DUNE Aurora Liveaboard, Indonesia

Name: Raja Ampat Central/South (Sorong - Sorong)
Start: 2027-03-20
End: 2027-03-29
Location: Indonesia

9.3 Superb

Nitrox available
En-Suite bathrooms
Family Cabins
Aircon Cabins
Non-Diver (Snorkeler) Friendly
Warm Water Showers

from $ 441 / day Check dates

“Everything was just amazing. The crew and guides are taking great care of everyone, the boat is beautiful and the cabins are spaci…”
Jasmin V, Germany

Highlights

Vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free menus
Free nitrox for certified divers

The DUNE Aurora is a 42-meter traditional phinisi liveaboard built in Sulawesi. Accommodating up to 18 guests, the vessel features 9 double or twin cabins, each equipped with air conditioning, en-suite bathrooms, free Wi-Fi, and daily housekeeping. Guests can choose between Standard cabins on the lower deck or Superior cabins with sea views on the main deck. A professional crew of 19 staff members ensures attentive service throughout the voyage.

Beyond the cabins, the DUNE Aurora offers inviting social spaces where guests can unwind between dives. The air-conditioned indoor salon provides a comfortable place to relax, while the sun deck offers panoramic ocean views. Guests can savor freshly prepared local and international cuisine created by onboard chefs, with vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options available. The vessel also offers free Nitrox for certified divers, spacious areas to socialize, and plenty of room to relax while taking in the breathtaking scenery of Indonesia.

The DUNE Aurora cruises year-round through some of Indonesia’s most spectacular dive regions, including Raja Ampat, Halmahera, Lembeh, the Banda Sea, Triton Bay, and Cenderawasih Bay. Itineraries range from 6 to 12 nights, featuring routes such as Raja Ampat Central and South, Raja Ampat–Halmahera expeditions, Banda Sea crossings, and specialized trips like Raja Ampat wellness cruises. Guests can expect extraordinary marine biodiversity, encounters with manta rays and whale sharks, vibrant coral reefs, and unforgettable exploration of remote islands across the Indonesian archipelago.

Book your dive safari aboard the Aurora today.

This liveaboard is part of the DUNE Liveaboard Fleet.

Choose your departure date

Date

Itinerary

Price

Select

05 Nov

12 Days / 11 Nights

$ 5,350

FULL

30 Nov

12 Days / 11 Nights

$ 6,195

FULL

12 Dec

9 Days / 8 Nights

$ 4,550

Select Cabin only 5 spaces left

21 Dec

7 Days / 6 Nights

$ 3,430

FULL

08 Jan

10 Days / 9 Nights

$ 5,295

FULL

18 Jan

10 Days / 9 Nights

$ 5,295

FULL

28 Jan

10 Days / 9 Nights

$ 5,295

FULL

07 Feb

10 Days / 9 Nights

$ 5,295

FULL

18 Feb

10 Days / 9 Nights

$ 5,295

FULL

28 Feb

10 Days / 9 Nights

$ 5,045

FULL

20 Mar

10 Days / 9 Nights

$ 5,045

FULL

30 Mar

10 Days / 9 Nights

$ 5,045

FULL

Included: VAT, National Park Fees, Port Fees, Airport Transfer, Hotel Transfer, Drinking Water, Soft drinks, Tea & Coffee, Welcome Cocktails, Full-Board Meal Plan (All meals), Snacks, Diving Package, Nitrox, Kayaks, Land Excursions, Snorkeling Guide, Stand Up Paddleboard, Beach Towels, Cabin Towels, Complimentary Toiletries, Deck Towels.

Required Extras: Mandatory Service Charge ($15 / day).

Optional Extras: Gratuities, Local Flights, Alcoholic Beverages ($3-65 / item), Nitrox Course ($190), Private Dive Guide ($65 / day), Rental Gear, Scuba Diving Courses ($300-400), Snorkel Gear ($10 / day), Laundry / Pressing Services.

Book now, pay later: You can easily place your booking online. We will then hold the spaces for you and you can confirm with a payment later.

* Extra fees are shown per person.

Pay by bank transfer or online with

Best Price Guaranteed

Boat features

En-Suite bathrooms
Family Cabins
Aircon Cabins
Non-Diver (Snorkeler) Friendly
Warm Water Showers
Air Conditioned saloon
Sun Deck
Camera Station
Stand Up Paddleboard
Nearly 1:1 Crew-to-Guest Ratio
Kayaks On-Board
Seaview Cabins
Non-Smoking Rooms
Custom built for diving
Charging stations
Indoor Saloon
Laundry Service
Library
Audio & video entertainment
Observation Deck
Available for Charter
Local & International Crew
Separate Rinse for u/w Camera
Outside Showers
Leisure Deck
Daily housekeeping
Bar

Food & Drinks

Free Wine w/Dinner
Fine Cuisine
Al Fresco Dining
Vegan Options
Vegetarian Options
Free Soft Drinks
Beer available
Wine Available
Full-board Option
Fine Wines Selection
Welcome Cocktails
Snacks All Day
Buffet style
Western Food
Local Food
Set Menu Dinner

If you have any specific dietary requirements whilst on-board your cruise, you can add this to your special requests on step 2 of the booking form. We advise limiting these requests to religious beliefs or food allergies.

Diving

Nitrox available
DIN Adaptors
Rebreather Support
Rinse Hoses
Dive deck
Tenders for diving
Sidemount Diving

Languages Spoken

The crew speaks English, French, Chinese, Spanish, and Indonesian.

Gear Rental

Equipment is available for rent on this boat. Please provide your rental needs on the booking form. If the rental gear is not included in the price, you will need to pay for it on board the boat. Show prices

Drawings & Vessel Layouts

Cabin Types

Boat Specifications

Year built: 2007

Year renovated: 2010

Length: 42 m

Beam: 9 m

Top speed: 8 knots

Cruising speed: 6-7 knots

Engines: Nissan 420 HP marinized

Max guests: 18

Number of cabins: 9

Number of bathrooms: 9

Tenders: 2x 6 meters fiberboats 2x40 hp Yamaha engine/1 Rib 4.65 mtr 40 hp yamaha

Water capacity: 12000 liters

Fuel capacity: 12000 liters

Freshwater maker: 6000 liters/day

Boat navigation and safety

Radar
Depth Sounder
GPS
Radio VHF/DSC/SSB
E.P.I.R.B. Distress System
Emergency Rafts
Life Vests
Fire Alarm & Fire Extinguishers
Oxygen
First Aid Kits
Satellite & mobile phones
Crew trained in first aid
Emergency flares

DUNE Aurora Reviews

9.3 Superb

Vessel

9.1
Crew

9.4
Food

9.7
Diving

9.4
Value

9.0

9.6 Exceptional
Wayne P
Australia

Banda Sea exploration
The whole experience was great from pick up to drop off. The crew were more than attentive, the guides were awesome and the safety levels were really high. A great trip!
Recommended for
The service and the crew were outstanding. Diving was great from pygmy seahorses to schools of hammerheads. Food was exceptional and plentiful.
13 Oct, 2026

10 Exceptional
Xavier I
France

A Walk on the Aurora
Beautiful wooden boat, top crew, magnificent dives with breaks from land tours
Recommended for
The diversity of the dives. The organization and availability of the team. The boat itself.
25 Sep, 2025

Translated from French

10 Exceptional
Michael E
United States

A memorable voyage with amazing crew.
Can’t say enough about the amazing cruise director and crew. They really worked hard for the best possible experience. Small groups, well chosen dive sights, experienced dive masters and 60 minute dives. The boat is comfortable and charming. Included nitrox and available larger tanks for the 60 minute dives. Gear issues were readily supported with solutions. Gear was washed and dried, ready for departure. The island excursions were delightful and enriched the experience.
Recommended for
Careful selection of dive sites and conditions to make sure everyone got what they wanted. Cruise director and crew work very hard for you. Land based excursions add to the experience.
06 Oct, 2024

10 Exceptional
Roland M
Switzerland

Great dives in cosy environment
It was a fantastic trip to dive at real remote places but still had every comfort you need.
Recommended for
Great dives with big diversity, cosy cabins and staff which reads every desire
11 Dec, 2015

10 Exceptional
Jasmin V
Germany

Just perfect
Everything was just amazing. The crew and guides are taking great care of everyone, the boat is beautiful and the cabins are spacious. Of course the amazing dive sites are an absolute highlight. Raja Amapat really is paradise
Recommended for
Great crew and guides, amazing dive sites, beautiful boat
30 Dec, 2023

10 Exceptional
David C
Canada

Fantastic diving on a well run ship.
Many highlights. The great variety of sea life, corals and plants that are Raja Ampat. Interesting side excursions. Enjoying comfortable shipboard life with an international mix of people.
Recommended for
Professional crew, great food, wonderful dive site selections
08 Feb, 2017

9.6 Exceptional
Joseph S
United States

Super diving in Raja Ampat
Really exceeded expectations. Aurora is a fantastic liveaboard
Recommended for
Sealife, great food, luxury treatment
03 Mar, 2016

10 Exceptional
zhou Y
China

It's a trip that was full of surprises!
It's my memory that will never be forgotten!
Recommended for
Beach Party, dive briefing map，stern diner
28 Dec, 2015

9.6 Exceptional
Rebecca C
United States

Happy we chose the Aurora
From start to finish Guillaume and the entire hard working crew made sure we had everything we needed. The food options were always great, the dive crew was top notch, rental gear was in good condition, diving was awesome, the ship is as advertised - really, no complaints. Just as an FYI, We traveled mid/end of March and had nice weather.
Recommended for
All the Staff (especially Wayan ;)). Food by Chef Aji and Niko. Dive sites.
04 Apr, 2026

9.2 Superb
boulem K
France

An excellent surprise for an exceptional cruise
From the welcome to the disembarkation, everything is impeccable. The dives are done in complete safety, with a consistent distribution of the divesThe dive masters know the sites very well
Recommended for
A crew that takes care of you. Flawless organization. All meals were excellent.
16 Sep, 2024

Translated from French

71 reviews

9.3 Superb
71 Verified Reviews

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10 Exceptional
Morag C
United Kingdom

Loved Aurora and Raja Ampat
We loved our holiday on Aurora even though my husband was unable to dive due to medical problems and I am a snorkeller. The crew and service are amazing and can't do enough to ensure everyone has a great time. We were allocated one of the guides to snorkel with us each day and (apart from the walking shark!) we saw everything the divers saw - and we sometimes saw a lot more! The corals in Raja Ampat are undoubtedly the best I've ever seen anywhere in the world! With Guillaume as the trip leader the organisation on the Aurora was superb. Everyone is allocated a number and has equipment boxes, water bottles and towels all labelled with that number. Before each trip our fins and the divers equipment would be placed in the relevant speedboat ready for us. When we came out of the water we would be handed a water bottle refilled with water. On our return to the boat one of the crew, Jane, would be waiting with a glass of juice and a cheery welcome and our equipment would be rinsed and put ready for the next dive. Our towels would also be dry and waiting for us. We have never before had such excellent service on a boat. The food was plentiful and good and included local specialties such as Soto Adam, Nasi Goreng and Mee Goreng. Breakfast and dinner were individually served to order whilst lunch was a buffet. There was always meat, fish and vegetarian dishes. Soft drinks were included in the price whilst beers were reasonably priced. There were also other alcoholic drinks available but I don't know how they were priced as we stuck to beer and water. We were fortunate that we only had 12 of us on this trip so it was a fairly intimate group - very multicultural and we all got on well so there was a great atmosphere on the boat. All in all, we had an awesome holiday and would definitely return - if only Raja Ampat wasn't so difficult to get to!!
Recommended for
Crew. Organisation. Location.
14 Sep, 2024

10 Exceptional
Emir C
Bosnia Herzegovina

Visit to Aurora was all prefect
We also made some land visits to Komodo National Park. The dives were very nice and the visited sites were prefectly chosen, so that we were very alone on the dive sites.
Recommended for
Food, cabin, service just everything was very nice.
21 Aug, 2019

Translated from German

8.4 Very good
Boon Quang S
Singapore

Wonderful time on Aurora Live-on-board at Raja Ampat December 2026.
The trip was very interesting. The manager gives very good bio-diversity talks on the reef.
Recommended for
The manager is very friendly.. The crew are very helpful.. The transfer from/to the airport is very efficient.
29 Dec, 2025

8.4 Very good
Bertrand D
Belgium

fantastic dive spots
It was a great experience, especially that it was my first liveaboard experience.
Recommended for
access to remote dive spot
16 Nov, 2015

9.6 Exceptional
Caroline L
Singapore

Best Komodo diving experience
1) The itinerary was dependent on weather, winds and tides which allowed guests to fully experience the safest and best diving. As we all know, dive safaris are trips into the wild and mother nature ultimately determines what you can do or see. This was carefully evaluated by the crew members and cruise manager, and we covered 21 dives in both the north and the south of Komodo National park. During the first and last day, land trips around the parks were carefully planned to suit the no dive flight time which allowed guests to never feel bored. 2) Hospitality and Food - It is amazing what can be whipped up on board with carefully planned meals by the chef and his team. We were very well fed with freshly made whole foods throughout the trip and not one dish was repeated over the last 8 days. Full service was also provided regarding dive gear assembly, DRYING, and movement of suitcases from the airport to the cabin. Cabins and boat were kept in immaculate condition with the crew working round the clock to clean and dry every crevice. 3) The extra little touches - I spent my 30th birthday on the boat and was not expecting anything. The crew did a whole Indonesian feast and a whole birthday cake made from scratch! There were drums, guitar and metal spoons involved in this little performance. Best birthday ever! 10/10 recommend Dune Aurora to anyone who is looking for a full and complete diving experience without missing the destinations that require gravity and feet as well. Pink beach too touristy? They dropped us off at a secret beach that was also pink and we got the best drone shots. Padar island trek for your IG posts and stalking mating komodos? Or a thousand bats covering the night sky during a sunset? Dreamy... I traveled solo and Komodo is one of the most romantic and magical holidays one can ever ask for. This is my second time back and this live aboard experience proceeds my expectations. Counting down to the next time I sail with Dune Aurora again, hopefully to the many other Indonesian dive havens the earth can offer
Recommended for
Food, crew, cleanliness
07 Aug, 2022

8.0 Very good
FREDERIC J
France

In the top destinations for recreational diving
Well chosen itinerary and well-managed weather Very friendly crew
Recommended for
Organization. Skills. Dive sites.
14 Sep, 2024

10 Exceptional
Svetlana L
Bermuda

Had the best time!!
Absolutely loved this trip on Aurora. Every minute I felt well taken care of and even spoilt :-) Such a professional, dedicated, fun, committed crew. Delicious food - I might have gained some weight.. Boat has starlink, so I unexpectedly stayed connected to the rest of the world throughout the whole trip. The dives sites are stunning, but we also had some land excursions that blew our minds away! This trip exceeded my expectations by a lot, thanks to the amazing boat and crew of Aurora. Thank you so much!
Recommended for
Crew. Comfort of living and diving amenities. Dive sites.
06 Oct, 2024

10 Exceptional
Nathalie F
France

One of the best liveaboard
I highly recommend Aurora to dive in the Komodo. The boat is super comfortable. The staffs extremely dedicated. You can ask anything on the boat or under water and they will find it for you. If you are a photographer they handle your camera with a lot of care. It is the first time I never had to worry about my camera. Food is very good. Breakfast is a la carte. Aurora will guarantee you the perfect diving vacation. It is one of the best liveaboard I have done
Recommended for
Confort - Service - Kindness
04 Sep, 2017

9.6 Exceptional
Xiao Y
China

Great Banda Sea liveaboard experience
I really enjoyed my 9-night Banda Sea trip on DUNE Aurora. The crew was the highlight of the experience: the stewards were extremely attentive, our dive guide Harri was excellent at finding marine life and taking care of the divers, and the crew manager was very helpful in solving any problems that came up.
Recommended for
dive guide. service. food.
16 Oct, 2026

10 Exceptional
David W
United Kingdom

Brilliant
Plenty of diving diversity with a few land trips for extra variety. The crew were cheerful and attentive. Guillaume the cruise director was amazing and worked very hard to make sure everyone was happy. The food was good and special requests were catered for if possible. Overall a memorable experience.
Recommended for
Diving. Staff. Food.
06 Oct, 2024

9.2 Superb
Sehoya C
United States

A trip of a lifetime on Aurora!
My husband and I saved for years to dive Raja Ampat and we are so happy with Aurora as our choice for taking us there. I still can't believe all we saw, and am so impressed by the care and consideration from the crew. Our dive guide, Tian, was the absolute BEST! He figured out quickly what we were interested in and made sure to be on the lookout for us. The food was good, healthy, and plentiful. I would do exactly the same trip again if I could. For other travelers, I recommend leggings and a rash guard for some of the little stingers. Not a big deal, but I will bring something to cover my legs on future trips. I just packed a shorty, which was fine for the temperature...some people dove without neoprene.
Recommended for
Amazing dives, with so much diversity...every dive was different!. The crew made us feel so welcome. the boat was clean and comfortable and there was plenty of space.
06 Dec, 2024

10 Exceptional
Heiko Langner L
Germany

Magical Christmas Dive Cruise
Exceptional dive sites were planned out well, some with amazing 100% hard coral cover, exceptional coral and fish diversity. Night dives were incredible (with bobbit worms, cuttle fishes, toadfish, snails, slipper crabs etc). We saw an occasional manta, some large schools of fish, some large fish (Napoleon, Bumphead parrot, tuna, trevally, grouper, sweetlips, snapper, barracuda, whitetip/blacktip sharks), fun smaller fish like razor fish, ghost pipefish, Dragon seamoth, many nudibranchs, different anemone fish, octopus. We loved the walk across Arborek island and to the Piaynemo viewpoint topped off with a small boat excursion of the lagoon. We appreciated the environmental commitment of the crew and Dune company who collected garbage in Arborek and support reef restoration efforts of the community. Most memorable will be the most attentive and kind crew who pampered us with warm, dry towels and juice after each dive, hot chocolate after night dives, washing/drying our wetsuites, preparing tanks and dive gear in the 2 dive boats, feeding us delicious food, even preparing special Christmas dinner and ambience, enthusiastically greeting the dive boats after each dive. The crew was always cheerful and friendly. The informative dive briefings helped to keep everyone safe under water. The cabin and the boat was spacious and kept clean at all times. One day the crew showed off Aurora's beauty with her blue sails. I will recommend the Aurora and crew to all my dive friends heading to Raja Ampat. Terima Kasih!
Recommended for
Super kind, super helpful and super attentive crew; knowledgeable dive guides; beautiful dives and island walks
03 Jan, 2024

9.2 Superb
Rüdiger T
Germany

Wonderful first liveaboard experience
The Aurora was a wonderful first liveaboard experience for us. An incredibly friendly crew takes care of everything. The small breefings to manta rays, corals, Raja Ampat and also the leisurely garbage collection on a beach show how important it is to the tour manager to preserve this paradise. Very well planned dives and small excursions to the impressive viewpoints alternated wonderfully. And Jane's warm cocoa after the night dive was terrific! We were also supported with problems with the return flight on the day of departure until the problem was solved, for which we were very grateful.
Recommended for
top organized. varied program. superb food.
14 Sep, 2024

9.2 Superb
CRISTINA B
Spain

Excellent Choice in Raja Ampat
The organization is excellent as well as the crew. The food and details such as a dry towel after each dive also stand out. to improve the price and maintenance of the boat (furniture) but little else. a 9/10
Recommended for
crew. food. organization.
03 Sep, 2025

Translated from Spanish

9.6 Exceptional
Pat V
Netherlands

Fantastic week on board.
Very well organized. Everything very punctual. Nice and relaxed crew
Recommended for
Lovely boat and cabins.. Very friendly crew. Nice other guests.
16 Sep, 2024

Translated from Dutch

9.6 Exceptional
Igor I
United States

Excellent boat in Raja Ampat
Very positive experience Highly recommended Cruse director ( Tian ) dive guides ( Niko was my guide ) are very focused on the clients and do their best
Recommended for
Guides ( my was Niko ) are excellent. Very comfortable boat great ratio of divers /crew. Accommodating stuff focusing on customers.
15 Jul, 2025

10 Exceptional
Florian J
Austria

Summer trip in Central Raja Ampat
We had a great time in the comfortable cabin. Crew was always attentive and happy to adjust to guest preferences. Food was very good, dive guides excellent. The briefings could have matched the dives a bit better or been more informative about fauna. Conditions were as to be expected during low season
Recommended for
Crew & Dive Guides. Cabin. Minor Problems dealt with quickly.
28 Jul, 2025

9.6 Exceptional
christopher R
Canada

An amazing trip
On the second day or our 12 days on Aurora in Raja Ampat I got an ear infection so I only had 3 dives. I really thought that I would be miserable being stuck on a boat while everyone else was having the dive of there life. But I wasn’t. I had a great time because the crew, the staff, even the boat itself made it a great vacation. The food was excellent and always prepared and served with smiles. If I needed anything I just had to ask. The cabin was well appointed, comfortable and cleaned each day. The lounge and dining area was large, bright and comfortable as well as a great social space, and the long dining table brought us all together like family. The dive deck was so spacious, well organized and always kept in order, staff was attentive and everything was taken care of in regards to equipment set up and preparation. The upper sundeck was large and had plenty of comfortable loungers and in the hot sun of the day they pulled a screen shade over so one could enjoy it without getting baked. In the early morning and evenings it was great for sunrise and sunset, even a cocktail party or two. For those of us who like to smoke the rear deck was a designated “smokers lounge” and a lot of laughter was had and many a Bintang consumed. It was also a great spot to hang with the crew. Despite my misfortune this was still one of the best vacations I have had thanks to the wonderful staff and crew, amazing food, the Dune Aurora herself, the incredibly fun, interesting and diverse guests and of course the stunning beauty of Raja Ampat. I look forward to taking a trip on Aurora again in the not to distant future. This time with diving! Thank you all for this unforgettable experience. Namaste
Recommended for
the food, the guests, the staff and crew + +
17 Dec, 2018

10 Exceptional
Pui Ying K
Hong Kong

The Dune Aurora offered an exceptional liveaboard trip with excellent dive guides, attentive service, and thoughtful touches throughout.
I had an outstanding liveaboard experience aboard the Dune Aurora, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a well-organized, guest-focused diving trip. The dive guides were one of the biggest highlights. They were excellent spotters and consistently found many rare and special creatures that we would have easily missed on our own. What made them even better was their willingness to share useful tips on how to find these critters and great photography advice to help capture better shots. Their enthusiasm and knowledge really elevated every dive. On the service side, the crew went above and beyond. They were very attentive to individual requests — the chef would happily adjust meals according to our preferences every time, and there was always a good selection of drinks and snacks available throughout the day. A memorable touch was the beach BBQ dinner, which was a lovely change of scenery. The boat also offered a viewpoint trail and other small activities that made the trip feel more complete. One thing that genuinely impressed me was receiving a detailed diving summary from the manager after the trip ended. As someone who loves keeping records of my travels and dives, this personal touch was incredibly thoughtful and valuable — the first time I’ve ever received something like that from a liveaboard. Overall, the combination of skilled and passionate dive guides, thoughtful service, delicious and flexible food options, and that extra personal touch made this one of my most enjoyable liveaboard trips to date. I left feeling well-rested, satisfied, and already thinking about my next trip on the Dune Aurora.
Recommended for
Dive Guide. Breakfast. Diving Summary.
15 Apr, 2026

8.8 Fabulous
wolfgang L
Germany

Nixe Trip
Very good, thanks to Aurora Team, thanks to liveaboard.com to Debbie and Nicole
Recommended for
Food, friendly People, Professional handling
13 Dec, 2015