV Ambai’s itineraries include the Banda Sea, Forgotten Islands, Halmahera, Raja Ampat, Ring of Fire, Sulawesi and Triton Bay. The boat has three fiberglass tenders that whisk divers to the best sites.

MSY Seahorse has two 22-foot aluminum dinghies that tansport divers on to amazing sites in Alor, Bali, the Banda Sea, Forgotten Islands, Komodo, Halmahera, Raja Ampat, Ring of Fire, Sulawesi, Triton Bay and Wakatobi.

The divemasters on both vessels have a vast knowledge of each destination and its marine life. Each divemaster takes a maximum of four divers. The small groups ensures that each guest has an unforgettable experience.

The dive sites themselves are the stuff of dreams — some are legendary, such as Manta Sandy, Arborek and Cape Kri, and some are lesser known, such as Manuk Island and Damar Island.

The Magic of Indonesia

In 2024, more than 13,000 Scuba Diving Magazine readers and website visitors gave Indonesia 11 coveted Readers Choice Awards, including first-place awards for Best Overall Dive Destination and Underwater Photography in the Indo-Pacific region, as well as making the top 10 list in several other categories, including Best Big Animals, Best Wall Diving, Best Macro Life, Best Beginner and Advanced Diving, and Healthiest Marine Environment.

Eleven prestigious awards. Two extraordinary vessels. One magical country. Discover the magic that Indonesia delivers to divers. It’s all waiting for you when you book a liveaboard dive vacation with Wallacea Dive Cruises.

Contact

+62 812-4494-2028

[email protected]

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