Constructed in traditional fashion from iron wood and teak, Calico Jack is a 30m liveaboard running diving safaris around some of Indonesia's finest regions. Considering there is a maximum of 10 guests on board there is plenty of room on this classic Phinisi schooner as it cruises all around Indonesian Papua - Raja Ampat and beyond.
3 day dives are offered per day, plus night dives on alternate days. From October through to June the boat visits Raja Ampat, diving in the south at Misool regions and the north at the famous Dampier Strait and Waigeo. In August and September Calico Jack relocates to Cenderawasih Bay where you can find endemic marine species alongside World War 2 wrecks and many whale sharks. In October it heads to Triton Bay, 'the final frontier', with incredible diversity, abundant and vibrant marine life, and more whale sharks. Diving is conducted from 2 dive-focused, custom-made speed boats. They each have 6 dive stations, plus room for the dive guide and equipment, with low sides and ladders for easy drop and recovery of divers.
All of the en-suite cabins are located on the lower deck and are air-conditioned and with double or twin beds. There is a laundry service available. The multi-lingual crew of 8 are on hand to look after you, so there is plenty of personal service. Guests can relax in the indoor dining area or more commonly on the covered deck, where there is plenty of lounging space and you can relax in the open air and drink in the changing views of the Indonesian archipelago. You can also enjoy the TV, DVD, computer and music system below decks or work on your tan while lounging on the sundeck.
Snorkelling equipment, sea kayaks, SUPs (paddleboards), and wakeboard are all available for active guests. Calico Jack delivers not only a great scuba diving experience but will make you feel like you are cruising around these ancient islands as have generations before.
Raja Ampat National Park South & Central (12 Days / 11 Nights - 32 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: Balbulol, Daram, Warokaraket. Boo, Wayilbatan, Yilliet, Wagmab, Farondi; Penemu, Wofo, Waigeo: Gam, Arbroek, Dampier Strait: Cape Kri. Explore lagoons, kayaking and paddle boarding among hidden lagoons, short boat tour and a trek to a viewpoint overlooking Penemu, beach BBQ party, visit a local village.
Day 1
A warm smile welcomes you to Sorong: the Calico Jack crew has awaited your arrival and takes you to the nearby harbour. The liveaboard will leave port as soon as all guests are on board in order to avoid an overnight journey, since to Misool it takes 12 hours. Enjoy a refreshing drink while the cruise director introduces the crew, the other guests and the boat amenities. Be assigned to your cabin and in the afternoon you can unpack your dive gear and get it ready for tomorrow's dives. A sunset dinner takes place in the air-conditioned saloon.
Core Days
An easy to follow daily schedule and days full of fun - pre-breakfast, 1st dive, breakfast, 2nd dive, lunch, 3rd dive, snacks, 4th dive and dinner. Dining on board Calico Jack is an experience as memorable and definitive as the diving. All meals are prepared and cooked daily by the amazing chef Yono and you can expect to be indulged with an array of healthy, mouth-watering Asian fusion and International cuisines. Any specific dietary requirements will be happily accommodated with prior consultation. All trips are include 3 meals per day, snacks, as well as water, soft drinks, tea and coffee. Dinner each night is a 3-course gourmet affair, and a bonfire-lit BBQ on a secluded beach is a signature specialty. A selection of local and imported alcoholic beverages will be available on board, but you are invited to bring along your favourite spirit or bottle of wine to share and compliment this unforgettable experience.
The dining won't be the only reason for you to be pleased. Raja Ampat offers unforgettable diving, being the richest marine region on Earth. Reef sharks, manta rays, wobbegongs, turtles, barracudas, bumphead parrotfish, dogtooth tuna and also unforgettable macro life such as frogfish, seahorses, ghost pipefish, rhynophias and much more to discover.
Please note that only 2 dives will be scheduled for the last full day of the safari before the yacht starts its way back to port.
Day 12
You have reached the end of this amazing cruise. Exchange farewells and photos with the people that have helped make this safari unforgettable. Disembark and enjoy the view while being transferred to Sorong airport.
Cenderawasih Bay (12 Days / 11 Nights - 34 Dives)
Trip highlights: whale sharks, manta rays, great macro life/ marine diversity
Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, wreck diving
Dive sites and activities: Manokwari Bay, Numfor, Manim, Purup, Mioswar, Roon, Ribbon, Sodompari, Wandammen Peninsula, Tridacna Atoll, Tanjung Mangguar, and Kwatisore. Beach BBQ.
Day 1
A warm smile welcomes you to Manokwari: The Calico Jack crew has awaited your arrival and takes you to the nearby harbour. The liveaboard will leave port as soon as all guests are on board. Enjoy a refreshing drink while the cruise director introduces the crew, the other guests and the boat amenities. Be assigned to your cabin and in the afternoon you can unpack your dive gear and get it ready for your check dive in Manokwari. A sunset dinner takes place in the air-conditioned saloon.
Core Days
An easy to follow daily schedule and days full of fun - pre-breakfast, 1st dive, breakfast, 2nd dive, lunch, 3rd dive, snacks, 4th dive and dinner. Dining on board Calico Jack is an experience as memorable and definitive as the diving. All meals are prepared and cooked daily by the amazing chef Yono and you can expect to be indulged with an array of healthy, mouth-watering Asian fusion and International cuisines. Any specific dietary requirements will be happily accommodated with prior consultation. All trips are include 3 meals per day, snacks, as well as water, soft drinks, tea and coffee. Dinner each night is a 3-course gourmet affair, and a bonfire-lit BBQ on a secluded beach is a signature specialty. A selection of local and imported alcoholic beverages will be available on board, but you are invited to bring along your favourite spirit or bottle of wine to share and compliment this unforgettable experience.
There are some very cool endemic fish to be found in Cenderawasih Bay and these first Bay dives would give us the chance to have our first glimpse of them. Not all the dives are muck but there are some good critters to find. Once you leave the Port of Manokwari all other diving is reef, great hard corals, big sponges, and soft coral. You will normally spend a morning or two with the bagans (fishing platforms) to swim, snorkel and dive with the whale sharks.
Please note that only 2 dives will be scheduled for the last full day of the safari before Calico Jack starts its way to port.
Day 12
You have reached the end of this amazing cruise. Exchange farewells and photos with the people that have helped make this safari unforgettable. Disembark and enjoy the view while being transferred to Nabire airport.
Note: This itinerary may operate in reverse. Please see above for specific ports of departure and return.
Raja Ampat & Triton Bay (12 Days / 11 Nights - 30 Dives)
Trip highlights: whale sharks, shark action, manta rays, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics
Diving environment: advanced divers, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, wall diving
Dive sites and activities: Triton Bay: Larry's Heaven, Aiduma, Little Komodo; Namatote, Sagin, Mommon, Pulau Pisang, Raja Ampat - Misool: Wayilbatan, Yilliet, Warokaraket. Boo, Daram, Balbulol. Beach BBQ, waterfall visit, kayaking.
Day 1
The Calico Jack crew will collect you from your Kaimana hotel and take you to the nearby harbour for boarding. Following refreshments and a short tour of the ship, you will be briefed on safety, diving operations, and
life onboard. A delicious lunch will be served and then you have time to get acquainted with the ship, set up your dive gear and cameras, and meet and socialise with the other guests and crew. You will do a check dive in the area later in the afternoon. A sunset dinner takes place in the air-conditioned saloon.
Core Days
An easy to follow daily schedule and days full of fun - pre-breakfast, 1st dive, breakfast, 2nd dive, lunch, 3rd dive, snacks, 4th dive and dinner. Dining on board Calico Jack is an experience as memorable and definitive as the diving. All meals are prepared and cooked daily by the amazing chef Yono and you can expect to be indulged with an array of healthy, mouth-watering Asian fusion and International cuisines. Any specific dietary requirements will be happily accommodated with prior consultation. All trips are include 3 meals per day, snacks, as well as water, soft drinks, tea and coffee. Dinner each night is a 3-course gourmet affair, and a bonfire-lit BBQ on a secluded beach is a signature specialty. A selection of local and imported alcoholic beverages will be available on board, but you are invited to bring along your favourite spirit or bottle of wine to share and compliment this unforgettable experience.
The food won't be the only reason for you to be pleased. Raja Ampat offers unforgettable diving, being the richest marine region on Earth. Reef sharks, manta rays, wobbegongs, turtles, barracudas, bumphead parrotfish, dogtooth tuna, and also unforgettable macro life such as frogfish, seahorses, crustaceans, rhynophias and much more to discover.
Triton Bay is considered a dive destination of absolute world class with its own unique attractions. It is relatively unexplored, with wonderful biodiversity and unique soft coral gardens. Huge forests of black coral and rugged rocks provide fantastic scenery both above and below water. Potential sightings include whale sharks, epaulette sharks, resident pilot whales, squadrons of bumphead parrotfish. Critter appearances include frogfish, ornate ghost pipefish and nudibranchs galore.
Please note that only 2 dives will be scheduled for the last full day of the safari before the yacht starts its way back to port.
Day 12
You have reached the end of this amazing cruise. Exchange farewells and photos with the people that have helped make this safari unforgettable. Disembark and enjoy the view while being transferred to Sorong Airport.
Note: this cruise sometimes runs in reverse so please check port details above.
Raja Ampat National Park North & Central (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: Dampier Strait, Mioskon, Sardine Reef, Cape Kri, Yenbuba Jetty, Arborek, Manta Sandy, Penemu, Aljui, Wofo and Yanggefo. Explore lagoons, short boat tour and a trek to a viewpoint overlooking Penemu, beach BBQ party, visit a local village.
Day 1
A warm smile welcomes you to Sorong: the Calico Jack crew has awaited your arrival and takes you to the nearby harbour. The liveaboard will leave port as soon as all guests are on board in order to avoid an overnight journey; it takes 5 hours. Enjoy a refreshing drink while the cruise director introduces the crew, the other guests and the boat amenities. Be assigned to your cabin and in the afternoon you can unpack your dive gear and get it ready for tomorrow's dives. A sunset dinner takes place in the air-conditioned saloon.
Core Days
An easy to follow daily schedule and days full of fun - pre-breakfast, 1st dive, breakfast, 2nd dive, lunch, 3rd dive, snacks, 4th dive and dinner. You will be pleased to discover that the 3 course meals are waiter-served instead of buffet style, with the chef preparing the best of European and Indo-Chinese cuisine. During your tour there will also be a barbecue night on a deserted beach.
The dining won't be the only reason for you to be pleased. Raja Ampat North offers unforgettable diving, being the richest marine region on Earth. Reef sharks, manta rays, wobbegongs, turtles, barracuda, bumphead parrotfish, dogtooth tuna, and also unforgettable macro life such as frogfish, seahorses, ghost pipefish, rhynophias and much more to discover.
Note that only 2 dives will be scheduled for the last full day of the safari before the yacht starts its way back to port.
Day 9
You have reached the end of this amazing cruise. Exchange farewells and photos with the people that have helped make this safari unforgettable. Disembark and enjoy the view while being transferred to Sorong airport.
[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].
The11 crew comprise:
- Cruise Leader/Instructor
- Captain
- Cook
- 2 Engineers
- Steward
- 2 Divemasters
- 3 Deck hands
2 Motorised dinghies - Dive deck with ladders 2 fresh hot water showers - Air-conditioned saloon & dining area with TV, DVD player, music system and computer - Fish ID & general books, diving magazines - Shaded open-air social area - Sundeck with deck chairs - Sea kayaks, SUPs, wakeboard, fishing equipment - Water dispenser.
"
I spent 12 days with the Calico Jack team for an unforgettable cruise in Cenderawasih Bay in Indonesia. Magnificent dives with incredible reefs, a host of whale sharks and beautiful wrecks! The all-wooden boat with its beautiful red sails was spacious and very nice! The schedule was focused on diving but with great activities on offer such as snorkeling, visiting a traditional village, a barbecue on the beach, etc. The meals were all very good and especially the crew was amazing! All very attentive, friendly and funny. I can only recommend the cruises offered by Calico Jack" -
Lea Delmas, France, 2 October 2024 ...
"
Boat is OK, cabins are rather small. Food was OK. Staff excellent." -
Daniel Erbeznik, Slovenia, 7 January 2019 ...
"
Equipment was new, well-maintained and the service from the support crew was fantastic.The food was fantastic. The sleeping quarters/ bunks were o.k. Nothing glamorous but there was air con and everything we needed." -
Anke Steier, Germany, 18 January 2017 ...
"
On the liveaboard, I rented most of the dive equipment and utilized all of the services organized by the staff, including treks on the islands, meals and snacks, reading books, etc. Everything was taken care of perfectly. From being picked up at the airport and taken to the boat, to the beautiful cabins, to every day's incredible diving and food, it was truly perfect in every way. All of the diving equipment was in good quality and the boat itself was in immaculate condition. There's not a single thing I can complain about." -
Rachel Berkley, USA, 15 September 2015 ...
