Samambaia Liveaboard, Indonesia

Name: Raja Ampat & Banda Sea (Sorong - Ambon)
Start: 2027-04-12
End: 2027-04-23
Location: Indonesia

9.5 Exceptional

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

from $ 573 / day Check dates

“The Samambaia was beautiful, comfortable and luxurious. ”
Lance S, United States

Highlights

Delicious international cuisine with local ingredients
Range of activities during surface intervals
Massage service on board

Samambaia is a new traditional wooden Phinisi sailing in some of the best areas of Indonesia. Climb aboard and be welcomed to luxury and comfort, where the focus is on the finer details and guests' needs.

On board the Samambaia, the 18 experienced, professional, and friendly crew are on hand to help to create an unforgettable journey. Guests are catered to with delicious international cuisine cooked fresh daily with locally sourced ingredients and freshly prepared bread and pastries. For relaxation, guests can choose the partially shaded sundeck with comfortable loungers and enjoy the spectacular Indonesian views or a relaxing massage from the onboard masseuse.

Catering to only 14 guests, The Samambaia Boat has 6 tastefully decorated cabins on the lower deck and a beautiful Master cabin on the main deck with stunning 180° sea views. Each cabin has a private en-suite bathroom, under-bed storage, wardrobes, and individually controlled AC.

Divers and snorkelers alike will marvel at the underwater beauty of Indonesia, with unique cruises to Raja Ampat, Banda Sea, Alor, and Komodo. Divers can enjoy spectacular day and night diving and various activities during the surface intervals, such as scenic rides through lagoons and coves, trekking, visits to secluded beaches, and whale watching. While the Samambaia Yacht is new, the crew and dive guides have years of experience there.

Book online today to start your amazing adventure.

Choose your departure date

Date

Itinerary

Price

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16 Nov

12 Days / 11 Nights

$ 7,370

Select Cabin only 1 space left

30 Nov

12 Days / 11 Nights

$ 7,370

Select Cabin only 3 spaces left

14 Dec

7 Days / 6 Nights

$ 4,020

Select Cabin available

22 Dec

12 Days / 11 Nights

$ 7,370

FULL

04 Jan

12 Days / 11 Nights

$ 7,535

FULL

17 Jan

12 Days / 11 Nights

$ 7,535

FULL

01 Feb

12 Days / 11 Nights

$ 7,535

FULL

15 Feb

12 Days / 11 Nights

$ 7,535

FULL

01 Mar

12 Days / 11 Nights

$ 7,535

FULL

15 Mar

12 Days / 11 Nights

$ 7,535

FULL

12 Apr

12 Days / 11 Nights

Last space for women only.

$ 7,535

Select Cabin only 1 space left

26 Apr

12 Days / 11 Nights

$ 7,535

Select Cabin available

Included: VAT, Airport Transfer, Hotel Transfer, Drinking Water, Soft drinks, Tea & Coffee, Welcome Cocktails, Full-Board Meal Plan (All meals), Snacks, Diving Package, Kayaks, Land Excursions, Snorkeling Guide, Wakeboarding, Beach Towels, Cabin Towels, Complimentary Toiletries, Deck Towels, WiFi internet.

Required Extras: Fuel Surcharge ($150-250 / trip), National Park Fees ($75-250 / trip), Port Fees ($75-100 / trip).

Optional Extras: Gratuities ($20 / day), Local Flights, Alcoholic Beverages, Nitrox Course ($250 / day), Private Dive Guide ($450-950 / trip), Rental Gear, Scuba Diving Courses ($350-450 / day), Snorkel Gear, Laundry / Pressing Services, Massage (Rp500,000).

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.

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Best Price Guaranteed

Boat features

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

Food & Drinks

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
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
Free Nitrox
Shaded Diving Area
DIN Adaptors
Rinse Hoses
Dive deck
Tenders for diving

Languages Spoken

The crew speaks English, French, Portuguese, and Italian.

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: 2015

Length: 34

Beam: 9

Top speed: 12

Cruising speed: 9

Engines: Yanmar Marine Turbo 500 hp

Max guests: 14

Number of cabins: 7

Number of bathrooms: 7

Tenders: 2 x 6.5 m fibreglass tenders with 2 x 40 hp

Water capacity: 10000 liters

Fuel capacity: 10000 liters

Freshwater maker: 2 x 5000 liter per 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
Bilge pump alarm
Search light
Engine room CCTV
Crew trained in first aid
Emergency flares

Samambaia Reviews

9.5 Exceptional

Vessel

9.7
Crew

9.3
Food

9.9
Diving

9.5
Value

9.2

10 Exceptional
David G
United States

Best Liveaboard trip yet, great experience
Really enjoyed the diving, the schedule and all the diverse sites and different creatures and especially the 2 Manta Dives.
Recommended for
The diving, the crew and the dining
14 Feb, 2018

10 Exceptional
Jemma K
United Kingdom

Samambaia Magic!
Visited some great dive sites in south and central raja. Vis was not as good as we had hoped but the coral and fish were stunning! The boat and crew were so wonderful and really made the trip!
Recommended for
Dive masters were amazing. Food was delicious.. Boat was fabulous and well maintained by crew..
20 Jan, 2025

10 Exceptional
John S
United States

World Class
Komodo National park diving is world class. Food is out of this world and fresh. El toro our dive guide is top notch boat is immaculate and well kept Owner Gia Paulo is a fantastic human being.
Recommended for
Professionalism of the crew, commitment to safety and service
18 Jul, 2019

9.6 Exceptional
Ann K
United States

Perfectly Run Intimate Adventure
The diving was the main highlight as it should be. The crew made sure we got to sites when other divers weren’t there. They sent a launch out before every dive to check currents and activity. I guess it’s the luck of the draw, but every single guest was wonderful. The rooms are gorgeous, spacious, and tastefully decorated. There was always hot water for showers.The cook made impossibly good food for a boat. There was homemade ice cream, Italian and Asian food. I don’t eat meat, and they seamlessly accommodated that. There’s an espresso machine on the boat. Soft drinks and beer come with your fare. You can bring wine for a corking fee. The sun deck is lovely. They did my laundry at no charge. Transfers to and from the airport were perfect.
Recommended for
The boat is very well organized, which is the main thing. Compared to the last boat I was on, which was VERY high-end, this one has better food and seemingly ceaseless hot water, a more fun-loving crew, and the owner was on board.
14 Dec, 2019

9.6 Exceptional
jean luc S
France

A change of scenery
Diving in a splendid setting and meals!!
Recommended for
The chef! Coral landscapes
03 May, 2024

Translated from French

8.8 Fabulous
Daniel F
Switzerland

Banda Sea Cruise
Great new boat with very high standard of service and awesome food.
Recommended for
Boat, Crew, Food
11 Apr, 2017

10 Exceptional
Vladimir P
United States

Incredible adventure with great crew!
The highlight of this trip was the diversity of activities and dive sites, trips to local villages and hiking Raja Ampat iconic sites like Wayag and Waigeo Islands.The camaraderie of the crew and guests made everyone feel like a family. Shout out to Daniel for smoothly running all operations and making everyone happy and to the dive master Ratno Subaru for working hard during each dive to find for us all these incredible creatures!
Recommended for
Variety of dive sites( Manta’s cleaning sites, mangrove tree dive, Acropora fields ). Great crew and comfortable ship.
30 Dec, 2023

10 Exceptional
marina L
Denmark

Amazing
Everything.
Recommended for
Diving safety, very helpfull crew and the food
13 Sep, 2018

10 Exceptional
Lance S
United States

Absolutly fabulous trip!
The Samambaia was beautiful, comfortable and luxurious. The crew were delightful and extremely helpful. The diving was incredible and the knowledge shown by both the cruise director and the dive guides was both vast and helped to learn and enjoy more. The surrounding scenery of the islands was amazing.
Recommended for
Crew, food and diving.
28 Mar, 2019

10 Exceptional
Christophe B
France

Superb experience with MV Samambaia in East Flores and Alor
I particularly liked the professionalism and friendliness of the crew (Serge, the dives director, Gian Paolo who built the ship and the Indonesian crew), the beautiful boat, the quality of the Italian food and the superb dives in remote places where it would otherwise be very difficult to go (south Alor, Pura, Rusa...). I strongly recommend this ship and will definitely be looking at the next cruises!
Recommended for
The beautiful boat, the professionalism and friendliness of the divemasters and the crew, the quality of the food
03 Dec, 2017

38 reviews

9.5 Exceptional
38 Verified Reviews

Sort reviews by:

9.6 Exceptional
Sonja G
Germany

Pure relaxation!! Great dive sites with chilled boat atmosphere
The atmosphere on the boat immediately invites you to relax. The cabins are beautiful and offer enough space with en-suite bathrooms. The beds are very comfortable. The whole crew fits together well. Everyone is super friendly and helpful at all times. Special requests are catered for, especially since we were only with five guests on board. The service was outstanding. The dives were very nice and with the dive guides you feel in good hands even as a "rare diver", especially with the senior guide Frankie. Chef Akee spends wonders in the small kitchen. You get the full-service package! You only have to dress yourself, but even there you can get help if the neoprene doesn't want to do as it should. We can only recommend the Samambaia and will definitely be back. Thank you for the great 12 days! We already 😍 miss you
Recommended for
1. Manta rays at 5 dives 😊 2.Dive guide Frankie who gives a lot of safety underwater. 3. Chef Akee's great food
21 Mar, 2017

Translated from German

10 Exceptional
Amanda
United States

The absolute BEST!
There are not enough words to describe how amazing this trip was! From the boat, the crew, the food, the luxury.. all was a 10+!!!
Recommended for
The crew was amazing!. The boat is the best live-abaord I have ever been on, comfortable, clean, gorgeous!. The diving, dive staff, and overall atmosphere!.
13 Jul, 2024

10 Exceptional
CHRISTIAN WALTER D
Germany

Absolutely wirth flying 18 hours
Every day was a highlight. Many thanks to the cruise director, the dive guides and the crew!
Recommended for
Night dives, watching the stars from the roof, all the rest
24 Jun, 2024

9.2 Superb
Fernando F
Uruguay

Very nice boat
The hole trip was very nice.
Recommended for
the cabin, the crew, the meals
13 Sep, 2018

10 Exceptional
Guillermo G
United States

Great Banda Sea
First class scuba diving places with spectacular marine life
Recommended for
The places in the Banda Sea, particularly Manuk island with its snakes. The friendly and attentive service from the entire crew. The Indonesian-style food, delicious every day..
06 Oct, 2024

Best Liveaboard in Indonesia
The best liveaboard I have ever done. This being my second trip, I will never use another boat for this area! Staff are above and beyond amazing, the chef is extraordinary, and the care and attention to detail on guests, dives, equipment etc. are beyond reproach.
Recommended for
Staff. Diving. Boat.
30 Dec, 2025

9.2 Superb
ASSOULINE M
France

PERFECT ! Marvelous boat & team. The absolute dream for a dive trip. Seriously!
Exceptional experience. The boat is new (launched in september 2015) and a marvel of traditional and modern ironwood and teck wood work. We were lucky to get the master cabin which is the best floating room we ever had on such trips (comes with a king size bed, full 9 feet ceilings, private bath and most importantly a stunning 280° continuous windows on the main rear deck and the beautiful Komodo sea and islands landscapes!). Each time you set foot on board (and there are many occasions), you are welcome with a large smile and either a fresh drink or a hot chocolate (quite precious after night dives). Marvelous combination of Italian hospitality at its best (the boss and owner was on board with his son and lovely wife), including wine tasting and high fooding standards, perfect Indonesian seamanship and service, with expert massage on request, and a wonderful German diving instructor (with both a serious dedication to safety, a refreshing sense of humor and a true ability to share his passion and vast knowledge a the marine life). We took the nitrox course (the nitrox is free on board).The dive sites are world class, among the best we dived for the last 25 years (that includes Sipadan, the Red Sea, Djibouti, Costa Rica, Cozumel, Turkey, Corsica, Phuket / Phi-Phi, Ko Tao, Cebu, Sri Lanka, Bali, Lombok / Gillis, West indies, Turks & Caicos, Tioman...). In a week around the national park of Komodo, from Bima to Labuan Bajo, you can expect to sea amazing soft corals, most of the indo-pacific benthic life (including a large number of stone fishes, cuttle fishes, nudis..), turtles, sharks, mantas... Some "firsts" for me were the attack of the ominous bobbit worm, the "live" feeding of a starfish by an anemone, the "live" feeding of a very large holothurie, the magic show of the Spanish dancer, among the best video footage I got. On the top of the liveaboard experience and diving, the Komodo dragon encounter is not to be missed. Not such much at the Rinca ranger station (although the hike there is worth it), than the pack of 5 roaming freely on the beach at horseshoe bay! If you are looking for an amazing week, do not hesitate one second, Go for it !
Recommended for
BOAT - DIVES - TEAM
21 Aug, 2016

10 Exceptional
Robert G
United States

We have been diving on liveaboards since 1990, this is the best vessel and crew we have experienced in 28 years!
Rest assured, you won't be disappointed with the Samambaia. The crew members are intelligent, foresighted, and genuinely interested in accommodating your simplest request. Serge, the vessel coordinator, is a detail person, and acts promptly and efficiently with all verbalized requests and some non-verbalized. On the 2nd day he noticed that I was not eating the starchy carbs, from that point on I had in place, extra vegetables and fruit. Little things like this can make a trip. The vessel was constructed in 2015 and Gian Paolo, the owner, ensured that his vessel would address the short comings in every liveaboard he had previously experienced. He accomplished his goal with flying colors. The rooms are spacious, plenty of storage space, bathrooms are well above par and the dive deck and tender operations smooth and hassle free. Dive briefings are professional, understandable and well presented. Lastly the entire crew is most accommodating, they never say "no" if it can reasonably be accomplished.
Recommended for
Serge, the vessel coordinator; the crew; and the owner's attention to vessel detail during construction.
10 Jun, 2018

10 Exceptional
Sandy F
Australia

I have been many dive boats but Samambaia is definitely deserves the five star rating.
Divings were splendid with beautiful dive sites, corals & bundles of sea-life. We even had movie cinemas view of school hammers head sharks right in front of us where we were secured on reef hook just enjoyed the magic moment.
Recommended for
All crews members were amazing. Services were splendid & flawless.. Food is five star restaurants standard with delicious dish, balance nutrition & and presentation 👏. Entire boat with bedroom, dining room, living room has stylish decorations with most comforts..
12 May, 2026

10 Exceptional
Mark W
Australia

The best holiday and destination we have even been to
Seeing our first beautiful ocean Manta Ray. Cave swimming. Raw beauty of the area.
Recommended for
Diving, afternoon adventures and the food. Everything was the best
11 Jan, 2023

10 Exceptional
CARLOS L
Brazil

By far, this trip was one of the best diving trip of my life!
Os lugares que foram escolhidos para mergulhar. O ultimo lugar que mergulhei (Mike's place), vai ficar, eternamente, em minha memória. o lugar, os peixes e a quantidade e a beleza dos corais duros !
Recommended for
DIVE, CREW and DANIEL
10 Dec, 2023

9.2 Superb
Jonas L
Finland

If you dive with samanbaia in the Bandasea you have more hammerheads than nudies
The best experience was definitely our dive at Karang Hatta. We had already seen hammerheads and were quite satisfied but the show wasn't over, along came a Whaleshark as the grande finale. At Gili Manuk we hade the opportunity to see a smaller school of hammerheads at a "cleaning station". We had hammerheads on almost every third dive we did so the season to go to the Bandasea seems to be September. The diving was excellent. Another highlight on samanbaia was the food. We had sushi made from Spanish mackerel fresh caught from the boat a couple of hours before. The Italian dishes were also amazing, risotto, gnocchi, tagliatelle everything fresh made in the kitchen, supervised or made by Gian Paolo him self. Samanbaia was excellent value for the money.
Recommended for
The food, the diving, the cabin
10 Oct, 2016

9.6 Exceptional
john C
United States

Our experience was phenomenal!
The highlights of the trip were the knowledge and attention of the dive guides. They turned every dive and every excursion into an adventure for the mind as well as the senses. Getting to see Komodo dragon and giant fruit bats soaring overhead are experiences that will last a lifetime. The atmosphere created on board by Gian Paolo, Serge, Frankie was familial and fun. Our experience was absolutely amazing.
Recommended for
The three best things about the trip were the dives, the dive guides and crew, the boat.
05 Sep, 2017

9.2 Superb
Victoria M
Canada

Incredible experience diving in Raja Ampat
We had an excellent experience aboard the Samambaia. The diving was still among the best we've ever done despite the moderate to low visibility- hard to predict and just a bit unlucky on our part. The crew is second to none and goes out of their way to make guests comfortable. The boat is well kept, beautiful, and incredibly organized. We would recommend it and would return in the future!
Recommended for
The crew was incredible- friendly, helpful, professional. Food and drink- the food was plentiful and varied, far beyond what we expected for a liveaboard. Top deck- the top deck is great for lounging, well shaded, and there is plentiful space.
30 Jan, 2025

8.0 Very good
Pedro H
Spain

Great
Dive sites visited
Recommended for
Boat, dive and companions
01 Apr, 2018

Translated from Spanish

7.2 Good
Ronald B
Switzerland

was a pleasant and good further experience of a liveaboard
see above....
Recommended for
The encounter with the snakes. The ray swimming head-on towards me. The 20 - 30 dolphins that visited us at night when we were at anchor.
05 Jun, 2019

10 Exceptional
Julia L
Germany

Loved everything about this trip
My husband and I just spent 11 nights on Samambaia over Christmas and New Years and it was the adventure of a lifetime. It was our first liveaboard experience, so I did extensive research on boats and routes before we made a decision. We could not have made a better choice with Samambaia. Everything was top. The room was comfortable, the shower was great, the food (omg the food!), the gear in great condition, and the crew was incredible. Of course, the dive sites were unbelievable. As this was our first liveaboard experience, in the legendary Raja Ampat on such an amazing boat - we joke that nothing will ever compare again, but seriously - I don't know where to go from here. We are spoiled forever. We want to come back one day and dive Komodo on Samambaia. If you are considering booking a trip on this boat, do it!!!
Recommended for
The crew. The dive sites. The food.
08 Jan, 2025

9.6 Exceptional
Ryan B
United States

Great boat, grwat diving, great teip
Manta Ray, Pigme Sea horses, snakes. Banda islands and Raja Ampa
Recommended for
Diving. Staff. Wonderful boat
30 Apr, 2018

9.6 Exceptional
James S
Canada

Epic!
If you haven’t been to Raja Ampat, stop reading this review and book your trip. There are many options for liveaboards, but you simply cannot go wrong with the Samambaia. It’s one of the best.
Recommended for
Best diving in the world. Period.. Service above and beyond. Always.. Daniel. Cruise director extraordinaire!.
20 Jan, 2026