Swan Hellenic has introduced dedicated SCUBA diving programs on four East Asia expedition cruises exploring Raja Ampat, operating aboard the boutique expedition ship SH Minerva. The dive-focused departures include two sailings in 2026 and two in 2027.
The programs are open to guests holding PADI Advanced Open Water certification and include multiple dives conducted from private dive boats with professional dive masters. Equipment such as masks, fins, wetsuits, BCDs, regulators, weights and tanks is provided, along with required permits. Guests are required to bring their own dive computers and arrange personal travel, medical and dive insurance.
Each 10- or 11-night voyage includes between five and six dives, while non-diving guests can participate in the cruise’s standard cultural and nature-based expedition program. All guests are also offered inclusive snorkeling excursions, including visits to Cenderawasih Bay National Park, where whale shark encounters are possible.
Dive excursions are organised at sites including Pulau Kri, Pulau Fam, Pulau Mansuar and Ayu Atoll, with transfers directly from the ship. Dive packages are priced from USD 250 for a single-dive excursion, with half- and full-day options available.
The first 2026 sailing, Secrets of the Coral Triangle: West Papua and Raja Ampat, departs Sorong on April 18, 2026, and returns on April 28 after 10 nights. Prices start from USD 7,925. Highlights include diving and shore excursions in Cenderawasih Bay, Misool and Kabui Bay, as well as visits to sites with World War II history and local island communities.
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| SH Minerva (file image) |
This is followed by Heart of the Pacific Isles, an 11-night voyage departing Sorong on April 28, 2026, and arriving in Manila on May 9. Fares start from USD 8,720. The itinerary combines Raja Ampat with lesser-visited areas of the southern Philippines, with dives planned at sites such as Melissa’s Garden, Batu Rufas, Keru Channel, Manta Ridge and Sawandarek Jetty.
Two further voyages operating the same itineraries are scheduled for 2027. Raja Ampat & Cenderawasih Bay: Indonesia’s Coral Triangle departs April 16, 2027, returning to Sorong on April 26, with fares from USD 8,110. Raja Ampat and Philippines: The Last Paradise on Earth departs April 26, 2027, arriving in Manila on May 7, with fares from USD 8,920.
All four sailings are included in Swan Hellenic’s Elevated Expeditions promotion, which offers fare reductions, complimentary Wi-Fi upgrades and onboard credit. The promotion is available for bookings made until February 28, 2026.
For more information about Swan Hellenic, please visit www.swanhellenic.com
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