Emperor Raja Laut

RAJA AMPAT (7 & 9 NIGHT TRIPS | DECEMBER TO MAY)

Port of Embarkation: Waisai | Port of Disembarkation: Sorong

Raja Ampat, which in Indonesian means the Four Kings, is a Marine Park world renowned for being the epicentre of marine biodiversity. The park covers a large area with approximately 170 nautical miles separating the northern and southern extremities. It would be possible to dive for weeks and weeks without seeing the same sites twice.

Raja Ampat can be divided into three sections covering the North, Central and Southern Sections. Spectacular scenery both above and below the water make this heritage area unique and a bucket list item for both divers and lovers of nature.

The 9 night cruises take in sites in the Northern, Central and Southern Sections of the national park. Whereas the 7 night cruises visit the Northern and Central Sections. For your convenience, a one-way ferry ticket from Sorong to Waisai is included in the price of your liveaboard.

Emperor requires that you have 30 logged dives to join this trip. If you are an Open Water Diver, some dives are below 18m therefore we recommend having advanced experience or taking your PADI Advanced Open Water course on board to maximise your enjoyment from the trip.

All diving is made from zodiacs to give precise entry and exit points. Currents can vary from really gentle to extremely strong. Inexperienced and beginner divers may find some dives challenging and may be asked by the Cruise Director to skip dives that are not suitable for their diving experience.

RAJA AMPAT & BANDA ISLANDS (12 NIGHT TRIPS | MAY & OCTOBER)

Embark: Waisai and Disembark :Ambon OR Embark: Ambon and Disembark: Sorong

The Ambon to Sorong cruise is special because it takes in two magnificent regions in the one cruise. Beginning in Ambon we head first to the Banda Islands (original Spice Islands) before rounding the east coast of Seram and rejoining the south and central sections of Raja Ampat. The Banda Islands will offer the opportunity for some pelagic action, hopefully hammerheads too, before diving arguably one of the best dive locations worldwide, South Raja Ampat.

This cruise will take in the Banda Islands plus the Southern and Central sections of Raja Ampat.

Emperor requires that you have 30 logged dives to join this trip. If you are an Open Water Diver, some dives are below 18m therefore we recommend having advanced experience or taking your PADI Advanced Open Water course on board to maximise your enjoyment from the trip. All diving is made from zodiacs to give precise entry and exit points. Currents can vary from really gentle in Raja Ampat to extremely strong in the Banda Sea. Inexperienced and beginner divers may find some dives challenging and may be asked by the Cruise Director to skip dives that are not suitable for their diving experience.

BANDA SEA (7 NIGHT TRIPS | MARCH & OCTOBER)

Port of Embarkation: Ambon

The Banda Islands are a group of seven small volcanic islands in the Banda Sea about 210 km (120 nautical miles) south-east of Ambon in the province of Maluku. They rise out of 4-to-6-kilometres of deep ocean providing superb diving for both macro and pelagic fauna. Until the mid-19th century the Banda Islands were the world's only source of nutmeg and mace spices. Wars were fought between the Portuguese, Dutch and English for hundreds of years before the Dutch finally swapped the Banda Islands for Manhattan. Well off the beaten track, steeped in history and promising breath-taking diving, the Banda Sea 7-night cruise takes you a step back in time to experience these fantastic islands both above and below the water.

Land Visits: On this cruise we visit Banda Neira to see the nutmeg plantation, historic forts and small Maritime Museum. A half-day excursion.

Please note: There are two overnight crossings of approximately 100 nautical miles during this 7-night itinerary (Ambon to Banda and Banda to Ambon).

This itinerary is not for beginners. Most dives will involve going to depth and currents can be strong. We recommend you have 50 logged dives to join this trip and require that you are Deep Diver/Advanced Open Water or equivalent. All diving is made from zodiacs to give precise entry and exit points.

ALOR & BANDA SEA (12 NIGHT TRIPS | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER & MARCH/APRIL)

Port of Embarkation: Kalabahi, Alor | Port of Disembarkation: Ambon

The Banda Sea cruise is for those with the spirit of adventure as we set sail to rarely dived sites, islands and atolls. There are several ways to cross the Banda Sea and this depends mostly on the weather and depths of the thermoclines for the hammerhead sharks. Crossing is generally done in March/April and September/October when the prevailing winds are changing between the seasons. Seldom-dived sites, active volcanoes, hammerheads and pelagic action, plus a visit to the mythic Banda Islands (original Spice Islands), make this a once in a lifetime cruise.

In Alor, there is plenty of opportunity to find those rare critters like frogfish, mimic octopus, fire sea urchin and even rare rhinopias in the hundreds of bays and coves in the island chain. Dolphins and whales are often encountered as this area is also part of the migration routes between the Pacific and Indian Oceans. If you don't mind the water being a bit 'frisky' from time to time, this itinerary is beautiful and often quite extraordinary.

Please note: In parts of Alor Strait water temperature can drop dramatically to around 20 degrees Celsius. It is highly recommended to bring a 5mm wetsuit and/or hooded vest. There are 600-700 nautical miles to cover during this 12-night cruise. We are mostly diving three dives a day and then travelling at night. This cruise is not advised for people who get very sea sick or who are unable to sleep whilst the boat is under way. For those with a bit of adventurous seadog in you, you are definitely looking at the right itinerary. See you on board.

This itinerary is not for beginners. Most dives will involve going to depth and currents can be strong. We recommend you have 50 logged dives to join this trip and require that you are Deep Diver/Advanced Open Water or equivalent. Currents can vary from medium to extremely strong in both Alor and the Banda Sea. Inexperienced divers may find some dives challenging and may be asked by the Cruise Director to skip dives that are not suitable for their diving experience.

EAST FLORES & ALOR (9 NIGHT TRIPS | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER & MARCH/APRIL)

Port of Embarkation: Maumere, Flores | Port of Disembarkation: Kalabahi, Alor

Further East of the famous Komodo National park lays the island group also known as "East Nusa Tenggara". Located in the warm tropical waters of The Flores Sea, this huge island chain is the mountainous result of volcanic activity, which makes for stunning scenery both above and below the water.

Our East Flores and Alor itinerary is a leisurely 180 nautical mile exploration of this wonderful region well off the beaten track and away from the crowds. There are plenty of opportunities to find those rare critters like frogfish, mimic octopus, fire sea urchin and even rare rhinopias in the hundreds of bays and coves that are featured in the island chain. Dolphins and whales are often encountered as this area is also part of the migration routes between the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

If you don't mind the water being a bit "frisky" from time to time, this itinerary is beautiful and, sometimes quite extraordinary.

Please note: In parts of Alor Strait water temperature can drop dramatically to around 20 degrees Celsius. It is highly recommended to bring a 5mm wetsuit and/or hooded vest.

This itinerary is not for beginners. Most dives will involve going to depth and currents can be strong. We recommend you have 50 logged dives to join this trip and require that you are Deep Diver/Advanced Open Water or equivalent. Currents can vary from medium to extremely strong in both Flores and the Banda Sea. Inexperienced divers may find some dives challenging and may be asked by the Cruise Director to skip dives that are not suitable for their diving experience.