La Galigo: Komodo and Bali, 11 nights, Benoa (Bali) to Labuan Bajo

Our journey begins in Bali, where we embark La Galigo in Benoa and settle in with a welcome drink, a light breakfast and a full vessel and dive safety briefing. Once everyone is comfortable onboard, we leave Bali behind and set a course east towards Nusa Penida. Around midday we arrive off the dramatic coastline near Broken Beach. After lunch, we plan our first check dive in the area, giving everyone the chance to become familiar with their equipment, buoyancy and our diving procedures before the adventure properly gets underway. As with all of our diving, the exact site will be selected according to the conditions on the day. Later in the afternoon we move towards Toyapakeh, where we plan our first night dive of the trip. With the sun down and the reef taking on a completely different character, it is a wonderful introduction to the smaller nocturnal life of Nusa Penida. We will remain around Toyapakeh for the night.

Day two begins with one of Bali's best known marine encounters as we head south towards Manta Point. The site is famous for the opportunity to dive alongside majestic Manta Rays, which visit the area to feed and make use of the cleaning stations around the reef. From here we continue to Crystal Bay for our second dive. Clear blue water, a beautiful reef and the possibility of exciting blue-water encounters make this one of Nusa Penida's classic dive sites. Conditions here can change quickly, so our guides will assess the current and choose the most suitable entry and dive plan for the group. After the day's diving, La Galigo anchors up and begins the longer crossing towards Southwest Lombok. This gives you time to relax on deck, enjoy the sunset and settle into the rhythm of life onboard as we continue east through the Indonesian archipelago.

We wake in the waters of Southwest Lombok for a full day of diving. This is a part of the itinerary where the final dive sites are deliberately kept flexible, allowing our Cruise Director and guides to select the best reefs according to the wind, swell and current on the day. We plan up to four dives across the area, exploring a mixture of coral reefs, slopes and current-swept terrain. It is a chance to enjoy a quieter side of Lombok diving before we continue north, with plenty of time underwater and a wide variety of reef life to search for between dives. After our final dive, La Galigo sets course for the Gili Islands. We aim to arrive around Gili Trawangan later in the evening, where we will find a sheltered mooring for the night

This morning we explore two of Gili Trawangan's best-known dive sites, beginning at Deep Turbo. The site offers an enjoyable combination of reef structure and deeper water, giving us the chance to search the blue while still enjoying the colourful reef below. Our second dive is planned at Shark Point, a classic Gili site where reef sharks, turtles and schooling fish are among the encounters we may hope to see. As always, the strength and direction of the current will determine the final dive plan. Following the second dive, we begin one of the longest passages of the itinerary and sail east towards Moyo Island. The rest of the day is spent cruising across the Flores Sea, giving you time to relax, edit photos, enjoy the open decks and watch the islands of Indonesia slowly pass by.

We arrive at Moyo Island in the morning and begin the day underwater at One Mile Reef, followed by a second dive at Angel Reef. Moyo is surrounded by beautiful coral reefs and offers a relaxed contrast to the more current-driven diving that awaits later in the expedition. After lunch we swap fins for walking shoes and head ashore for one of Moyo's highlights: a trek through the island to its famous waterfall. The cool freshwater and lush surroundings make this a welcome change of pace after several days at sea. Depending on the conditions and the mood of the group, the evening may include a night dive or a beach BBQ before we return to La Galigo. Later that night we set sail for Saleh Bay, ready for a very different kind of encounter the following morning.

An early start brings us into Saleh Bay, where we go in search of the area's famous Whale Sharks. These gentle giants are regularly encountered around the traditional fishing platforms known locally as bagan, creating one of the most memorable wildlife experiences of the entire journey. The exact interaction will always be conducted according to local regulations and the conditions on the day. Once our time in Saleh Bay is complete, La Galigo begins the passage towards Satonda Island. By the afternoon we head ashore for a trek to the island's remarkable crater lake, a peaceful volcanic landscape tucked away behind the coastline. We finish the day with sunset around Satonda and, conditions permitting, the option of a night dive before departing for Sangeang. It is a full day that combines big-animal encounters, a land excursion and another beautiful crossing through the islands of West Nusa Tenggara.

Today we arrive beneath the imposing volcanic slopes of Sangeang Api. The island's volcanic character gives the coastline a very different atmosphere from the reefs we have visited so far, and we plan two daytime dives in the area with the final sites chosen according to conditions. The afternoon is kept flexible. Where timing and local arrangements allow, we may include a short village visit to experience a little of life around Sangeang before returning to the vessel. This visit remains subject to confirmation and may be adjusted as the trip develops. As the sun drops behind the volcano, we prepare for either a sunset or night dive before La Galigo begins the overnight passage towards Northwest Komodo. By morning we will be entering one of the most celebrated diving regions in Indonesia.

Day eight is dedicated to the high-energy diving of Northwest Komodo, and for many divers this is one of the standout days of the entire trip. We begin with Castle Rock and Crystal Rock, two submerged pinnacles exposed to the open water and famous for the action that gathers around them. Strong currents can bring schooling fish, hunting trevally and reef sharks into the blue, while the reefs themselves are covered with colourful life. In the afternoon we move to The Cauldron, better known as Shotgun. When the tide is right this current-driven dive provides an exhilarating ride through the channel and is one of Komodo's signature underwater experiences. We finish the day with a night dive in a more sheltered area, selected according to the conditions and our overnight mooring.

We move into Central Komodo for a day built around three very different dive sites. Our first stop is planned at Mawan, where Manta Rays are often the main attraction and the shallow reef provides a beautiful setting for watching them move through the water. From Mawan we continue to Karang Makassar, another of Komodo's famous manta areas. The dive is generally conducted as a drift, allowing the current to carry us across the long reef while we keep an eye out for mantas cruising, feeding or visiting cleaning areas. Later in the day we head to Batu Bolong, one of the park's iconic reef dives. This small rock rises from deep water and supports an extraordinary concentration of marine life. The exact route around the site is carefully planned around the tide, after which we finish with a night dive at a sheltered location nearby.

The tenth day is intentionally flexible, giving us the freedom to follow the best conditions in either Central or Southern Komodo. The final decision will be made by the Captain and Cruise Director after considering the wind, current, swell and the experience of the group. We plan three daytime dives, choosing from the strongest options available in the area. Central Komodo can offer colourful reefs, current-swept channels and excellent fish life, while the southern part of the park is influenced by cooler, nutrient-rich water and presents a noticeably different underwater environment. After the third dive we settle into a protected anchorage and prepare for one more night dive. This flexibility is an important part of diving Komodo, allowing us to make the most of the park rather than forcing a fixed site when the conditions suggest a better alternative.

Our penultimate day brings the underwater part of the journey towards its close. Depending on the conditions and final routing, we plan our last dive around Pink Beach or Wainilu. Both areas offer a more relaxed finish to the diving, with the final site selected to suit the timing of the day's land activities. After breakfast we head ashore for a guided trek inside Komodo National Park. This is our opportunity to experience the landscape above water and, where conditions and park arrangements allow, search for the legendary Komodo Dragons in their natural environment. Later in the afternoon La Galigo moves towards the mangroves for one final natural spectacle. At sunset, thousands of fruit bats can be seen leaving their roost and crossing the evening sky in search of food on the mainland. It is a fitting final sunset before we sail towards Labuan Bajo for our last night onboard.

La Galigo will be anchored in Labuan Bajo in the morning, bringing our 12-day journey from Bali through Lombok, Sumbawa and Komodo to an end. After breakfast, guests are welcome to remain onboard until approximately 11:00 A.M. We will have time to exchange photographs and contacts, say goodbye to new dive buddies and enjoy one final coffee with the crew before disembarkation. Our team will then assist with your transfer to the airport or your local hotel in Labuan Bajo, leaving you with a collection of memories from one of Indonesia's most varied liveaboard routes.