Gaia Love

Location: Alor

Rating: 4.8/5 (63 reviews)

Gaia Love

About Gaia Love

Navigating the rich waters of Alor, the 39.9-meter Gaia Love offers access to a diverse Indonesian marine environment for up to 20 guests.

In the remote eastern expanse of Indonesia’s Lesser Sunda Islands, the Alor archipelago emerges as a region of intense geological and marine activity. Here, volcanic islands create deep, nutrient-rich channels that funnel a powerful exchange of water between the Savu and Banda Seas. This constant flow supports a wide spectrum of marine life, from the cryptic critters of world-class muck diving sites to the schools of fish and pelagic animals patrolling dramatic walls and pinnacles. The 39.9-meter Gaia Love is a modern motor yacht designed specifically to navigate these dynamic waters, providing a stable and comprehensive platform for exploring Alor’s distinct underwater environments. The diving program is built for efficiency and access to a broad range of sites. With three custom-built tenders serving a maximum of 20 divers, groups remain small, ensuring personalized attention and uncrowded dives. This setup also allows for flexible drop-offs and exploration of more secluded locations that larger groups cannot reach. The main dive deck is spaciously organized with individual stations for gear storage and kitting up. For underwater photographers, the vessel provides dedicated camera facilities, including rinse tanks, a dry charging area, and ample workspace to prepare and maintain sensitive imaging equipment. All dives are led by an experienced team of local guides with deep knowledge of the area's currents and marine habitats. Life aboard the Gaia Love centers on comfort and relaxation between aquatic adventures. The vessel’s 11 cabins are distributed across the upper and lower decks, each equipped with a private en-suite bathroom and individual climate controls. These private accommodations offer a quiet retreat after a full day of diving. Social life unfolds in a variety of indoor and outdoor spaces. An air-conditioned indoor lounge and library provides a cool area for photo reviews or reading, while the exterior decks offer multiple options for socializing. Guests can enjoy the passing scenery from the open-air dining area, the shaded sun lounge, or the upper sun terrace, which features an outdoor bar for evening cocktails. The onboard chef prepares a menu that blends international dishes with Indonesian flavors, ensuring a varied and satisfying culinary journey throughout the trip. Meals are typically served buffet-style in the alfresco dining area, allowing guests to enjoy the fresh sea air. The kitchen is able to accommodate most special dietary requirements, including vegetarian and gluten-free, with advance notification at the time of booking. A selection of soft drinks, local beer, and juices are available, and the outdoor bar is well-stocked for those who wish to purchase spirits or wine to complement their evening. The Gaia Love is a modern, steel-hulled vessel designed for passenger comfort and long-range cruising. At 39.9 meters in length and powered by twin engines, the yacht maintains a steady cruising speed of 10 knots, capable of reaching 12 knots when needed. This power and stability are essential for navigating the open-water crossings between the scattered islands of the Alor archipelago, ensuring a smooth and comfortable journey for all 20 guests. The ship's design prioritizes space and function, from its generous water-making capacity to the thoughtful layout of its dive and social areas. Itineraries aboard the Gaia Love are focused exclusively on the rich and varied dive sites of Alor and the surrounding Pantar Strait. These trips typically run during the main diving season, offering extensive exploration of the region’s renowned biodiversity. Depending on the specific route, voyages will depart from and return to regional ports in East Nusa Tenggara. This liveaboard is best suited for intermediate to advanced divers who are comfortable with currents and are keen to experience a less-traveled part of Indonesia. Underwater photographers and marine life enthusiasts, in particular, will appreciate the vessel’s dedicated facilities and access to a remarkable concentration of both macro and wide-angle subjects.

Vessel Specifications

  • Guest capacity: 20
  • Nitrox: Available

Cabins

  • Upper Deck Cabins (sleeps 2) — Double or Twin (convertible) — Discover the comfort of the Upper Deck Cabins, where six inviting accommodations await. Each cabin is thoughtfully equipped with personalized climate control and a private ensuite bathroom, complete w
  • Lower Deck Cabins (sleeps 2) — Twin — Discover comfort in these five inviting cabins, thoughtfully positioned on the lower deck. Each cabin offers the flexibility of a convertible double or twin bed arrangement, ensuring a restful night's

Itineraries

Wakatobi

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Kalimantan (Tarakan, 11D10N)

Duration: 11D10N

Embarkation: Tarakan

Embark on an expedition to the remote and biodiverse waters of East Kalimantan, exploring the famed Derawan Archipelago. This itinerary offers a spectacular variety of diving, from thrilling channel drifts with massive fish schools in Maratua to graceful encounters with manta rays at Sangalaki's cleaning stations. Highlights include swimming with gentle whale sharks and exploring Kakaban's unique non-stinging jellyfish lake.

Ambon, Triton Bay (Ambon - Kaimana)

Duration: 12D11N

Embarkation: Ambon, Indonesia

This expedition offers an incredible journey from Ambon to Kaimana, focusing on the vibrant marine ecosystems of Triton Bay. Divers will explore a diverse array of dive sites, from muck diving in Ambon Bay to the pristine reefs and pelagic encounters of Triton Bay. The itinerary includes opportunities for both day and night dives, promising an abundance of marine life unique to this Indonesian region. This trip is designed for those seeking an immersive diving experience in one of the world's mo

Palu, Sangalaki, Maratua, Derawan (Tarakan - Tarakan)

Duration: 11 nights

Embarkation: Tarakan, Indonesia

Embark on an unforgettable journey through the diverse waters of Palu, Sangalaki, Maratua, and Derawan. This itinerary promises vibrant coral reefs, encounters with majestic manta rays in Sangalaki, and observations of baby sea turtles in their natural conservation area. Explore Maratua's dramatic underwater walls and channels, with opportunities for exhilarating night dives. Conclude your adventure relaxing on Derawan's pristine beaches, enjoying stunning drift dives and crystal-clear waters.

Manado, Togian

Duration: 11 nights

Embarkation: Manado

This journey through northern Sulawesi and the Togian Islands offers a unique cross-section of Indonesian diving, from the vibrant coral gardens and abundant reef fish of Manado's Bunaken National Park to the unique macro life and diverse ecosystems encountered across the Togians. Expect a mix of wall dives, drift dives, and exploring pristine reefs, with opportunities for large pelagics and fascinating critter encounters. The remote nature of the Togian Islands provides an excellent chance to e

Halmahera North & South, Morotai (Ternate) (Ternate → Ternate)

Duration: 12D11N

Embarkation: Ternate

Embark on an extraordinary scuba diving expedition through the remote and historically rich islands of North Maluku. This adventure explores the volcanic landscapes of Halmahera, the current-swept channels of Bacan, and the WWII wrecks of Morotai. The diving here is incredibly diverse, from exhilarating drifts along walls patrolled by sharks and tuna to tranquil muck dives searching for rare critters like frogfish and ghost pipefish. You'll discover a region at the heart of the Coral Triangle, w

Raja Ampat (South), Halmahera (South) (Sorong → Ternate)

Duration: 12D11N

Embarkation: Sorong

This 12-day diving expedition charts a course from the heart of biodiversity in Raja Ampat to the historic Spice Islands of Halmahera. The journey begins in Sorong, immediately immersing divers in the vibrant reefs of the Dampier Strait and the southern wonderland of Misool, renowned for its stunning soft corals, karst landscapes, and rich marine megafauna. After exploring Raja Ampat's best, the voyage crosses to Halmahera, where volcanic islands, remote pinnacles, and critter-rich muck diving a

Cenderawasih (Manokwari, 11D10N)

Duration: 11D10N

Embarkation: Manokwari

This itinerary explores the magnificent Cenderawasih Bay, a region famed for its unique historical relics and unparalleled marine life encounters. The journey focuses on the bay's resident population of whale sharks, which are reliably found feeding beneath local fishing platforms, offering divers incredible, prolonged interactions. Alongside these gentle giants, the trip uncovers numerous WWII wrecks and pristine coral reefs teeming with endemic species found nowhere else on Earth.

Raja Ampat (North & South)

Duration: 10 nights

Embarkation: Sorong

Explore the vast biodiversity of Raja Ampat, where the northern waters boast vibrant coral gardens and abundant fish life around Misool, while the southern regions offer dramatic seascapes and exhilarating drift dives. This itinerary traverses both the iconic northern and remote southern reaches of the archipelago, providing an extensive immersion into its diverse micro and macro ecosystems. Expect encounters with manta rays, wobbegong sharks, and an incredible array of reef fish across sites ra

Triton Bay, South Raja Ampat* (Kaimana → Sorong)

Duration: 12D11N

Embarkation: Kaimana

Embark on an extraordinary liveaboard journey through Triton Bay and South Raja Ampat, a region renowned for its pristine biodiversity and dramatic underwater landscapes. Expect to encounter an incredible array of marine life, from schooling barracuda and shimmering fusiliers to elusive pygmy seahorses and nesting turtles. This route offers a chance to explore vibrant coral gardens, sheer drop-offs, and the unique macro environment that makes this part of Indonesia a diver's paradise.

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