Diving
Travel
How to Plan Your Seahorse Liveaboard Trip: Tips for First-Timers
Oct 31, 2025
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Seahorse Liveaboard is the perfect introduction to world-class diving in Indonesia. Combining authentic Phinisi charm with modern comfort, it’s designed to make your first liveaboard experience smooth, safe, and unforgettable.
With an experienced crew, thoughtful service, and carefully planned itineraries, everything from your dives to your daily comfort is taken care of. Here’s everything you need to know before setting sail.
When it comes to liveaboards, timing is everything. Seahorse follows signature routes through Komodo Island diving (April–November), Raja Ampat diving (October–April), and the Banda Sea diving during the transitional months. Each region offers different marine highlights from manta rays and coral gardens to hammerhead sightings.
Booking early ensures more cabin choices, lower airfares, and access to early-bird discounts. Most trips last 7–11 nights, providing enough time to experience the best dive sites in each destination.
Before traveling, ensure your passport is valid for at least six months and that you have travel and dive insurance (such as Dive Assure). Once you are ready, you can view the Seahorse cruise schedules to choose your preferred itinerary.
While Seahorse welcomes both experienced and new divers, most itineraries are ideal for those with an Advanced Open Water certification and 50+ dives. However, beginners are also welcome if accompanied by a guide or if the route features calmer dive sites.
Every trip begins with comprehensive safety briefings, and dives are always led by professional guides who know each site intimately. For those who haven’t been diving liveaboard recently, a refresher course before boarding is highly recommended to ensure comfort and confidence underwater. Every itinerary includes expert guides from Wallacea’s Dive team to ensure both safety and personal comfort.
For every divers, we believe preparation makes your journey worry-free. It’s an essential thing to check the latest travel vaccinations and ensure general fitness before your trip. Bring any personal medication and consider seasickness remedies if you’re prone to motion discomfort.
Onboard, Seahorse is equipped with oxygen, first-aid kits, and a trained crew ready to assist in any situation. Always remember: avoid diving within 24 hours before your flight home to ensure safe off-gassing.
Traveling light is key for liveaboards. Pack soft luggage that fits easily in your cabin and bring essentials that keep you comfortable and dive-ready.
Dive Gear: Mask, snorkel, wetsuit, fins (available for rent onboard).
Clothing: Light tropical wear, rash guard, hat, sunglasses.
Gadgets: Underwater camera, chargers, reef-safe sunscreen.
Documents: Certification cards, insurance papers, passport copies.
Personal Items: Dry bag, reusable water bottle, toiletries, and a good book for quiet moments on deck.
Simple preparation ensures a seamless onboard experience from day one.
Seahorse Liveaboard package includes everything divers need for a seamless diving holiday: accommodation, daily meals, diving sessions, tanks, weights, and local transfers. These essentials ensure you can focus entirely on your dives and onboard experience.
Additional expenses to keep in mind include domestic flights, marine park fees, dive gear rental, crew gratuities, alcoholic beverages, and souvenirs.
Both IDR and USD are accepted onboard, though carrying some small cash is recommended for tipping and incidental expenses. As a general guideline, tipping is customary in Indonesia, and a fair appreciation for the crew’s dedicated service ranges between USD 150–250 per guest for a week-long voyage.
Aboard Seahorse, days follow a rewarding rhythm:
Morning: Early dive followed by a hearty breakfast and rest time.
Midday: Second and third dives, lunch, photo reviews, or optional shore excursions.
Evening: Sunset relaxation, dinner under stars, dive briefings, and the option of night dive.
Each cabin offers a private bathroom, air conditioning, and daily housekeeping, ensuring comfort between dive adventures. The crew assists with gear setup, equipment handling, and safety checks, allowing you to focus entirely on your dives. Depending on your chosen route, days may include scenic stops at Komodo’s islands or spectacular drift dives in Raja Ampat
Planning your Seahorse Liveaboard is easier when you know what to expect. The crew and dive team take care of every detail, from logistics and safety to comfort so you can simply enjoy the adventure.
So if you’ve been dreaming of exploring Indonesia’s underwater world, there’s no better way to begin than aboard Seahorse. Each voyage is a chance to see something extraordinary, from manta rays gliding through Komodo’s currents to pygmy seahorses hiding in Raja Ampat’s coral gardens.
Start planning your adventure today. Browse our latest routes and upcoming schedules on Wallacea Dive Cruises’ booking page or reach out to our team for personalized assistance. We’ll help tailor every detail from flights and hotels to pre- or post-cruise extensions, so all you need to do is pack your spirit of adventure.
Your first Seahorse Liveaboard may just be the beginning of a lifelong love affair with Indonesia’s ocean, one dive, one sunrise, and one unforgettable journey at a time!
