Indonesia: The Arenui

Dive Indonesia: Komodo, Alor, Raja Ampat, The Forgotten Islands, and Borneo

The Arenui luxury liveaboard is our #1 choice for an Indonesia dive vacation. She provides the best way for any scuba diver to experience Indonesia’s best offers. Indonesian diving is perfect for families. The stunning coral reefs, macro, big animal diving, and top-side adventure are the best in the world. The resorts and liveaboard we have chosen to travel with are experienced, safe, and friendly for families with older and younger divers.  Our land-based resorts, Lembah and Banka, are more for older kids, Jr. advanced or adult divers. Buoyancy is vital in this area as fragile corals and muck diving require divers to have excellent buoyancy to protect marine environments from destructive diver fins. Indonesia is, without a doubt, for those ready to share a bigger adventure. You will experience genuinely healthy coral ecosystems and pristine reefs you have never seen before unless you have been to the PhilippinesWhen purchasing any Arenui trip, we highly recommend purchasing Trip Insurance. (See Link)

2024 DATES

  • KOMODO/SUMBAWA: June 24th -July 2nd, the Arenui: 8 nights ($5,890) (+$400 per person for master cabin). A deposit of $2,000 per cabin. Departs from Bali (See gallery links)
  • KOMODO/ ALOR: July 3rd- July 11th, the Arenui: 8 nights ($5,890) (+$400 per person for master cabin). A deposit of $2,000 per cabin. Departs from Labuanbajo (See gallery links)

2025 DATES

  • (1 cabin available) January 20th-30th, 2025, (10 nights): GREATER RAJA AMPAT: ($7,370 per person) (+$500 per person for master cabin) Deposit required $2000 per cabin. (See Raja Gallery)
  • (SOLD OUT!) February 1st – 11th (10 nights): GREATER RAJA AMPAT: ($7,370 per person) (+$500 per person for master cabin) Deposit required $2000 per cabin. (See Raja Gallery).
  • (SOLD OUT!) April 9th-17th (8 nights): The Forgotten Islands On the Arenui: Tom and Margo Peyton have scheduled the first available trip to the Forgotten Islands. This trip will not be available again until 2030 with the Arenui! Price is from $6,000 pp. (+$400 per person for master cabin). Deposit required: $2,000 per cabin. 
  • June 27- July 8th (11 nights) & July 10th – July 21st (11 nights): Best of Borneo & West Sulawesi: $8,180 (+$550 per person for master cabin) Deposit required $2,000 per cabin.

2026 DATES

Winter Dive Trips to Indonesia

  • ARENUI: GREATER RAJA AMPAT: Feb. 2nd – 13th, (11 nights) $8,180 (+$550 per person for master cabin) Deposit required $2,000 per cabin.
  • ARENUI: GREATER RAJA AMPAT: February 15th – 26th (11 nights) $8,180 (+$550 per person for master cabin) Deposit required $2,000 per cabin.

Summer Dive Trips to Indonesia

  • ARENUI: Best of Borneo & West Sulawesi: July 19th – 27th (8nights) & July 28th – Aug. 5th (8 nights) $6,120: (+$400 per person for master cabin) Deposit required $2,000 per cabin.

Winter Dive Trips to Indonesia

Dec 22nd, 2026 – Jan 3rd, 2027: (12 nights) Private Christmas and New Year’s charter: GREATER RAJA AMPAT and SORONG: $8,880 (+$600 per person for master cabin) Deposit required $2,000 per cabin.

The Arenui experience as a family or couple is a luxury 5-diamond experience. We are featuring these trips via Komodo & Raja Ampat and have added the Forgotten Islands. Margo and Tom have also added adult Empty Nester trips to Lembeh and Bangka luxury oceanfront land-based PADI 5-Star resorts with Murex Divers. Please call us to find out more; we will offer BackScatter photo clinics, courses, and diving with their photo pro, as well as a luxury spa and fine dining at Lembeh. The diving at Lembeh Indonesia is for lovers of macro life and pristine coral reefs. You will see a Hairy Frogfish, a Mimic Octopus, over 100 species of nudibranchs, ten species of seahorses, a Coconut Octopus, and so many more incredible aliens you will see no other place on earth.   Rates shown are base rates and do not include:

  • Master cabin supplement ( surcharge applied to cabins Rama and Shinta)
  • Administration/port clearance fee
  • National Parks Entrance Fee and Fuel Surcharge
  • VAT 
  • International and domestic air transportation
  • Hotels and meals before and after the cruise
  • Alcoholic drinks
  • Dive equipment rental. Night lights are not included on night dives. The cost is $10 per dive for the rental of a night light. (other than dive cylinders, weights, and weight belt)
  • Nitrox refills
  • Massages and Spa treatments (other than welcome massage.)
  • Travel Insurance – This is a must! please our suggestion is  CFAR insurance(Cancel for Any Reason)
  • Onboard purchases
  • Private tours
  • Laundry
  • On-board telecommunications
  • Crew gratuities

KSC Terms & Conditions: No refund policy applies to all payments made to Kids Sea Camp Inc. This includes disruptions due to weather, illness, pandemic, epidemic, acts of God, war,  government mandates, canceled/delayed flights, and all unforeseen circumstances outside of Kid Sea Camp inc control. Travel insurance is highly recommended for all trips. Kids Sea Camp is not an insurance company and does not collect payment for any insurance purchased with DAN, MASA, or USI. We  provide links  to sources that may assist you on our website www.familydivers.com 

Indonesia and the Arenui are both worth the trip!

We know it is a long way off to think about, but may be one of the last opportunities to do this fantastic trip that books out 5 years in advance.  So call Margo or Tom if you're interested in any of our Indonesia Arenui dive trips.  We will experience with you a class of service, food, fine Italian wines, and great people to dive with like no other. Call to talk to us today at 803-419-2556. 

Arenui, Kids Sea Camp, luxury, diving, indonesia family vacations

Margo has published extensively about travel and diving from a liveaboard dive cruise as well as dive safety. She feels this trip on The Arenui is one of the safest liveaboards in the industry, next to the Explorer Venture fleet, that we also highly recommend and travel with. The Arenui is 143 ft with a total of 16-19 passengers as there is a total of 8 very spacious cabins, and 3 of those are triple rooms. 2 are master suites with king beds.  

We look forward to diving with you and growing with your family. Family Dive Adventures is our year-round travel agency offering dive vacations to individual families to any venue we work with at any time of year.  We are experts in Dive Trave and family travel. Why go anyplace else when you have experts like us to talk to?

Arenui website


Kids Sea Camp has booked multiple group dive charters on the Arenui in 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026. We have limited cabins remaining on each charter, so call us for up-to-date information. We do provide optional assistance with round-trip air into Bali; Pre or post-hotel add-ons are available, and we offer complete on-the-ground care if needed.  We are ready to meet and greet you and ensure your trip is fully escorted and handheld if you require it. Let us know your desires and needs, and we will be ready to assist.

 

Arenui trip Inclusions

  • Full board accommodation in double/twin deluxe cabin
  • The shore activities/excursions according to the program
  • Soft drinks, water, tea, American/Balinese coffee
  • Five meals per day
  • Diving activities (up to 4 dives/day)
  • Dive cylinders, weights, and weight belts
  • Transfer from/to embarkation/disembarkation airport
  • Government Taxes
  • Welcome message (1/2 hour per person)
  • Kids Sea Camp Host
  • 20th anniversary T-shirt from Kids Sea Camp
  • Fuel charge $150 -subject to change
  • Port Fee $150- subject to change
  • The Park fee is $150 - subject to change

Trip Exclusions (not included)

  • VAT Tax not included.
  • Master cabin supplement $750
  • International and domestic air transportation
  • Hotels and meals before and after the cruise
  • Alcoholic drinks, espresso, cappuccino
  • Dive equipment rental (other than dive cylinders, weights, and weight belt)
  • Nitrox refills
  • Massages and Spa treatments (Other than a welcome massage)
  • Travel Insurance
  • Onboard purchases
  • Private tours
  • Laundry
  • On-board telecommunications
  • Crew gratuities

All the trips are unique

2022-23 GREATER RAJA AMPAT

14 Days/13 Nights Sorong – Sorong Cruise Itinerary

Raja Ampat means ‘Four Kings’. In an archipelago of over 1,500 small islands, there are four main islands or ‘kings’– Waigeo, Salawati, Batanta, and Misool. The majority of Raja Ampat is in Marine Protected Areas. These islands usually experience varying visibility depending on the weather conditions and warm water around 27-30C (81-86F).

  • Day 1 Embarkation in Sorong
  • Days 2-9 Misool, Raja Ampat (29 dives)
  • Day 10 Batanta Island (4 dives)
  • Day 11 Penemu Area (3 dives)
  • Days 12-13 Dampier Strait (5-6 dives)
  • Day 14 Disembarkation in Sorong
  • Total dives: 41-42 dives

KOMODO-ALOR

12 Days/11 Nights Labuanbajo – Maumere Cruise Itinerary (incl. Alor)

  • Day 1: Embarkation in Labuanbajo
  • Day 2: Komodo-Flores Channel (4 dives)
  • Day 3: Walk with dragons/Middle Area (3 dives)
  • Day 4: Noth Komodo (4 dives)
  • Day 5: Komodo-Flores Channel /Sabolan (3 dives)
  • Day 6: Palu’e Island (2 dives)
  • Day 7: Bacatan (4 dives)
  • Day 8: Pura Island/Kalabahi Bay (4 dives)
  • Day 9: Visit traditional Abui tribe village/Reta Island (2 dives)
  • Day 10: Kawula Island (4 dives)
  • Day 11: Pulau Babi (1-2 dives)
  • Day 12: Disembarkation in Maumere (Total dives: 31-32 dives)

Stunning cabins on The Arenui

For our group charters, cabin selection is on a first-come basis.  If clients do not specify a cabin, we will assign the cabin within the price range that you have purchased based on what is available at the time of your reservation request.

Arenui, Raja Ampat, Kids Sea Camp, diving with kids, indonesia, luxury adventures

Komodo dive sites

In Komodo, expect encounters with pelagics, such as manta rays both oceanic and reef, eagle rays, sharks, mola-mola (sunfish), tuna, and even whales. Get your macro lens ready for unusual critters such as ornate ghost pipefish, different kinds of pygmy seahorses, rare clown frogfish, weird and wonderful nudibranchs (if lucky, the ridiculously cute Pikachu nudi), blue-ringed octopus, pipefish, scorpion leaf fish, Coleman shrimp, boxer crabs, zebra crabs.

Fill your memory cards with Humphead parrotfish, napoleon wrasse, juvenile batfish, stonefish, devilfish, seahorses, dragonets, turtles, cuttlefish, banded sea-snakes, snake eels, stargazers, slipper lobsters, fire-urchins and the aptly-named sea apples (a very colorful and round-shaped type of sea-cucumber).

  • CURRENT gentle to moderate
  • DIVING DEPTH -15-90 ft
  • NUMBER OF DIVE SITES- 53
  • SEA CONDITIONS -generally calm
  • SUITABLE FOR - intermediate-advanced
  • VISIBILITY-30 - 120 ftWATER TEMPERATURE 24-28℃ (75-82°F)

Q: What kind of diving is there in Komodo?
A: The sea around Komodo Island offers vibrant colors and exotic marine life which will enchant divers and snorkelers alike. They will be able to see endless schools of fish in every direction, drawn by the waterways rushing up from deep-sea vents. Below, the seabed is covered with a thick carpet of richly colored corals and marine invertebrates, the ultimate paradise for underwater photographers. Komodo National Park is an important natural refuge and is known worldwide for the overwhelming amount of flawless corals that can be found there, not to mention the mantas, sharks, turtles, dolphins, dugongs, and many other pelagic. Yet it is also home to different kinds of pygmy seahorses, a wide variety of gorgeous nudibranchs, and frogfish. Its sites stretch from the warm waters of the Flores Sea in the north to the chillier waters down south in the Indian Ocean and vary from gentle coral slopes to heart-pounding adrenaline thrill rides. The underwater terrain presents many contrasts as well, with sheer cliff walls, pinnacles, sandy flat bottoms, underwater plateaus, slopes, caves, swim-throughs, and channels, all with different colors, sizes, and types of both hard and soft corals.


Raja Ampat is the world's epicenter of marine biodiversity!

Stunning hard corals and exquisite soft corals, giant clams, sponges, fire urchins, sea cucumbers, barracuda, Humphead parrotfish, napoleon wrasse, frogfish (all colors), scrawled filefish, anemonefish, lionfish, unicornfish, flounder, angelfish, gobies, lizardfish, snapper, trevally, fusiliers, sweetlips, surgeonfish, cardinalfish, triggerfish (titan, clown, red-tooth, etc), batfish, boxfish, cowfish, pufferfish, anthias, needlefish, glassfish, scorpionfish, jawfish, hawkfish, goatfish, bannerfish, Moorish idols, robust and ornate ghost pipefish, wasp fish (including the photogenic cockatoo wasp fish), dragonet, sea moth, pygmy seahorse, pipehorse, cuttlefish (big ones, small ones and even the tiny but vibrantly colored flamboyant cuttlefish), bobtail squid, mantis shrimp, squat lobster, zebra crabs, reef octopus, morays, banded sea snakes, turtles, wobbegong sharks, epaulet “walking” shark, reef sharks, manta rays (including some striking all-black mantas)

Raja trip

  • CURRENT: Gentle to moderate
  • DIVING DEPTH: 30 - 120 ft
  • NUMBER OF DIVE SITES:  132
  • SEA CONDITIONS: Calm
  • SUITABLE FOR: Beginners-intermediate-advanced
  • VISIBILITY: 30 - 150 mt
  • WATER TEMPERATURE: 27 - 31℃ (80-88°F)

DIVING INFORMATION All TRIPS:

Q: What diver certification level is required for joining the Arenui?
A: Everyone is welcome on board, regardless of the level of certification. The forming of dive groups and selecting of sites are determined in accordance with safety, comfort, and diving ability considerations and remain at the discretion of the Cruise Director. Our professional dive crew can lead you to more relaxing sites if you are not too fond of currents for example. Of course, if you want, we can also take you into the heart of the action to experience the full thrill of a site!

Q: How many dives can we do each day?
A: There will be up to 4 dives per day with 2-3 dives on the first and last diving days.

Q: How is the diving done off of the Arenui?
A: Everything has been set up for the greatest convenience of our divers. Kitting up for dives is done on the port and starboard sides of the vessel’s dive deck. The crew takes care of transporting and stowing the tanks and BCDs in the tenders for you. There are sturdy ladders to allow divers to safely board the tenders. Once over the dive site, divers simply gear up and roll backward!

Q: What dive equipment do I need?
A: Tanks, weights, and weight belts are provided onboard. Divers will need to bring a BCD, regulator, wetsuit, fins, mask, snorkel, and dive light. We have SMBs available for use.

Q: Do you use INT or DIN valves?
A: We have tanks with INT and DIN valves.

Q: What can I expect in terms of water temperature and what type of wetsuit do you recommend?
A: This is always a difficult question to answer because people have different sensibilities to temperature. Typically, average temperatures in Raja Ampat range from 25-30C (80-86F) which means that a 3mm wetsuit or even a skinsuit is usually fine. The southern waters of Komodo can be colder, from 20-25C (70-75F); therefore, a 5mm wetsuit with a hood is recommended.

Q: Is there dive equipment available for rent?
A: There is a limited amount of diving equipment for rent so it is important that you notify us in advance if you want to rent equipment. We offer Scubapro BCDs, regulators, and wetsuits. Snorkeling sets with Aqualung fins and a selection of masks and snorkels are available. We have UK C4 eLED dive lights for rent.

Q: What facilities are available for photographers?
A: Guests who are shooting digital photography may view their images on one of the two computers (MAC or PC) provided for their use in the lounge. There are ample camera tables located at the front of the lounge for handling and setting up equipment. There are individual cubby holes in the diving area with 110V and 220V sockets conveniently located just above your dive gear. We also provide ‘camera only’ rinse buckets for the exclusive use of the photographers onboard.

Q: Are there any limitations or restrictions on diving?
A: You should respect the standards and stay within the limits of your qualifying certification. All dives should be no-decompression dives. Solo diving is not permitted.

Q: Is enriched air nitrox available?
A: Nitrox fills of up to 32% are available for an additional charge. As we recommend diving with nitrox on all dives, we offer great packages to allow you unlimited nitrox throughout the cruise. Please consult our price list for more details. If you are not yet Nitrox-certified, you can take the course onboard with one of our qualified PADI instructors.

Q: Can I take a specialty course onboard?
A: As well as Enriched Air Nitrox, we offer several dive specialty courses on board. Please let us know beforehand if you are interested in taking one so that we may ensure that the necessary academic material will be made available.

Q: Can I fish or spearfish?
A: Fishing and spearfishing are not available onboard. We will be diving in protected marine areas where all fishing is prohibited.

Q: Can I drink alcohol and dive?
A: No. Drinking alcohol and diving is not allowed as this can increase your risk of decompression. You are free to drink alcohol once you have completed your last dive of the day.

Dive sites

Sebayur Island: This island has a white sandy slope that turns into a mini wall. Look for leaf fish, ghost pipefish, and a variety of nudis at the edge of the reef. Various nudibranchs, lionfish, and moray eels make the wall their home. In the shallows, the hard corals are decorated with anthias and we often find large cuttlefish and juvenile bicolor parrotfish. On the night dive look for Spanish dancers, crocodile fish, and bobtail squid.

Tatawa Besar:  This is a thrilling drift dive, starting at the north-western tip of Tatawa and continuing down the western side, reaching about 15 to 20 meters of depth. The fish life here is abundant and you will see an endless field of stunning orange soft corals as you glide along. Swim past coral heads inhabited by schools of sweetlips and batfish, and look out for turtles feeding on the reef. Mantas have been encountered here as well.

Tatawa Kecil: The West side of this small rocky outcrop presents a fantastic underwater terrain with enormous slabs of rock that have been worn down to form channels, canyons, caves, and swim-throughs. On the north plateau, crocodile fish lies on the scenic reef among a whole host of reef fish and schooling fusiliers.

Siaba Kecil: Here at Siaba Kecil we have a magnificent formation of hard coral from the shallows of the island to a depth of 20m/60ft. The current running from the south to the north is the best way to dive into this site. During the drift and also at the end of the drift we have a great chance to see green and hawksbill turtles feeding on the formation of hard coral, white tip reef sharks also can be seen here. Reef manta rays can occasionally swim by the coral garden of this site.

Batu Bolong: Underwater this rock is covered in a huge amount of soft and hard corals and full of fish life. In the shallows watch anemone fish and look out for turtles munching on the corals. Giant trevally, white tip reef sharks, snappers, and emperor fish tend to congregate here. This site presents particularly good opportunities for both macro and wide-angle photography.

Batu Tengah: This dive site is located in the middle of the Komodo National Park, 12 nautical miles to the north, and 12 nautical miles to the south. The translation of Batu = Rock, Tengah = Middle. With a slope to the east of the site and a coral garden to the west Batu Tengah is a beautiful site where we often get to see turtles, cuttlefish, and juvenile white tip reef sharks that hide under the table corals among the hard coral garden. Napoleon wrasse and big groups of snapper swimming on the slope with all the colorful decoration of the soft coral make Batu Tengah a high-quality dive site.

Wainilo: This afternoon and night dive is situated off the north of Rinca Island. In the shallows, the hard coral reef is home to many different critters, including juvenile harlequin sweetlips and batfish. Away from the reef, the sandy slope is scattered with pulsing soft corals that hide demon stingers and starry night octopus, plus a moray eel which has not yet been classified by scientists and is only found here in Wainilo.

Day 3 Walk with dragons / Padar Island (2 dives)
Loh Buaya (walk with dragons)
Your day will begin with an exciting visit to Komodo National Park where you will be able to take a stroll with the famous dragon! Take a look at our Komodo Dragon photo album here. As you walk along the paths, also stay on the lookout for deer, wild boar, and birds in addition to the giant lizards. After the walk, we move to Padar Island for two dives.

The water temperature here and in the southern dive sites over the next few days can be a little cooler dropping from the normal 28/29 degrees Celsius (82-84 Fahrenheit) to a possible 20 Celsius (68 Fahrenheit). Also due to the infinite nutrients in the water creating the amazing biodiversity in this area, the visibility can sometimes be a bit greener. Neither one of these factors can spoil the amazing diving to be had in these areas.

After the second dive, we visit one of the most incredible beaches in the Komodo National Park. A short walk brings us to the pink sandy beach. During this walk, we also have the opportunity to see enjoy incredible views of the National Park with the sunset.

Three Sisters:  The site here is full of interesting and beautiful features, such as massive steps and huge towers of stone, all wrapped in hard and soft corals, and dotted with nudibranchs, small caves, and overhangs. Reef sharks and Humphead parrotfish are among the bigger creatures we see in this area. There is also a towering coral spire with a small cave at the bottom, where huge lobsters are often found hiding. Look for the tiny ladybugs on the soft corals and the resident frogfish sitting in the sponges.

Secret Garden: This is one of the top dive sites on Padar Island. As the name of the dive site suggests it has a beautiful coral garden of black coral along a mini-wall covered with soft corals. There is a resident school of Mobula rays that seems to like swimming through the dive site giving good opportunities to the divers to see them. Nudibranchs, leaf fish, frogfish, and the incredible sea apples can be seen here too.

Day 4 Rinca Island (4 dives)
Horseshoe Bay is in the south of Rinca Island and we spend the whole day here. Here we dive into the famous Cannibal Rock, one of the top ten dives sites in the world according to some diving publications. Watch dragons, wild pigs, deer, and monkeys roam the beach and take a tender ride or kayak to get a closer look.

Cannibal Rock: This outstanding dive site covers a large area with sandy slopes in the north, deep mini walls in the east, a plateau full of life in the south, and rocky areas in the west. The nutrient-rich bay creates the most spectacular congregation of hard and soft corals in all parts of the dive site. Sponges, ascidians, sea squirts, and tube anemones are abundant. A great diversity of nudibranchs can be seen here, along with frogfish, turtles, cuttlefish, and other reef fish too.

Yellow Wall of Texas: As the name suggests this wall at the southern entrance to Horseshoe Bay is covered in yellow and orange soft corals. A tiny critter, the ladybug, comes in its multitudes here. Nudibranchs decorate the wall that usually has a slight current enabling you to slowly drift along and enjoy the view.

The Boulders: Inside the bay and opposite the Yellow Wall of Texas there are large rocks that continue underwater to create places for large rays to rest and even sometimes nurse sharks hide in these underwater crevices. The boulders are covered in corals becoming a paradise for marine life. The elusive Rhinopias have been found here before.

Torpedo Alley: A marvelous night dive named after the pancake-sized torpedo rays that can be found here. Coconut octopus, seahorses, colorful squid, and the bizarre Bobbit worm all live in the black volcanic sand. A very shallow dive with a maximum depth of 10m/30ft, spend time looking for all the strange inhabitants among the rocks, soft corals, and in sand.

Day 5 Manta Alley / Pink Beach (4 dives)
Manta Alley is located on the south end of Komodo Island. After two dives looking for manta rays, we head up to the middle of Komodo Island to the Pink Beach area.

Manta Alley: Manta Alley is located in Tora Langkoi Bay along the south coast of Komodo. The dive site in fact barely pierces the ocean’s surface at the end of a line of rock islets. As can be guessed from its name many manta rays are known to frequent this site and it is the most popular one in Komodo for spotting them. The area can be described as a deep gully that works as a funnel when the tide changes, causing the water to rush through at speeds of up to three to four knots with the fall and rise of the tides and up to one knot even during “slack water” periods. Watch the mantas being cleaned on the Northside or enter the ‘Alley’ to see them hover effortlessly in the current.

Pink Beach: The simple topography makes this site an ideal afternoon dive. A mini wall can be found in the middle of the reef, where clouds of glassfish swarm in the cracks and crevices. An abundant amount of fish life and unusual critters make their home here, including leaf scorpionfish, crocodile fish, nudibranchs, and frogfish. On one side of the wall is a sloping coral reef full of life. On the other is a sandy area with healthy staghorn corals growing and providing shelter for juvenile harlequin sweetlips and mandarin fish.

Loh Liang Bay: This white sand muck dive is around the corner from Pink Beach situated inside Loh Liang Bay on Komodo Island. Search for all sorts of critters here – bobtail squid, flamboyant cuttlefish, frogfish, nudibranchs, Ambon scorpionfish, cockatoo wasp fish, and large moray eels living in the shallow rocks.

Day 6 Komodo-Flores Channel (4 dives)
Today you will have another chance to dive into the brilliant sites in the Komodo-Flores Channel, including Karang Makassar. We will dive here for one or two dives plus another channel dive before heading into Gili Lawa Darat bay for a night dive. Here the healthy hard coral reef is a great spot to look, at Spanish Dancers.

Karang Makassar: This is an exhilarating drift dive along the shallow flat bottom interspersed with patches of coral reef teeming with life. There are chances to see turtles, eagle rays, and white tip and blacktip reef sharks. But the main reason we dive here is to hopefully see manta rays. Reef mantas come here to visit the cleaning stations but they can also be spotted, mouth wide open, feeding on the surface. This area can also be a very good snorkeling spot.

Day 7:  Gili Lawa Laut / Komodo (4 dives)
Two celebrated dive sites await you, just north of Gili Lawa Laut Island. Crystal Rock and Castle Rock are both incredible locations, boasting the key elements for an impressive dive site: a wide variety of healthy corals covering the reef, plus tons of fish – both big and small and all sizes in between. Between the dives there may be a chance, depending on tides, to visit Gili Lawa Laut Island and take a short trek to the top of the hill for a wonderful view over the Komodo-Flores channel.

Crystal Rock: The rock jutting out of the surrounding crystal clear waters explains how this site got its name. But what is truly memorable here are the large schools of fusiliers and anthias flitting over the gorgeous soft corals and impressive table corals. In the deep blue, you can also see at times large tuna, mackerel, and other fish schooling around a small mound to the northwest. A lone eagle ray is often spotted here cruising in the currents.

Castle Rock: Castle Rock is a submerged pinnacle situated a kilometer further north of Crystal Rock. Its exposed location means strong currents but experienced divers will love the thrills to be had on this dive. In fact, the main action comes from watching the staggering amount of fish such as batfish, groupers, midnight snappers, and impressive schools of fusiliers and surgeons whipping past. Of course, divers aren’t the only ones interested in the huge amount of fish here, which explains the giant trevally as well as whitetips, blacktips, and grey reef sharks hunting around for their next meal.

We will do two dives at Castle and Crystal Rock before going to Batu Montjo on Komodo Island for the third and night dive.

Batu Montjo: In the northwest of Komodo Island, Batu Montjo is a perfect site to dive as a third dive with an amazing formation of hard corals in the shallows. Many boulders covered with gorgonian sea fans lie in between the white sandy slopes. This combination of hard corals and gorgonian sea fans with all the fish swimming in between the coral garden makes for a perfectly relaxing afternoon dive. Pygmy seahorses, leaf fish, jawfish, and turtles are often seen at this site. We have even seen manta rays passing by. The night dive is on the sandy slope at Batu Montejo. Elusive stargazers hide in the sand, with only their big eyes and toothy snarl looking up into the stars. White V octopus, bobtail squid, and ghost pipefish can also be found here.

Day 8: Sangeang Island (4 dives)
The island of Sangeang is located northeast of Sumbawa. It’s a fairly small island but you’ll notice it right away since most of its landscape consists of Gunung Api, an active volcano. This natural phenomenon has made for some amazing topography, such as steep ridges dripping with hardened lava. There are several excellent dive sites here, all with good visibility, allowing you to truly appreciate the healthy reefs of soft and hard corals as well as different types of anemones.

Hot Rocks: Here the volcano has left its mark below the surface as well. In the shallows observe volcanic bubbles escaping from the seabed through air vents. Put your hands close to the ‘hot rocks’ and feel the heat from the sulfur-covered rocks. Besides the usual tropical reef species ribbon eels, cowries and Bargibanti pygmy seahorses can also be seen here.

Lighthouse Reef: This site presents many contrasts in terms of natural features and marine life. Strong currents can prevail in the exposed areas but there are also sheltered spots. Down around 20 meters macro lovers will be delighted, as the base of the wall and large black sand slope is excellent for spotting countless nudibranchs and other colorful critters. Black coral bushes hide ghost pipefish and saw blade shrimps.

Black Diamond: The rocky formation up in the shallows with fingers of coral going to the deep is covered with black coral and crinoids in any color you can imagine. The black sand acts as a background to all the colors of this dive site and the corals will stand out in a way that you’ve never seen before. Among the black coral, we often get to see one of the most incredible masters of camouflage, the ornate ghost pipefish, and as the name suggests any ghost pipefish is a plus for divers. Big reef octopus, peacock mantis shrimps, and nudibranchs are also seen here.

Bontoh Reef: Is located in the west part of Sangeang volcano where we have incredible sunsets and for this reason, Bontoh Reef is a perfect place to dive as a third dive and night dive. With a very shallow area of black sand and small rocks covered with algae that gently slope down, Bontoh offers one of the biggest populations of spaghetti garden eels coming out from the sand. Among the small rocks is the perfect place for creatures to hide from predators and photographers. Critters spotted here include painted frogfish, juvenile angelfish, and mantis shrimps, and while we are swimming out in the sand we have the chance to see the wonderous or mimic octopus.
In between the third dive and the night dive, there may be an opportunity to visit the small village of Bontoh. Here they are building a boat right there on the beach!

Day 9: Satonda / Moyo Island (1-2 dives)
On the last full day of the cruise, there will be one or two dives depending on the weather conditions and also on the flight times out of Bali the next day. After the dives, we will travel over 150 nautical miles back to Bali.

Satonda Reef: Underwater the sloping reef and sandy bottom hide a large array of critters. An early morning dive provides a great opportunity to search for giant frogfish nestled in the sponges, or mushroom coral pipefish snaking among the fronds of the mushroom coral. Nudibranchs, pipefish, even ghost pipefish, and Bargibanti pygmy seahorses are regularly seen here.

Moyo is a small island, inhabited by around 6,000 people, located in the West Nusa Tenggara province off the northern coast of Sumbawa. There are spectacular coral formations and crystal clear waters that make for great diving.

Angel Reef: This site lies off the west coast of Moyo and consists of a healthy coral reef with a vertical wall dropping to over 40 meters / 120 feet in depth. Angel Reef has a huge elephant ear and barrel sponges along the wall. It is teeming with longfin bannerfish and red tooth triggerfish. Search the sea fans here for a chance to see the Denise pygmy seahorse.

Panjang Reef: Located just north of Angel Reef is the submerged coral reef of Panjang Reef – the ‘long reef’. The huge coral garden plateau is covered with pulsing soft corals, surrounded by a sloping reef full of big sponges and healthy hard corals. Bargibanti pygmy seahorses, leaf scorpionfish, ribbon eels, and sea snakes can all be seen here.

 

The Restaurant on the boat

The Arenui, Family vacations, diving, weddings, honeymoon, indonesia, kids sea camp

One of the key features of the Arenui is our expansive restaurant and lounge area, which takes up the central space on the main deck and reaches across the full width of the vessel. The design is not only practical – to offer the most relaxing environment for our guests, but also decorative – in keeping with the traditional Indonesian theme of the boat.

At one end we have a large counter for our buffets and snack items, as well as tea and coffee facilities. Below this, you’ll find well-stocked wine fridges, as well as cold soft drinks and juices. Above the counter are 2 LCD screens for showing movies, slideshows, and also displaying dive briefings. Make sure you look behind the counter to say hello to our hard-working chefs in the gallery, as they prepare your next delicious meal.

In the center is a wooden stairwell leading down to the lower deck cabins, featuring an exquisite locally-crafted panel depicting the traditional Ramayana story. Either side of this you’ll find long tables, each designed to accommodate 6 to 8 guests comfortably. With an open bench on one side, this design allows freedom of movement for guests. It avoids the usual problem on liveaboards, where a row of diners get stuck in the middle of the bench and can’t easily move without disturbing other diners.
Opposite the long tables, again on both sides, are 2 smaller tables – ideal for couples – with uninterrupted views out across the ocean. The windows are a key feature, that runs along the full length of the room on both sides, offering not only great light throughout the day but also panoramic views of the Indonesian islands as we sail through the picturesque landscapes.

At the front end, we have 2 oversized, curved sofas – one in each corner. With a table in front they are ideal for 2 or 3 diners, or a group of divers writing up log books, or a relaxing place for flicking through photos on your laptop, or just a spacious day-bed for reclining with a book or a movie.

In addition, there is an iMac workstation (equipped with both windows and mac operating systems and software), 2 charging stations with shelves for storing your equipment, and the entire space is kept at a comfortable temperature with 3 air-con units and 2 swinging fans.

SKY RESTAURANT

The sky restaurant, on the upper deck above the indoor restaurant, is a perfect place for al fresco meals and watching the changing landscapes. We have 2 large tables in the center, which can accommodate up to 20 people. At the front, we have 2 special, ``double`` sun-beds - space enough for 4 guests to sunbathe or just relax in the evening. We have a telescope for those keen on a session of star-gazing and don't forget our 2 large antique spotlights which were salvaged in Jakarta from an old, sunken French ship. The area has a moveable canopy for shade.

SKY LOUNGE

Behind the sky, the restaurant is the sky lounge - a favorite spot with most guests. In addition to an outdoor shower for cooling off and a wooden bar for drinks, the area features daybeds and benches all fitted with high-quality, thick mattresses (20+ cm) for ultimate comfort. Relax up here with a book or some music, chat with fellow guests, or get an outdoor massage. There are spaces open to the elements for the sun-lovers among you but also a large canopy for shade.

Getting there

Travel Advice for Arenui Dive Trips

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Indonesia COVID INFORMATION

Indonesia Tourism information

Arenui website

For a liveaboard, it's  more than diving

BEYOND DIVING: We offer a range of leisure and recreational facilities such as 2-person kayaking, visits to local villages, and trekking across the island wilderness. At the Arenui we aim to provide every comfort necessary to make you feel as at home as possible during your time with us. These amenities include a first-rate library with an excellent collection of books on the local area and marine life, as well as a diverse selection of all those books you’ve always wanted to read but have been saving for your next holiday! To cater to different tastes we have over 100 movies to choose from, to watch in the lounge area or, for those with an individual DVD player, in the privacy of your own cabin.

Given the stunning dive sites and topside landscapes, Indonesia is a photographer’s dream destination. As such, we are pleased to have had many professional photographers onboard. Nowadays, it seems everyone is a budding photographer so we are fully equipped to cater to this aspect of the diving experience. In the back of the restaurant and lounge area, we have 2 computers set up for both PC and MAC systems (with photo editing software).

There are charging stations for all your equipment, extension cords, and adaptors to cater to different systems and plenty of table space for using your own laptops, plus our experienced cruise directors will be happy to assist with most of your photo and computer needs during the cruise. For a bit of extra advice and tutoring, why not join one of our special ‘photo-cruises’, with pros onboard, which run throughout the year?

RELAX ON BOARD
Make the most of your non-diving time and indulge yourself! We’ve included a full range of massage and spa treatments on the Arenui with exactly this in mind.

You’ll even have a choice of location to enjoy your luxury treatment; relax in seclusion under the Spa Tent or why not ‘be at one with the elements out on the deck where you can listen to the tranquil sounds of the sea splashing on the hull.

For those who are looking for simpler pleasures, there are also deck chairs and sun loungers on the sundeck as well as in the outdoor lounge. We recommend taking some time to lie back and soak up some rays or sip a cocktail while watching the sun descend below the horizon across the calm waters of the Indonesian archipelago.

A variety of other activities are also available to help you forget all your cares and revitalize your body,
mind and spirit.