For the certified diver seeking to explore the vast and vibrant seascapes of Eastern Indonesia, the Panunee Premier liveaboard presents a modern and thoughtfully designed platform for serious underwater exploration. This Thai-owned and operated vessel combines robust functionality with understated comfort, purpose-built to access renowned regions like Komodo, Raja Ampat, Ambon, and the Banda Sea.
The Panunee Premier is engineered for efficiency and ease. Its large aluminium and steel hull provides a stable base for navigating Indonesia’s diverse waters. Onboard, the focus is on creating a practical and comfortable environment for divers. The liveaboard vessel accommodates up to 18 guests across 11 en-suite cabins, fostering an atmosphere that remains spacious even at full capacity. A notable feature is the inclusion of 4 dedicated single cabins, offering a considered solution for solo travellers.
Key highlights of the liveaboard include a spacious dive deck that is configured for streamlined operations. Each diver has a dedicated station with a personal tank-filling hose, minimising equipment handling and maximising preparation time. The wide platform ensures safe, uncluttered entries and exits. Photographer-friendly facilities include a dedicated camera station equipped with padded worktables, controlled lighting, and ample charging points. This secure, organised space is designed for the meticulous care of underwater imaging equipment.
Meals onboard are a highlight of the Panunee Premier, with Thai chefs preparing a fusion of authentic Thai and broader Asian cuisine. The connecting upper-deck saloons offer a choice of air-conditioned indoor dining or relaxed outdoor seating. Guests can unwind in the air-conditioned lounge with its entertainment library or seek tranquillity on the top ‘Sky Deck,’ a prime vantage point for taking in the expansive seascape.
The Panunee Premier liveaboard does not promise specific wildlife encounters - the oceans dictate their own rhythms - although the experienced, diving-aware crew is adept at facilitating the finest safaris through these rich marine territories. Instead, it offers a reliable, well-maintained vessel and a skilled team dedicated to positioning you in some of Indonesia's most celebrated marine environments. It is a solid choice for scuba divers and underwater photographers who value a practical, comfortable base from which to pursue their own discoveries.
Panunee Premier liveaboard has 12 guest cabins and accommodates up to 18 guests. On the main deck there are 2 double bed (queen size) Revive Suites, 2 twin bed Grand Deluxe cabins, and 3 twin bed Deluxe cabins. One the lower deck there are 4 Single bed cabins. All these accommodations have ensuite bathrooms.
Available on private charters only, there is an Eco twin bunk bed cabin on the lower deck with a shared bathroom.
All the cabins have:
- Individual controlled air-conditioning
- Private bathroom with hot water shower and hand basin (except Eco cabin)
- Toiletries, towels, hairdryer and mirror
- Portholes on lower deck, windows on main and upper deck
- Personal safety box
- Reading lights
- Daily housekeeping
- Wardrobe and shelves
- Bedside cabinet
- Fire alarm, life jackets and fire extinguishers - Biro Klasifikasi Indonesia (BKI) standard
- Mains outlet 220 volts - 24 hours (Thai multi-purpose 3-pin dual sockets)
- Storage space for luggage (under bed (30 inch)
No. of bathrooms / showers - 12 / 12 - hot water and toiletries
Raja Ampat National Park North & Central (7 Days / 6 Nights - 18 Dives)
Trip highlights: shark action, manta rays, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics
Diving environment: advanced divers, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, wall diving
Dive sites and activities: Raja Ampat: Dampier Strait - Mioskon, Mansuar, Sardine Reef, Melissa's Garden, Manta Sandy, Arborek, Sawandarek, Chicken Reef, Law-Law, Sapokren, Blue Magic, Cape Kri, Mike Point. Visit Penemu view point.
Day 1
Your tour in the heart of marine biodiversity begins in Sorong, the gateway to Raja Ampat. Upon boarding the Panunee Premier liveaboard, you will be welcomed by the professional crew and shown to your comfortable, air-conditioned cabin. The afternoon is dedicated to settling in, familiarising yourself with the vessel's spacious dive deck and amenities, and attending a comprehensive safety and itinerary briefing . As the yacht departs harbour, enjoy a welcome dinner, meet your fellow divers, and relax with the anticipation of waking up amidst the legendary islands of the Dampier Strait.
Core Days
Over the following days, the Panunee Premier will navigate the famed Dampier Strait, your access point to what is scientifically recognised as the most biodiverse marine ecosystem on the planet . This liveaboard itinerary is carefully designed to showcase the staggering variety of Raja Ampat, from its world-record fish counts to its shallow macro havens.
The adventure truly commences at sites like Mioskon and Sardine Reef, which offer gentle slopes and vibrant bommies teeming with life, providing an ideal introduction to Raja's reefs. Here, you may spot the endemic and camouflaged wobbegong shark resting on the seabed, or schools of fusiliers and snappers moving through the clear water . However, the signature experience of the strait awaits at sites like Manta Sandy. This shallow cleaning station offers consistent, often breathtaking encounters with both reef and oceanic manta rays as they glide in for cleaning, presenting unparalleled opportunities for observation and wide-angle photography.
For many, the pinnacle of this Panunee Premier trip is diving Cape Kri, a site made famous by a single-dive world record count of 374 fish species. Drifting along its bustling reef, you will witness the full, chaotic spectacle of Raja Ampat's abundance, where schools of barracuda, trevally, and batfish swirl above gardens of hard coral while blacktip and whitetip reef sharks patrol the deeper edges. This exhilarating action contrasts beautifully with the artistic beauty of Melissa’s Garden, a pristine coral reef bursting with life, and the technical muck-diving opportunities at Sapokren, a sandy slope renowned for its rare nocturnal critters and exceptional night dives.
Beyond diving, the liveaboard cruise includes cultural and scenic highlights. A visit to the jetty at Arborek Island showcases a beautiful example of a symbiotic marine community, while a hike to the Penemu viewpoint rewards you with a panoramic vista of the iconic karst islands scattered across turquoise lagoons - a perspective that perfectly frames the majesty of this remote paradise
Day 7
On the final morning, you will awaken at Sorong harbour. After a final continental breakfast onboard, there will be time to farewell the Panunee Premier crew and your dive companions before disembarkation. Complimentary transfers will be provided to Sorong's airport or your pre-booked city hotel, concluding the liveaboard expedition.
Raja Ampat National Park South (9 Days / 8 Nights - 25 Dives)
Trip highlights: shark action, manta rays, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics
Diving environment: advanced divers, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, wall diving
Dive sites and activities: Raja Ampat - Misool: Andiamo, Warnah Berwanah, Tree Rock, Boo, Nudi Rock, Whale Rock, Dunia Kecil, Magic Mountain, Four Kings, Barracuda Rock, Pantai Kecil, Puri Pinnacle, Juliet Besar, Farondi, Three Sisters, trekking at Love Lagoon
Day 1
Your exploration of southern Raja Ampat begins in Sorong, where you will be transferred to the awaiting Panunee Premier liveaboard. After a warm welcome from the crew, settle into your cabin and attend a comprehensive boat and safety briefing. As the sun sets, enjoy your first meal on board while the liveaboard begins its overnight cruise south towards the legendary Misool archipelago. This is a time to relax, get acquainted with your fellow divers, and prepare your equipment, with the gentle hum of the engines building anticipation for the pristine diving that awaits at dawn.
Core Days
For the duration of this safari, the Panunee Premier will be your mobile base as you explore the intricate maze of limestone karsts, hidden lagoons, and deep blue channels that define Southern Raja Ampat. The diving here presents a masterful blend of breathtaking macro life and awe-inspiring pelagic action. At renowned sites like Nudi Rock and Boo Windows, your attention turns downward to a thriving critter community; expect to search for pygmy seahorses nestled in sea fans, flamboyant nudibranchs decorating the reef, and the delicate forms of ghost pipefish. This is underwater photography at its most intricate and rewarding.
The submerged pinnacles and seamounts of the region offer a dramatic contrast. Sites such as Magic Mountain and Farondi are renowned for their cleaning stations, where oceanic mantas perform graceful, looping passes. At pinnacles like Four Kings and Barracuda Rock, strong currents often attract schooling pelagics, including trevally, dogtooth tuna, and swirling vortexes of barracuda. Drifting along the vibrant walls of Whale Rock or exploring the coral-crusted slopes of Tree Rock reveals a breathtaking density of reef fish, from clouds of fairy basslets to patrolling reef sharks, all set against a backdrop of stunning coral health.
Beyond diving, the liveaboard adventure extends above water. A trek to the viewpoint at Love Lagoon reveals a stunning panorama of turquoise water enclosed by jagged limestone cliffs - a quintessential Misool image. The Panunee Premier yacht’s route also allows for exploration of serene sites like the sheltered bays around Dunia Kecil and the intricate reef systems of the Three Sisters, where each dive promises a new combination of dramatic topography and prolific marine life, solidifying Misool’s reputation as a crown jewel of the Coral Triangle.
Day 9
Awake on the final morning after the Panunee Premier liveaboard completes its return cruise to Sorong. After a final continental breakfast on board, it’s time to bid farewell to the crew and your diving companions. With your logbook filled with memories from one of the planet’s most biodiverse marine environments, you will disembark, concluding an immersive liveaboard experience dedicated solely to the wonders of Southern Raja Ampat.
Banda Islands & Ambon (8 Days / 7 Nights - 24 Dives)
Trip highlights: turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics
Diving environment: advanced divers, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, wall diving
Dive sites and activities: Ambon Bay, Suanggi, Banda Islands: Batu Kepal, Hatta, Ai and Run, land visit to Banda Neira
Day 1
Your Banda Sea cruise aboard the Panunee Premier liveaboard commences in Ambon, where you will board the vessel and settle into your cabin. After a comprehensive safety and dive operations briefing from the experienced crew, you’ll conduct a relaxed afternoon check dive, allowing you to adjust your gear and buoyancy in Ambon’s sheltered bay. This is followed by a welcome dinner onboard. The day concludes with a scheduled night dive in Ambon Bay, a renowned muck diving location that offers a fascinating introduction to the region’s diverse macro life, making for a substantive first day of underwater exploration.
Core Days
The itinerary unfolds across some of Eastern Indonesia’s most celebrated and remote marine environments. The diving from the Panunee Premier is characterised by its variety and the pristine nature of the sites, a direct result of their isolation.
The adventure begins in Ambon Bay, famed for its exceptional muck and critter diving. Here, dive sites offer a unique opportunity to search for rare and exotic macro species on volcanic sand slopes and among harbour structures, a stark contrast to the vibrant reefs to come. As the liveaboard sails south, the island of Suanggi presents a different character, with submerged pinnacles and slopes that act as magnets for pelagic action. Drifting along these sea mounts, divers often observe trevallies, dogtooth tuna, and reef sharks patrolling the current-rich waters.
The heart of this Panunee Premier liveaboard trip though lies in the Banda Islands. This remote archipelago delivers a quintessential Indonesian reef experience with a remarkable sense of seclusion. At sites like Batu Kepal, a submerged rock formation, divers navigate slopes densely covered in soft corals and gorgonian fans, frequented by large schools of fusiliers and snappers. The islands of Ai and Run are known for their steep walls, which plummet into the deep blue and are often visited by cruising turtles and eagle rays. A highlight for many is diving near Hatta Island, where the deep, nutrient-rich channels create conditions that can attract schooling hammerhead sharks - a compelling possibility, though never guaranteed, that underscores the wild nature of this location.
A scheduled land visit to Banda Neira provides essential historical context, allowing guests to explore the colonial-era Fort Belgica and understand the region’s storied spice trade past.
Day 8
On the final morning, you will awaken back in the waters of Ambon. After a final continental breakfast onboard, you will prepare your luggage and dive gear for departure. The Panunee Premier crew will assist with disembarkation, followed by a timely transfer to Ambon’s Pattimura Airport or your pre-arranged city hotel, concluding your expedition through these historically and marine-rich islands.
Raja Ampat National Park South & Central
Trip highlights: shark action, manta rays, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics
Diving environment: advanced divers, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, wall diving
Dive sites and activities: Raja Ampat - Misool: Farondi, Yiliet Besar, Magic Mountain, Boo, Four Kings, Dampier Strait: Melissa's Garden, My Reef, Manta Ridge, Arborek, Sawandarek, Yanbuba, Cape Kri, Blue Magic. Snorkelling at Jellyfish Lake, visit Love Lagoon, hike to Penemu viewpoint.
Day 1
This Panunee Premier liveaboard diving tour begins in Sorong, where you board the yacht, settle into your cabin, and meet the crew and fellow divers. After a comprehensive safety and cruise briefing, there is time to assemble dive gear and relax as the vessel departs port. Dinner is served on board while Panunee Premier cruises south overnight, positioning you close to Misool so you wake up ready for the first dives of the expedition.
Core Days
This liveaboard trip explores Raja Ampat’s most celebrated regions: the remote limestone seascapes of Misool and the current-swept reefs of Dampier Strait. In southern Raja Ampat, Misool’s dramatic underwater topography defines the diving, with sites such as Farondi and Yiliet Besar offering caves, swim-throughs, and densely covered walls rich in soft corals and reef fish. Magic Mountain and Boo are standout submerged pinnacles and ridges, known for strong currents that attract large schools of fish and regular manta ray traffic, while Four Kings delivers classic Raja Ampat scenery with bommies layered in colour and life.
As the Panunee Premier liveaboard transitions north, the focus shifts to Dampier Strait, an area shaped by tidal flow and nutrient-rich water. Iconic reefs such as Cape Kri and Blue Magic are famed for their fish diversity, where carefully timed dives reveal dense schools of fusiliers, trevallies, and reef predators moving along the reef edge. Manta Ridge is a reliable cleaning station where scuba divers can observe manta behaviour without disturbance, while Melissa’s Garden and My Reef provide slower-paced dives across pristine coral gardens, ideal for appreciating Raja Ampat’s extraordinary biodiversity.
Village reefs at Arborek, Sawandarek, and Yanbuba combine excellent coral health with relaxed conditions, making them enjoyable multi-level dives and offering opportunities to observe reef fish interactions in shallower water. Between dives, the cruise balances underwater exploration with topside experiences, including snorkelling at the unique Jellyfish Lake, a visit to the striking Love Lagoon, and a hike to the Penemu viewpoint for sweeping views across Raja Ampat’s karst islands. These land-based excursions add context and variety to the diving-focused schedule without detracting from time in the water.
Final Day
After an early breakfast, guests prepare for disembarkation from the Panunee Premier liveaboard in Sorong. Transfers to hotels or the airport follow, marking the conclusion of this Raja Ampat tour that blends renowned dive sites with the comfort and professionalism of a well-established liveaboard operation.
[Information is best estimate in ideal circumstances and subject to changes beyond our control. The itinerary is a guide only and may be adapted to best suit the weather, tides, currents, availability and other prevailing events. Price is for the cruise, not for an exact number of dives].
Life onboard the Panunee Premier liveaboard follows a purposeful yet flexible cadence, built around multiple daily dives. The schedule is designed to keep you energised and ready for exploration, while allowing for the natural variables of weather and marine conditions. A typical day unfolds with the following rhythm:
* Pre-Dive Start (approx. 6 am): A light breakfast of coffee, tea, juice, toast, yoghurt, and fruit is served, offering the perfect fuel before your first descent.
* Morning Dive: The day's first underwater adventure begins.
* Main Breakfast (approx. 9-10 am): After the dive, a full, cooked breakfast is served. This includes an eggs station for omelettes, fried, or poached eggs, alongside pancakes, sausages, and other staples. Uniquely, guests can also order from an à la carte menu the night before, choosing from dishes like fried rice, noodle soup, or porridge.
* Late Morning Dive: A second dive at another pristine site.
* Lunch (approx. 12 noon): A varied buffet lunch is served, featuring a rotation of authentic Thai and Asian dishes. Expect flavorsome options like Thai curries with squid, stir-fried seafood, clear soups, and regional specialties such as Nasi Kuning (Indonesian yellow rice).
* Afternoon Dive: The third dive of the day.
* Afternoon Refreshment (approx. 4-5 pm): A changing selection of snacks and treats is served to replenish energy. This may include Thai-style fried bananas, waffles, burgers, or local snacks.
* Late Afternoon Activity: This slot is often reserved for a fourth dive, a dedicated snorkeling session, or a land excursion to a nearby beach or village.
* Dinner (approx. 7-8 pm): The day culminates with a generous dinner. Menus rotate and may feature grilled fish or chicken steaks, Thai-style steamed fish, Massaman curry, or popular dishes from the lunch service. Special interactive dining events, like Thai Hot Pot (Suki Yaki) or a BBQ Grill (Yakiniku), where guests cook their own selection of fresh ingredients, are a highlight of the week.
The culinary program on the Panunee Premier is a significant and celebrated part of the cruise, designed by skilled Thai chefs. Meals are a fusion of authentic Thai and broader Asian cuisine, prepared with fresh ingredients and served primarily buffet-style in the dining saloon. This spacious area is also a social hub where guests share stories of the day's dives against a backdrop of ocean views.
The inclusive liveaboard service extends to drinks and snacks. Complimentary soft drinks, juice, coffee, tea, and an assortment of snacks like cookies, chips, and chocolate are available throughout the day. Alcoholic beverages, such as beer, are available for an additional charge.
