EPICA

24m / 79ft MAX 12 PADI

PRICE PER DAY FROM USD 230

LOWEST PRICE GUARANTEE

At a glance:

Maximum of only 12 guests
Visits central, northern and southern Raja Ampat
Year round Raja Ampat liveaboard
Short, affordable cruises
Small dive groups

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Epica is an awesome Raja Ampat liveaboard for guests on a tight budget. Popular among young divers, Epica can accommodate a maximum of 12 guests in 6 simple cabins. Most trips are either 6 nights covering the Dampier Strait, or 9 night cruises including either the further northern or southern Raja Ampat region.

You can hang out on the large upper deck lounging on bean bags or in the hammock enjoying the stunning views of the islands of Raja Ampat. You can also sit on the bench seating at the main dining table or on stools facing out to the port or starboard side of the boat. There are also bean bags on the sun deck where you can work on your tropical tan.

Cabins are all on the main deck, with twin bunk beds. They have cooling fans and natural ventilation and have doors that open on to the deck, which many guests leave open for the ocean view. Guests share 2 bathrooms with fresh water showers. At the rear of the main deck is the dive deck, where you gear up and either step into the diving tender or dive directly from the mothership.

Meals are freshly prepared by the chef and are a mix of international favourites as well as Indonesian specialties, served buffet-style in the main deck dining area. Epica may be no frills but offers a fun and affordable way to dive the world-class sites of Raja Ampat and, for some, that is the perfect mix!

Epica has 6 standard twin bed cabins on the main deck. All cabins share 2 bathrooms.

All the liveaboard cabins have:

Cooling fans
Portholes
Shared bathroom with toilet, hand basin and cold water shower
Space for luggage

100% organic cotton bedding and towels
Life jackets and fire extinguishers
220V electricity supply with round 2-pin sockets - available 24-hrs per day

Raja Ampat National Park North & Central (7 Days / 6 Nights - 19 Dives)

Trip highlights: shark action, manta rays, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving

Dive sites and activities: Raja Ampat: Dampier Strait, excursion to Arborek Island, Manta Sandy, Penemu Islands, Kawe, Aljui Bay, Yefmo, Gam, Mioskon Island visit

Day 1
You will either meet the Epica’s crew at the Waisai ferry terminal or, you can take the VIP transfer from the Meridian Hotel lobby at 07:30 hrs for the transfer to the Waisai ferry, which departs at 09:00 hrs. If you are renting gear, you should check into the Scuba Republic shop the day before to size your gear). The 2 hour crossing will provide lots of time to swap diving stories and expectations for your Raja Ampat liveaboard cruise. If you are going to be in Waisai already, then meet the other guests/staff at the harbour at 11:00 hrs as they get off the ferry. Once onboard you’ll be shown to your allocated cabin and then join your fellow divers and crew for the welcome briefing, prep your gear and join the check dive. The rest of the day is at your leisure. Lunch and dinner is served on the main deck. Toast your Raja Ampat diving vacation with sunset drinks before turning in for the night.

Days 2 - 6
Your diving safari routine will be a rotation of diving, eating and relaxing. The dive site selection will be determined by the cruise director who will consider the natural elements (current, weather and tide) as well as the interests and experience of the group. Raja Ampat provides plenty of sites to suit even the most experienced or particular diver.
After breakfast all divers and guides meet on the dive deck where you will listen to the dive briefing of the 1st morning dive. Expect to witness the beauty of Raja Ampat, the most biodiverse region in the world, from the very first dives till the end of your trip. You will be astounded to discover pristine coral reefs, sponges, sea fans and an explosion of marine life in different sizes and shapes. Lunch and dinner are freshly prepared and offer a mix of local and international cuisine, and are served 'family-style' on the upper deck. Meals and snacks will give you plenty of energy for all the wonderful dives (3 or 4 per day) on this cruise. Countless nudibranchs and invertebrates will be hard to find without the help of the expert guides, while there will be no need for help to enjoy the view of manta rays being cleaned by wrasses. You can also check out reef sharks swimming near the sandy bottom, schools of mackerel, tuna and barracuda hunting anthias, glassfish and other small dwellers of the reef.

Day 7
As time has a habit of doing, it will slip away all too soon and your last dive will be upon you at 07:00 hrs. There is time to wash your gear so it will dry while the sails are hoisted and you cruise back to Waisai. This is a wonderful opportunity to capture your last memories and share contact info with your new diving friends. A light lunch is served before you depart the Epica for your ferry transfer to Sorong at 14:00 hrs (arriving at 16:30 hrs at the latest).

Raja Ampat National Park South & 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, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving

Dive sites and activities: Raja Ampat: Dampier Strait: Sardine, Mioskon, Batanta: US airforce P37, Black Beauty, Happy Ending, Misool: Magic Mountain, Boo Windows, Farondi, Fiabacet; Four Kings, Cape Kri, Melissa's Garden, Citrus Ridge, Manta Ridge

Day 1
You will either meet the Epica’s crew at the Waisai ferry terminal or, you can take the VIP transfer from the Meridian Hotel lobby at 07:30 hrs for the transfer to the Waisai ferry, which departs at 09:00 hrs. If you are renting gear, you should check into the Scuba Republic shop the day before to size your gear). The 2 hour crossing will provide lots of time to swap diving stories and expectations for your Raja Ampat liveaboard cruise. If you are going to be in Waisai already, then meet the other guests/staff at the harbour at 11:00 hrs as they get off the ferry. Once onboard you’ll be shown to your allocated cabin and then join your fellow divers and crew for the welcome briefing, prep your gear and join the check dive. The rest of the day is at your leisure. Lunch and dinner is served on the main deck. Toast your Raja Ampat diving vacation with sunset drinks before turning in for the night.

Days 2-8
Your diving safari routine will be a rotation of diving, eating and relaxing. The dive site selection will be determined by the cruise director who will consider the natural elements (current, weather and tide) as well as the interests and experience of the group. Raja Ampat provides plenty of sites to suit even the most experienced or particular diver.
After breakfast all divers and guides meet on the dive deck where you will listen to the dive briefing of the 1st morning dive. Expect to witness the beauty of Raja Ampat, the most biodiverse region in the world, from the very first dives till the end of your trip. You will be astounded to discover pristine coral reefs, sponges, sea fans and an explosion of marine life in different sizes and shapes. Lunch and dinner are freshly prepared and offer a mix of local and international cuisine, and are served 'family-style' on the upper deck. Meals and snacks will give you plenty of energy for all the wonderful dives (3 or 4 per day) on this cruise. Countless nudibranchs and invertebrates will be hard to find without the help of the expert guides, while there will be no need for help to enjoy the view of manta rays being cleaned by wrasses. You can also check out reef sharks swimming near the sandy bottom, schools of mackerel, tuna and barracuda hunting anthias, glassfish and other small dwellers of the reef.

Day 9
As time has a habit of doing, it will slip away all too soon and your last dive will be upon you at 07:00 hrs. There is time to wash your gear so it will dry while the sails are hoisted and you cruise back to Waisai. This is a wonderful opportunity to capture your last memories and share contact info with your new diving friends. A light lunch is served before you depart the Epica for your ferry transfer to Sorong at 14:00 hrs (arriving at 16:30 hrs at the latest).

[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].

DEPARTURE SCHEDULE & PRICES

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Dive experience: For Cenderawasih, Ambon and Banda trips - minimum requirement is advanced with 25 logged dives. All other trips - Open Water with 4 dives.

Cruise price per person includes: Cabin accommodation, breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, drinking water, hot drinks, dives (as detailed in the trips above), experienced English and Indonesian-speaking divemaster(s) (max 4 divers per DM), torch for night dives, tanks, weights and weightbelts, all taxes.

Cruise price per person excludes (mandatory, unless customer provides own): Scuba equipment (full set incl. dive computer: US$ 36 per day), dive insurance, hotel or airport transfers, Raja Ampat park fees (US$ 89 per person), Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival (cash - EUR, USD, and IDR, credit card).

Optional extras: Soft drinks, alcoholic beverages, transfers from Sorong airport/Meridien hotel to the boat (US$ 50 per person one way), transfers from Labuan Bajo airport to the boat (US$ 10 per person one way). Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival. Note: prices of items purchased onboard are subject to change.

How to get there: Raja Ampat: The Epica liveaboard departs from Waisai in West Papua. You can fly directly to Sorong from Jakarta, Ujung Pandang (Makassar) and Manado. From Bali there are convenient connections via Ujung Pandang (Makassar) and Manado. We will help you arrange return domestic flights between Bali or Jakarta and Sorong, if necessary. You can either make your way to the departure point in Waisai independently (there is a Sorong Waisai ferry leaving at 09:00 hrs) or you can arrange a VIP transfer. The meeting point for the VIP transfer service is the Meridien Hotel in Sorong at 07:30 hrs. You will then be transferred to the ferry. The transfer and ferry ticket price are included in the VIP transfer service price. Guests already in Waisai meet at the tourist information in Waisai harbour at 11:00 hrs. For more details, including airlines, see our travel information section.
The last dive of the trip will be at around 10:00 hrs on the last day of the trip. Please wait at least 18 hours before flying after diving. If your cruise ends in Waisai you will disembark in time for the ferry at 14:00 hrs. Expected time of arrival back in Sorong is 16:00 hrs. Arriving a day before your cruise and departing the day after your cruise is strongly advised.

Non-diver rate: 10% off the published price.

Single supplement (if you do not want to share accommodation): This is optional - single travellers may choose to share a cabin or pay a supplement of 75% for their own cabin.

Dive clubs and group discounts: None.

Whole boat charter rate (per night): There is none available for this boat. Please contact us to enquire for a full charter.

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LIVEABOARD SEARCH

EPICA

Raja Ampat National Park North & Central (7 Days / 6 Nights - 19 Dives)

Raja Ampat National Park South & Central (9 Days / 8 Nights - 25 Dives)

DEPARTURE SCHEDULE & PRICES

MORE TRIP DETAILS