Can we choose our own route and dive sites?

You can set the overall route preference—Komodo, Raja Ampat, or a combination, plus the style of diving you enjoy. Within that, the Cruise Director and dive team adjust daily plans based on weather, currents, park regulations and your group’s experience. Some advanced sites are only offered to suitably qualified, recent divers and only if conditions are safe.

What is included in a luxury phinisi dive charter?

Typically, a private phinisi charter includes exclusive use of the yacht, crew, dive team, full‑board meals, drinking water, guided dives for certified divers, tanks and weights, plus use of tenders. Not usually included are rental gear, Nitrox (where available), alcohol, flights, hotels, insurance and gratuities. Your personalised quote will list inclusions and exclusions clearly.

Can non‑divers or children join a private yacht dive charter?

Yes. Many charters are mixed groups with divers, snorkellers and children. We adapt the itinerary with more snorkel spots, beach time and easier bays when there are non‑divers or younger guests onboard. For safety and comfort, we discuss ages, swimming ability and expectations during planning so we can suggest the right region, season and trip length.

Private Phinisi Charter | Komodo & Raja Ampat

01 Your Boat, Your Rules

What Is a Private Phinisi Charter?

In Indonesia, a phinisi is a classic wooden sailing yacht built by Konjo and Bugis craftsmen in South Sulawesi. These boats were originally cargo schooners; today, select hulls and builds are fitted out as modern liveaboards with ensuite cabins, air-conditioning, gourmet kitchens and fully equipped dive decks. On a private yacht dive charter, you do not buy cabins; you charter the entire vessel. That gives you full privacy, control over dates, and the flexibility to adapt the route and the daily rhythm to your group: earlier breakfasts for keen photographers, later starts for families, extra night dives for advanced divers, or more time in shallow bays for snorkellers and kids. Lombok Diving works exclusively with Komodo Luxury for private charters, using their owned fleet of luxury phinisi yachts:

Komodo Signature – premium phinisi for smaller–mid groups
Komodo Prestige – larger, higher‑capacity luxury phinisi

Both are real vessels, owned and operated by Komodo Luxury (founded 2015, KBLI 79120, part of Juara Holding Group Limited, based in Denpasar, Bali). Komodo Luxury is an Indonesian liveaboard specialist with TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice awards for 2025 and 2026 and years of operational experience in Komodo and Raja Ampat.

Why Charter Privately With Lombok Diving & Komodo Luxury?

Lombok Diving is the Lombok and Gili diving authority, and your gateway to Indonesia’s best liveaboard routes. We specialise in converting Lombok, Bali and Gili divers into multi-region expeditions that link:

Lombok & the Gili Islands – warm, easy reefs and turtles; ideal warm-up
Sumbawa & Saleh Bay – seasonal whale shark encounters (never guaranteed)
Komodo National Park – currents, mantas, vibrant reefs
Labuan Bajo – Komodo gateway and charter hub
Raja Ampat – remote, high‑biodiversity seascapes for advanced trips

By pairing our regional planning expertise with Komodo Luxury’s owned phinisi fleet, you get:

End‑to‑end logistics – flights, transfers, hotel stopovers, and land extensions before or after your cruise
Realistic travel time – we plan around sea states, domestic flight schedules and seasonality, not wishful thinking
Honest dive matching – sites and itineraries matched to your certifications and comfort with currents
One point of contact – your Trip Designer coordinates both land and liveaboard components

Sunset over the sea from the deck of a phinisi

Good to know

Operator: Lombok Diving is operated by Komodo Luxury, a real award-winning Indonesian liveaboard operator (TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice 2022–2025, founded 2015, part of Juara Holding Group Limited).
Conditions: Dive-site depths, seasons and conditions are indicative and vary; advanced sites such as Belongas Bay (hammerheads) and the strong-current sites of Komodo need the right certification.
Marine Life: Marine life — mantas, hammerheads, whale sharks — is seasonal and wild, and can never be guaranteed.
Pricing: Prices are indicative ranges, by quote, and vary by season, vessel, cabin and itinerary.
Booking: Enquiries and booking via WhatsApp +62 811-3823-875 and [email protected].

02 The Boats

Komodo Signature & Komodo Prestige

They are built and maintained as serious dive vessels, not decorative cruisers.

Komodo Signature and Komodo Prestige compared
Vessel	Typical Private Group Size	Best For	Cabin Style
Komodo Signature	Small to mid-size groups (couples to extended families / small clubs)	Honeymoons, families, photographer teams, close-knit groups	Mix of double/twin ensuite cabins, air-conditioned
Komodo Prestige	Mid to larger groups (bigger families, clubs, incentive trips)	Dive clubs, multi-family trips, larger photography workshops	Multiple ensuite cabins with flexible bedding configurations

Exact cabin counts and configurations can change with refits; we will confirm the current layout for your dates.

03 Aboard the Fleet

Onboard Comfort

Private cabins with AC – ensuite bathrooms, daily housekeeping, fresh towels
Indoor lounge & dining – shaded spaces to review photos, brief dives and share meals
Sun decks – open decks with loungers and shaded areas to reset between dives
Chefs & full board – Indonesian and international menus, 3 main meals plus snacks, tea/coffee and drinking water included

Dive Deck & Safety

Spacious dive deck – individual stations, rinse tanks for cameras, shaded kitting-up area
Compressors & cylinders – air fills; Nitrox availability depends on vessel and trip (request in advance)
Dive tenders – RIBs or wooden tenders for safe drop-offs and pick-ups in currents
Safety kit – life jackets, life rafts, first aid and oxygen onboard; crew trained for emergencies

04 Who Is a Private Phinisi Charter For?

Privacy, control and customisation.

Snorkellers swimming alongside manta rays

Families & Multi-Generational Groups

Combine confident divers, learners and non-divers without feeling constrained by a fixed schedule. We often:• Build in gentler snorkel bays and beach stops for children and older guests• Schedule shorter dive days or extra surface intervals for family time• Run Discover Scuba experiences for adults and teens who want to try diving in easy conditions (subject to medical screening and standards)
Honeymoons & Celebrations

For couples or small groups celebrating a wedding, anniversary or milestone birthday, a private phinisi is a floating villa:• Private cabins and the run of the boat• Flexible wake-up times and custom menus• Options for beach dinners, sunrise treks and quiet anchorages
Dive Clubs & Friends’ Trips

For dive clubs and experienced buddy teams, a phinisi charter lets your group own the dive plan. Typical benefits:• More challenging sites planned for your skill level• Extra night dives or dawn dives for keen divers• Opportunities to run training, workshops or club events onboard
Underwater Photographers & Creators

A luxury phinisi dive charter is ideal for:• Photography groups needing careful site timing and long, unhurried dives within safe no-decompression limits• Side-mount or tech-curious groups (within the vessel’s capabilities and agreed in advance)• Film and content projects requiring flexibility and privacy

Phinisi yacht at anchor in eastern Indonesia

05 Chart a Course

Where Can You Go on a Private Phinisi Charter?

Lombok & Gili Islands

Warm‑up reefs, calm conditions, turtles and reef fish. Ideal for mixed groups and as a pre‑cruise shake‑down for gear and weighting. We typically base day trips from shore or resort here and then connect you to Labuan Bajo or Sorong for your phinisi charter.

Sumbawa & Saleh Bay

Sumbawa sits between Lombok and Flores. Around Saleh Bay there are seasonal whale shark encounters at local fishing platforms. Sightings are not guaranteed and depend on fishing activity and season. Sites vary from easy to intermediate.

Komodo National Park

Core area for most phinisi charter Komodo itineraries. Expect reef fish, healthy coral, occasional manta encounters, and famous current‑influenced sites. We mix:

Calmer bays and reefs with lighter flow for intermediate divers
More advanced current‑swept channels and corners for experienced groups
Snorkel‑friendly spots for non‑divers

Labuan Bajo

Western Flores town and main departure port for Komodo Luxury voyages. Good overnight stop option if you are connecting from Lombok or Bali.

Raja Ampat

Remote archipelago in West Papua with very high biodiversity. Best for confident, experienced divers comfortable with changing currents and bluewater entries. Expect busy reefs, schooling fish and frequent macro subjects; manta and shark encounters are possible but never guaranteed. We design multi‑region trips linking these areas realistically. For example:

Gili Islands warm‑up (3–4 days) → flight to Labuan Bajo → 6–8 night Komodo private phinisi charter
Lombok diving + Belongas Bay hammerhead season (~July–September, advanced only) → Komodo cruise
Bali or Lombok land stay → flight to Sorong → Raja Ampat private phinisi → return via Bali

06 Sample Voyages

Sample Private Phinisi Charter Itineraries

Every charter is customised, but these examples show what is realistic in terms of time and travel. Exact routes depend on season, prevailing conditions and your group’s mix of divers and non-divers.

01
Family Komodo Escape – 6 Nights (Labuan Bajo Return)

Day 1 – Arrive Labuan Bajo, harbour check-in, short check-dive on an easy reef, sunset mooring. Days 2–5 – 2–3 dives per day at a mix of gentle reefs and slightly livelier sites if the family is comfortable; snorkelling, sandy beach stops, one or two easy night dives for interested divers. Day 6 – 1–2 morning dives/snorkels, relaxed afternoon sail back towards Labuan Bajo. Day 7 – Morning disembarkation.

Designed for Mixed-ability groups prioritising comfort and flexibility over hitting the most challenging current sites.
02
Advanced Komodo Currents – 7–8 Nights

Daily rhythm of 3–4 dives, including optional night dives. Route planned around key current-influenced channels, slopes and pinnacles, conditions permitting. Briefings focused on current management, negative entries, and situational awareness. Plenty of macro and reef dives mixed in for variety and rest.

Designed for All divers should be recent, confident in moderate to strong current, and at least Advanced Open Water or equivalent.
03
Komodo & Raja Ampat Two-Region Expedition – 12–14 Nights

We treat this as two linked but distinct segments, usually with a domestic flight in between. Segment 1 – 6–7 nights Komodo private phinisi charter ex-Labuan Bajo. Transit – flight via Bali or Makassar to Sorong. Segment 2 – 6–7 nights Raja Ampat private phinisi charter ex-Sorong. We build in one or more buffer nights on land for rest and flight schedule resilience.

Designed for This is best for experienced divers with enough time and budget to do both regions justice.

07 Aboard & Included

What’s Included in a Luxury Phinisi Dive Charter?

Included

Exclusive use of the yacht for your group (no outside guests)
Cabins as booked, with private bathrooms and air-conditioning
Crew: captain, deck crew, chef and kitchen team, stewarding staff
Dive team: Cruise Director / lead guide, additional dive guides based on group size
Full-board meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) plus snacks
Tea, coffee and drinking water
Diving for certified divers (number of dives per day varies by itinerary)
Tanks, weights and belts
Use of tenders for dive operations and short excursions
National park fees and marine park permits (where specified in your quote)

Often Excluded (By Quotation)

Rental dive equipment (BCD, regulator, wetsuit, computer, torch, etc.)
Nitrox (where available on the vessel)
Alcoholic and premium soft drinks
Domestic and international flights
Hotel stays before/after the cruise
Travel and dive insurance (mandatory; must cover emergency evacuation)
Gratuities for crew and guides (optional but customary)
Optional land excursions with local fees (e.g., dragons treks, village visits)

Speedboats moored off a pink-sand beach in Komodo

Aerial view of a jungle-fringed lagoon in Raja Ampat

08 Charter Economics

What does a private phinisi charter cost?

Pricing depends on:

Vessel (Komodo Signature vs Komodo Prestige)
Season (high vs shoulder vs low)
Region (Komodo, Raja Ampat, other eastern itineraries)
Length of charter and number of guests
Cabin category, add‑ons (Nitrox, gear rental) and any special routing

As a broad guide (last verified June 2026), full‑boat private phinisi charter rates often fall in these indicative ranges:

Komodo Signature – approximately IDR 45–75 million per night for the entire yacht, depending on season, itinerary and inclusions
Komodo Prestige – approximately IDR 60–100+ million per night for the entire yacht, again varying by season, itinerary and inclusions

These are not fixed prices or offers. Actual quotes can be higher or lower once we factor in your dates, guest count, specific route and what you’d like included. We work directly with Komodo Luxury to secure current rates and promotions for your requested period.

How Lombok & the Gilis Fit Into Your Charter

Many guests first meet us on Lombok or the Gili Islands, then decide to extend onto a phinisi charter.

For beginners – Gili and north Lombok reefs are ideal training grounds. You can complete or refresh your Open Water/Advanced courses with us before committing to a more intense liveaboard schedule.
For families – combining a villa or resort stay on Lombok with a shorter Komodo charter balances “holiday” and “expedition”.
For advanced divers – we design twin‑phase trips: challenging day‑boat dives from south or east Lombok (e.g., Belongas Bay in hammerhead season, if your skills suit) followed by a liveaboard leg in Komodo.

Travel between Lombok, Bali, Labuan Bajo and Sorong is planned via fast boats, domestic flights and private transfers. We design realistic connections that allow for weather and schedule variability, reducing the risk of missed departures.

Planning Your Private Phinisi Charter

To get started, we need a few key details:

Your preferred travel window and flexibility (exact dates vs month‑range)
Number of guests and approximate certifications/experience levels
Regions you are most interested in (Komodo, Raja Ampat, Sumbawa, Lombok, Bali)
Non‑divers in the group and any special interests (photography, freediving, hiking, etc.)
Budget range and preferred trip length

From there we:

Propose one or two realistic itineraries with indicative pricing.
Refine the route, number of nights and inclusion list with you.
Place an option hold with Komodo Luxury (subject to availability).
Confirm with a deposit and share a pre‑trip preparation pack.

To start this process, email [email protected] or plan your trip. You can also message us directly on WhatsApp at +62 811‑3823‑875 for faster back‑and‑forth.

09 Charter Questions

Frequently asked questions

How much does a private phinisi charter cost?

Costs vary by vessel, season, region, length of trip and inclusions. As a broad guide (last verified June 2026), full-boat rates for Komodo Signature often sit around IDR 45–75 million per night, and for Komodo Prestige around IDR 60–100+ million per night, depending on details. We will send a tailored quote once we know your dates, group size and preferred itinerary.

How many guests can join a private phinisi charter?

Capacity depends on the vessel and cabin configuration. Komodo Signature typically suits small to mid-size groups (for example, couples, families, small clubs), while Komodo Prestige handles mid to larger groups with more cabins. Exact maximums change with refits and safety policies, so we confirm current limits and best occupancy for comfort when preparing your quote.

Plan Your Dive Trip

Ready to talk dates and regions?

Tell us where and how you want to dive. We reply on WhatsApp with the right route, season and vessel, and an indicative quote.

Message Us on WhatsApp Plan My Dive Trip

Indicative pricing by quote, no obligation. Operated by Komodo Luxury · TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice 2022–2025.

Private Phinisi Charter: Your Own Luxury Dive Yacht