I saw this liveaboard advertised the other day… and it is now firmly on the bucket list!  With more staff than divers, it is the ultimate in a luxury liveaboard.  It also happens to sail to one of the most beautiful and pristine diving locations in the world; Raja Ampat in Indonesia (which is also on the bucket list, if not via this liveaboard!).

Raja Ampat lies roughly in the centre of the so-called Coral Triangle; a triangular area north of Australia encompassing Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea and the Phillipines.  Due to the relative remoteness, many of the coral reefs in the area are virtually untouched; this is particularly true for Raja Ampat.  The marine biodiversity in the area is immense, with 75% of all of the worlds hard coral species, over 1000 different species of fish (often in huge shoals), and rare species of shark ocurring there.

The Arenui is a classic Indonesian Phinisi, a kind of traditional wooden yacht.  Hand crafted, it is wonderfully finished with intricate hand-carved wooden features and beautifully appointed rooms.  It looks more like a swanky 5-star hotel than a liveaboard!  For the 16 divers, 3 local dive guides, 4 cruise directors, 2 chefs, and 15 other crew members all come together to provide a truly luxury experience, including on-board spa treatments and 3 course meals.

Take a look at their website for more info on this once-in-a-lifetime trip!