This guide covers everything to sort before a liveaboard in Indonesia on Indo Master: level, flights, visas, health, money, packing, life on board and the diving itself. Four things matter most. Every route needs Advanced Open Water and 50 logged dives. Domestic flights often change, so arrive a day early. Park and port fees are extra and usually paid on board. And each route starts from a different port.
At a glance
| What | Details |
|---|---|
| Boat | Indo Master: 47 metres, built in 2022, up to 18 guests in 9 cabins |
| Routes | Raja Ampat; Komodo National Park; Misool, Halmahera & Lembeh; Banda Sea |
| Nights | Raja Ampat 10 (7-night version also listed); Komodo 7 or 10; Misool, Halmahera & Lembeh 12; Banda Sea 6, 7 or 10 |
| Embarkation port | Sorong (Raja Ampat; Misool, Halmahera & Lembeh), Labuan Bajo (Komodo), Ambon (Banda Sea) |
| Level required | PADI Advanced Open Water or equivalent, minimum 50 logged dives |
| Water temperature | 21°C (southern Komodo) up to 30°C (Halmahera Sea, northern Raja Ampat) |
| Currency | Indonesian rupiah (IDR); park and port fees are quoted in US dollars |
| Time zone | Central Indonesia Time (WITA) in Labuan Bajo and North Sulawesi; Eastern Indonesia Time (WIT) in Sorong and Ambon |
| Best months (operator guide) | Komodo May to September; Raja Ampat November to April; Banda Sea October/November and April/May; Halmahera November and March |
On 3 November 2026, our live Indonesia departures are all Raja Ampat trips on Indo Master, running from December 2026 to April 2027, with more in December 2027. For Komodo, the Banda Sea and Misool, Halmahera & Lembeh, Indonesia liveaboard departures. The full route picture is on our Indonesia liveaboards page, and the boat has its own Indo Master page.
Certification, logged dives and documents to bring
Indonesia is not a place for newly qualified divers. The operator says much of the liveaboard diving here is “generally unsuitable for newly certified or inexperienced divers due to strong currents throughout the region and the exposed nature and depths of some dive sites.”
The mandatory requirement on all four of our routes is the same: “PADI Advanced Open Water or equivalent with a minimum of 50 logged dives”. On Raja Ampat, Misool, Halmahera & Lembeh and the Banda Sea, nitrox certification and experience in currents are “strongly recommended”. On Komodo, nitrox and experience in strong currents are recommended.
The rule is strict. Guests who do not meet the minimum, or who the crew feel lack experience in certain conditions, “may be denied participation in some or all dives”. If you are unsure, read the level you need for Raja Ampat before you book, and talk to us.
If you are below the minimum
The operator runs PADI Advanced Open Water on board, but it needs at least 3 students. With fewer, a private guide is required. PADI Enriched Air Nitrox and PADI Deep Diver courses are also listed. Course prices do not include materials or certification registration, and online learning is available for Advanced Open Water and nitrox. Book courses in advance through us.
Paperwork to bring
- Your certification card (or digital card) showing Advanced Open Water or equivalent
- Your logbook, showing at least 50 logged dives
- Your nitrox card, if you plan to dive nitrox
- Travel and dive insurance documents
Getting there from the UK
From the UK you fly into one of Indonesia’s two main international airports: Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta (CGK) or Bali Ngurah Rai in Denpasar (DPS). Every Indo Master route then needs a domestic flight to the start port and another home from the end port. Some domestic routes are not direct.
Arrive a day early. The operator warns that domestic flights in Indonesia “are often subject to delays, schedule changes and cancellations”. It strongly recommends arriving at least one day before your liveaboard and leaving at least one day after. If a domestic flight is delayed or cancelled, the local ground handler can help, but charges an administration fee. Ask us about domestic flights, hotels and transfers within Indonesia.
Leave 24 hours between your final dive and your domestic flight. The last full day on board usually has 2 morning dives before the boat moves to port.
Raja Ampat: Sorong
Raja Ampat trips start and end at Sorong Marina in West Papua. Embarkation is between 12:00 and 12:30, and disembarkation is no later than 10:00. Transfers between Sorong Airport and the boat are included on both days. There is no diving on day 1: you have introductions, safety briefings and dinner, then a check dive on the morning of day 2.
Komodo National Park: Labuan Bajo
Komodo trips start and end at Labuan Bajo Harbour. Labuan Bajo has domestic flights from Bali and Jakarta, so check flight times when you book. Embarkation is between 12:30 and 13:00, and disembarkation is at 10:00. Return transfers from Labuan Bajo Airport or a local hotel to the harbour are included. An afternoon check dive on day 1 may happen if time allows, but is not guaranteed.
Misool, Halmahera & Lembeh: Sorong to Bitung
This 12-night route is one way. You board at Sorong Harbour in West Papua at 13:00 and leave from Bitung Harbour in North Sulawesi, with disembarkation between 06:00 and 10:00. So your flights in and out use different airports. The boat usually sails overnight to Misool on day 1, ready to dive on day 2.
Banda Sea: Ambon
Banda Sea trips start and end at Laha Harbour, Ambon. Embarkation is at 13:00 and disembarkation is between 08:00 and 10:00. On the Ring of Fire itinerary there is a late afternoon check dive on day 1, then an overnight sail. The operator asks you to arrive in Ambon the day before.
Entry, visas and travel advice
Entry rules are set by the Indonesian authorities and can change at short notice. Here is what the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) said for British passport holders when we checked on 3 November 2026 (page updated 18 September 2026). Check the latest FCDO advice before you travel.
- Passport: it must expire at least 6 months after the date you arrive, with at least 2 blank pages.
- Visa on arrival: a 30-day, single-entry visa on arrival costs 500,000 Indonesian rupiah and can be paid by cash or card. It can be extended once for another 30 days at an immigration office in Indonesia.
- Onward ticket: you need proof of your onward or return journey to get the visa on arrival.
- Arrival declaration: fill in the free online customs and health declaration on the All Indonesia arrival card website or app within 72 hours of arrival. Avoid sites that ask for payment.
- Bali levy: if you arrive in Bali, the provincial government charges foreign tourists a levy of 150,000 rupiah.
You can also apply online before you travel, through the Indonesian immigration website, for an electronic visa on arrival (e-VOA). UK passport holders are eligible. The FCDO says to apply at least one week before you leave and to make sure your visa is approved before you arrive. If you do not have one, the FCDO says most main airports and seaports issue visas on arrival.
Regional advice for these routes
The FCDO has specific sections that touch two of our start ports. It covers the Papua region, which includes Southwest Papua, and says the UK government has no permanent presence there. It also asks travellers to take particular care on Ambon Island. Read the regional risks page if you start in Sorong or Ambon. The FCDO also notes that volcanic eruptions occur frequently across Indonesia, so follow local authority advice if one affects your plans.
Health and insurance
We do not give medical advice. Please speak to your GP or a travel clinic, and check NHS Fit for Travel for vaccinations and malaria. The FCDO says to check vaccine advice at least 8 weeks before your trip. It names malaria and dengue among the health risks in Indonesia, and notes that some medicines legal in the UK are regulated differently there.
Fitness to dive is a question for a doctor. Ask well before you travel.
What to check in your insurance
The operator’s terms require all guests to have adequate travel insurance, and it strongly advises cover for costs caused by flight changes. The FCDO warns that medical evacuation can cost tens of thousands of pounds. Divers Alert Network (DAN) notes that dive injuries are often not covered by typical health insurance. Before you buy, check your policy for:
- Scuba diving cover to the depth and certification level you dive
- Hyperbaric chamber treatment
- Emergency evacuation by air or sea from a remote area
- Missed connections and changed domestic flights
- Extra travel and accommodation if treatment delays your return
Remote routes mean help is far away. The Raja Ampat itinerary notes a hyperbaric chamber in Waisai, “but it is not permanently staffed and can not be relied upon to be available”.
Money on board
Indonesia’s currency is the rupiah. Several costs are paid on the boat rather than in advance.
Marine park and port fees
Marine, park and port fees are obligatory for all guests on all itineraries. They cover park permits, port fees and other local taxes. The operator usually adds them to your onboard extras, to be paid before disembarkation. On some routes, including the Banda Sea, they can instead be pre-booked and pre-paid when you book. The operator says all surcharges are subject to change without notice.
- Raja Ampat: fees apply, paid on board; we confirm the current amount before you travel. Raja Ampat visitor entry cards are valid for 12 months from purchase.
- Komodo National Park: fees apply, paid on board; we confirm the current amount before you travel.
- Misool, Halmahera & Lembeh: the operator currently charges 260 US dollars per person (checked 3 November 2026; confirm before travel).
- Banda Sea: the operator currently charges 200 US dollars per person on the Ring of Fire itinerary (checked 3 November 2026; confirm before travel).
A fuel surcharge may also apply to Indonesia trips. We confirm whether it applies, and how much, before you travel.
What is included and what is extra
Included on all four routes: airport or hotel transfers on embarkation and disembarkation days, full board, unlimited drinking water, tea, coffee, fruit juice and soft drinks, an 11 litre cylinder with air fills, weights, a weight belt and an SMB. Local lager, wine and spirits from the bar cost extra. Rental kit, nitrox and courses are also extras, and can be pre-booked and pre-paid when you book. Onboard prices can change without notice. We share the operator’s current guidance on crew and dive guide gratuities before you travel.
What to pack
Dive kit
The water ranges from 21°C in the Sumba Strait area of southern Komodo to 30°C in the Halmahera Sea. The operator says a 3 mm full wetsuit suits most divers on most itineraries. A 5 mm with hood and booties is recommended for cooler water, or if you feel the cold after several dives a day.
- Komodo: the Flores Sea to the north stays at 26 to 28°C, but the Savu Sea to the south averages 24°C and can drop to 21°C. Pack for the cold side.
- Raja Ampat, Misool, Halmahera & Lembeh: warm water, up to 30°C in the north. A 3 mm full suit suits most people.
- All routes: mask, fins, boots, BCD, regulator and your own dive computer. Weights, a weight belt and an SMB are provided.
- Torch: bring one for the sunset and night dives, or rent one.
- Komodo: leave your gloves and reef hook at home. They are not permitted inside the National Park boundaries.
Rental and nitrox
A full rental set includes wetsuit, BCD, regulators, mask, snorkel, boots, fins, weights and weight belt. Dive computer and torch rental cost extra. All rental kit must be pre-booked so the right sizes are on board. Extra 11 litre and larger 13 litre aluminium cylinders must also be requested in advance, and large cylinders are limited. Nitrox is available for certified divers and can be pre-booked.
Clothes and personal items
- Light, casual clothes for the boat and a warm layer for evenings and after dives
- Trainers or comfortable walking shoes for land visits over uneven ground
- Hat, sunglasses and sun protection
- Any medication you need
- Special foods if your diet is strict: some products are hard to find in Indonesia
Laundry service is available on board.
Camera kit and charging
Indo Master has designated areas for camera and video equipment and separate rinse tanks. The saloon has a charging station. Drones need a permit obtained in advance in Komodo and are prohibited in some areas, so check with us before you pack one.
Documents
- Passport with at least 6 months’ validity and 2 blank pages
- e-VOA approval, if you applied in advance
- Proof of onward or return flight
- All Indonesia arrival declaration QR code
- Certification card, nitrox card and logbook
- Insurance policy and emergency numbers
A day on board Indo Master
Indo Master is a 47-metre boat, handcrafted from ironwood and teak on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi in 2022. She takes a maximum of 18 guests in 9 cabins: 4 fixed doubles, 4 fixed twins and 1 family suite with 2 double beds. Every cabin has air-conditioning and a private ensuite bathroom with hot water. The beds are larger than on many liveaboards.
The air-conditioned saloon has a bar, a charging station and a large TV. The dive deck is spacious, with personal storage for small kit. There are 2 Zodiacs, plus kayaks and paddleboards.
A typical day
Your cruise manager schedules up to 4 dives a day: 3 day dives and a sunset or night dive. All briefings are in English, so tell us in advance if anyone in your group is not fluent.
- Light breakfast, briefing and dive 1
- Full breakfast, rest, briefing and dive 2
- Lunch, rest, briefing and dive 3
- Snack, rest, briefing and dive 4 (sunset or night), where possible
- Dinner
Meals are full board, with international and locally inspired food, and freshly baked bread. Special diets can be catered for with advance notice, so tell us when you book.
Land visits (non-diving)
Most trips include at least 1 land visit, sometimes 2, depending on logistics and weather. On Raja Ampat this always includes Penemu Viewpoint. On Komodo trips you go ashore on a ranger-guided visit to look for Komodo dragons in their natural habitat. This is a non-diving activity.
Diving conditions to prepare for
Expect currents. Indonesia’s best sites are often current-swept channels, pinnacles and walls, which is why the level bar is high. The operator says visibility often extends up to 30 metres, and up to 40 metres on Misool, Halmahera & Lembeh. The captain decides the sites based on weather, local rules and guest experience. Marine life sightings are never guaranteed.
| Route | Operator’s season | Often seen |
|---|---|---|
| Raja Ampat | November to April (optimal October to April) | Soft corals, manta rays, reef sharks, wobbegong and epaulette sharks, pygmy seahorses |
| Komodo National Park | May to October, best May to September | Manta rays, dolphins, Napoleon wrasse, groupers, pygmy seahorses, anglerfish, nudibranchs |
| Misool, Halmahera & Lembeh | Halmahera best November and March | Schooling fish, reef sharks, pelagics, Lembeh muck and macro life |
| Banda Sea | October/November and April/May | Sea snakes, manta rays, hammerhead sharks (a possibility at Serua), mandarin fish |
For month-by-month detail, see the best time to dive Raja Ampat or compare seasons on our compare dive destinations month by month page.
Raja Ampat
The 10-night route covers north and south Raja Ampat, including the Dampier Strait and Misool. Expect soft corals close to the surface, current-swept pinnacles, seagrass, mangroves with corals growing beside them, and huge numbers of fish. The trip includes several overnight sails.
Komodo National Park
The operator notes that Komodo National Park became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991 and covers 132,000 hectares of marine waters. Diving means drifts and seamounts, with dive sites around Sangeang Volcano and Sumbawa too. Manta Point is a cleaning station where mantas are often seen. The south is cooler than the north.
Misool, Halmahera & Lembeh
Up to 36 dives across three regions in 12 nights, crossing the Equator. Misool has limestone pinnacles and current-swept reefs. West of Halmahera the diving is more oceanic, with seamounts and drop-offs. Lembeh, near Bitung, is famous for muck diving and rare macro life.
Banda Sea
A remote route from Ambon through the Banda Islands and south to Nil Desperandum and Serua, which are on the 7 and 10-night trips only. Expect walls, seamounts and pelagics in deep, open water.
Responsible diving
- Do not use gloves or reef hooks inside Komodo National Park. They are not permitted.
- Get a permit in advance before flying a drone in Komodo, and do not fly where it is prohibited.
- Marine park fees are obligatory: they cover park permits, port fees and local taxes.
- Keep good buoyancy and keep your hands off coral and marine life.
Your pre-trip checklist
8 weeks before
- Check vaccine advice with your GP or a travel clinic
- Book domestic flights that arrive the day before and leave the day after
- Check your passport: 6 months’ validity and 2 blank pages
4 weeks before
- Apply online for your e-VOA, at least one week before you leave (FCDO advice)
- Buy insurance that covers diving, chamber treatment and evacuation
- Pre-book rental kit, nitrox, extra cylinders and any course
- Tell us about dietary needs or allergies
- Ask a doctor about fitness to dive if you have any doubts
1 week before
- Check your e-VOA has been approved
- Check the latest FCDO advice
- Pack the right wetsuit for your route
Day before
- Complete the All Indonesia arrival declaration within 72 hours of arrival
- Keep certification card, logbook and nitrox card in your hand luggage
On board
- Plan 24 hours between your final dive and your flight
- Settle park fees and onboard extras before disembarkation
Indonesia liveaboard pre-trip questions
Do I need a visa for Indonesia?
Yes, for a tourist trip. FCDO advice says British passport holders can get a 30-day visa on arrival for 500,000 rupiah, extendable once. You can also apply online for an e-VOA, at least one week before you leave. Check the latest FCDO advice before you travel.
Is diving in Raja Ampat difficult?
It can be. Currents are common, so the operator requires PADI Advanced Open Water or equivalent and at least 50 logged dives, and strongly recommends experience in currents.
Will I see Komodo dragons?
On Komodo trips you go ashore on a ranger-guided land visit to look for the dragons in their natural habitat. This is a non-diving activity, and sightings are never guaranteed.
What wetsuit for Komodo?
Southern Komodo can drop to 21°C, while the north stays at 26 to 28°C. A 3 mm full suit suits most divers; a 5 mm with hood and booties is recommended if you feel the cold.
Are marine park fees included?
No. They are obligatory and usually paid on board before disembarkation, though on some routes they can be pre-paid when you book. The amount depends on the route, and we confirm it before you travel.
When should I arrive?
The day before embarkation. Domestic flights in Indonesia often change, and a missed connection can mean arriving after the boat has left.
Can I do nitrox or a course on board?
Yes. Nitrox, PADI Enriched Air Nitrox, Deep Diver and Advanced Open Water are offered. Advanced Open Water needs at least 3 students, or a private guide. Pre-book through us.
Book your Indonesia liveaboard
Indonesia rewards divers who come prepared: the right level, a spare day for flights and the right suit for the route. If anything here is unclear, ask us. You can check live Indonesia dates or read more about Indo Master.
Planning more than one trip? Read the Philippines pre-trip guide.
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