Dewata

Komodo runs the dry half of the year out of Labuan Bajo. With six guests the itinerary stays flexible: Padar and Pink Beach early, Manta Point around slack water, Siaba Besar for turtles, and the ranger trek on Rinca or Komodo. The shore programme is a genuine part of the offering here rather than a filler, with the crew building trekking and village stops around the diving and snorkelling.

Raja Ampat occupies the opposite season out of Sorong. Longer passages between anchorages and a schedule set by tide and light rather than a fixed route. The operator markets the birds of paradise alongside the reefs here, so expect early shore starts as well as dive days.

Banda and Halmahera sit on the repositioning legs between seasons and are cruised on request rather than to a published calendar. Availability is narrow and depends on where the boat is being moved, so ask early.

Alor appears on the seasonal legs east rather than as a fixed charter. The Pantar Strait runs cold and fast; Kalabahi Bay is the slow muck counterpoint. Six guests across three cabins keeps the dive plan flexible here, and nitrox is included in the rate, which suits repetitive days more than a single deep profile.

Ambon is a turnaround port on the eastern circuit, and what you dive is muck. Rubble, sponge and silt in the bay, taken shallow and slow. Included nitrox is worth more here than on reef itineraries, because the value is in bottom time rather than depth.

Halmahera sits at the outer edge of the range and only comes up on the longer eastern crossings. Weda Bay is the anchor: walking sharks, endemics and reef that sees very few boats. Passages are long and the schedule follows weather rather than a published route.