**A Komodo dive liveaboard from Labuan Bajo costs more than a sightseeing cruise because you’re paying for a certified dive guide, tanks, weights and extra days anchored at dive sites. As of 2026, expect a shared dive-inclusive 3D2N to sit at the upper end of the IDR 3,000,000–7,500,000 per-person band, with gear and park fees on top.**
Reviewed by Reza Adiputra, Driftwater Voyages dive desk. Figures as of 2026, in IDR, subject to change.
What does a dive liveaboard add over a sightseeing cruise?
A sightseeing open-trip and a dive liveaboard can leave the same harbour on the same hull. The difference starts once you drop anchor. A sightseeing route stops for photos, short treks and a snorkel; a dive liveaboard is built around scuba, so your fare absorbs several extra line items:
- A certified dive guide or divemaster, usually one per small buddy group
- Air tanks, weights and refills for two to four dives a day
- Extra bottom time at current-swept sites, which adds dedicated dive-days to the route
- Dive briefings, surface-interval planning and tank logistics baked into each day
- Optional full gear rental — BCD, regulator, wetsuit, mask, fins, computer
Those inclusions are why a dive fare runs above the plain sightseeing baseline. Everything else — cabin, meals, the Padar hike, sunset at Kalong Island — still comes with the trip.
How much does a Labuan Bajo dive liveaboard cost in 2026?
| Trip type | Duration | Booking | Typical per person (2026) | Dive note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| One-day speedboat | 1 day | Shared | IDR 600,000–1,500,000 | Sightseeing only; fun dives cost extra |
| Shared open-trip (sightseeing) | 2D1N–3D2N | Shared cabin | From IDR 3,000,000–3,750,000 | No guide or tanks included |
| Shared dive-inclusive | 3D2N | Shared cabin | Upper band, ~IDR 3,750,000–7,500,000+ | Guide, tanks, weights; certified divers |
| Private dive charter | Per day | Full buyout | From IDR 10,000,000/day | Whole boat, dive team, flexible dive plan |
Shared open-trip liveaboards run two to three days and up. A sightseeing 3D2N starts around IDR 3,000,000–3,750,000 per person and climbs toward roughly IDR 7,500,000 per person for higher cabin classes on more luxurious boats, as of 2026. Dive-inclusive shared trips sit at the upper end of that band and above, because the guide, tanks and extra dive-days are real cost. Private full-boat charters start around IDR 10,000,000 per day and scale with boat size and amenities. The one-day speedboat rate is a sightseeing anchor, not a dive price.
Certified vs discover diving — what changes the price?
- Certified divers (Open Water and up): pay for the guide, tanks and dive count, and can dive the signature current sites.
- Discover-diving / intro: a supervised shallow intro with an instructor at a small ratio, priced as an add-on and kept to gentler spots — not the strong-current walls.
- Gear rental: full-kit rental is a separate add-on; divers who bring their own computer and wetsuit pay less.
Because certification level, dive count and gear all move the total, ask reservations for an itemised quote rather than one headline number. Exact per-dive and course figures are confirmed per package.
What park fees and extras land on top of the boat fare?
Park fees are almost always separate from the boat fare, usually quoted at weekday rates. The crew typically collects the full Komodo National Park fee in advance, and many guests reimburse in IDR cash on arrival. Common 2026 rates:
| Item | Approx. fee (2026) |
|---|---|
| Park entrance | ~IDR 150,000 |
| Trekking | ~IDR 115,000 |
| Snorkeling | ~IDR 15,000 |
| Ranger (per group) | ~IDR 80,000–100,000 |
| Drone permit | ~IDR 2,000,000 |
Weekends may carry a surcharge. For the record, a previously proposed IDR 3,750,000 international-visitor conservation fee was not implemented; earlier IDR 2,900,000–5,800,000 figures were proposals, not current charges — present fees are lower. Diving and snorkelling happen only in designated areas because currents run strong, and life jackets are required on speedboat legs and in rough seas.
Which dive sites does the price cover?
The headline draws are Manta Point, a cleaning station where mantas cruise past divers and snorkellers, and Batu Bolong, a pinnacle wall famous for dense fish life. Between dives you share the sightseeing highlights: Pink Beach, the Taka Makassar sandbar, the Padar sunrise hike, ranger-led dragon treks on Komodo and Rinca, and Kalong Island’s dusk flying foxes. Longer 4D3N–5D4N routes push further, sometimes toward Lombok via Saleh Bay’s whale sharks. The best window is the April–November dry season, with calm seas and strong visibility; most multi-day boats pause from January to March, though one-day speedboats usually keep running.
How does booking a dive liveaboard work?
- Share the basics. Tell reservations your dates, group size and certification level — or your interest in a discover-diving intro if you’re not certified.
- Get an itemised quote. You should receive a written invoice separating cabin, dive guide, tanks, gear rental and park fees. Insist on this, request boat photos and safety-equipment confirmation, and be wary of unusually low prices — local reports note some Labuan Bajo boats are not safe.
- Pre-register early. As of 2026, every passenger must send a passport copy showing the photo, plus full name, nationality and passport number, to the boat host at least one day before departure, or entry can be denied.
- Pay to lock your spot. The park caps visitors at 1,000 per day across all sites under a February 2026 regulation, and spots must be booked and paid in advance, so a deposit secures your dates.
- Board and settle fees. Join the boat in Labuan Bajo and reimburse park fees in IDR cash on arrival if the crew has paid them for you.
Ready to price your dive liveaboard?
Driftwater Voyages books Komodo dive liveaboards operated by Komodo Luxury, an award-winning Labuan Bajo operator founded in 2015, with reservations handled directly by its team. Send your dates, certification level and group size for an itemised, honest quote — shared open-trip or private dive charter, per duration.
Message the concierge on WhatsApp at +62 811-3823-875 or email sales@komodoluxury.com to lock your dive-liveaboard dates.
Published by Juara Holding Group. Prices and park fees are current as of 2026 and subject to change; confirm the final figure with reservations before you book.