Raja Ampat liveaboard recommendations

We would like to do our first Raja Ampat liveaboard in 2009.

Any suggestions of Raja liveaboards you recommend or do not recommend?

Anyone like the MSY Seahorse?

I would appreciate your feedback!

You'll find quite a lot of feedback on many liveboards if you search the board, including the seahorse.

The problem with deciding to go in the same year means you have less choice on itineraries as the good ones are all booked up. The real good news is that with this economic climate, quite a few people cancel and you can get pretty good deals on some boats. If you have flexibility, it'd be a great opportunity to save some money.

I won't endorse specifically any boats due to my position here but everyone has their favorite. I've been on quite a few boats in Indo. The traditional phinisi boats are the most plentiful but has idiosyncrasies. I think there is still only one phinisi with a rear dive deck, which to me is a very convenient thing to have. Walking down the side steps with gear isn't fun in choppy seas.

Good luck. They book up fast. We were looking at chartering a specific one, but were surprised they were pretty much booked until fall of 2010. Choose your itinerary first. The boats do Sorong to Sorong itineraries, then bug out to other areas during the windy months, doing itineraries from point A to B along the way.

Seven Seas

Seahorse

Archipelago Explorer II

Paradise Dancer

Ondina

Pindito

Arenui (new, yet to sail)

Cheng Ho

Ocean Rover (one season scheduled)

Shakti

MSY Raja Ampat

Temu Kira

Bidadari

Putri Papua

Tarata

Nusatara

I've been on one, so I'm not allowed to have a favorite yet. Once I've been on at least five, I'll let you know. In the mean time, I'd probably limit my selection from among about five on the 16 on the list, since I now require more luxury than in my youth. The Ocean Rover was my favorite boat of all time, but that was in a different place with a different owner and a different crew. Showing up in Raja for its first and possibly only season there would make it iffy. The Nusatara boasts fans in every room, probably not up my better half's comfort standards.

I've been on one, so I'm not allowed to have a favorite yet.

By definition, because you only have one experience... it's automatically your favorite.

AMW, Scorpio lists boats of various budgets and comfort levels. Give us your budget and comfort demands then it'll be easier to give recommendations. And searching the archives really does help.

I'm planning an imminent trip to Indonesia and found this thread when thoroughly searching Wetpixel's R.A. diving advice and thought it's ripe for hijacking/expanding:

It'll be very last minute but I guess I'm looking for a week or two within the next few months as part of a 'grand trip'. As most liveaboards book up very early this may be rather fanciful.

- Are there any land-based dive operations that cover particularly desirable sites in this outstanding area, or perhaps you might know of a 'clearing' system for finding cancellation places on photo friendly R4 boats? I've found http://www.misoolecoresort.com and http://www.iriandiving.com so far. Who's been there?

[edited to improve idiotic grammar & further reading!]

I've been on The Shakti twice and really loved it. (Both Northern RA and the Misool Archipelago).

It's not posh -- there are shared baths. But it's not expensive (relatively speaking), and The Captain (Dave from England) and his girlfriend Diane (from Germany) who run the boat are great. Very casual atmosphere attracting a very cool bunch of travelers on both voyages. Trips are adventurous -- lots of exploring unknown underwater caves and marine lakes. They have kayaks on board you can use anytime. Food was local and fantastic. The best banana pancakes I've ever had in my life for breakfast.

http://www.shakti-raja-ampat.com/

Thanks - I've emailed to ask the prices, which aren't listed on their website. Some of these boats are fantastically mind bogglingly expensive!

Will,

I think you'll find the Shakti to be the less expensive of them. Last year I paid $3300 usd for a single cabin. (yes, they have 2 small single cabins which is so rare for a boat. I hate sharing with a stranger). That included everything of course, except beer, which was pretty cheap.

I wrote the original post in January....We are headed to Raja this December on a liveaboard highly, highly recommended by multiple sources. Can't wait until December!!!

well? which one? don't keep us guessing!

Where to, with who, AMW?

By the way, thanks to all who pm'd me, offering me astoundingly eye-poppingly expensive places on their boats!