An experienced Indonesian operator with deep local knowledge and its own dive lodge in Sulawesi. Ambai and Seahorse are on Coralbound.

This is an operator spotlight. If you're here to plan an Indonesia liveaboard trip, start with the Indonesia liveaboard guide.

Wallacea Dive Cruise

Wallacea Dive Cruise is an experienced Indonesian operator with two boats, Ambai and Seahorse. The team has been working in Indonesia for a long time, including before the liveaboards, and it shows in how they plan routes. Between the two boats they cover most of the country's main dive regions.

The operator is a family business. Its CEO, Jérôme Doucet, is a French-born marine biologist who came to Indonesia in 1990 and spent years in Luwuk, Central Sulawesi, before starting the cruise operation. The operator says his wife, Suryani Mile, handles administration and founded Jangkar, the Indonesian liveaboards association. Their son Marco and his wife Liina are the cruise directors on Ambai.

Both boats carry a 5.0 rating on Google, according to the platform listings.

Tompotika Dive Lodge

The team also has Tompotika Dive Lodge, a small eco-friendly resort on the east coast of Central Sulawesi, at the tip of the Balantak Peninsula near Luwuk. The lodge describes itself as the only resort in the area. The dive centre is built into the resort, and kayaks and bicycles are free to use.

Some Seahorse itineraries finish in Luwuk, close to the lodge.

Ambai

Ambai is a 32-metre wooden boat, launched in 2012 and built from ironwood and other tropical hardwoods. She was designed around diving from the keel up. She carries 16 guests in 8 cabins, looked after by a crew of 18.

• Lower deck (6): cabins 1 to 4 have a double bed with a single bunk above, so they work as a double or as twin beds. Cabins 5 and 6 are twin only.
• Upper deck (2): sea view cabins.

All cabins have individually controlled air conditioning and en-suite bathrooms with hot water. Towels, soap, shampoo and toothpaste are provided.

The dive deck is at the rear of the main deck, with direct access to a platform that can take all three tenders at once. The crew loads and unloads your gear. A dedicated camera room has maintenance facilities, rinse tanks and charging stations. Nitrox is included for certified divers.

The air-conditioned restaurant doubles as the briefing room, with a large screen where photographers show their footage in the evening. There is also an indoor lounge, an outdoor front lounge, shaded deck areas and a sundeck. Kayaks are available between dives.

Seahorse

Seahorse is a 33-metre traditional Phinisi, built in 2005 and refurbished in 2018. She carries 16 guests in 8 cabins, with a crew of 12 and four dive masters. Her 3,000-nautical-mile range suits the longer multi-region itineraries.

• Lower deck (6): five twin cabins and one double.
• Main deck (2): sea view double cabins.

All cabins have individually controlled air conditioning and en-suite bathrooms with hot water. Towels, soap, shampoo and toothpaste are provided.

Two 22-foot custom-built aluminium tenders handle the diving. Nitrox is included for certified divers. A spacious camera room has rinse tanks, charging stations and workstations.

Common areas include an air-conditioned restaurant that doubles as the briefing room, a lounge with a bar, an outdoor front sitting area, relaxation spots on the main deck and a sundeck. An onboard masseuse and kayaks are available.

Where they sail

For 2026/2027, the two boats between them cover Raja Ampat, Komodo, the Banda Sea, Triton Bay, Halmahera and Sulawesi. Ambai runs 9 to 12-night itineraries and Seahorse 9 to 13 nights.

What's available to book

Upcoming departures for both boats are live on Coralbound with real-time availability and pricing direct from the operator. For the 2026/2027 season, rates start from USD $468 per person per day on Ambai and USD $492 on Seahorse.

The operator usually runs early-bird discounts of 5 to 15%. When it has last-minute departures, discounts go up to 25%. A returning guest program also offers discounts on future cruises.

Questions? Reach us on live chat on the site, via WhatsApp, or through the contact form. Bookings through Coralbound come at the same price as booking direct, including the option of a complimentary hotel night.