Epica Liveaboard, Indonesia
Affordable Raja Ampat dive safaris aboard a simple liveaboard with an experienced and energetic crew
per person




















per person
Overview
- More than 20-years of experience operating liveaboards in Indonesia
- Simple vessel offering exceptional value-for-money in Raja Ampat
- A maximum of just 12 guests on board, ensuring personalised service
- Diverse choice of dive itineraries varying by season and trip length
Epica is your best choice for a budget-friendly Raja Ampat liveaboard experience. Modified for dive safaris using sustainable techniques, this small and speedy vessel cruises Raja Ampat year-round, offering a selection of itineraries lasting between seven and ten days, depending on the season. Each trip onboard this breezy liveaboards combines high standards of professionalism with an energy and excitement that is simply irresistible.
- Number of cabins:6
- Internet:NO
- Nitrox:NO
- Equipment rental:YES
- Guest / Guide:4:1
- Group booking discounts
12 paying guests, plus 2 free of charge
Choose your trip
- 8Apr 20257D / 6N
Best of Dampier
19 divesfrom $1,750Overview
7 days / 6 nights19Open Water - Minimum 5 divesDive and travel insurance requiredTransfer details
Departure
08 Apr 2025
11:30 AM
Waisai
Sorong Airport: SOQ
Return
14 Apr 2025
01:00 PM
Waisai
Sorong Airport: SOQ
What's included
- Meals and snacks
- Water, tea and coffee
- Towels and toiletries
- Tanks and weights
- Night dives
- Land excursions
What's not included
- Dive and travel insurance
- National park fee - IDR1,000,000 per year
- Local dive contribution - IDR500,000 per trip
- Port fee - US$100 per trip
To be paid in advance or onboardOptional Extras
- Single supplement - 75%
- Alcoholic drinks
- Soft drinks
- Gratuities
- Equipment rental - US$140 per trip
- Diving courses
- Transfers
To be booked in advance or paid onboardHighlights
- Circular trip around the best of the well known Dampier Strait
- Encounter both reef and oceanic manta rays at renowned dive sites
- Enjoy a fiery sunset from the picturesque village of Arborek
- Walk up to the iconic viewpoint of Piaynemo
- Take in another sunset, on the white sandy beach of Mioskon
- Night dives included
The boat takes you on a 7-day journey through the Dampier Strait – the heart of the world’s coral reef biodiversity. Starting and ending our adventure in Waisai, we dive into approximately 19 of the most spectacular sites Raja Ampat has to offer. On our way through the Dampier Strait, we explore the reefs around Kri, Mansuar, Arborek, the Fam Islands, and Yanggalo.DAY 1: (1 dive)We meet up in front of the tourist information centre in Waisai at 11:00 where we will board the Epica. If you would like to be picked up in Sorong (VIP transfer), we meet you between 07.30 and 08.00 in the morning at the Je Meridien Hotel just next to the airport.Once on board, we make sure all the necessary paperwork is in order, allocate your cabins, set up dive equipment, and brief you on the boat and dive safety procedures.After lunch, we depart to our first dive site in central Raja Ampat. The check dive is usually at Friwen Bonda, a beautiful reef teeming with colourful fish.DAY 2: (4 dives)Raja Ampat is littered with tiny villages that feature rugged wooden jetties. Among the coral-encrusted pylons, you find a dazzling amount of sergeant majors, snappers, and sweetlips gently swaying in the clear water.We start the day with a drift dive at Sardine or Chicken Reef. Both sites are seamounts with a shallow top that gently slopes down to about 30m. Schools of snappers, fusiliers, and surgeonfish provide a snack for pelagic predators such as barracuda, giant trevallies, or reef sharks.
As we slowly move towards Arborek Island, we explore the south side of Pulau Mensuar where two spectacular jetty dives wait for us at Yenbuba and Sawandarek. The latter is also a cleaning station for sea turtles.
A land visit at Arborek gives you a chance to meander through the picturesque village and watch a fiery sunset on the white sandy beach. We conclude the day with a night dive at Arborek jetty.DAY 3: (3 dives)Whether you climb on top of a hill to admire the stunning view of Piaynemo or plunge into the depths of the underwater realm, it’s not just the destination, but also the journey that changes your perspective of the world.For the first dive, we visit the well-known Manta Sandy, a cleaning station for reef mantas.
While enjoying our big breakfast, we cross over to the Piaynemo area where we dive into Melissa’s Garden, named after the pioneer Max Ammer’s daughter.
Batu Rufas – dive site number three – is on the east side of Piaynemo and features a very photogenic submerged arch.
We conclude our day with a trip to the iconic viewpoint at Piaynemo. 341 steps lead to a platform where we can observe one of nature’s most artistic designs. The spectacular view is composed of the turquoise sea framed by jungle where a handful of karst islets jut dramatically out from the calm surface of the lagoon.DAY 4: (3 dives)For day four, we stay in the neighbourhood. Fam provides some awesome, fishy dives that simply cannot be missed.We start our day at My Reef where we play with massive aggregations of schooling fishes like fusiliers, jacks, and snappers. The top of the seamount lies at 12m and is a popular chillout place for the tasselled wobbegong shark.
Moving on to Kerou Channel, we hope for current! The spectacular drift dive rushes us past a rich, coral-covered reef where huge sea fans hold on for dear life feeding on the current. But don’t worry – there are also some sheltered areas where we can search for pygmy seahorses, nudibranchs, and other colourful reef critters.
On the north side of Piaynemo lies Barracuda Point, where we do our last dive of the day before crossing over to PulauYanggefo for the night.DAY 5: (4 dives)On our fifth day, we swim side by side with massive aggregations of fish gathering around completely submerged reefs. One of our favourite pastimes is watching them hunt.A morning dive at Citrus Ridge is a sure way to put a smile on your face. Teeming with fish the reef is coated in yellow and orange soft coral creating a fresh and happy backdrop for large schools of barracudas, playful sharks, and hungry tunas.
We follow up with Mayhem where the name of the dive site says it all. Heading back towards Arborek, we stop at Lalosi for dive number three.For all those who have missed browsing through seagrass and sand looking for small creatures, welcome to our favourite night dive site. The muck dive at Saporkren is full of surprises. From seahorses to flamboyant cuttlefish, to swimming wobbegongs – a spectacular dive is almost guaranteed.DAY 6: (3 dives)This is the last full day to show off the biodiversity in Raja Ampat. We chose lush, healthy reefs in the Dampier Strait that foster a large number of species. From pygmy seahorses to mantis shrimp to sharks – chances are we see them all.Depending on the tide, we start our day at Sardine or Chicken Reef. On the eastern tip of Pulau Kri lies the famous Cape Kri, the record holder for the most fish species found in one dive.Our third and last dive of the day is at Mioskon, also called “Bat Island” because of its residential fruit bat population. At dusk, they fly to the bigger islands to snack on fruit and return at dawn to settle in the trees for the day.
The sunset can be enjoyed on the white sandy beach of Mioskon with a cold beer in your hand. If you’re lucky and weather permits – there will be a beach BBQ later on!DAY 7: (1 dive)The last day starts early. Really. But it’s worth it, trust us. We try to be the first to jump at Blue Magic, a cleaning station for oceanic mantas. The dive site can be a wee bit ‘current’. But while you cling to a rock and your jaw is locked tightly around your regs and you leave a horizontal stream of bubbles behind you, hundreds of schooling jacks, grey reef sharks, Spanish mackerel, and hopefully a few graceful mantas will make it all worthwhile.
Back on board, we gently prepare you for your departure. This includes a debriefing, delicious food, a group photo, and plenty of time to gather your items while pondering how your belongings ever fit in your backpack when you left home.After lunch, we drop you off at the harbour. If you are returning to Sorong the same day, you will be ready to board the ferry by 14:00. The expected arrival in Sorong is 16:00.Sample itineraries are for guidance only. Actual itineraries may differ slightly due to factors such as weather, wildlife, logistics and local regulations.Payment & cancellation terms
- Free cancellation (no extra fee; the 50% deposit is not returned): 90 days prior to departure
- Cancellations made less than 90 days prior to departure will not be granted a refund
Payment policy50% deposit - required to secure reservation.
50% balance - due 60 days prior to departure.
Bookings received less than 60 days before departure require payment in full to secure reservation.Cancellation policySpecial offers or promotions - separate payment and cancellation terms may apply.
Group bookings - separate payment and cancellation terms may apply.
Contact the ZuBlu travel team if you have any questions about payment terms and cancellation.
*rebooking is subject to availability. Ultimate rebook date: 12 months from the original booking date. The credit cannot be transferred to another party.Sold out - 16Apr 20257D / 6N
Best of Dampier
19 divesfrom $1,750Overview
7 days / 6 nights19Open Water - Minimum 5 divesDive and travel insurance requiredTransfer details
Departure
16 Apr 2025
11:30 AM
Waisai
Sorong Airport: SOQ
Return
22 Apr 2025
01:00 PM
Waisai
Sorong Airport: SOQ
What's included
- Meals and snacks
- Water, tea and coffee
- Towels and toiletries
- Tanks and weights
- Night dives
- Land excursions
What's not included
- Dive and travel insurance
- National park fee - IDR1,000,000 per year
- Local dive contribution - IDR500,000 per trip
- Port fee - US$100 per trip
To be paid in advance or onboardOptional Extras
- Single supplement - 75%
- Alcoholic drinks
- Soft drinks
- Gratuities
- Equipment rental - US$140 per trip
- Diving courses
- Transfers
To be booked in advance or paid onboardHighlights
- Circular trip around the best of the well known Dampier Strait
- Encounter both reef and oceanic manta rays at renowned dive sites
- Enjoy a fiery sunset from the picturesque village of Arborek
- Walk up to the iconic viewpoint of Piaynemo
- Take in another sunset, on the white sandy beach of Mioskon
- Night dives included
The boat takes you on a 7-day journey through the Dampier Strait – the heart of the world’s coral reef biodiversity. Starting and ending our adventure in Waisai, we dive into approximately 19 of the most spectacular sites Raja Ampat has to offer. On our way through the Dampier Strait, we explore the reefs around Kri, Mansuar, Arborek, the Fam Islands, and Yanggalo.DAY 1: (1 dive)We meet up in front of the tourist information centre in Waisai at 11:00 where we will board the Epica. If you would like to be picked up in Sorong (VIP transfer), we meet you between 07.30 and 08.00 in the morning at the Je Meridien Hotel just next to the airport.Once on board, we make sure all the necessary paperwork is in order, allocate your cabins, set up dive equipment, and brief you on the boat and dive safety procedures.After lunch, we depart to our first dive site in central Raja Ampat. The check dive is usually at Friwen Bonda, a beautiful reef teeming with colourful fish.DAY 2: (4 dives)Raja Ampat is littered with tiny villages that feature rugged wooden jetties. Among the coral-encrusted pylons, you find a dazzling amount of sergeant majors, snappers, and sweetlips gently swaying in the clear water.We start the day with a drift dive at Sardine or Chicken Reef. Both sites are seamounts with a shallow top that gently slopes down to about 30m. Schools of snappers, fusiliers, and surgeonfish provide a snack for pelagic predators such as barracuda, giant trevallies, or reef sharks.
As we slowly move towards Arborek Island, we explore the south side of Pulau Mensuar where two spectacular jetty dives wait for us at Yenbuba and Sawandarek. The latter is also a cleaning station for sea turtles.
A land visit at Arborek gives you a chance to meander through the picturesque village and watch a fiery sunset on the white sandy beach. We conclude the day with a night dive at Arborek jetty.DAY 3: (3 dives)Whether you climb on top of a hill to admire the stunning view of Piaynemo or plunge into the depths of the underwater realm, it’s not just the destination, but also the journey that changes your perspective of the world.For the first dive, we visit the well-known Manta Sandy, a cleaning station for reef mantas.
While enjoying our big breakfast, we cross over to the Piaynemo area where we dive into Melissa’s Garden, named after the pioneer Max Ammer’s daughter.
Batu Rufas – dive site number three – is on the east side of Piaynemo and features a very photogenic submerged arch.
We conclude our day with a trip to the iconic viewpoint at Piaynemo. 341 steps lead to a platform where we can observe one of nature’s most artistic designs. The spectacular view is composed of the turquoise sea framed by jungle where a handful of karst islets jut dramatically out from the calm surface of the lagoon.DAY 4: (3 dives)For day four, we stay in the neighbourhood. Fam provides some awesome, fishy dives that simply cannot be missed.We start our day at My Reef where we play with massive aggregations of schooling fishes like fusiliers, jacks, and snappers. The top of the seamount lies at 12m and is a popular chillout place for the tasselled wobbegong shark.
Moving on to Kerou Channel, we hope for current! The spectacular drift dive rushes us past a rich, coral-covered reef where huge sea fans hold on for dear life feeding on the current. But don’t worry – there are also some sheltered areas where we can search for pygmy seahorses, nudibranchs, and other colourful reef critters.
On the north side of Piaynemo lies Barracuda Point, where we do our last dive of the day before crossing over to PulauYanggefo for the night.DAY 5: (4 dives)On our fifth day, we swim side by side with massive aggregations of fish gathering around completely submerged reefs. One of our favourite pastimes is watching them hunt.A morning dive at Citrus Ridge is a sure way to put a smile on your face. Teeming with fish the reef is coated in yellow and orange soft coral creating a fresh and happy backdrop for large schools of barracudas, playful sharks, and hungry tunas.
We follow up with Mayhem where the name of the dive site says it all. Heading back towards Arborek, we stop at Lalosi for dive number three.For all those who have missed browsing through seagrass and sand looking for small creatures, welcome to our favourite night dive site. The muck dive at Saporkren is full of surprises. From seahorses to flamboyant cuttlefish, to swimming wobbegongs – a spectacular dive is almost guaranteed.DAY 6: (3 dives)This is the last full day to show off the biodiversity in Raja Ampat. We chose lush, healthy reefs in the Dampier Strait that foster a large number of species. From pygmy seahorses to mantis shrimp to sharks – chances are we see them all.Depending on the tide, we start our day at Sardine or Chicken Reef. On the eastern tip of Pulau Kri lies the famous Cape Kri, the record holder for the most fish species found in one dive.Our third and last dive of the day is at Mioskon, also called “Bat Island” because of its residential fruit bat population. At dusk, they fly to the bigger islands to snack on fruit and return at dawn to settle in the trees for the day.
The sunset can be enjoyed on the white sandy beach of Mioskon with a cold beer in your hand. If you’re lucky and weather permits – there will be a beach BBQ later on!DAY 7: (1 dive)The last day starts early. Really. But it’s worth it, trust us. We try to be the first to jump at Blue Magic, a cleaning station for oceanic mantas. The dive site can be a wee bit ‘current’. But while you cling to a rock and your jaw is locked tightly around your regs and you leave a horizontal stream of bubbles behind you, hundreds of schooling jacks, grey reef sharks, Spanish mackerel, and hopefully a few graceful mantas will make it all worthwhile.
Back on board, we gently prepare you for your departure. This includes a debriefing, delicious food, a group photo, and plenty of time to gather your items while pondering how your belongings ever fit in your backpack when you left home.After lunch, we drop you off at the harbour. If you are returning to Sorong the same day, you will be ready to board the ferry by 14:00. The expected arrival in Sorong is 16:00.Sample itineraries are for guidance only. Actual itineraries may differ slightly due to factors such as weather, wildlife, logistics and local regulations.Payment & cancellation terms
- Free cancellation (no extra fee; the 50% deposit is not returned): 90 days prior to departure
- Cancellations made less than 90 days prior to departure will not be granted a refund
Payment policy50% deposit - required to secure reservation.
50% balance - due 60 days prior to departure.
Bookings received less than 60 days before departure require payment in full to secure reservation.Cancellation policySpecial offers or promotions - separate payment and cancellation terms may apply.
Group bookings - separate payment and cancellation terms may apply.
Contact the ZuBlu travel team if you have any questions about payment terms and cancellation.
*rebooking is subject to availability. Ultimate rebook date: 12 months from the original booking date. The credit cannot be transferred to another party.2 spaces left - 24Apr 20259D / 8N
Dampier Misool
22 divesfrom $2,395Overview
9 days / 8 nights22Open Water - Minimum 30 divesDive and travel insurance requiredTransfer details
Departure
24 Apr 2025
11:00 AM
Waisai
Sorong Airport: SOQ
Return
02 May 2025
10:00 AM
Waisai
Sorong Airport: SOQ
What's included
- Meals and snacks
- Water, tea and coffee
- Towels and toiletries
- Tanks and weights
- Night dives
- Land excursions
What's not included
- Dive and travel insurance
- National park fee - IDR1,000,000 per year
- Local dive contribution - IDR500,000 per trip
- Port fee - US$100 per trip
To be paid in advance or onboardOptional Extras
- Single supplement - 75%
- Alcoholic drinks
- Soft drinks
- Gratuities
- Equipment rental - US$180 per trip
- Transfers
To be booked in advance or paid onboardHighlights
- Circular itinerary hitting all the very best spots in Raja Ampat
- Encounter both reef and oceanic manta rays at renowned dive sites
- Visit unspoiled hard and soft coral gardens
- Search for Pontoh’s pygmy seahorse at Mioskon
- Discover vibrant reefs and dramatic underwater landscapes in Misool
- Explore the swim-throughs and caves of Goa Farondi
- Cruise Piaynemo’s lagoons and capture that classic Raja Ampat photo
- Dive the well known and action-packed Dampier Strait
- Search for a walking shark on a night dive
Day 1:Our crew will be waiting to greet you at the airport in Sorong. After you are comfortably settled on board and have completed registration, we will have the safety/orientation briefing. After lunch, schedule allowing, we will have a check dive.Day 2:We wake up in Raja Ampat, surrounded by tree covered limestone rock islands. We explore the area of Waisai and Mansuar island today. Pinnacles, walls and beautiful reefs await. We have 3-4 dives today.Day 3:Today we will explore the western area of the Dampier Strait around Gam, Yangefo, Arborek island. Drift diving, macro critter hunting and possible manta ray sightings are in store for you today. We have 3-4 dives today.Day 4:Today includes diving on lively reefs, pinnacles and a possible channel drift dive. Raja Ampat is home to several species of shark including the wobbegong shark (carpet shark) hiding and camouflaging under coral. There are White and Black tip reef sharks on most dives and the occasional grey reef shark as well. Raja Ampat is famous for marine life concentration and diversity. Home to an abundance of macro critters, school fishing and pelagic species, as well as several species of rays. At one moment today we will also have the opportunity to stretch our legs on a short land excursion to a viewpoint for a breathtaking panoramic view of the surrounding rock islands. We have 3-4 dives and a land excursion today.Days 5-7:Our adventure continues to the south of Raja Ampat in the area surrounding the big island of Misool. Misool is full of vibrant coral reefs teeming with marine life. Giant gorgonian fans on the reef walls play host to a variety of pygmy seahorse species. The area comprises countless limestone islands, which give shelter to an array of reef dwelling fish. Pelagic species can be seen patrolling the reefs looking for a meal, and the reefs abound with a rainbow of healthy soft and hard coral. There are pinnacles, ridges, reefs and small islands to explore, making this area sought after by most who venture this far. If you're lucky you may encounter the endemic Raja Ampat Epaulette shark (walking shark) or Manta Ray. We then spend the next 3 days exploring Misool.Day 8:Our last day of diving we will have 2 dives. In the area of Daram in the eastern most part of Misool you'll enjoy 2 morning dives. After diving is finished, allow our crew to wash your equipment and hang it to dry. You may relax and enjoy as we cruise back to the port of Sorong during the afternoon.Day 9:Wake up in Sorong harbour and enjoy a small breakfast. Our crew will transport you to the airport.Sample itineraries are for guidance only. Actual itineraries may differ slightly due to factors such as weather, wildlife, logistics and local regulations.Payment & cancellation terms
- Free cancellation (no extra fee; the 50% deposit is not returned): 90 days prior to departure
- Cancellations made less than 90 days prior to departure will not be granted a refund
Payment policy50% deposit - required to secure reservation.
50% balance - due 60 days prior to departure.
Bookings received less than 60 days before departure require payment in full to secure reservation.Cancellation policySpecial offers or promotions - separate payment and cancellation terms may apply.
Group bookings - separate payment and cancellation terms may apply.
Contact the ZuBlu travel team if you have any questions about payment terms and cancellation.
*rebooking is subject to availability. Ultimate rebook date: 12 months from the original booking date. The credit cannot be transferred to another party.Available
2025
2026
2027
Cabins
Bunk bed cabin
Bunk beds
2 peopleShareable
- If you are a solo traveller, we aim to allocate shared cabins on a same-sex basis.
- Non-shareable cabins can not be shared with another single traveler outside your party. A single occupancy surcharge will be applied.
Reviews
Leandra E
Epica is a simple, non-luxurious boat. It has everything you need. The team is always in a good mood and help wherever they can.